The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 20th October)

Good Morning. Its Tuesday 20th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Leeds slip to defeat against Wolves

A cruel deflection from Kalvin Phillips from Raul Jimenez’s shot twenty minutes from time was enough to separate Marcelo Bielsa and Nuno Espírito Santo's two sides, and inflict Leeds first home defeat of the season.

Phillips was not to know that Jimenez's tame shot was covered by Meslier as he tried to head the ball across the goal for a corner. Unfortunately the change of direction completely wrong footed the French youngster and the ball ended up i the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Did Leeds deserve anything from the game?

Debatable! Leeds has the lions share of the first half, but were unable to test Rui Patricio until the 40th minute. Wolves not only controlled large periods of the second half, but were looking more clinical in front of goal. They were unfortunate not to have taken the lead eight minutes into the second half. Romain Saiss wonder goal from the edge of the box was chalked off due to one of their players being millimetres offside during the build up!

Even the second half emergence of Hernandez and Raphinha did little to help the Leeds Utd cause.

As expected when Leeds lose, the boo boys on social media decide to pint the finger. This week the finger has been pointed at both Phillips and Bamford.

Bamford, for not creating any clear cut chances and Phillips for being off form, caused by having to play a different role for England than he does for Leeds.

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Bielsa post match Interview

Marcelo Bielsa speaking to BBC's MOTD:

"It was a disputed game. We dominated and created enough chances to go ahead.

"There were a lot of duels and friction. It was hard to play."

On where the team should have scored from their chances in the first half: "We also had the whole of the second half to try to win the game.

"In the second half we weren't able to attack as much.

"VAR is a resource referees use to correct decisions."

"In the first half we should have established a difference, in the second half it was more even.

"We had the sensation that we could unbalance them. We created enough opportunities to establish a lead.

"I don't think they were better than us but they neutralised our game better. The game was very hard, very physical and there was a lot of interruptions.

"Every game you have opportunities to generate corrections."

Wolves Manager Nuno Espirito Santo:

"It was a good performance with some aspects to improve. We were better in the second half, but at the start it was very difficult for us.

"They broke us, created chances, they were so dynamic.

"We had to adjust and be more clinical in front. The goal was fortunate but we had chances.

"There was a proposal from Arsene Wenger for daylight for offsides, VAR is fine margins and we want them to make good decisions. It is a challenge for referees to improve, to be better, be faster and let the game flow.

"Nobody likes to celebrate and then come back. VAR can go both ways, let's try to help and make things better together."

Lineker slams 'mind-numbingly life-sapping' VAR

Former England legend, now pundit Gary Lineker has slammed VAR for over analysing every goal to the nearest millimetre, saying its quashing our enjoyment!

His tweet came after Wolves had a wonder strike chalked off last night after frame by frame VAR footage showed a Wolves player to be millimetres offside during the build up to the play!

Whilst Saiss’ stunning goal was possibly a few millimetres offside, I think it’s a real shame that this is where we are now. With VAR level is no longer onside and it’s a mind-numbingly life-sapping experience waiting for this dubious technology to quash our enjoyment.

Thoughts?

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Yes a game of two halves, but a disappointing night and for the first time this season I end up not happy with a Leeds performance. It was bound to happen and as we’re a few weeks in its been great for us, but reality strikes. This was like last season when we dominate and overpower the opposition but have no end product. Detest having 70% of the game and lose.

Harrison wasn't at it last night so for me should have come off earlier so that Raphinha could have had a go, as he looked pretty good when he came on. Costa tried but didnt impact the game in the second half so replaced by Poveda but the kid was hardly used so didnt affect the game, a bit of a wasted substitution as he should have been given the ball, but play was always switching to the left flank?

Kalvin was targeted again and it stopped him being effective, and I can see us losing him to either a suspension due to yellows or sending off. Koch was immense again and Struijk did a good job again. Bamford was out of the game for long periods and would have liked to see him pulled off and Rodrigo pushed forward. Rodrigo was more of a threat from midfield than Bamford and felt Rodrigo should maybe have finished at least one headed chance.

That performance may make a few heads drop because they know it was there for the taking in the first half and could have put the game to bed. Reality check but I still feel we are way too good to go down and Nuno is a great coach unlike some in the Prem. Its all about nullifying our game and breaking up play. Thats the only way to beat us

 

Morning all,

Well that felt like every defeat under Bielsa in the Championship. More possession, team packing the back and letting in a fluke goal to lose.


A lot of very good performances last night.

Meslier- 8 such strong hands and good feet.

Ayling- 7.5 worked so hard in both defence and attack. Captains armband bringing out the best in him again.

Koch-8 what a player. Calm, solid and steady in everything he did.

Struijk- 7 growing in every game he plays. Unlucky slip in build up to goal but faultless otherwise.

Dallas- 7 typical Dallas performance. Worked hard and did what he had to do. Pleasure to see him out muscle Traore late on as well.

Phillips- 6 two weeks coaching from Southgate shining through last night.

Klich- 8 typical Keith performance. So much energy, created plenty, helped defend. Great stuff.

Costa- 8 played like he had something to prove against his old team. To me he should have had a penalty, he was tripped.

Harrison- 6 worked hard but his passing wasn't to its usual standard.

Rodrigo- 6 had good moments but when wolves were on top in second half was playing too high for my liking. We looked better again when Pablo stayed in the number 10 spot.

Bamford- 6 worked hard but wasn't getting the crosses he has had in recent weeks. Great defending by wolves kept him out of the game.

Subs-

Poveda- 6 looked lively but not quite the threat as against City.

Pablo- 7 just did what Pablo does.

Raphina- 6 debut out of the way. One good cross in. Obvious talent.



Hard loss to take when played so well. Wolves have been one of the better attacking teams in the last few years but had to change their style to look more like a Burnley team.

Onto Friday.

 

Morning all. We have been beaten twice once against a team who got a two goal start and once with an outrageous deflection. The good news is Meslier is looking better with every game.

 

Meslier - 7 - Two very good saves but his long range passing needs to improve. Couldn't do anything about the goal.

Ayling - 6 - Good first half but really struggled in the second. Kept giving the ball away.

Koch - 8 - MOTM - Absolute steal for the price if he keeps his form up. Good passer, great at reading strikers and made some good challenges.

Struijk - 6 - Thought he played pretty well and is an adequate replacement for Cooper. Hopefully he was taken off as a precaution more than anything. Marked him down for the slip when the ball was played to Jimenez.

Dallas - 6 - Good game against some very good attackers but lost his man a couple of times. Was never going to be easy on his side but he's not going to play the same quality of wingers as he has in this opening 5 games every week.

Phillips - 5 - Not sure if its the England games or something else but he's probably had the worst start to the season out of all the players. By no means terrible however he just doesn't look himself at the moment. Taking too long on the ball and passing isn't up to his usual standard. Unlucky with the OG.

Costa - 5 - Looked a class act in the first half but was non existent in the second. Story of his season. He's going past players with his pace and trickery at some points but getting shoved off of the ball too easily at other points. Good to see Poveda and Raphinha as competition for his and Harrisons places.

Rodrigo - 7 - He is a class act, he just needs some of the other players to be on his wavelength. Made some good little clever passes that were wasted by his teammates.

Klich - 7 - Never stops running, always gives his all and attacks/defends very well. Integral to our system.

Harrison - 5 - Wasn't his game today. Crossing was poor, no end product and kept the ball for too long at certain points. Frustrating. At one point Rodrigo did a clever backheel to Harrison who should've drilled it into the box or stuck it on someone's head instead he hit it over everyone.

Bamford - 6 - Pressed well but didn't do much more. Hard day at the office for him. Should've done better with his chance earlier in the game. If we're going to do anything in this league you need to take the minimal chances you get.


Poveda - 5 - Didn't see a lot of the ball, hard to rate but can't give him more than Costa as I don't think he added more than Costa.

Hernandez - 6 - Tried to dictate the play but once Wolves were 1-0 up they were very solid and there weren't many gaps.

Raphinha - 6 - Looked sharp, quick and put a good ball into the box that could've ended in a goal. Decent debut. Looking forward to him getting more minutes.


Overall - Very good first half but a pretty poor second half. Should've taken one of our chances in the first half. Disappointing result against a good side that will be up there come the end of the season. Considering this we could've won the game and probably should've at least got a draw out of it. Unlucky goal to concede and on another day we win that game 1-0. Shame about the result but there were a lot of good things and decent performances to show that we will stay up and probably go a lot further than that if we can build on parts of this game.


Regarding the Lineker comment: Completely disagree. It wasn't as marginal as it was being made out. When I saw the replay it was pretty obviously offside.

 

Agree about the offside, as soon as I saw the freeze frame I knew it would be disallowed. I thought Phillips had a bad night, his passing was poor, gave the ball away numerous times but was unlucky with the goal. Apart from that I thought everyone played well, Wolves parked the bus for large parts of the game and we just didn't get the breaks to squeeze one in.

 

Stupid comment from Lineker regarding the offside. It was quite clearly off.

I know it doesn't change the result but var failed miserably by not sending off Jimenez. Look at the Son sending off last season.

Var has not fixed what it was brought in to do. It is still the same referees making the same bad decisions but now making bad decisions with the benefit of replays

 

I have often wondered why we even have an offside rule. What does it bring to the game except arguments and trouble. If there was no offside rule the game would be exactly the same as a team tries to put the ball into an opponents goal. If a team wants to push a player further up the pitch it means he leaves a space for someone to take. It would mean at worst defences set up nearer to their own goal?

 

When is Llorente back? with Koch a very good defensive team

 

Having an offside line 25/30 yards from goal has often been discussed and seems logical for me. The new rule could be as long as the attackers feet are behind the line he's onside. Scrap VAR and just let the linesman concentrate on offsides in that final third of play.

No offsides at all would result in too many balls into the mixer and a load of Andy Carrol type players fighting for the headers and knock downs.

Or just leave it as it is and scrap VAR anyway

 

Good morning,

If we play like that every week we’ll beat half the teams in this league and finish in a respectable mid table position.

As for the offsides I agree that some of the decisions are ridiculous when we’re talking about millimetres but last night his whole leg and foot was offside which to me was a good use of VAR. The failure to pick up the Jiminez kick out and Pickfords challenge in the Liverpool derby are far more worrying. If Koch had been as big a wuss as Jiminez it would’ve been a red card but integrity gets you nowhere.

 

I believe when offside was introduced it was praised for allowing more attacking football. The game had been criticised for becoming stale as defenders would hang back with the attackers and play became more like table football with very little movement. I’m not sure if it would revert back to that if we got rid of the offside rule but it would be interesting to see.

 

Positive changes to rules are few as we see many many more rule changes that have a negative impact on the game and most if these are recent bastardisations. One positive change was 3 points for a win, maybe we should have a rule that deducts pounts from teams who park the bus and spoil football or give 4 points for beating a team that parks the bus

 

I felt a lot of their players went down too easily and for too long. Refs have got to start booking these cheating bastards.

 

Morning all

We were good first half and certainly didn't look out of place against a decent Premier side. However, I will be honest and say that I thought Wolves were the better team on the night, or rather, cleverer team. They pretty much kept us at bay but carried a threat too.

On a positive note, Loser doesn't get to do a match report because a few (you know who) would have been hammered and I would have found it hard to disagree with him

 

Morning all. OK performance that's all. Could have nicked it but in truth we didn't do enough. Onwards to a big test on Friday

 

Two weeks

 

Just in time for the internationals again

 

I see the referee from last night has been removed from referee and var duties next weekend due to admitting to forgetting the rules.

This is not my trying to do a victimpool and blame the ref for our loss last night but there are a couple of questions.

Costa penalty? To me there was a clear trip obvious in the replay. The ref and commentators seemed to focus on a push which wasn't enough to give a penalty but var should have picked up the trip.

Ayling yellow card? Can anyone tell me what the card was for? Although he continued to play well for a defender to get a yellow so early it must change your mentality a bit.

The referee himself in his mannerisms and facial expressions annoyed me as well. He seemed to grin at every decision he gave, good or bad.

He had a look of someone who had won a competition to be a referee for the night. Now he has been stood down for not knowing the rules i feel annoyed.

 

Sorry the replay i saw costa played for it ith his foot placement. As for the ref where have you seen this please. Have you a link and what are the rules he forgot.