Match Day Thread West Brom v Leeds Utd Match Thread

I’d keep giving Rodrigo and Raphinha as much game time as possible. New country, new club, new footballing culture, it’s a huge learning curve for both. Next season I’d hope and expect to see a huge improvement from them both and as this is a season with little expectation and the only aim is don’t get relegated let’s just keep improving them both.

We need Bielsa to commit to next season and get some summer targets lined up. I’m not bothered by January if I’m being honest.

 

Sunday highlighted the good and bad of our season for me. First half, all the flicks and through balls made us look like Brazil. 4-0 (4-1 perhaps) wouldn’t have been unfair if Alioski, Harrison and Rodrigo had slightly more composure. Second half we could hardly pick a pass and did well to hold on, completely overrun apart from Meslier and the back 3.

 

have to disagree with you there... I don’t think bielsaball is about high risk in that sense. It’s about possession being the best form of defence and overloading the opposition with numbers. Giving the ball away by being caught in possession or high risk flicks in that phase of play isn’t what bielsa’s game is about. Yes we’ll ping first time passes in tight situations but most are very well practised set plays and it falls apart if someone doesn’t do their job. When Raph and rod get better at that and choose their moments better... and after more time with bielsa I’m sure they can... we’ll be better for it.

 

honestly I thought we were poor in the first half. We had no flow to our attacking and the for the most part the clear chances we got were down to bad defensive errors on their part.

the pitch is shocking and didn’t help either side, but the performance was nothing like our fluent best.

2nd half they pressed us high up the pitch and we couldn’t string a pass together. Positive was how well we stuck to the task defensively.

can’t play great every game... and for most of this season we’ve played some great stuff. Fingers crossed we’re back to our best against the joys of big Sam ball.

 

You are probably right and certainly agree about the pitch. Doesn’t change the fact we could have been hammering a well established PL team and then turned to mush. Alioski made a poor decision to shoot and Harrison was unlucky (although it happens so frequently it probably isn’t down to luck).

Suspect the key tonight is to take a couple of chances when they come and try to avoid the stupid free kicks we love give in dangerous areas.

 

Shaks is back in the room

 

Burnley are one of those teams that play one way and would make any side that try and play football the way IMO it should be played, look ordinary. Just like playing Sheff Utd, a horrible game to watch. People have to remember that we played a well establish Premiership side, while we had three of our defence out, have a small squad and the players who played were a lot of the ones that got us promoted. I didn't realise what a bunch of whingeing bastards Burnley were, from their manager down through their team. Regarding their goal that the ref blew up before it went in. I thought Meslier was watching the ball all the way and he didn't foul the attacker. But we roll on and another three points would be nice. The one thing I've noticed is that we can't strike the ball on target.

 

Anyone know anything about Jenkins on the bench?

 

This is spot on. You need to take your chances. Personally I think 2 will be enough.

The archetypal football vs anti-football. For the sake of the game, Bielsa has to win today.

 

Come on Super Leeds!!!!

 

Afternoon all

Hope we will play better than our last game

Cooooooome oooooon Leeeeeeeds

 

Yyyyyeeeeeeeesssssss

 

That was a lovely goal

 

goallllllllllllllllll

 

sign him up

 

Black own goals matter

 

That was a cracker! Hahah

 

Trying to watch on Amazon Prime but constant buffering makes it impossible to watch. The one frigging time I take the time to watch live and this happens

 

I thought West Brom might score first, lol

 

What's that rule of never pass a ball back directly at goal, oops lol