The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 15th February)

This seasons results v lower league teams in the Premiership

West Brom 1 Man U 1
Man U 1 Sheff U 2
Fulham 1 Man U 2
Burnley 0 - Man U 1
Man U 2 Villa 1
Man U 1 Wolves 0
Sheff U 2 Man U 3
Man U 1 West Brom 0
Brighton 2 Man U 3
Man U 1 Crystal Palace 3
Villa 1 Man U 0

 

I see you're on the uppers TBF Narcos, I think a lot of us are disappointed because going into this game arse weren't exactly setting the league a light. Regardless of Bielsa's positional changes, he can't legislate for our keeper gifting them goals.

 

Van Dyke out and Liverpool are a shadow of what they were. As Marcos said we're missing 2 international CB, an international DMF and a Spanish international number 9.
In the 2nd half with even more of our first team replaced we won 2-1.
The world didn't end, many teams above us dropped points. I'm not looking at the relegation zone any more.
Imagine how good we'd be with our full strength team out.

 

The disappointment definitely lies in the fact that this was a very winnable game against a team below in the league who were on a poor run. To put on such a poor performance in that first half is a real kicker.

In a realistic world we should be expecting nothing from these sort of games. Season target was survival and of course this was the most important thing but as the season as progressed this has changed. We have shown we are capable of giving anyone a game and so when we don't it hurts.

 

Morning all, and good to see you back Elland.

While I'd never criticise Bielsa for anything after what he's done for us, it's frustrating that he cannot deal with Phillips being out without completely messing about with the defence. I knew as soon as I saw the lineup yesterday that it wouldn't end well. Good fightback in the second half though.

 

Arsenal have better players available to them than Leeds did, thats just a fact. So on paperArsenal will win, but our coach was out-coached too in the first half too. The 2nd half was better because the coach did his job and also the players stepped up their energy levels to thwart the arsenal players. We also managed to bring back from the dead a striker who has been shyte since signing his new contract and he got his first hat-trick.

We had 4 International players missing and still havent been able to field our best team this season, not once, so on paper we will always struggle

 

I thought the young lad Huggins did well for the time he was on. I've watched him a few times in the u23s and he's a very tricky, skillful and fast player.

 

Huggins on the bench today so we should get to see him in then2nd half with luck. Gelhardt starts but Sam Greenwood injured.

players to watch today
Drameh
Kenneh
Cresswell
Gelhardt
Summerville
Huggins if he comes on
Allen if he comes on as he s a future Captain and just a baby from Ireland

 

Same here.

Huggins came on and played midfield, then switched to right back and then finally over to left back. That's some debut, 3 positions in about half an hour and he did fine in all of them. Thought he looked sharp, quick to the ball when needed and hopefully we'll see more of him in the coming weeks.

Only 18 as well...so please everyone remember that when pulling his performances to pieces

 

Well said, meslier is a chick in age to be considered first team choice, keepers more experienced than the kid have dropped clangers recently.....so cut them some slack or you could cut them up before they've started....Huggins looks a real prospect, so let's root for him not roast him

 

I have come to the conclusion that Ayling would fill the Phillips role better than the rest. Struijk and Cooper were doing well enough as a pair, so leave them alone till Koch or Llorente are back.

 

Spot on Jammy. He looked calm and relaxed on the ball.

 

Leeds looks nice and sunny today. Pitch looks well.

 

Well put and as Doc says Arsenal simply have better players & so they should have, I would imagine their squad costs about four times as much as ours.

Absolutely get the disappointment, I was gutted, particularly because all of the in-laws are Gooners and I got predictable stick. However, I said to Ben afterwards, it has been so easy to forget that I expected loads of games like that this season, as everyone says the gap between the EPL & Championship is massive and getting bigger each season. The disappointment is a massive compliment to how well we have done, so thank you yet again Marcelo from me

It's funny isn't it, we got ran ragged second half by Newcastle, held on, outplayed Leicester and won, outplayed Everton and lost, been outplayed for 50 minutes by Arsenal and staring at a battering but then outplayed them for 40 minutes. I'll take that for the rest of the season but I think the old ticker could do with a few high quality summer additions so we don't look like conceding every time the opposition have the ball when we are not on our A game!

 

I was about to say what an entertaining 0.0 game I'm watching with the u23s, when then we go and score 2 quick goals. Some lovely football being played by both sides. Summerville has been brilliant IMO, the pace of the lad is frightening and fair play to his defensive duties.

 

The kids are 2-0 up against a top Reading team. 0-0 up to the last 5 minutes and Gelhardt has scared their defence to death and should have been given 3 penalties but no luck. Liam McCarron got the first after a great cross from Summerville and McKinstrey the 2nd after winning the ball in midfield, Gelhardt taking over and putting it back into McKinstreys path to fire home.

 

Full time
Leeds 3-0 Reading
Oals from McCarron, McKinstrey, McKinstrey and 2 assists from Gelhardt. Best performers were Kiko, Kenneh, Cresswell, Drameh, McCarron, McKinstrey and Gelhardt.

Gelhardt replaced in the hour by Max Dean, Huggins replaced Davies but only one flash of brilliance today, young Charlie Allen replaced Jack Jenkins but the second half was a war and scrappy but 13 points clear now for Leeds unless Stoke win tonight. Reading actually beat us earlier in the season and are our main challengers for the title

 

I was back before Forshaw!!!

 

Aye, and just as useless!

Welcome back Ell. Still under the weather, or back to your best?

 

A lot of finger-pointing & blame going on here. And some useful points from those in the real world too, who appreciate just how lucky we've been this season. (And yes, we've made a lot of our own luck).

First of all, Bielsa says that Arteta prepared for the match better than him. Can't see anyone arguing about that, or can we?

Secondly, who honestly believes we would have been better with Phillips playing? I don't. Looking at the goals lost, I can't see him influencing any of those. We've been clobbered like this before with him playing.

Next, you'll love this - me defending Costa! Why is he getting lambasted for losing us a goal? He didn't in the match I watched - nor when watching MotD to confirm. Roberts could & should have cleared it. He was in position & facing their goal. Should have been a doddle to pass or lump. But no, he abdicates responsibility & dumps Costa in it. Costa was facing his goal with 3 arses surrounding him & no-one available to pass to. I have every sympathy with him. Roberts was the guilty party, yet he gets the plaudits & Costa gets pished on.

As for Roberts, one swallow does not a summer make. So he looked a bit interested for the first time this year. Hardly first choice material imo, & has a long way to go before he is good enough & consistent enough to have the honour of playing for us. I would play kids before him any day.