Morning Everyone, Leeds came from behind for a second consecutive game to win; this time against league 2 Chesterfield with goals from Brown and Poleon. Thoughts? The team was Kenny, Thompson, Lees, Pearce, Drury, Green, Norris (Murphy 59), Brown, White (McCormack 59), Poleon, Smith I'm please that some of the squad players had a run out, but what has happened to Dawson? He played once, at the back end of last season, and have not seen anything of him? Which team would you select v Leicester at the weekend, and why? \Would you expect McDermott to add to his squad before Sundays game at Leicester? Is everybody satisfied with the start to the season? Although two starts, some may say two scraped wins, others may say a win is a win?
Morning all. We have won all our competitive games this season.................. quite nice to be able to say that. I had the same thought, in both the opposition scored first. This is going to catch us out, there must be teams that know how to hang onto a 1-0 advantage. I still feel the centre of the defence is lacking, Lees may or may not have potential, right now we need someone in quick - do I expect BM to add a name by Saturday? - no; do I think he should? - yes. Expect team to be similar to v Brighton. But Austin is now available (I think - please don't tell me I got that wrong). Makes midfield an interesting dilemma. I would play him, question is who to drop - gotta dash, someone can tell me the answer! Bye
Morning - Two wins is always good and I do believe this team is at least three players short of where the manager wants it to be. I am not expecting promotion this season and with Byram possibly out for the majority of it his sale is no longer iminent. It would be nice to improve on last season, it would be nice to add a couple of new faces, even one before the window closes and another come January. It would be nice to see Poleon continue to improve enough to become a regular. It would be nice to get through the season without any embarrassing 5 goal drubbings. So far so good..
Yes we won, so a good habit at the moment, but as has been mentioned earlier, we went behind again. We were playing Chesterfield, so why wasn't Hall playing? He played White but gather he wasn't fantastic yet again. We all know and so too does BMD that we are crying out for some pace on the flanks, from someone who can deliver killer ball for Smith. hall is now very obviously a waste of money so needs to be gone.
Morning all. Not sure why Hall didn't get on last night, as he was on the bench and we had a 6ft plenty chappie crying out for the ball to be put on his head. That said, we did win and Smith did get a few chances. As to Dawson, wasn't he playing in the BCD game earlier in the day? If not, maybe BMD is looking to loan him out to get him game time. As I've said before, he also needs to bulk up some what, especially if he isn't going to get flattened in the championship. Leicester this weekend. Kenny will clearly start in goal. Back 4 of Peltier, Lees, Pearce, and Warnock if he's fit. Midfield diamond of Murphy, McCormack at the head, Norris, and Austin at the base. Poleon and Varney up top. SUBS BENCH: Ashdown, Pugh, Drury, Brown, Hunt, Smith, Hall. Who have I missed out? Possibly Green instead of Pugh.
Good start to the season, I'm not really bothered going a goal down once we get something out of the game. I know White has his critics, but IF his final ball had been better people may have had a better opinion of him, Smith for all his chances didn't take them, but no one gets on his back. I think Smith will be used as a sub a lot, but he'll be good in that regard. Leicester will be another test and this time it's away and on TV, just hope our defense doesn't get found out and we get a hammering, that would burst the feel good factor bubble a bit.
Morning all. Decent start to the season. White and Hall have no future with us so get rid now and save two wages. What will be of interest to me is how we will handle our first defeat whenever that arrives. Clearly McD has instilled a certain amount of confidence in the team. Too often, in recent seasons, when we lost a game, we would lose three or four. Ive a feeling that might be different with McD. Also curious to see how we handle the second half of the season. Previously, we seem to get most of our points before xmas so hopefully, having a different quality manager now, will see an improvement there. Being brutally honest, I believe McDermott is a class above both Grayson and Warnock. Having recently read Warnocks book, he really was a first class tool
If we carry on looking at the positives, we could be responsible for the first manegerial casualty of the season this weekend. Leicester 1 - Leeds Utd 5 - Pearson sacked
Another positive - and I like positives - 50,000 watched us play our first two competitive games. I doubt anyone on the Championship were watched by more than 30,000. The gap between us and the rest is huge (pity can't say the same so confidently about the team)
Morning all From listening to the game last night it really did sound like Smith had a torrid time of it. I can see his utility as a sub to change up the game, but I also think he just needs a goal to give his confidence a bit of a kick. White sounded like he was playing a blinder in everything except for his final ball, so I agree with Shaks on that one, if he had gotten some better quality crosses in then people would have been singing his praises. BUT how long do we wait for him to work out how to cross it, or play that telling pass. We've given him plenty of chances now, and my loyalty to "give him a chance" has fallen by the wayside now. I wouldn't push for him to be sold, but I wouldn't be bothered if he was either. I think Hall not featuring is a clear sign that he will be going out on loan at the very least. I can't believe he wasn't tested against League Two opposition in a game that sounded like we were crying out for some proper width. If McDermott is going to keep persevering with the diamond, even though he said himself he doesn't particularly like it, then there isn't a place in there for Hall anyway really. I think Austin will be a guaranteed starter now that he is available again, and I think he'll be at the base of the diamond on Sunday. One good thing though (and people who were at the game correct me if I'm wrong) but the fans didn't seem to get on the backs of White and Smith even though things weren't going their way.
Having Austin at the base of the diamond with Brown or AN Other to com on after an hour or so would give us so many options. Austin, having finally had a bit of a break between seasons, will confirm that he really is a box to box player who is more than capable of anchoring the midfied as well as getting up to support the attack as and when required. With Murphy one side and possibly a fit Diouf on the other, the team is starting to take real shape. This would then leave us with McCormack at the head of the diamond and Varney/Poleon up front. Not too shabby a side, especially if Hall and White finally come good off the bench and Smith/Hunt come off the bench to give Varney and Poleon a break.
It sounded like Tonge had a decent game against Brighton, so I'd be tempted to go Austin at the base, Murphy and Tonge then Ross at the head. That leaves Green to come off the bench in any one of those positions and give us fresh legs
I'd play the same team tbh let Austin come on later if needed. Tonge was immense alongside Murphy and Green (although **** last night) was solid Saturday
Who says it has to be a diamond? Wasn't it more like this on Saturday: ------------ Varney---------- --McCormack--------Hunt---- -----Tonge--Murphy--Green-- Warnock--Lees--Pearce--Pelts ------------Kenny------------ I would go with something like this on sunday, provided Austin is fit. ------------Varney----------- McCormack--------------Hunt --------Murphy--Green------- -------------Austin----------- Warnock--Lees--Pearce--Pelts -------------Kenny----------- Ross and Hunt to cut inside as two inside forwards to support Varney in the box. Murphy and Green bombing forward from midfield. There's surely some goals in that sort of formation?? Maybe swap Austin with Green? Then we have Tonge, Poleon, Smith et al to bring on to change things up
