I thought we started off brightly but in the main I think this was down to Leeds diamond formation, we saw this when we used to play it under Jewell where far to much space was left down the flanks for the fullbacks, with Cresswell causing problems down the left. I was impressed with the number of people in the box when the balls went in the box. The game changed for me was when Leeds went to a flat 442 and meant our only creative player (Cresswell) didn't have as much room. We conceded 2 unlucky goals to be fair, not a great deal we could do about them but a real weakness I've noticed about McCarthy is when we go behind, for me he doesn't either make the changes quick enough or change it around to change the direction of the game. I'm not the biggest fan of the style Micks teams play but it works and he's good at it he just doesn't seem good enough when we go behind. Today I couldn't understand why a) we stayed 442 and b) why we took Tabb off for Tunicliffe, I think Hyam should've gone off and certainly should've at least tried a more attacking formation. Also I like Skuse but in a 442 he needs to do a bit more going forwards, then in the second half Mick pushed him right up as the furthest forward, not sure why he did this because although as I said he needs to do more going forward, the position he was in second half meant we lost his ability to keep the ball and also he's not that good in those positions. Also I like the fact our CB's attack the ball but whats the point off trying to head the ball as far up the pitch as possible Player Ratings LOACH: Not alot to do, didn't do alot wrong - 6 HEWITT: Did okay, not a great performance but he's only young and can definitely grow into the position and can only get this with experiene - 6 CRESSWELL: Good performance going forward in the first half, did nothing wrong defensively either - 8 CHAMBERS: Another good performance, looks captain material for me - 8 SMITH: decent enough off the ball but poor with the ball - 6 EDWARDS: As usual didn't do alot wrong but neither did he do anything worthwhile - 6 TABB: Thought he had a good game, don't know why he was taken off over Hyam, for me he should really be playing centrally with Skuse, although not sure who would then play LM -8 HYAM: Poor game but I feel the position he plays we are not playing to his strengths, for me he is more of a defensively minded player who just keep things simple, breaks up play with the odd foray into the box but we're asking him to try and play further up the field and more purposeful than he's comfortable - 5 SKUSE: Started off well and is a good player but in a 442 he needs to do more in an attacking sense, far too often he sat back when we were going forwards rather than trying to get involved in the play and offering himself for the ball. Second half he was poor but it looked like Mick tried to play him further up the pitch, not sure why he did this as he had no effect on the game after this - 6 MCGOLDRICK: Showed some decent touches and a good goal but he's a second striker who does most of his work outside the box, needs a more mobile penalty box partner but this would then mean we'd have to play football on the floor all the time - 7 MURPHY: Didn't really do alot but then he didn't really have alot to work with, he's pretty average, would again probably be more effective if he had a penalty box striker next to him, where he's used as the foil - 6 TUNICLIFFE: Looked okay when he came on, certainly looks a good player and I think currently if Skuse plays would be a better partner for him than Hyam -7 ANDERSON: Forgot he was playing for the most part - 5 NOUBLE: Didn't do alot - 5 IN SUMMARY: Looked decent enough when we're drawing or ahead, we look solid and hold our shape fairly well playing some decent football but we look a poor team when we're behind and need to take the initiative
" We conceded 2 unlucky goals to be fair, not a great deal we could do about them " I could have saved the second one!!!! " LOACH: Not alot to do, didn't do alot wrong - 6 " Cost us a stupid goal, put us on the backfoot at the start of the second half. If that isn't doing something wrong, I don't know what is. He even admitted after the game it was his fault for the goal! Don't mind him hugely, but Gerkin to start the next game please. Good keeper. " SKUSE: Started off well and is a good player but in a 442 he needs to do more in an attacking sense " I'm from Bristol, and have watched Skuse LOADS over the years. His strength is not the attacking sense, however, it's keeping the ball ticking over, winning headers etc, and letting others player. To get the most from Skuse, who I thought was very good today, we need more from the midfield. At the moment, Skuse isn't playing anywhere near to his maximum due to the rest of the midfield being average at best ( Tabb ) and very poor in the other two starters ( Hyam and Edwards ). Give Skuse some movement, and he will be a fantastic player for us.
I haven't seen the replays but I thought there wasn't too much Loach could do with the 2nd goal, though I'll have to see it again!! Looked like it took a deflection to me!! Skuse is a good player, I'm not saying he should be a complete attacking player, it's just at times I've felt when we were attacking he rather than just sitting back he needs to push up abit and get a bit more involved rather than thinking 'oh we're attacking now I'll sit back and leave them to it', I'd like to see him just offer himself as an option in the attacking half a bit more particularly in a 442. I've no problem him playing the role he does if we either played a 3 man midfield or a 5 man midfield but when you've only got 2CMs I think he could do more in the opponents half as it leaves the other CM alot to do.
Were all over us for the first 25 minutes, after we equalized you completely collapsed, it seemed like we were first to every free ball. One player I would definitely take from your team is Cresswell, a class act.
I arrived quite early around 14:00 as I have a long way to drive and can never rely on the traffic. So I got to watch quite a bit of the warm up right in front of me. Loach was clearly out of sorts letting far too many in and getting upset about it, so it came as no surprise to me when he was beaten by what appeared to be a saveable shot. I was so angry after that game, to take the lead yet go on to lose at home is hard to take.
Yeah definitely watch the replays itfcptc, the second goal was beyond bad. Cresswell's a good player yeah, looking rather out of place with us it has to be said.
After watching the replay, I'm still not 100% sure Loach could do a great deal about it, although it was a small deflection it was enough to wrong foot him, I think the goal he conceded against Reading was worse but then I'm not an expert in goalkeeping!! Also watching the highlights, it makes you realise Cresswell is currently head and shoulders above anyone in our team, I get the feeling if there are many more performances like this, he won't be around for very long. I've never known a team to rely so heavily on a LB before!!
Very much like the game at PR a few seasons back, the one where there was a torrential thunderstorm just before kick-off. Leeds in control for the first half hour or so, then comes the sending off and it all changes. Cue deflected looping drop into the goal in the 85th minute and I know how you feel lol
