This was a hard fought game for Leeds, but it was a derby, and derby's always seem to be tough. Looked to me Barnsley came out the traps looking to stop us playing our normal passing game by stifling, harassing and choking our play, during first half it looked like they achieved quite a lot of their intentions. Second half saw Leeds up a gear, I wouldn't say a couple of gears, but definitely up a gear. We began to slowly control the game during second half, but Barnsley weren't going to roll over and play dead, they threatened us on the break quite a few times, good defending and a good performance by Kiko kept us a clean sheet.....................Didn't most, except a few of us want Kiko gone last season.....maybe I imagined it. A good cross from Phillips from a dead ball situation saw Nikita fly towards the post and slot the pass home past the Barnsley keeper.....I think after that goal I saw a few Barnsley heads drop. Our second goal again involved Nikita when he was tripped inside the penalty area, although the ref took a few seconds to make up his mind, he eventually awarded the penalty. Klich stepped up, and calm and cool as you like slotted the ball left side past the keeper who was busy diving to his right. Hard fought game, and all credit to Barnsley for never giving up, I think fitness played its part in the final 2-0 result. Now, The fact Nikita comes on and scores shows that Bamford isn't up to it as a striker. There's nothing worse than to watch your sub come on and play better than you and score. Bamford has watched that a couple of times. When Bamford was subbed, according to the commentators Bamford told Bielsa he got it wrong, and they said it during the match commentary. Apparently that type of attitude is one of Bielsa's pet hates. Bamford is a nearly striker, he's there to score goals, not nearly score goals. He doesn't have the umph that Nikita has, nor does he have the pace of Nikita, and Nikita is hungry to score goals, Bamford just seems to plod along. Easy to say he holds the ball up etc etc etc, but people were saying same thing about Morison, and besides, other players were holding the ball up as well. IMO, Phillips was tiring during last third, he didn't seem to able to get back fast enough most of time. When a Barnsley player got round him he was left trying to keep up. Phillips ain't a corner taker, when he over hits the ball our attack is not setting itself up for a over hit corner, his long crosses are same, most times they are too long or don't reach their target. Giving Phillips some credit, his cross for Nikita to score was a good cross, but as Emu (I think said it) 1 good cross out of 8 or 9 attempts doesn't make him a set piece specialist. Sorry to disagree 64, but Phillips will never play for England. He doesn't read a game too well, lacks pace, crossing and long passes aren't up to scratch and he gets caught out quite a lot. Harrison, I think his time is limited on left, how he missed that sitter that hit the post is anyone's guess. Alioski is a much better crosser of the ball than Harrison and Phillips put together. People should take the time to watch how Alioski kicks his crosses, both from a moving ball and a dead ball situation, he measures it with the amount of force he puts behind the ball. Granted, he doesn't get every ball right, what player does, but around 70 to 80% of the time he puts in good crosses. Right now we're a good team playing good football, but teams have worked us out. Don't be surprised if more teams during season try to stifle our passing game and then try to beat us on the quick break. Barnsley aren't the only ones to have tried it this season so far. Enjoy. Short highlights......again. VLOG highlights Bielsa post match, how many translators has he got.
