Ok, I hated losing to Sunderland in the Cup, at least Bradford stuck mud in their eye ... now, on to my point ... in that game Redders selected his "B" team, or if not quite a second string the selection was based on resting certain players and giving those in the cold a run, and what a run! Suddenly Redders had a team that scrapped and fought and battled and were very unlucky not to get at least a replay ... Redders totally fluked a lineup that could lift Leeds away from the Lge One trap door, and this was proved when he continued with the likes of Murphy in the League What a blessing!! The Cup game forced Redders to rethink his team, and no Cup distractions meant Leeds could get on a run and maintain their good form ... so, a double whammy in our favour, and at least we have a team competing regularly rather than once every five games The key now is that Redders doesn't do anything silly, but so far it seems his Assistant has been a stabilising influence ... for me this recent run does not yet make Redders a good manager, so let's see where we are end of March and have another look ... right now I'd still prefer Redders in the Academy to keep the conveyor belt rolling, it's mega important to the club Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
If that really were the case then why is it only 4 players are playing in the league that started against sunderland (and one of those is the goalkeeper). Not saying it wasn't a decent lineup but I think your putting more importance into that game than there really was
And just to add on that, of those 3 outfield players he is playing regularly in the league now, one is taylor who he pretty much has no alternative option to play there. One is Austin who I would personally say doesn't warrant a start and I think mayeb around 60-70% of fans that I have spoken to would agree. The other is Murphy who has somehow turned his form around so good on him. Of the ones who did play in the FA Cup game who aren't getting a look in now, I would definitely like to see both Sloth and Antenucci start more games between now and the end of the season. I would also like to see more of Adryan and Montenegro who both reportedly played very well in that game (maybe as sub appearance as a way of giving them a chance to prove they are worth a start).
I agree in part Billy, the players selected made a bloody game of it and restricted a prem team to not only 1 goal, but also stopped them bossing the midfield. I also agree that Redders fluked it, he was forced / pressured into changing the formation and line up; I don't think even he expected the performance all the lads put in, but as usual, redders brought his favourites back and dropped others. The ones he dropped, Antenucci, Monty, Adryan, Sloth, Berardi, Del Fabro, funnily enough, all Cellino signings, and all played way above par in that game. There were 10 Cellino signings involved in that game. Wouldn't it be interesting if, or a realistic wonder to hazzard a guess at where we might have been now had Redders kept playing that team, my guess, higher in league; I'd probably change Austin though to get more shots on target. What's also interesting to note is, Redders was forced into changes for the Reading game too, which included Cellino signings Sloth, Bianchi, Bellusci, Silvestri and Bambi. The performance went up a gear and Bianchi was playing well till he got nobbled, then Sloth came on and took the game by the throat; slight exaggeration but close to it, then he dropped Sloth. I know I've said it a few times, but imo Redders has something against Cellino's signings, and it shows, it also shows his favouritism to his certain players too. I also agree with Josh's comments above. In regards to those two matches, when he played Cellino's signings the performances went up. Lets also include the 4 matches Redders had as temp which rendered 3 wins and a draw with Cellino's signings, and Redders not having to do much at all, the Blackpool win with 6 Cellino signings and the first Derby win with 7 Cellinos signings, it does tell a story, doesn't it.
I don't think its a case of outright Cellino's signings are better than everyone else at the club. I just think we haven't given many of em a run of games which some of their performances have definitely deserved. We really haven't had a steady side, pair that with the constant change of manager and all the Cellino business you can easily see why we have struggled this season. I know that makes a lot of excuses for the players they perhaps don't deserve but I'm gonna stick my neck out and say this squad needs very few improvements in the summer to challenge for promotion. Only balancing the squad is required imo. (getting rid of a couple CMs and getting a couple wingers and top quality lone striker). A real madrid fan (basically someone who watches zero championship) asked me how leeds were going this season the other day and asked me who our best player has been this season. Honestly couldn't answer, to me there has only really been 2 players that have even played enough games to be considered and that'd be Silvestri and Cook, shows how much we have chopped and changed the team about.
Hey'up Josh, I wasn't stipulating that Cellinos signings are better or worse, although I'm sure you'd agree it's an arguable subject, I was paying reference to the difference that was made when some Cellino signings were brought back in and how the performances went up a notch. During Redders temp role, and the first Derby game, we were scoring more goals from open play and for me our performances were better than they are now, with the Reading game an exception. I appreciate everyone having different opinions on Cellinos signings and Redders favourites, but when more Cellino signings were added they brought something different to the two games I mentioned, but then dropped, which shows Redders as contradicting what he said about playing well and merit. I agree Josh we've chopped and changed a lot, maybe there was something in what Pearce said about Redders not knowing his first 11 yet.
There is an underlying problem at the club, either in quality of signings or sticking with what/who Redfearn knows, maybe more so the players that respond to Redfearn and those that don't. Whilst we are winning and pulling away from the foot of the table it doesn't matter too much, it will be interesting to see which of those loan players we sign.
Think that everything depends on Cellino's state of mind at the end of the season ... for example, we know he loves Adryan and went to extreme lengths to sign him, and I don't think Cellino appreciates Adryan not playing ... think Cellino may well be changing managers again in the summer, with Redders going back to the Academy if he decides to stay at Leeds ... bottom line, Redders is not an exceptional manager, and won't be a force in the Prem, so no point in persisting with him ... problem of course is that Cellino likes unknown managers (read cheap) that he "turns into diamonds", so after Redders it could be anybody, including the current QPR boss (now that is hilarious) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Josh, I didn't say Redders has been picking the complete Sunderland lineup, just that it forced him into changes such as Murphy, so if it is four as you say, that's plenty ... the point is that BECAUSE of the unexpected performance from fringe players Redders needed a rethink that he hadn't bothered with before ... now he just needs to select a striker capable of scoring the chances Morison is wasting Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Point I was making is its not 4. Silvestri and Taylor would be playing right now regardless. Murphy has worked his way into the team and most are undecided by Austin to say the least
Ahh but... Redders wanted to keep Warnock and sell Wootton but Cellino pulled the plug on one and sold the other so maybe Taylor would not have been playing and maybe Byram would have remained at RB and even more so if it were not for the Sunderland experiment.
Scores after round 1 are, Ristac 1........Josh 1........Billystatue 1.......and Davy 1/2 a point for a question along the right lines......................
I still believe the arrival of Thompson has made a significant difference. Redders had already explained the difficulty he had in trying to coach the entire squad whereas now Thompson can take the defenders and work on them. If I'm honest I want Redders to stay in the summer. If he goes he'll be replaced by another Johnny nobody that knows nothing of the club. If he does go I'd only be happy with Gary Mac or Grayson as they would hit the ground running. We wasted months this season fecking around with coaches and dealing with the subsequent upheaval it caused. Don't need another fiasco of a start. Give Redders a full pre season and full season after I say
Hmmmm ... let's see .... tickets to see Millwall v Blackpool, should be a classic in Lge One next season Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
True, Glory. Perhaps when Eire's next over, you can put him through a truth test? It will involve you buying copious amounts of alcohol & throwing it down his neck. I'm sure in the interests of maintaining his integrity, he'll accede to your request.
