Believe me, before I start this article, I have to reconfirm I am one of those who doesn't think this squad is good enough, so regard what BM is doing with them as little short of miraculous. Its a bit like the scientists and the bumble bee - they have proved conclusively the damn thing can't possibly fly, but it bloody well keeps buzzing around their heads. Anyway, here goes. I think most people would agree BM made a big change in the international break before the Brum game, and addressed his failure (GFH's failure?) to get a good winger or two on board, by going for the 5 at the back/wingback approach. Before the Brum game, we had the following stats: played 11, in which we had: Scored 10, conceded 13, points 14. In terms of "per game" that is: 0.9 goals per game, conceded 1.2 goals, earned 1.3 points. We now stand, after 15 games: Scored 22, conceded 18, points 23. In terms of "per game" that is: 1.5 goals per game, still conceded 1.2 goals, earned 1.5 points. So we have upped our scoring rate, held the goals against the same as before, and as a result improved the points per game. Perhaps more importantly, the result in the last 4 games since BM tried the wingback approach: played 4, scored 12 (3.0 a game), conceded 5 (1.2 a game), points 9 (2.2 a game) It all looks positive to me, but is it a turning point? Can BM continue to make the flightless bumblebee that is the Leeds squad soar with the eagles? My view is not that the wingback approach is the perfect formation, but that its evidence that BM can get the best out of whatever he has to work with - takes him a while, but eventually he works it out. Some more evidence of his good management skills - a few games ago he was making the point of how players like Pugh and Brown were covering themselves in glory in training, true professionals, blah blah blah - so when he has to use them because of injuries, they are up for it. Classy management, I'd say. Whats your Opinion?
Today's result was a very good one although if you are to believe commentators and stats the result flattered us but an away win is an away win against a team who were right around us mid table. Since the break we have played teams in the bottom half of the table, turning point or the quality we have been up against laterly?? We shall see come the end of the season. Our last 7 games we have won 4 Lost 3 the wins Charlton 19th Birmingham 18th Bournemouth 14th Yeovil 24th The defeats Millwall 20th Huddersfield 15th Derby 9th Just one game against a team in the top 10 and we lost it. I wouldn't get too excited yet...
Can't see us getting to play offs still but most enjoyable season this year for quite a while. No thrashings and already scored four twice and not yet a third of a season gone yet. Class manager with f all resources
Agree ... McD knows his stuff ... this is his FASTEST start as a manager, so yes he does take time to work his players out ... good man manager and motivator, not like that clueless Colin
Turning point, I think it's a general thing,got rid of bates, Got rid of gobshite warnock. New owners?jury out. New manager,doing good. Need better players,1or 2 quality could tip the scale. Feeling a lot better about things,work in progress.
Turning point? It's when you move from a system that would ensure we won more than we lost, just, to a system that almost guarantees us goals. Going from diamond to 352 is sheer genius. With Pugh filling in well yesterday at LWB confirms two things; 1. Warnock has real competiton at LWB, & 2. White has lost his chance to impress & should now be sold. Yesterday, Charlton's first goal was impressive. Their 2nd was as a result of poor defending by us. Couldn't see who was responsible. But as the only thing that really went wrong yesterday, I'll take that. I said on here that I thought we'd scrape home, but that Ross might be pi%%ed off for not getting into Scotland's team. I got there more by luck than judgement, but how stupid must Strachan now feel?
Just watched the highlights on fl show, looked like Lees was the player who was particularly made a monkey for for the second goal, I am (genuinely) sorry to say
Don't forget that Charlton had no conceded a goal in 7 hours of open play this could be a turning point for us only the next 8 games will we tell then we will have played all the teams in the league.At present anyone can get a top 2 spot as per yesterdays results though I must say QPR have a very strong squad Burnley only need to get a couple of injuries and the wheels will come off.Leicester always lead to January then the nerves set in and the scrape into a playoff spot .Forest for me stand out Blackpool will end up mid table sqad not good enough Reading are not that good so I expect Watford to mount a challenge along with Derby AND WIGAN
Only seen the Charlton second goal once, but we had three players round the player with the ball and 4 in the middle, none of whom marking the guy coming through. Will have a look at it again, biut find it difficult to blame any one player in that, just appeared to be a snafu
