Tuesday August 19th, 2014 please log in to view this image Leeds United vs Brighton please log in to view this image Elland Road - K.O 19:45 [TABLE="width: 620, align: center"] [TR] [TD="width: 380, colspan: 3, align: left"]Tuesday night league curse? Surely not! While the performance might not have been one to make a DVD of, Leeds picked up 3 great points against Middlesbrough at the weekend, with a debut goal for new striker Billy Sharp. Question marks were raised further over some more of the players (Austin *cough*) but if we are picking up points while playing like that, we can allow a bit more restructuring time. Brighton make the long journey to Elland Road still searching for the first league goal and point under new boss Sami Hyypia. A win in the cup last week could have built some momentum but Birmingham quickly squashed those hopes with a 1-0 victory on Saturday. After losing Buckley and Ulloa in the summer, Brighton have lost some of their teeth in attack. We all know what Mackail-Smith is capable when fit though. Historically Leeds have edged this one, and the fixture usually favours the home side. Paired with some awful form from Brighton that should give Leeds fans some cause for optimism. Brighton will want to arrest this slump as soon as possible though, and that could prove extra motivation for the seagulls in this one.[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]Leeds Wins 16 Draws 11 Brighton Wins 11[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 4"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 4"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 4"][/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 200"]Leeds Form[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200"]Brighton Form[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 620, align: center"] [TR] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #006600, align: left"]W 1 - 0 Middlesbrough[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #880000, align: right"]Birmingham 1 - 0 L[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]Last Game[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #006600, align: left"]W 2 - 1 Accrington[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #006600, align: right"]Cheltenham 2 - 0 W[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]1 - 0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #880000, align: left"]L 2 - 0 Millwall[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #880000, align: right"]Sheff Wed 0 - 1 L[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]Brighton Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #006600, align: left"]W 2 - 0 Dundee United[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #880000, align: right"]Southampton 1 - 3 L[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]11/02/14 - AMEX Stadium[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #006600, align: left"]W 0 - 5 Glenavon[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #880000, align: right"]Peterborough 2 - 1 L[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 200, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 5"][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="width: 620, align: center"] [TR] [TD="width: 305"]Team News[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 305"]Damned's Starting XI[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: left"]Leeds please log in to view this image Gaetano Berardi (Suspended) New signing Bellusci should be included for this one after missing Saturdays fixture. Otherwise, the team will likely be unchanged. Brighton please log in to view this image Andrew Crofts (Suspended) Lewis Dunk and Shamir Fenelon could come into the squad after the weekends defeat, with Hyypia still experimenting to find his best squad.[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 320"] please log in to view this image [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 305, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"]Bookies Favourite Leeds Win 7/4 (Correct on 18/08/14)[/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 320"]The Damned Prediction 2 - 0 Leeds Win That's right. I'm all awash with optimism! Brightons bad form, and a bit of momentum building should see this one won.[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 305, bgcolor: #E0E0E0"][/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="width: 305"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0, align: left"]Key Stats There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Leeds's last 5 home games in Championship. Brighton have lost their last 4 matches in Championship. Leeds have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 home matches against Brighton in all competitions. [/TD] [TD="width: 10"][/TD] [TD="align: left"]The performance wasn't astoundingly good on Saturday, but we got a result. Austin gave possession away far too easily, and he may not feature. Brighton will be up for the game and desperately wanting the win, though that might lead to them committing too many men forward. I think we have enough about us to see off a low confidence Brighton side. Bellusci comes in alongside Pearce for me, with Warnock at LB after a good solid game. Austin drops to the bench for Tonge (and later Cook as a sub). Ajose, Doukara and Sharp remain my front 3 of choice.[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0, colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0, colspan: 3"]Have Your Say Surely Hunt won't be anywhere near the squad again, even with rotation? Will Hock go unchanged or mess with the team? Should Austin play? He tackled a lot, but gave the ball away more. Match Day Poll Have your say on the outcome. Poll now open until 5pm Tuesday[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="bgcolor: #E0E0E0, colspan: 3"][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
I'll be honest, despite Austin being poor in possession I'd keep him there until we either sign another DM or Cook steps up. We need someone to break up attacks effectively, think we'd be lightweight with the midfield you've chosen. Also just wanna say yet again that these threads are great
Cheers Josh, and on reflection I think you're probably right about the midfield I chose there. Maybe if Tonge was still a couple of years younger it would work better!
Great thread ... I would rather play Bianchi in the DM role as he can pass effectively from deep and get us moving forward quickly ... Cooper has to play, he was head and shoulders above Pearce on Saturday, therefore I think Bellusci will probably start on the bench ... Brighton will struggle if they don't replace Ulloa and Buckley, their two key players from last season, and we may just be playing them at the right time ... with Hunt being shopped around and Kenny gone, I think it shows that these wasters are done now, so it would be a shock if Hunt was anywhere near the stadium, then again, Doukara took a bad knock and may be out, so Hunt could easily come in on the right hand side, just saying
I agree Cooper was good on Saturday, but having two left footers in there trying to play their way out of the back caused us problems, so I would imagine we won't start that combination again. I might be wrong
Great thread but Cooper keeps his place for me and Benedicici should push for a start too in place of Tonge. Ajose needs to start performing as he'll soon lose his starting place especially if Bamford or Atnonucci arrives, plus we have Smith. Another win 3-1 for me and that keeps us in contention. A bigger test away at Watford on Saturday will be like a cup final for Cellino against his Udinese compatriots. I think he'll inform the Hock that he won't accept a bad performance there.
I agree it looked odd and we seemed to cause problems for ourselves but 2 right footed centre backs play with each other all the time in many teams in many leagues, in fact I've never heard of so much being spoken about which side of centre defence players play, surely its quite easy to rotate that.
If Bellusci's mainly right footed, he starts. If not, same back 4. As the Hock quite likes the diamond, I'd probably have Austin at the base, Bianchi at the top and Ajose/Murphy either side. Up top, I'd have Sharp and either Doukara or Smith. This is one we should win and win well, even if they do try to park a bus given their recent form. A comfortable 2-0, 3 if Billy's polished up his boots from Saturday.
please log in to view this image I think Bianchi would be overrun in the DM role; Austin provides cover for the full backs going forward. Bianchi and Murphy were starting to show signs of a good understanding on Saturday but they need to find more space to pick a pass. Ajose looked lightweight and I'd put Smith in with Sharp playing off him. Doukara needs some game time to adapt (as does Bianchi), but with Smith and Sharp holding the ball up, they should get more opportunities to hurt the defence.
Boggers, I don't take it as a diamond that Hock plays. Its a 4-3-3 almost exactly the same as the formation damned put up
Fir enough Josh. So long as Austin sits in front of the back 4 and Bianchi or Murphy sit in forward CM role, you can call it whtever you want.
Perhaps someone should be Josh. Mind you, as we're playing proper footy now, maybe we don't need someone ahead of the rest of the midfield. A 4-1-3-2 formation with Austin sitting in front of the back 4, a flat midfield 3, and Sharp/AN Other up top.
