Match Day Thread Leeds Utd v Middlesbrough

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Scoreline: Leeds Utd v Middlesbrough (2VOTES EACH)


  • Total voters
    11
  • Poll closed .
Boro will take 3 points off most of the main teams so our point tonight was big. It also highlights that we are not a flash in the oan and can shove back when shoved. Bielsa has Plan A and knows if you stick to Plan A you win points, so he will only do like for like changes, he will keep going with the same plan which should keep clean sheets but create goals. He said that last week in an interview.

Saiz could have been a hero tonight but too many times his final ball was wrong or missed. Thats the difference between him and a top top player. No criticism because there will be plenty of times his final ball comes off we score.

I would have swapped Roofe for Bamford at half time but thought Harrison played well and cant wait for one of his efforts to go in because more will follow

Doc, any chance of you making the meetup on 22nd?
 
Lot of long balls. Little service to Roofe. They will be happy with the point. Lots of fans happy with the result. Not sure I am but the boss says it was a fair result.

Mate, agree, I thought if there was to be a winner it should have been us, we played more long balls that usual, so it must have been Bielsa's game plan to mix it up and keep them guessing.

Having said the we go into the break top, and Boro haven't been able to bully us into submission. Last year we would have lost.

All good for me. <ok>

Oh, and Assombalonga £15m will be having Berardimares. <laugh>
 
Should take a look at your VPN settings mate I'm in OZ so get the following times you are in England so the times should be right

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Thought we were easily the better team, even though we were below par, Boro are just a bunch of big dirty bastards, Ayala being the main culprit, how he stays on the pitch for a full 90 minutes is a mystery
Cooper is still a ****ing liability and is gonna cost us dearly as the season goes on
 
My blog and photos from the Boro game can be viewed on the following link http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/leeds-united-v-middlesbrough-31st-august-2018-at-elland-road
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Leeds United v Middlesbrough 31st August 2018 at Elland Road

As my granddaughter Laura and I headed to Elland Road for the near sell out clash, I found I literally had to drag myself there. It was a real effort as I felt that bad but I realised that work overload issues had affected me more than I’d have ever thought. With the Peacock buzzing and everyone in high spirits, I knew that my Leeds United family and team would come to the rescue. To the lad in the Peacock who hadn’t found my Stoke photos, the link to them is here http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/stoke-city-5th-august-2018-at-elland-road so hopefully you will find the photo you are looking for. With my daughter Dani as well, we headed into the ground early as we knew there would be queues. My friends Sue and Paul were still stuck in traffic at that point so hopefully they made it for kick off.

The team were: Peacock-Farrell, Berardi, Ayling, Cooper, Klich, Alioski, Saiz, Roofe, Harrison, Phillips and Douglas. Subs were: Jansson for Berardi (88), Bamford for Roofe (90) and Dallas for Harrison (90+2). The game ended in a 0-0 draw which saw Leeds remain at the top of the league going into the International break. Attendance was 35,417 with 2,322 Boro fans.

Today was always going to be a tough one with this top of the table clash with Boro being in second place. I wasn’t sure how this would go as all the talk was of Boro having some very tall players in their side. I liked what Bielsa had to say in his press conference though, he comes across very humble but is looking at what he has to do to try and win the game and it is very refreshing to hear him speak. I knew then that we may do something different at times tonight. As the game kicked off, I thought at times we looked a bit nervous and we started to do the long ball as well as our passing being a bit short. I thought we needed to play to our strengths and pass the ball between us and once we settled down, I thought we handled the game very well. We had another atrocious referee who was booking our players left, right and centre whereas a Boro player actually got booked for dissent rather than the foul. One foul on Harrison should have warranted a card but lo and behold that one was play on. With the whole ground in good voice, it lent to the atmosphere which was great to hear from a packed Elland Road. Peacock-Farrell made a great save from Jonny Howson and then we had Ayling’s header kicked off the goal line. When Roofe went down in the penalty area the ref waved play on. At half time I was told that both teams should have had a penalty although I couldn’t remember a specific incident for Boro.

The second half continued with end to end football. Boro were proving tough opposition which wasn’t unexpected and I was hoping our fitness levels would get us there in the end. Peacock-Farrell made a great save to deny them and Harrison had a great shot that went just wide. I thought he played very well today as there had only been flashes of brilliance against Preston on Tuesday. Game time I’m sure is what he has been lacking. We started attacking a lot and with one move, Saiz had the ball and should have sent a first time ball out to Alioski on the wing next to him. Unfortunately he kept hold of the ball for longer than he needed and when he did pass it, Alioski had strayed offside. I thought we were going to stick with the same team and not bring on any subs. When Berardi went down injured in the penalty area in front of the South Stand, the trainer didn’t come on to the pitch and he carried on. He didn’t last long after that and as I saw him limping, Bielsa was already on it and Jansson was coming on to the pitch to replace him. With the last kick of the game, we won a free kick just outside the box but weren’t able to put the ball into the net. What celebrations there would have been if it had gone in? As it was we had to settle for a point but I was happy to take that. We remain unbeaten going into the International Break and then we head to Millwall where last year they kicked our unbeaten run into touch.

After seeing that the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) will be the club’s Charity of the Year for the 2018/19 season all I can say is, this is a worthwhile charity and I look forward to seeing how Leeds United support them over the season. As my daughter Charlotte died from congenital heart disease at 17 days old, I know exactly what families go through and wouldn’t wish the pain on anyone. If she’d have been sent to Leeds at the time, there was the chance she would have been able to live a normal life. Sadly she never got that.

See you at Millwall, LUFC – Marching on Together!


Heidi Haigh – A fanatical Leeds United supporter of over 50 years

Author of the following books:

Follow Me and Leeds United

Once a Leeds fan, Always a Leeds fan

Co-author with Andrew Dalton of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of Leeds United

The Sleeping Giant Awakens, Leeds United 2016-17

OUT NOW! Back to Reality, Leeds United 2017-18
 
Mate, agree, I thought if there was to be a winner it should have been us, we played more long balls that usual, so it must have been Bielsa's game plan to mix it up and keep them guessing.

Having said the we go into the break top, and Boro haven't been able to bully us into submission. Last year we would have lost.

All good for me. <ok>

Oh, and Assombalonga £15m will be having Berardimares. <laugh>
Assombalonga is a donkey. Boot won’t go far if they depend on him
Cooper has to realise he is there to take the ball and not to be wrestling the opponents. Has he not learned from last year’s mistakes?
 
We used high balls more than usual, I think that fell into Pulis’ hand.
They were hoping for corners and manufactured free kicks to try and score.
Seiz was below par, I think Hernandez complements him.
A week of rest will do most of the good and come back refreshed and eager to go on.
 
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