Bit of a scrappy game first half, second half saw the Owls dominate us for most of half, especially from midfield onwards. A draw would be an arguable fair result, but Owls fans would probably disagree. I've said it previously, we are wasting time and chances playing Bamford in first half, it's obvious he has a scoring problem and doesn't fit into Bielsa Ball style of play. Bielsa's given him enough chances and Bamfords not delivering. Bielsa can easily say Bamford brings this and that to the game, whatever it is, it isn't working. Is it going to be a case of Leeds getting hammered one game before penny drops with Bielsa, I suspect it may be the case however, could it also be we're going through our dip early, it's possible. Either way we're missing Pablo and Forshaw in the AM setup. Harrison needs benching, while I've noticed he's made a couple of good passes resulting in a goal, he still resorts to trying to take on one man too many, and he also has a problem scoring. Alioski should be pushed up to the AM wing, Berardi at LB now Coopers back, I also think Dallas should move back to RB and Ayling benched. Ayling doesn't seem to be a good combination with Costa. Costa's dropped off a bit (not much) since Pablo got injured, and also since Aylings come back in at RB. I suspect once Pablo comes back Costa's performance will become better. Our defence were brilliant, which is a big improvement from past couple of games. Wednesday had us beat in midfield during second half, but our defence, and Kiko played brilliantly to weather the storms and stop Wednesday from scoring. We have a problem in midfield, we also saw it with PNE and some other previous games. Phillips can't do his job of breaking up opposing play, he just can't, and isn't doing it. Someone needs to take over free kicks and corners from Phillips, they're amounting to nothing. Our football, especially our passing accuracy needs to improve, I suspect it will with the return of Pablo and Forshaw which will add umph to our attack. Bielsa needs to stop being stubborn and move with the times cos other teams have worked out how to play us. While it's only 2 mins of highlights, it's a pick of the action. Extended highlights Can't find Bielsa's post match interview Ben White post match Leeds fan pops up with his opinions. wainmanjoe post match allleedstv post comments Monk post match Bonus Englands response to the NZ Haka Eddies post match
Well, we did it in 2003 with Sir Clive Woodward. Eddie the Aussie plotted Australia's downfall too, even with 17 Tongans, Samoans and other overseas players in your squad.
I was worried about you today as we didn’t concede a goal for you to blame Phillips for, but credit where credits due you handled it like the pro you are and the best player at breaking up play in the division ‘can't do his job of breaking up opposing play’. Kudos. I agree with a few of your other comments, surprising as it’s not like me to be right about anything.
In regards to Costa (who in my opinion is playing poor, maybe not poor but certainly not stand out) can you please explain why you feel he has dropped off a bit since Pablos injury? Do you realise that so far they have actually been on the pitch at the same time for a total of 50 minutes and never actually started a game together. Costas first start and full 90 minutes was against Salford and Pablo wasn’t in the squad for that one.
Yep. Costa was pablo’s replacement. only saw the second half yesterday and highlights of the first. Because I call what I see without writing the report before the game I am happy to say: Kiko was excellent Phillips was poor looked to me like they pressed us up the pitch, harried us out of our stride, helped by the conditions and route 1’d us with a couple of big lumps. Some of that is inevitable but they won all the second balls which is disappointing and we looked hurried and stretched in possession. Hey they’re in form, it was away in awful conditions... maybe a point is a good result. Thought Eddie looked good... but then... once again we were under the kosh 2nd half We could do with Pablo and foreshaw back to give us some options in the middle. Dallas has been great for us, but he’s not a central midfielder
Costas played 140 mins + any injury time with Pablo in team, and one game was a full second half.......
Whether it was half a game as ristac says or 1 and a half as you say... can’t be bothered to check... it’s not a lot of football and was when costa was being introduced as a sub. He began to play regularly as direct replacement for Pablo when Pablo got crocked. maybe he was more effective as an impact sub? Maybe he just hasn’t been that effective full stop.
Who do you want to replace Phillips at DM that is currently fit. Whenever you are asked this question you talk about Forshaw but since he is injured, who do suggest takes over?
Is this directed at me or Captain Jackboot? If me, for whatever reason, I wouldn't touch Forshaw there with a bargepole. He's a standard DM at best, not a Bielsaball DM. He's left us exposed many times when playing this position. He doesn't seem to realise that he's supposed to fall back when the FBs go forward. He goes forward too, leaving us hugely exposed. He's also not to be trusted passing in his own half. It has cost us dearly before. I'd go for McCalmont. He's the official understudy to KP. My only concern is that he's no longer playing DM regularly for the u23s, having qualified, so to speak. He's being developed elsewhere in MF atm.
No, no. Not aimed at you at all. LL complains about Kalvin Phillips constantly but never answers when anyone asks who should replace him. He usually talks up Forshaw so I was pointing out he is currently injured and I don't think back anytime soon. Just interested to know who he thinks should be in instead of KP. Agree with you about Forshaw as a DM, gets caught in possession to often when I've seen him play there.
I went through the games and found 50 minutes but if you make it 140 then I’ve missed a game or two but... They have still played only a game and a half together out of a possible 16 so I still don’t see where Costa has ‘dropped off’ since Pablos injury. Costas best game was in the cup when Pablo wasn’t playing, what moment do you remember Costa standing out alongside Pablo? I’m genuinely scratching my head trying to figure it out.
I think what matters is how Costa played while on pitch with Pablo, irrespective of the time. When it came to passing, Pablo use to feed Costa and send him on a run, or allowed him to get in a good cross or cut inside. Costa hasn't been getting as good a service.
