Exactly Bucks. Lets all not slit our writsts over one result. Lets see if Chocksaway learned anything last night. Lets see in the next couple of friendlies whether he knows his favoured 11 and if he has the ability to change things when they are not working. (This is my biggest test for Hockhellof. He may be a great coach but his tactical nous and adaptability are where he will prove himself to me.) We are at a point now where we are very much in the unknown. We dont know enough about the players, or coach even, to be jumping either side of the fence. We dont know if the players will gel and be good or of this could be a tremendous failure. Nobody should be making grand statements about how good or bad we are just yet. Talk about the things you are not happy with, talk about players you dont like and what tactics you prefer. This is part of the pleasure of being a fan and a member of this board but do not make a grand statement based on one result especially when most of you will make another grand statement the other way if we get a good result next time.
The players can hardly start to gel when we are still playing mixed elevens for 60/30 mins get real. We have played three games and the players are still being assessed. Ffs we still haven't finished signing players. Hock will have to start playing his supposed 'strongest' eleven now though with probably the odd switch to find the best combination. I doubt even Saturdays team will be the one to start against the Wall. There was nothing in the practice match last night except our usual habit of piss poor mistakes and poor finishing. I'm confident we will improve with a couple more signings but i dont expect it to happen overnight, to many new players for that.
How many of the "its fine, ffs, its only a friendly game" or "Its early days, don't understand what the problem is" were there last night or even on Saturday?
It doesn't matter whether people were there or not, it doesn't change the fact that it was a friendly game made up of mixed teams. There is no problem yet only the ones in your own minds. Some of you drearies just need to have worry and negativity in your lives regarding Leeds i guess.
Morning all I can see both sides of the argument in this one. I do tend towards the "it's only a preseason friendly, let's not get suicidal" though. BUT I won't use the excuse "it was a mix of players". I fully agree that now we are so close to the season starting with so many new players, Hock should be playing his XI to get them to gel. Yes he's doing it in training, but he needs to see how they react against some players who don't know exactly how they are going to play. Obviously the depth of the squad need fitness yes, but the cohesion of the regular starters is far more important. I'm not entirely enthused to see us playing a diamond again, personally I think that's only really effective against an attacking formation that doesn't have any holding midfielders. That way the attacking mid can double up on the centre backs to give you a man advantage 3 to 2. How many teams actually play that formation now though? 433 and 4231 are much more common in the Championship, and will tear a diamond formation to pieces. So all in, yes awful terrible result, no Hockaday shouldn't be sacked this morning - thats about where I stand!
players are playing to impress they ALL want to be in the starting XI for the Wall game what a load of crap when people say that was a nothing game dont expect them to start until the next one at this stage of the pre-season warm up you always tend to have so called bigger clubs playing so called smaller clubs but smaller clubs of better quality than the last. Look at last nights results and only one so called bigger club actually lost to a so called smaller club,WHY ? Because they are all fighting for their places all playing solid games with that little extra bit of commitment you lost because you didnt have it and simply werent good enough, i listened to your game last night and Mansfield were better in every department.quite clearly somethings wrong
Bearing in mind you know fk all about me or my life, or probably any of the other posters on here that are apparently "drearies", i'll take that post with a big pinch of salt. I wasn't there last night as i was picking up a new car. I have however spoken to 2 people who were there and they both said it was dire and both asked why are we still trying to play a diamond formation when it doesn't work with the players we have and won't work when the season starts. Mansfield are 2 leagues below us and had 4 triallists in their team. Pre-season friendly or not, there should be some shining lights amongst our team, even when we lose. There weren't. Not even a "we were sh*te but so and so looked quite promising". Its just 2 weeks and 3 days til we kick off, just saying.
We are only 3 or so weeks away from our first competitive league match, so we're running out of time to gel any new players...
RCDM, while I understand your point about knowing peoples lives I do agree with Leedsinyork. There seems to be a large contingent of Leeds fans who are not happy unless they are moaning and the world is ****. I am not just talking about on here I have to put up with it at games as well, the large number I attend just to clarify, where if a player does not score with every shot he is called ****. If the keeper does not pull off a Gordan Banks style save he is labelled rubbish etc. This is a big factor in why I have stopped sitting in the North stand as this is where the worst of these people seem to congregate. I have many happy memories of this stand which offered an amazing match day atmosphere which was second to none but I cannot stomach listening to these people while I try to enjoy what is happening on the pitch. Sadly there appears to be more of these fans every time I go. I understand we have been through some bad times and I have witnessed as much crap as anyone else but that doesnt mean people should be miserable as a default setting. MOT
Shako Hockaday should know his strongest side by now and looking at making one or 2 changes and maybe one or 2 additions. Formations tactics and plans he has for the season should all be in place and being tested if he played 60mins and 30mins my guess is the side that played 60mins is nearer to being your first 11
I know they are ONLY friendlies and I know winning all our pre-season games means nothing regarding the forthcoming season and I apologise for being realistic. I just can't get excited with the signings/tactics/management team. We are 3 weeks from the start of the new season and yes I'm worried. But I will support the team 100% as I have done for 42+ years.
I know that Mighty, you know that, but if you say anything that sounds negative you get shouted down on here.
That wasn't correct thought was it because a lot of players were rightly shown the door before they were given a chance. But pre-season doesn't matter does it it also didn't matter that it was against a team of amateurs and 15 and 16 year olds included. in answer to this, I agree with Outside of supporting Leeds my life is fine, I too get a little fed up with anything negative being jumped on as the Drearies, I don't see it that way, I could say I see it as being realistic and those that accuse people of being dreary, well I could also say get your head out your ass, open your eyes and take the rose tinted glasses off because so far there isn't an awful lot to be excited about when looking towards the start of next season. I won't say that though as it is all opinions When Leeds start winning, start performing well, start playing attractive football or any two of those three I will be more positive and happy about the team Keep losing, playing crap, signing players who make no difference and are of poor quality, I will continue to complain.
We beat Aldershot yesterday in a game where every player got 90 mins so i think we are ready BRING IT ON
