Good Morning Everyone Kemar Roofe earnt Leeds a share of the spoils on Saturday, albeit by punching the ball into the net from 2 yards. Had the ball not hit Roofe's fist, I doubt it would have gone in (knowing Leeds luck). How many of you would rather Roofe had come clean to the ref, and said it had come off his hand? Would it have been the right thing to do - surely its cheating otherwise? Yet again, Leeds dominated the possession, but were found wanting when it came to shots on target! Has Bielsa got our tactics right? Do we need a plan B? Luke Ayling will go for scans on his injured leg that he picked up at the Forest game. It is however believed to be a long term injury. You'll recall the right back missed the entire second half of the season- that injury was sustained against Forest too. Ayling will join Berardi on the treatment table allowing more game time for Bielsa's favourite player Stuart Dallas! I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but perhaps the hierarchy should listen more to the fans, especially when asking the management to sign an extra defender. We are not even in November yet, and are down to bare bones! Square pegs in round holes again!
Morally i’d like Roofe to have owned up to the ref. But Watkins didn’t own up to diving over bpf... ‘cheating’ takes place all the time in every game... where does it stop. Defender going up to the referee and saying ‘I was holding the attackers shirt at that corner... you should give a penalty’. Until we have a clean game, which we never will, if you take the moral high ground sadly you only punish yourself and your employers.
Good Morning to Maestro Matt and his band from a chilly sunny Bardsey I am pleased we did not sign Bartley .He is having a torrid time at WBA THE Fans are making him a scapegoat and I hope they lose next Sat so that we meet them in a very bad way.In the last 3 games the wheels have suddenly come of we 2 defeats and one draw Roofe would have got blasted by the fans if he had owned up to his hand ball and I am sure only John Charles would have done it We have 9 weeks before the window opens up so I hope we have our ducks all lined up! How long is Beradi out for and Nessylets hope we have some gems in the under 23
Morning all Defence is a big problem now because Ayling and Berardi were 2 players doing the business in the first weeks of the season, both comfortable on the ball and now both out for a while. All we have left is Douglas (plays today for U23s) a young kid in Pearce, Cooper and Pontus both who could get a ban soon for yellows and Shackelton another kid. yes Dallas out of position and Alioski could do left WB. Its a worry but Bielsa will know what to do and if he needs the window to bring someone like Foyth in great. Everyone jumping on the Roofe goal but when FIFA do nothing about Henry against Ireland which cost them a WC place and Maradona then screw 'em. Every team has a bit of bad luck and a bit of good luck but we've had more bad than good and the same happened to us in Europe against Barcelona, there was even the Liverpool beachball affair so they can all go do one. Bad luck? some games this weekend had 2 and 3 penalties in them we haven't had a penalty for 53 games FFS.
Morning Ell, I reckon the ball might have gone in without roofe. Sure he could have got his knee or something else other than his hand on the ball We really do seem to be suffering badly on the injury front and I can't understand why he favours dallas over Pearce. We are dropping too many points for my liking but as nobody else is taking advantage at present we are hanging in there
Morning Matt and all from a lively warm day in Paphos I'm not sure it is hindsight Ell, we all knew before a ball was kicked we were 3 players light. Roofe is a conundrum, yes technically it is cheating but so is a lot that goes unpunished in the game, non so more than the ref in the Brentford game, all the diving that goes on week in week out is worse, as that's intentional, Roofe just threw himself at it to get the ball in, about time it went right for us. Biesla is a stickler for training, perhaps he could give them an extra hour a day practicing getting shots on target from outside the box.
Morning all.. There is NEVER a game that doesn’t have cheating, not ever. Shirt pulling, feigning injury, claiming a throw in when they know it came off them, waiting for the slightest touch to earn a free kick. You’ll not see a game in any division all season that doesnt have cheating. What about when a keeper gets the slightest of touches to a ball and it should be a corner but the ref gives a goal kick, should he say actually ref I pulled off a great finger tip save? Anyone else see Alioski has started the bad fake card waving habit again?
I think we have options at left back, but hopefully with Douglas back it’s a none issue. Right back is a problem. Ayling is unusual in that position in terms of the attacking threat he offers and for all his patchy form he is a huge miss. Shackleton looked good going forward but weak defensively when played there. Let’s be honest, it’s going to Be Dallas. Note re Pearce. My gut was bielsa doesn’t trust him defensively. I watched him closely on Saturday. He doesn’t get tight to his man and allows them to turn at him, then backs off. It got us into trouble a couple of times against a side that barely had the ball. To me it looks like something that can be coached, or maybe will come with confidence and strengthening up a bit as he matures. Not knocking the lad, I like him, just an observation.
Morning all....how many times have we been on the wrong end of a blatant act of cheating, as we're told, these type of decisions even themselves out over the season. I agree with milky, there's no point in us taking a high moral stance until all forms of "cheating" are removed from the game, unfortunately, the current high stakes, win at all costs mentality creates the problem.
I mentioned bringing back Lewie Coyle in January and it seems that just may happen as the media start to explore it.
Morning Milky, very well said. I do think any player guilty of diving in the box or lets say deliberately punching the ball into the net should receive (retrospectively) a 5 game ban (starting from now!!!!
Morning all, What's the record for the longest run of games without a penalty? I've had a quick look and found some PL teams moaning in the past that they'd gone nearly 20 games without one they should think themselves lucky In various leagues apparently Galway United went 72 games without a penalty, not sure if that's the record
Morning Mike, soooo many times the fans have a better idea than the Managers, and why wouldn't they. Berardi's time on the sidelines is unknown, but doubt we'll see him in November!!! Big game for the u23's today v Hull.
Morning Doc, I seem to remember there was a match in Paris in 1975 where we were cheated... Both Everton and Bournemouth have asked about Pearce's availability. I cannot believe Bielsa has not been using him...
Morning Gessa, I'm really concerned about the amount of injuries - to my way of thinking, it MUST be the amount of training - surely?
In theory I have one more week at home but as I have a few jobs lined up for next week (boiler replacement and new door to be fitted) I will look to extend for one more week. Walking for up to an hour most days but running is still some way off. Cardio rehab programme starts in a couple of weeks so hope that will help push things along. Certainly won't be playing this side of Christmas but would like to think I will play a game before end of the season. Walking football might be my best option!!
