Was it a perfect hatrick head left and right??? Haven't seen goals yet but someone said it was
From: leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org [mailto:leedslist-boun...@gn.apc.org] On Behalf Of David Woolmer Sent: 01 November 2010 10:34 To: leedslist@gn.apc.org Subject: [LU] Scunny This is how away days are meant to be - tight little ground, generally good atmosphere, let out at the final whistle and able to mix amicably with home fans, and a stonking great win with a hat-trick from the home town hero. First half was more of a struggle - and the Leeds fans were at their least impressive impatient best, with the usual characters getting on the backs of their pet hate players early on (Kilkenny in particular really seems to have his haters. He was working and trying as hard as anyone, but some people come into matches with a pre-determined view that he doesn't work hard or tackle enough and so ignore all his work and just criticise any bad moment he has. Very helpful.). Little dispensation given for the fact we had a new formation, several changes to the line-up, were playing away and Scunnny came into this on a good run. That said we did struggle to assert ourselves. A nice early goal, skilfully set up by Howson and well put away by Gradel didn't really act as a catalyst. We were strugglnig to join up play through midfield. Kilkenny and Faye were sitting deep, with Snoddy and Gradel switching wings and Howson behind Becchio. In the first half though, each unit looked isolated. Howson couldn't get into it, Snoddy was trying hard but just kept making bad choices, Gradel looked lively but didn't get service and everytime Kilkenny go it our movement was too slow and obvious (Faye in particular, though he looked fitter than his last 2 outings still lacks mobility to create any space in the midfield), leaving no simple passes available to get moves going. Possession was thus too easily lost and we played too much time on the back foot. On a plus side, our fullbacks were having a much better day (McCartney best match for us by a distance I felt - looked much happier with what he had alongside him in defence). Connelly stuck to doing the simple things and throughout the match overlapped much better, in a decent poor man's Sterland imitation. Second half and 2 key changes happened - Scunny had to change centre halves, which brought on a teenage lad. Becchio, who had been getting little change all afternoon, suddenly found himself able to bully and hassle, win balls and get into channels, giving us an outlet. Then the better but stll lumbering Faye came off, and Johnson came in. He is no genius, but he does bring much more energy and movement to the play. Kilkenny also pushed further up the pitch, playing in their half rather than our own and we took the match over. Once we did this the formation came into its own and attacking wise we really shredded them in the second half. The second goal came from an appalling defensive howler from an actually pretty poor Connelly cross that snuck through to Howson (well finished). The third a great header from Howson from a very deep far post cross from a by now rampant Gradel. Almost immediately, a good run into a channel by Becchio saw him clear. A very selfless and well judged pass to Howson saw a cracking finish. 4-1. >From there we could have scored quite a few more. Gradel was torturing them, Kilkenny passing the ball wonderfully and Howson looked like he thought he could score 10. On the negative side, even when we were charging on like this, Scunny still had a LOT of fairly clear cut chances in the second half. Our defensive woes are not cured, especially centrally. Schmeichel just seems to be lacking a bit of sharpness in his decision making, being slow off his line on a number of occasions. As we bundled forward, we lacked discipline at times in central midfield, with nobody sitting and everyone charging on, exposing our centre backs (this was especially pronounced in the last few minutes, when our last 2 subs came on and in all became a bit too giddy and we lost shape, though we could have scored 3 more in that time ourselves). O'Brien was generally good if a bit rusty. Bruce still leaves me nervy, not really asserting himself or picking a man and getting to him at times. Let's be patient there though, as it was another new centre back pairing. Rich W - yes Howson and Kilkenny did well there in the centre, but that was because they were part of a 3 man central midfield. That formation plays to their mutual strengths in a way that having them there as a pair alone does not. Paynter looked ok when he came on, but stll looks chunky and needs more match fitness. Stick with Becchio for now. So a lot of positives, and a good win, but let's not get carried away. I'd really like to see a solid clean sheet at Cov to truly build confidence back through the team. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1153 / Virus Database: 424/3230 - Release Date: 10/31/10 _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org MARCHING ON TOGETHER
