To save you a job John ..... follow me on Twitter richleed...@yahoo.co.uk This was very disappointing. We were thoroughly beaten by an average Watford team that were stronger, fitter, more skilful, had more desire and in gener more idea. I know Warnock is trying to make do with a team that has lost its heart – Gradel, Howson being the main losses but I worry that he thinks the solution is to try and play the long ball down the middle to Becchio, who lets face facts is never going to do anything playing with his back to goal. Time after time we hoofed it forward , with the result being either Becchio did manage to get his head on the ball for an aimless knock on (usually to a yellow shirt) or the other outcome which was Becchio moaning and rolling around on the floor for a free-kick. The crowd got on to the ref today but I thought he was spot on with most things and he had Becchio sussed from the start. I hate to watch a Leeds player whose game is all about trying to get free-kicks. We were never going to get beyond the Watford back 4 with tactics like that today. The other major factor in the team for me at the moment is the lack of pace and sharpness. Again I think you have to look at the front two. Becchio is like a Sherman tank, I reckon I'd do him over 100 metres and together with Macca up front there is no pace. Who thought it was a good idea to play Macca and Becchio up front together ? It just doesn't work. Other players who are short on pace include Brown and Connelly. Becchio is only going to be effective if the ball is put on a plate for him in the 6 yard box. Snodgrass, Howson and Gradel used to do that for fun for him but now with Aidy White and Snodgrass it just isn't happening. Snodgrass isn't getting enough ball because we are choosing to play down the middle and Aidy White, a player I like, seems fragile and not strong enough against teams like Watford. Everyone of their players must have been over 6 ft. We looked like a bunch of unfit pub players running around. It was embarrassing. In a first half totally dominated by Watford our defence looked stretched to the limit. Bruce isn't match fit. He put himself on the line today time after time, he also had our best chances with his head in their box but he was a yard short on too many occasions today. This also had the affect of stretching Tom Lees who looked a bit out of his depth today against the tall and lively Watford forward line. The Watford goal came early , Robinson failed to clear properly and from there they had a spare man over and just passed it simply into the box, for Iwelumo who smacked it past Lonergan. Watford continued to look lively and we continued to lose possession, either through the long ball to Becchio or players just giving it away – Michael Brown being the main culprit. Our best chance of the game fell to Snodgrass who side footed against the keeper when it was easier to score. Second half and we brought on Webber for White and immediately looked more dangerous. Webber attacks the ball with purpose and looks to get moves going. Unfortunately he's still surrounded by the two statues up front so he's required to beat a couple of men to have any affect. I didn't think Watford were as effective second half and were happy to sit back but that just emphasised how clueless we were going forward. We continued with the long ball to Becchio tactic which actually got worse because I don't think Becchio won a header in the second half. He did however continue to moan to the ref who was having none of it. Warnock then made his second sub with Clayton going off for Nunez. I didn't think Clayton had played well but surely Brown should have departed. Not only was Brown poor throughout he looked a yard behind the pace throughout the match. He's not good enough. Nunez made an impact, lively play, good passes and one decent shot which had the keeper scrambling. He has to start the next match. As we pushed forward Watford got more space and finally got their second. It was coming as previous to that Lees had completely messed up leaving the Watford player in on goal. Lonergan made a good save and we painfully scrambled it back to Lonergan. However a few minutes later a similar scenario occurred where Lonergan made a good save but this time everyone stood around and watched as Iwelumo grabbed his second. I think we were just shagged. There was still time for Paul Connelly to show he hasn't got a brain by getting himself sent off. Warnock said post match that Connelly has showed him he didn't want to play against Reading. Scores: Lonergan – 5. Looks shaky to me. One or two decent saves late on but it didn't really matter. Connelly – 3. Looked stretched all afternoon and nothing going forward. Bruce – 4. Good commitment but isn't match fit and that showed. Get him fit I think he'd be a decent championship defender. Lees – 4. I hope the clanger doesn't break his confidence. The new defensive partnership was up against it all day today. Robinson – 3. Looked old and slow today. Likes someone playing out his days.Maybe he is ? and I thought he might be the new Vinnie. Clayton – 4. Just not at the races. In and out of the game, chasing the ball most of the time. Brown – 2. Legs have gone. Snodgrass – 5. Should have scored, one or two runs but generally didn't see enough of the ball. White – 3. Started ok but then got a knock and had to go off at half-time. McCormack – 2. Just not in the game at all, he looked off the pace and ineffective. Can't play with Becchio up front – come on Colin !! Becchio – 2. The main reason why we're struggling at the moment and I can't understand why Colin seems to be pinning everything on him. He's shit in the air, slow on the ground, no acceleration, the first touch of Carlton Palmer and no passing ability other than a 10 yard pass backwards. We have to look beyond this carthorse. Can't people see that ? Subs: Webber – 6. Lively without troubling them. Nunez – 7. Looked very lively and direct. Forsell – only on for last few minutes as the hapless Becchio was dragged off. Warnock said it was drivel, he said we're going to lose at Reading so he may as well put the kids in. I'd love it if he did. Put Becchio , Macca, Brown, Robinson, Connelly in the reserves.
________________________________ _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
