So I've been listening to the aftermath on Radio Leeds as I've been driving home and everyone is scratching their heads and wondering what happened between 45 and 46 minutes ? Noel Whelan is putting the blame at the change of formation. Playing Morrison as a right winger in an attempt to stop Wolves wing backs progressing. He saw that as a the pivotal, negative change that cost us the game.
Then there's others who are texting and tweeting that the substitutions were negative and lost us the game. Others are blaming Luke Murphy for his negative impact. Well, I think it's quite simple really. Here's my theory. The first half was fantastic. I think we played in an up-tempo Wilko Leeds style. We pushed up , we passed well , we moved forward very quickly and had runners and options all over the park. Chances came our way , we should have been 2 or 3 up , Mowatt's missed chance was terrible but it was on his right foot. I think Wolves showed they were a good time but we just outplayed and out ran them. This is how I want Leeds to play and this is the future HOWEVER these players are not used to this system and it's obvious that they can't play at this tempo for 90 minutes. We just ran out of steam. We were like George Groves in the first fight against Froch. He went out all guns blazing, put Froch on the floor , continued to out box and out point him for 8 rounds but then hit the wall, got caught and looked like he was out on his feet. He complained about the fight being stopped but to be honest if it had gone on another 4 rounds it would have been as embarrassing for Groves as it was for Leeds between 45 and 94 minutes. They pummelled us into submission and we had nothing left to offer. We were punch drunk, we had nothing left so I don't really blame the manager's change of tactics and I don't really blame the substitutions either because Darko had to do something. The players were knackered and it was obvious we couldn't win the game with the same tactics as in the first 45 minutes. Under Redfearn and The Hock, we played a more patient game. More frustrating and at times not as effective but in terms of the calories and energy spent probably half as much energy required. So Darko has changed the tactics but if he wants to continue with this style he has to change the personnel as well. It was a young team that he had out there and some of their legs just went. Wolves are a team who are used to winning and it showed. They never lost the belief that they would win this game and it showed. I would bet though that no team in the last 12 months has run them as ragged as in the first half. They are a team full of confidence and as soon as they saw us wobble after half time and as soon as we sat back and didn't press them they just went for the jugular and ruthlessly killed us off. This really was a game of 2 halves. I missed the Rotherham game as I was out of the country but my mate said it had similar traits. Surely Darko has to change his tactics to accommodate which is a shame but as I say the first half was very, very good. Warnock came back in a left back and looked the business. Why was he dropped ? In midfield , our average age was 6 and a half but that didn't matter because we were lively. Good one -twos and pass and move football. Sometimes we went long to Morrison who was not only winning headers but purposely heading them on to a white shirt. We haven't seen that for a long time. Antenucci was very lively and his control and movement was a real problem for Wolves. The goal when it came was a brilliant cross field move with Mowatt passing the ball 60 yards to Morrison who controlled well and played a great ball inside to Antenucci who hit it between the defenders leg into the bottom corner. Great goal. We went mad. We could and should have had more goals with another similar move ending with Mowatt unmarked 5 yards out. It was on his wrong foot (and he really doesn't kick the ball with his right foot) and he just prodded it into the keeper's arms when scoring was easier. Morrison also had a really good chance when controlled well and was through but he hit his shot across goal. Adryan was fantastic, chasing around the pitch, wanting the ball , beating his man with ease a real talent. Wolves did trouble us on occasions but strong defending from us denied them any real goalscoring chances. At half-time I was thinking of what wine I was going to celebrate with and also was thinking of whether I could purchase a season ticket for the remainder of the season. Then came the second half, we hit round 8, hit the wall, and were out on our feet and Wolves finished us off. If he could have, the ref would have stopped it. I'm still going to have the wine but it's more to drown the sorrow now. Following Leeds is never easy. Silvestri - 7. Didn't have much chance with the goals. Made a brilliant save to deny a header in the 2nd half but it wasn't enough. Beradi - 5. I thought he did well first half and he got forward when he could. I thought second half Wolves's lively wingers tore him to pieces. Warnock - 7. I thought he defended well throughout. Pearce - 6. First half he was really strong , second like everyone else he was overwhelmed. Bellusci - 5. Not sure about this lad. I don't think he's a great defender and I think he rates himself as a player. Not sure why he's taking free- kicks (oh yes, Bournemouth) . Will he ever repeat that ? I don't think so. Mowatt - 5. He did well first half, missed a sitter for 2-0 which you never know, may have made things different ? Just ran out of steam second half and was subbed for ..... Murphy !!!??? Adryan - 6. Very lively, skilful first half. He sometimes loses possession a bit too easy but that is understandable. I think he's a 45 minute player at the moment. Darko should have subbed him at half time. Cook - 8. I thought he was our best player and one of the few players who was still playing and running at high temp right to the end. Bianchi - 3. Back to the old Bianchi for me. Started poorly, giving away possession easily and not really contributing. He then got into the game and played some nice link up play with others but like others just faded second half. A bit of a dilemma for me. Not sure he's right for Leeds. Antenucci - 6. Incredibly lively first half. Linked up well with everyone including Morrison. Good goal but second half suffered from the lack of a midfield. Morrison - 6. Really impressive first half, he looks good in the air, good control, fast feet but then was asked to play on the right wing which to nobody's surprise he didn't do very well. largely anonymous second half despite loads of effort. Subs: Murphy - 0. It makes me smile that Luke Murphy is the devil to just about all Leeds fans now. I was the one who said he wasn't good enough even after his first game when he scored. Oh no, he was the new Steven Gerrard. Listen to Uncle Rich. He's shite. He's never been good enough but now he's got no confidence either so he just loses the ball and then fouls in trying to get it back. Today's performance must go down as the worst subs performance by a Leeds player ever. He was dreadful. Sloth - 2. One decent run but no impact but I wouldn't necessarily blame him as he was on a sinking ship. Montenegro - didn't really get chance but he looks a bit fat / chunky for my liking. Darko - well, I listened to his press conference and it was good listening. He sounded like he was out of his depth but I just don't think his English is good enough. He obviously knows how he wants his teams to play and we saw that first half. If we could play like that for 90 minutes I think we'd win the league but we obviously can't so he needs to compensate for this and that does not mean bringing on Luke Murphy. Crowd - 27k - good crowd who were treated to a really good first half but ended up booing the team off (not me). I'm not so despondent to be honest, I loved the first half and am going to say well done to Wolves who I think are a really decent team. I would give Darko more time. Vino !!! _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
