My thoughts: - So Alioski seems to be getting some stick. I don't really understand. he has just started playing in this division, already works his bollocks off (three great challenges after running 30/40 yards), made the pass that set Wood up. Last week he was a hero now drop him. He needs more game time to learn not dropping. - Shaugnessy: Revelation and I pointed him out in pre-season as one who looked really good. So obviously that makes me a genius. - Anita: Tidy player but looked stretched by the end of the game last night. He also looks a bit slow. - O'Kane: Well I have been singing this guy's praises and again last night I thought he was one of our best. Always available for a pass. He did though give the ball away three times in dangerous areas which was concerning but he did not hide after having done so. I think a much more positive option than Bridcutt. Viera/Phillips - Viera has to play ahead of Phillips. Saiz - really good and I liked him and Hernandez together. Most championship defenders won't know what to do with their interplay. Yes he whines a bit but that's ok he is our whiner. Fulham - Thought they were very good and that a point from them was a decent result especially after the first 20-25 minutes which were a bit ominous. To come through that and dominate large patches of play was a testament to us I thought. Us - So far I am not disappointed with the points haul. We have played very different teams (very physical and very technical) and have adapted and got points from every game. And we are a new team in essence still learning how to play together with players still learning this league. I am optimistic and think we have a team that could do well this year. Nick
On Wednesday, August 16, 2017, 2:01:06 AM EDT, nat...@sky.com <nat...@sky.com> wrote: Well we were promised goals, entertaining football and a side that would have a philosophy of 'we will score more than you' - not really working out like that as we have now gone 3 hours at home without a goal and with barely a shot on target Although the result was the same as Saturday the game itsef was very different as Fulham tried to play football rather than just stopping us playing , and indeed they succeeded for much of the time. The first 25 minutes they pinged it about and we looked second best. Phillips in particular having a torrid time of it, then he made on good tackle which raised his confidence and he looked a different player, getting stuck in and moving the ball well. The team as a whole got a lift from this and the match was more even. Both teams however had a real lack of a cutting edge up front so all the fancy dan stuff went with no reward. We had only one shot on target (apart from Wood's offside 'goal') - a ball was played through to Wood and since he was a lot closer to goal this time, I did think he may score, but no, he tried , not very well, to chip the keeper and made it an easy save Second half Phillips had a shot from range that fizzed past, Hernandez had a awful freekick from a brilliant position , and Siaz pulled a shot just wide. Fulham were as blunt as us and I can only recall Wiedwald making one save when he came rushing out at the feet of the striker - good action from him. Fulham aslo hit the post. Perhaps the closest we came was a great cross from Dallas that just missed the outstretched foot of Wood So after 32k on saturday over 28K (great for an ordinary midweek league game for us) fans saw us pass the ball around a bit but have no shots or chances worthy of the name. Things will need to improve. Fulham will be up there at the end of the season, so a draw could be a creditable result, having said that 2 pts from 2 home games is not good enough and puts us under pressure to get all 3 pts at Sunderland Some general observations - Shaunnessey is looking like a real find, he is growing in confidence and may soon be giving TC a real selection headache. Anita is a tidy player and good at this level, but not a left back. Saiz is looking like the real deal - needs to cut out the moaning, diving, showing imaginary cards and needs to be a bit stronger but I do have faith in him. Alioski is the opposite so far he shows the odd flash of brilliance and does have a good work ethic but I think he is finding it faster and more committed than he expected - maybe leave him on the bench for a while ? THe keeper still does not fill me with confidence but it is clear what the plan is with him throwing it out, almost all the time, and generally very quickly - the defenders (and this is the 4th different back four in his 4 games) need to get in tune with him and him them. Pontus - did not notice him at all - not sure if this is good or bad. There was one great Pontus-style last minute tackle in the box last nigh, but that was by Shaughnessey ! We need to be patient - it is better than this time last season - and we need Wood to start scoring or Ekuban to get a run late on to help him out Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org FLAME WARS 'R US _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org FLAME WARS 'R US