Let's not forget that this is a great win against a team that will be around
the play offs and provided very stiff opposition. I loved the way we bounced
straight back after they equalised and how we continued to play and break on
the counter to try and kill the game off.
However, I'm going to judge the game on its own and to be honest at times I
found it hard to watch. This was not Burton and I think we showed a lot of
frailties all over the park.
For starters, the manager's tactics were suspect. Playing Hernandes as a left
winger doesn't work for me and he's too isolated and unable to get involved.
Also at the back today I thought we were very shaky. Shaughnessy and Cooper
have both done ok this season but together today they looked at times to be
struggling against an Ipswich team who thrive on corners and set pieces. I'm
amazed we got away with to be honest because I think this game also showed us
that Weildwald is going to struggle in this league against teams who lump it
into the box at every opportunity. He was all over the place, not coming for
crosses, dithering and not giving any confidence to his defence.
I thought at times first half was pretty poor from us, O'Kane was terrible,
definitely his worst 45 mins in a Leeds shirt and he's had some average ones
and Philips who took his goal brilliantly was largely anonymous and just seemed
to be wondering around aimlessly. Allioski couldn't get in the game and Siaz
seemed a little isolated.
The most frustrating thing for me was we seem to have a plan to always play it
out at the back, Ipswich didn't allow us to do that and it seemed like
Wieldwald didn't have a clue what to do ? Surely we practice plan B i.e. the
big punt up the field. Ok, it's not pretty and it might not be the way the
current team is lined up to play but when the short ball isn't on surely
there's no option ? Wieldwald looked confused and shaky. He's no Rob Green for
me.
There was patches of good play from us particularly the first goal which saw
Shaugnessy advance up the field and play the best ball of the day through to
Lasogga who made a great run and slotted it on the far corner - great finish.
We also had a couple of other chances , the best falling to Siaz who should
have shot but hung on to the ball too long and the chance wasted. He does that
too often for me, but we forgive him.
The Ipswich equaliser came from a free kick (there's a surprise) and it was
easy as can be - cross, unmarked McGoldrick , free header , 1-1. Who was
marking him ? We haven't had to ask that question in PJ ('Post Jansson') times
and it took me back to defensive problems that troubled us for years. We missed
Jansson, as we did at Bolton, and without him we're not the same team. Hope
he's back for Cardiff.
But then we immediately bounced back and produced the moment of the game with
O'kane , Lasogga and Siaz who cleverly headed to Philips who still had a lot of
work to do. He nipped in and from a tight angle put the ball in the back of the
net. There's not many strikers in this league who would have scored that goal.
Great play Kalvin.
Ipswich came again and were unlucky not to go in level when on the stroke of
half time they won yet another header in the box only to see little Vern on the
line clear it away.
Happy to see us go in 2-1 at half time but undeserved.
Second half, Ipswich continued to play the best football and pepper our goal
with crosses whereas we looked pretty careless when we had the ball.
McGouldrick (Man of the match by a country mile) was denied by Wieldwald and I
thought they would go on to take this game.
But we came back and that's great credit to this team and the management.
O'Kane who had his worst first half probably had his best 45 minutes in the
second half and Siaz and Allioski came alive. We were playing on the counter
attack but that's effective and Ipswich couldn't handle it.
The 3rd was lucky but still clever from Hernandes. I saw their keepr advance a
couple of yards of his line in preparation for the cross. Hernandes saw it and
fired in the corner. It still should have been comfortable for him but he was
slightly unbalanced and made a complete arse of it dropping it over the line.
3-1 and game over.
Well no actually, Ipswich continued to attack and yet another cross was not
dealt with by Wieldwald (weak keeping) and he just pushed it in to the path of
the Ipswich player who stroked it home.
To be fair to us, we looked for the 4th and did not hold on and actually played
some of our best football whereas McCarthy took of McGoldrick and Ipswich
didn't look as dangerous. We had chances to finish it but yet again Saiz did
all the hard work but failed to finish.
As I said, in my first paragraph, this was a great win and I am very happy with
it but as a performance I think we can learn lots from the weaknesses we showed
in this game which were more in this game than I've seen for a while.
Scores:
Wieldwald - 4. This game exposed him, that's not to say everything he did was
shit. He made a good save from McGoldrick and came running out for an
interception first half that stopped Ipswich getting through. I just think this
is your typical championship game and he doesn't look comfortable defending
crosses and corners, especially when Jansson aint around.
Ayling - 8. I thought he was our best player and only defender to come out of
the game with real credit. His last ditch tackle on McGouldrick (?) saved a
certain goal and his energy all the way through typified our attitude. He
should be captain.
Anita - 6. Steady and he did look fairly solid at times but as the game wore on
he seemed to be more and more exposed until TC realised he needed a bit more
steel and brought Beradi on. Great goal line clearance. He's going to be a
crucial player because he's solid and he delivers what is expected however I'm
not sure he's a left back ?
Shaugnessy - 6. Great ball for the goal however he tried that same ball on at
least 3 other occasions and all went to a blue shirt but who cares the one that
did get through was a great pass. He defended ok at times but I didn't feel
confident with him and Cooper together.
Cooper - 6. Again, he didn't have a bad game and he made some good
interceptions it's just we were under the cosh from Ipswich and we just didn't
look comfortable at all.
O'Kane - 6. I'm going to give him 3 for the first half and 9 for the second. I
think TC put a rocket up his arse at half time. He needed it. He's a fit lad
and even on 90 mins he was charging the length of the pitch to try and break
through for the 4th. I think he's worth his place in the team however I still
think he's Mr Average but Mr Average with fitness in this league is good.
Phillips - 6. I thought his general play was poor and he was anonymous for
large sections of the games but then he pops up with the goal of the game and
then in the second half he started putting himself about a bit. You couldn't
have asked anymore from the lad in this start to the season but when I hear
people going on about how O'Kane and Phillips compliment each other and are
perfect in midfield I disagree. I think they will eventually let us down and I
think Vierra and maybe Klitch will be better options moving forward.
Hernandes - 6. Completely uncomfortable on the left wing but to his credit he
got involved. I'd like to see him player close to Siaz although I'm not sure
how that's possible in this league.
Siaz - 8. Lively throughout. Frustrating that he didn't get a goal but he's got
something different that we've been crying out for years.
Lasogga - 7. Good first half, ran the line, scored a goal and looked the part.
Second half he slowed to the point where he looked f'cked and was replaced by
Grot.
Allioski - 6. Poor first half but came into second half and should have crossed
having cleverly worked his way into the box.
Subs:
Grot and Dallas - no impact.
Crowd - 34,000
Top of the league - stop moaning (that's me predicting the replies to this
match report and that's fair enough.
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