4 of us including 2 first-timers (my 10 year old son and the 13 old year son of
a sadly missed former regular companion) pitched up at Shannon Airport on
Saturday morning and it a treat to see at least 20 other loyal Leeds fans
gathered for the trip. I was a little concerned as we flew over the Pennines
that the game would go ahead but there was little or no snow as we landed at
LBA. The taxi driver on the way to Elland Road was telling us how he grew up
around the corner from where Jackie Charlton used to live and how he used to
knock around with his son Peter. He also told us the story about the Inter City
Fairs Cup semi against Juventus where Jackie spent half the game chasing the
Juve player who spat in his face. Was asking how the appointment of Gary Mc was
received in Leeds and he said the reaction was mixed. Would have been happy if
he had stuck to the footie but unfortunately he wandered off to talk of Rhinos
and finished with a rant about the CSA. We got to the ground around 12.30 and
went straight into McDonalds at request of 2 youngs uns. They were delighted
when they saw McDonalds as we had been telling them the only thing on offer
outside the ground was chips and mushy peas. McDs was same ol' same ol' but at
least it carried pictures and reminders of past heroes and better times. Had a
wander around the shop, bought a jersey for my son and headed down to cabin to
get Beckford 9 on the back past a gaggle(?) of bobbies puffing and panting
their way to what looked like some incident at Peacock. We then met up with
brother who had travelled up, got piccies at Billy statue and took our place in
the East Stand right beside the NE corner.
Given taxi drivers comments, I was interested to see what kind of a reception
Gary Mc would get. I thought it was muted to say the least. I was quite
surprised to see so many changes in the lineup. How many times have you seen in
this age of squad numbers to see a team take the field with 3 players not
listed in the programme ? Sheehan in, Michalik in , Elding in. If you include
Lucas, Kenton and Johnson, this was a different team to the one that took us to
the top of the real league one table (as the programme told me). I follow all
the match reports on this list (thanks to all who go to trouble of providing on
regular basis) and was looking forward to seeing the boys in action. The Kop,
corners and South stand were full, Tranmere in SE, full around us in L28 but
West Stand half empty (25k total).
What followed was a very drab game which was summed up by my son as 'Leeds
played rubbish'. I tried hard to talk it up but I found it difficult. I dont
think we created a single clearcut chance in the first half. Tranmere came
closest to scoring when they hit the crossbar with a free kick. Howson had the
first shot on target which was straight at their keeper. The only other chance
we had was when Prutton hit the angle of post and crossbar with a free kick
from wide on the left just before half time. We were in line with our back four
for the first half and Heath was driving me nuts. He was game in the air and in
the tackle but Michalik had to check back every time Heath passed him the ball.
I understand that the ball has to be played across the back four to probe for
openings or waiting for people to make a run but to do that the defender should
receive the ball in front of them so they can see any openings. Having to check
also allows oppostion to get in place and a chance for their attackers to
press. One time Heath was forced to kick with his left and the result can only
be described as laughable. In spite of Heath, Michalik was pretty solid and
looks comfortable on the ball. Sheehan was the new left back and he didnt show
much going forward and wasnt particularly tight in his marking either. He also
looks shy in the tackle. It didnt help I suppose that he was on what I thought
was the best player on the pitch, the number 18 (Williams) from Tranmere. He
was playing wide right, tracking back when required and not giving Sheehan much
time on the ball.
Most of our attacking play was down the right with Kenton doing a reasonable
job of getting forward to support Prutton but we never succeeded in getting
past their full back or getting decent crosses in. A lot of the ball was played
aimlessly forward towards Elding. He competed well enough in the air but
stuggled to get any time on the ball and Beckford never really got in the game.
It also looks like Elding is not blessed with pace and he also tired as game
went on which is understandable. Looking at Beckford it appears to me that he
needs the ball over the top for him to run on to or we need players getting
wide and whipping in crosses to him. He had one chance like that from a header
early in the second half but their keeper made a comfortable save. On another
occasion, he played the ball neatly over a defender and shot but I think
referee had already blown.
Kenton was taken off early in the second half which I thought was strange as he
was one of our better players. Can only assume he was injured. Carole came in
and Hughes went to right back. I think we lost a lot when Kenton went off. At
least he was showing for the ball and taking it on. Our midfield of Hughes,
Howson and Johnson were all stuggling to get into the game. Howson did some
nice things but looked like a little boy lost in the middle. Prutton was
working hard also but again with very little to show for his efforts. Then
after about an hour, Sheehan got injured when he didnt commit to a tackle (Note
to son...thats what happens when you half commit to tackle). Play was held up
for a minute of two and soon after it restarted I was amazed when Lucas threw
the ball to Sheehan. The guy was limping and the last thing he needed was the
ball played to him and of course he was pressed as soon as he got it. He played
a weak ball down the line. It was intercepted and Tranmere worked the ball down
the line to Williams who cut inside and scored a good goal from the edge of the
area. Sheehan went off soon after and Hughes was switched to left back this
time. Huntingdon came on and looked far from comfortable at right back.
Flo came on to replace Elding and I think he made a big difference when he came
on. For the first time we had somebody who was looking for the ball to be
played to feet. All of a sudden Johnson seemed to come more into the game and
with Carole getting on the ball we finally managed to string a few passes
together. We forced a number of corners but far too many were cleared by first
man which was frustrating and we never seriously threatened their goal. Lucas
also pulled off a good full length save to keep us in the game but that ended
when the returning Moore got on the scoresheet with a near post header.
Beckford played Flo in near the end for one on one but their goalie got down to
save. The game more of less petered out from there and the stands looked very
empty for the final few minutes.
It was great to be at Elland Road as always but it was a very dispiriting
performance. There is very little pace or penetration in the team that played
on Saturday and we had nobody, apart from maybe Johnson near the end, to
dictate the game and the Tranmere back four were never troubled. Apart from
strikers and corners, I cannot remember any player getting into their box. It
is obviously far too early to judge team or manager but he does seem to have a
big job on his hands picking up a team which seems to have lost its way after
an incredible first 3 months of the season. My first ever Leeds game was the
day that Gordon Strachan and Chris Fairclough made their debuts in a 1-0
(Baird) win against Portsmouth and I was hoping that it would be as memorable
for my son. It wasnt to be but if Gary Mc makes half the impression that
Strachan and Fairclough did or as he himself did as a player, then maybe my son
can look back and say that he was there the day that it all started.
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DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
