Brilliant, fantastic, awesome, superb. excellent !!!!
OK it was not quite that good but not far off. Unlike Richard Young I have been
lucky (?) enough to have been to 35 plus games this season and yesterdays
display was without doubt the best 90mins from us.
From first whistle to last we totally dominated - think Northampton and
Walsall at home and Carlisle first half away and double it.
We played some really incisive, fast flowing, passing football - we looked
like a football team with no round pegs in square holes for once. OK we still
have no real width but the movement in midfield of Kilkenny, Howson and Johnson
more than made it for it.
We could and should have won by a bigger margin. Freedman put the ball in the
net with a volley from the outside of his boot that was just exquisite - it
deserved to be a goal, offside or not. Howson could have had a couple, one a
particularly bad miss after some great approach work - he really has blossomed
into a good player and when he adds goalscoring to his other attributes we will
be hard pressed to keep him. Freedman and Beckford also had other chances and
at 2-0 there was the longest \ best goal mouth scramble I have seen for ages
with us (Howson, Beckford & Kilkenny, I think, ) coming close from a yard out
but somehow they got it away.
At the other end I can only remember them having one good chance and that
came when Casper and Frazer got in each others way due to poor communication
and the ball broke to one of them with Casper out of his goal, but they wasted
it.
As for the goals , the first was a tremendous free kick from Johnson on our
right hand side level with the penalty area by the touchline ,which he hit with
such power and precision that it was bound to end up in the net - the only
question whether a striker or defender would be the one to put it there or
whether it would go straight in. In the event Hunty (can I call him that ?) was
first to it and got his head to it, the power of the cross doing the rest.
At half time our only concern was that it was only 1 -0 but there was no need
to rue the missed chances - after about 5 mins Freedman picked up the ball
wide , left the defender for dead -brilliant to see- and picked out Becks who
blasted it into the roof of the net - game over.
Roared on by nearly 3,000 (kick off had been delayed due to congestion!) we
continued to pour forward in search of another goal. Johnson, Becks & Kilkenny
the latter two after taking knocks went off to be replaced by Hughes, Prutton
and Kandol to no real detriment. I would have preferred to see Elding brought
on to see what he can do but Kandol despite a mixed reception from fans did OK.
We went through the whole repertoire in the stands including a full half time
waccoe and the now obligatory "we filled your ground for you" and totally
drowned out some of the quietest home fans I have ever (not) heard !.
All 14 players did well but special mentions for Freedman and Howson who look
class, Becks who worries defenders with his pace, Douglas who again was
everywhere and who is great when he sticks within his limits but is awful at
other times with a shot 30 yds wide and a couple of cross field passes which
went badly astray - message to JD, break up the play and then get rid of it to
nearest Leeds shirt, Get hold of a video of Batty and see how you should play
(yes I know it is almost sacrilege to mention them in same sentence but you get
my drift)
At the back Lubo is starting to improve (4 clean sheets on the bounce
testament to that) and Hunty looks a class apart (sorry Rui but I would not
bring you back when fit). Sheehan again proved how much better we look with a
genuine left back - he even had a now trademark freekick which he nearly scored
from - Macca bring back Parker on that emergency recall thingy for Carlisle and
Hudds, don't mess about with Hughes or Frazer there.
As for the rest of the season a lot will depend on how serious the Beckford
injury is - it may be the difference between promotion and staying down ! Let's
also hope Kilkenny is fit for next Sat.
Optimistic - you bet I am after 6 well-deserved points from 2 tough away
games where we have played some great football
Dave
_______________________________________________
the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators
accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors.
Leedslist mailing list
[email protected]
http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist
DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
DELETE THE FOOTERS WHEN REPLYING YOU LAZY SODS!!!!
