Well it was a pre season friendly and so it is miles too soon and it was too
unimportant a match to draw any real conclusions.
Macca played all of his available players (Rui still resting, Kandol ill (?)
and Delph away with England u19s) changing all eleven at half time and the mix
was such that neither team could be described as the first team
Ankergren, Richardson, Huntington, Bayly, Parker, Prutton, Douglas, Sweeney,
Hughes, Weston, Beckford.
second half): Martin, Gardner, Michalik, Westlake, Sheehan, Carole, Howson,
Kilkenny, Robinson, Johnson (Elliott ), Showunmi.
What it did perhaps show is a lack of depth at centre back with Hunts playing
one half alongside the smallest player on the pitch (Rob Bayley) and Lubo the
second alongside Westlake !
In their programme it said last years fixture with a crowd of 4.019 was
actually their biggest of the season ! Well last night the crowd was slightly
higher with 4,405 and over half were Leeds fans (2,387) and we were in good
voice. The rain mainly kept away and at half time we were entertained by fans
throwing a big plastic dustbin and its contents around the stand - was funny to
look into the night sky and see a dozen empty (and one full , spraying all
over) coke bottles and a full size dustbin flying up and down (think beachballs
and other inflatables from previous seasons) A few chants were aimed at Kewell
including an attempt at "shoes off if you hate him" and there was even a bit of
a fracas in the York end which ended with twenty Leeds fans walking round the
pitch to our end. Their first keeper entered into the jollity when he
deliberately missed the ball from a goal kick just so he could hear us go
"Woooooooohhhh you're shit ah" a couple of times much to his
amusement (doubt if he has ever had as many away fans as that behind him)
Over the next few weeks they play Barnsley and Middlesboro - teams from
higher divisions than us and it will be interesting to see if they bring more
than the not famous anymore LUFC.
The 2 lads I was stood next to had had a 4 hour drive each way from their
homes in Northampton - proper dedication.
But what about the game Dave I hear you ask - well it was the usual pre
season fare, no real edge to it,no tension, and no real cohesion.
We did have some neat passing moves and the goal was well worked with Frazer
going on a trademark (??) forward run then releasing Hughes who crossed a
lovely ball for Becks who slotted it home with ease.
We had a few other near chances, a Beckford header, one from Hunty, and a
long range shot from Hughes all going close.
At the back Rob Bayley made some good tackles and passed the ball out of
defence well ( if he can stay fit he can have an impact this season) but was
caught out a couple of times due to lack of height (he is 5'6" tops!) one of
which led to the ball bouncing to a York player - Sodje who hit it at Casper
but was first to rebound and he put it into the net - a scrappy goal to give
away on the stroke of half time.
Neither Sweeney nor Weston (playing mainly just behind Becks) did much to
suggest that Macca will want to keep them - he has said the players left out of
the Ireland tour have no future at the club and I expect both these to be left
out.
Second half brought what we had come to see - Robinson and Enoch. First
impressions - neither looks like a footballer. Robinson is small fat and bald -
think an out of condition Steve Stone. Enoch is very tall - looked like
Ricketts without the huge arse.
In fact both players played a bit like they looked - Robbo had some nice
touches and looks half decent though may lack a bit of pace - he had one free
kick that was OK but was an easy save for the keeper.
Enoch started well , his first touch showed good control and he beat his man
with ease and released the ball to a Leeds player - "done more and better than
Kandol already" said some wit in the crowd. However it went downhill for him
from there and he was very quiet. He won very little in the air and the one
chance that fell to him his first touch was the proverbial "he trapped it
farther than I can kick it" On this showing he is no better and may be less
effective than Tres !!! Hope he is only a squad player and will be behind Becks
and the "2 new strikers who are coming in" in the pecking order.
Man of the match by a mile was Seb Carole - he created all our best chances
and had a few shots that just went wide or over. Not sure if he was out to
impress Macca or prospective new teams but on this showing we should keep him
as an off the bench impact player.
So there you have it a typical pre season run out - a game that will be
quickly forgotten and have no bearing on the season as a whole - atmosphere a
lot more upbeat than last season when there was a fear it could be our last
ever game.
Dave
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"the morphine patch and the handfuls of dihydrocodiene and paracetamol did the
business. I am GOING TO WEMBLEY !!!!" Dave Nattan May 16th 2008
