I'm grumpy, hungover, annoyed and angry so don't read this if you don't want to
be given a big dose of pessimism and negativity :
There it is, clear as day for Macca to see, the reason why we have been leaking
goals over the last couple of months ? He must act now. I must admit I was
puzzled by our defensive weaknesses but I think it’s pretty much nailed with
regards to the underlying problem. So here it is – Left back. We’ve had 4 left
backs this season and pretty much all of them can’t defend. All decent on the
ball (maybe not Hughes ?) and all look promising going forward but ultimately
when put on the back foot they’re struggling. None more so than Ben Parker. If
you look back on past reports when I’ve written about Parker I’ve always said
that he can’t defend and his positional sense is lacking. This was emphasised
yesterday. He stands off his man, he never gets goal side, he can’t tackle and
is basically lacking in every attribute that a decent left back needs. Now
Terry says this may be down to the fact that he is a centre half playing at
left back ? Well
if that’s the case then Macca is at fault but I would hate to see Parker
playing at centre back because I think he’d be even more exposed. This lad will
never make it, he’s the Ian Harte of League one. The only thing I’d say in
Parker’s defence is something that someone pointed out to me in the pub after –
he got no support at all from fatty Robinson – more of that later. I can’t
argue with that one but it still doesn’t change anything for me as far as
Parker’s defensive frailties.
Secondly, and it’s taken me a while to get to this conclusion but Telfer is
poor. Yes he talks a good game and yes he looks like he’s organising and
talking to people around him but at the end of the day it’s all down to
tackling, pace and covering. He does neither particularly well. Together with
Parker yesterday they served up what can only be described as a Keystone Cops
sketch. Between them they were a shambles. They made the Town right winger look
like Ronaldo. The amount of space they gave him and the way they sat back and
let him come at them. Just look at their winner. There’s no way that they
should have been able to get that cross over. Criminal defending. Is Telfer a
centre back ? He looks like a right back to me. Either way he’s not good
enough.
I thought it would be worth emphasising the negatives first up because this is
becoming a problem that could cost us automatic promotion. I didn’t go to Derby
but my mate who went said it was one of the best Leeds performances for a
couple of years. But they f’cking lost I said. Oh yeah, that was just Telfer
again.
The positive though (and there were a few), is yet again despite dodgy tactics
throughout from Macca we should have won this game. I don’t share Dave N’s view
that we completely dominated. Their keeper didn’t have a lot to do and I
thought we were marginally the better side in a keenly contested game. Town
played some good football and had a couple of very lively midfielders who
matched Delph and Kilkenny. We started really lively and everyone thought it
was going to be a rout. Becchio with a slightly overcooked cross and some very
poor Town defending allowed Snodgrass, our best player on the day, to hook it
back into the net.
Our formation yet again for me was unbalanced. 4-1-2-3 with Robinson on the
left (but allowed to wander, and he did !), Snodgrass on the right and the
ineffective Becchio on his own down the middle. Then Delph and Kilkenny in the
middle , neither sure of what was expected of them. Finally there was Douglas
who just sat in front of the back 4. In a game like this when there’s lots of
space and creativity is needed Douglas for me is not required. I would have
taken him off earlier. We did have a lot of possession at times and did play
some good bits of football but we never dominated and kept making silly
mistakes – Delph surprisingly guilty of being caught in possession a couple of
times. I don’t’ think Kilkenny and Robinson can play in the same team. Neither
offers anything defensively and in Kilkenny you have a player who just doesn’t
do as he is told. Apparently (and it’s only a post match Sports Café rumour)
but they’re was some
tussling in the tunnel involving Kilkenny and another player after the game.
Anyone heard owt ? Delph and Kilkenny were constantly talking (arguing ?) to
each other. I don’t think they knew what was going on ? At times, with Douglas
sat very deep, Kilkenny wandering around and Robinson floating, Delph was a one
man midfield. To his credit he still produced some brilliant passes but we need
to find a balanced midfield that really supports him. It’s not right at the
moment.
All our best work came through Snodgrass who really terrorised their left back
and looked to have the beating of him every time he ran at himl. I like
Snodgrass. I think he is a bit of skill and strengh. He will also track back to
cover. At one point he ran from one corner to the other to cover – not
surprisingly for Parker.
Robinson also looked good on the ball and he showed some good skill and link up
play. My problem with Robinson is that he’s too fat. Why can’t he lose a stone
or two.He’d be bloody dangerous then. Surely that can’t be difficult for him.
Just stop eating and drinking so much and get yourself out running. He doesn’t
offer anything defensively and when you’ve young Parker behind you it’s no
surprise to see Town target this area and get rewards from it.
So what about Bechhio ? Well, yesterday again I thought he showed exactly what
he is – an extremely limited footballer, with a bit of aggression but no pace
and little skill. He’s also not that great in the air despite this being touted
as his main strenght. Yesterday he got his chance again – a 3 yard out
unchallenged header. All he had to do was head it down into the next but he
unbelievably hammered it against the bar. An atrocious miss. Yes he’ll score
more of these than he misses and will undoubtedly win the bet for Dave but I
still maintain that he is an average League One striker at best. According to
some reports, Boro are taking a look at him. Well I hope they didn’t turn up
yesterday ‘cos he was shit. This is only emphasised when he plays up front
alone, he just can’t do it aon his own, he doesn’t have the ability. Put it on
his head or boot from 3 yards out and yes you might get a ressult. Ask him to
take the ball from 30
yards out and either run with it or create something and it’s like watching a
girl play football. And can’t he see when he’s offside. He was also given the
ball in some promising positions but he either fell over or just squandered the
opportunity. Useless Argy twat !
That’s about it really. Yes I am being negative but I’m annoyed. We didn’t play
really badly , we didn’t deserve to lose but I think there’s some fundamental
problems that need to be addressed to endure we go up this season.
Scores on the doors:
Casper – 4. All over the shop. What was he doing for their first goal. It was a
complete shambles
.
Richardson – 7. I thought him and Snodgass on the right were the highlights of
our performance.
Parker – 2. And that’s 2 for a couple fo decent runs forward. O for the
defending. Aidan White is a defending colossus next to this lad.
Lubo – 5. Yes , he made a lot of last ditch, saving tackles but why is he
having to make these tackles ? The organisation at the back is lacking and
we’re constantly getting the wrong side which leaves us trailing the opposition
man. I think Telfer is at fault a lot on these occasions and I don’t think he’s
the partner for Lubo.
Telfer – 1. I think he’s been found it.
Delph – 7. Can’t do it on his own.
Douglas – 6. Didn’t have to do a lot really. Not required today.
Kilkenny – 4. Disappointing.
Robinson – 6. Some good moments and looked dangerous right through to the end.
Becchio – 4. No pace or ability. an’t play on his own up front. Missed the best
chance of the match.
Snodgrass – 8. Hardworking, skillful and good goal. I might be tempted to give
him a run up front centrally.
Subs:
Howson and Prutton – why the f’ck did Macca take off Delph and put Prutton on ?
Prutton has hardly had a game this season. And when they came on they both sat
deep. It was incredible. Howson hardly got out of his own half ? Macca handed
the game to Town with his subs today. Really worrying.
Beckford – 6. Showed some promise, nearly scored but apart from that he looked
a bit disinterested, which surprised me.
Macca – formation didn’t work, subs handed the initiative to Town, not much
more can be said.
Staunton – wasn’t Stan an international left back ? So surely he can see the
lack of defensive ability in Parker ? The next team selection will be
interesting for me.
Town fans – Huddersfield were never on my radar when it came to disliked team,
but over the last couple of seasons they’ve really f’cked me off. They moaned
like b*ggery last season when we only gave them the SE corner. There were
threats that they’d bought hundreds of tickets for our end. All rubbish. We
then give them the SE corner and a bit of the South stand and they can’t sell
all their tickets. What a joke of a club they are ? Tin pot club describes them
perfectly.
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is Michel Kitabdjian dead yet?
