Oh dear. Colour me Rich Walker, because having been as positive as I could
be so far, this poor run means I'm coming round to many of his points.
First, the mathc. We started both halves brightly, snappy into the tackle
and purposeful. But in the first half, we seemed to flag once the initial
onslaught failed to deliver results and then we reverted to type. Our
defence is officially woeful. The moment MK had any kind of probing
attack,
we seemed to lose shape, movement and confidence. A static, fearful
defence
is no defence at all, and horribly predictably we conceded from corners in
relatively quick succession.
About ten minutes from the end of the half, Ed texted me to say the BBC
had
us with 67% of possession, and while that seemed improbable based on what
I
was watching, it might well have been true. We did a lot of huffing and
puffing, but nothing came off. The main tactic was long balls to Becchio,
and while I like the lad, Rich Walker's view is now being borne out week
after week. He won maybe two headers all game, neither of which found a
stripey shirt, our of maybe... 20 launched at him? Maybe more. MK Dons, by
contrast, had less possession but it felt like they were dominating
because
every attack looked dangerous. We should sign their No.8 - although he'd
have to be some kind of masochist to want to come to Leeds for another
season in Div.3 and the prospect of 4,500 fans chanting "What the f*** is
going on?" at the top of their voices when you go two down.
Second half - see above. This time, our early pressure was rewarded -
Snodgrass's hooked half-volley crashing in to fire up the fans and his
team-mates. But within five minutes, the passion was spent. We were back
to
our bumbling ways. So it was no surprise when they restored their lead
shortly afterwards. Cue 35 minutes of ineffectual faffing. The announcer
had
Delph going off for Enoch, although it looked like Howson (well... it's an
easy mistake to make...). And at least with a big guy up front the long
ball
stuff looks a bit more purposeful. But it was the same as Histon: too
little, too late.
The players? Delph - despite having forgotten that he was terrorising
defenders by running at them just two months ago with the result that he
almost never dribbled today - was still the pick of the bunch for me.
Snodgrass is a grafter and his commitment delivers results. Becchio ran
around a lot, but I now concede Rich W's point. Howson was my favourite
player two years ago. He's disappeared. Sheehan (excepting a half-decent
free-kick) showed why we won at Swindon when he got sent off. Lubo still
can't play upright - for a tall lad, he doesn't half launch a lot of balls
vertically into the stratosphere (at both ends, mind). Rui was game and
got
stuck into a few decent challenges, but is also a shadow of his former
self.
Who else? Oh, dodgy Dave between the sticks. And that new lad, Assoumani,
was average - i.e. not really what we need from a new signing. At all.
Douglas was pretty good, actually, but I think these rubbish performances
across the team flatter him. Credit to Frazer for coming on and giving it
a
go.
All in all, then, dispiriting. This defeat pretty much rules out automatic
promotion, and notwithstanding the fact MK Dons are worth their standing
in
this league - oh, and it's a great stadium and their fans were pretty good
for Johnny-come-lately franchise supporters - we may even struggle to make
the play-offs. Confidence is shot, and it's hard to believe that the
pass-and-move side that demolished Swindon despite being a man down is
more-or-less the same side that has capitulated so readily during
December.
I don't buy the idea that Beckford makes everything happen - we are, man
for
man, better than these results. That means coaching and confidence have
gone
awry - and although I hope Macca brings back that decent football the side
were showing at the start of the season, I'm starting to think a new broom
might do as much good as harm.
PS - fans were great. Again. The acoustics were excellent for singing, and
one or two minutes of frustration aside, we sang them off the park. Shit.
Can't believe I'm actually pleased we outsang MK Dons at theirs. Things
must
be grim...
--------------------
Richard Young
Freelance writer and editor
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is Michel Kitabdjian dead yet?
