Not much to disagree with in Dave's report. First half was excellent entertainment and for about 30 minutes after they scored, we played very well. Movement off the ball was excellent, especially from the front 2 and Snodgrass and Hughes from wide. We really deserved more than one goal in that time. Defence looked a bit shaky still though, despite the fact that Stockport played much of the game with just one upfront (at home, against a team below them in the league). We had to clear off the line three times and still look very shaky from corners - admittedly Stockport were a big side and had a clear advantage here. Second half we were beginning to come under the cosh and i'd probably have settled for a draw before Delph's goal. At the time of the substitution i thought it was a bit of a waste moving him out to left midfield to accomodate Howson in the middle, but it proved it's better to be a lucky manager than a good one as the ball went straight to him on the wing a couple of minutes later and it was a great finish, especially given the ball was a bit infront of him and not really in the correct position for a long range shot. I was also telling Niggy that i thought Christie was probably too ineffectual after his injuries when he lashed in a cracking volley on the turn - so what do i know. Scores Casper 6 - Looked to be sh*tting himself most of the first half - pitch very bobbly due to Sale Sharks playing there - but looked more confident as game wore on. Didn't actually have many saves to make. Richardson 7 - Probably our best right back (the French bloke at MK looked to have Domi-itis - wandering all over the place) and had a decent game. Marques 6 - Largely dealt with the physical threat from Stockport, some shocking distribution though. Michalik 6 - Bit like Enoch doesn't win the ball as much in the air as he should do but 100% better than at MK. Sheehan 6 - Lucky to last the game - pretty dopey to get booked for diving when you tackle like he does. Hughes 7 - Loads of effort, made lots of good forward runs though often failed to control or lost the ball when he got it. Douglas 8 - Thumping tackle before Stockports goal and added some good bursts forward to his usual defensive effort. Crucial in us turning round game after first few minutes. Delph 7 - Scored a super goal and did some nice tricks but still doesn't command the game the way i'd perhaps hoped. Needs to learn the middle ground on defending though, tends to alternate between standing off and shirking the responsibility and sliding lunging tackles after he's lost it. Snodgrass 7 - Gives us better balance wide and more reliable defensively than the fatman. Becchio 8 - Worked his socks off and looks a different player besides Beckford. Won a lot in the air. Beckford 7 - Started with boots on that he couldn't stand up in, probably not really fit and faded second half but still added something with his ability to run into space and give the rest of the team a target. Subs Howson 5 - Mainly seemed to stand on ball and lose possession. Christie 7 - Can't argue with a great finish like that. Grayson - Seems to have improved things - if only by playing people in correct positions and putting men on posts at corners. Ref - Shocking. We got bookings over-celebrating (Becchio), Diving (Sheehan) and Dissent (Delph) but never looked like getting the card out for a tackle. Matt
--- On Sun, 28/12/08, DAVID NATTAN <[email protected]> wrote: Well, for me this was everything that the Leicester game wasn't, a cracking game and 3 points. In many ways it was reminiscent of early last season under Wise , some desperate and committed defending added to a couple of bits of sublime skill. McAllister must be thinking that if they had played like this for him he would still be in a job at Leeds. Grayson did nothing that Macca had not done - he did not change the system or line up or anything and he has not really had the time to change the mindset etc. Like us all , I hope that Grayson is the best manager we have ever had but realistically any new manager could have done the same as he did today. He kept the same back 5, the same front two and the same two centre midfielders - the 9 obvious players, the 9 we would all pick. At left and right midfield he chose to go with Snodgrass and Hughes - again nothing revolutionary and nothing that we would not have done ourselves. None of this is intended as a slur on Grayson but you do have to wonder whether players like Lubo and Rui have suddenly been taken out of their comfort zone and had to do the business. We started absolutely appallingly - the fact that we had 2 of the four sides of the ground (one end and one side) seemed to lift them more than us and we endured a torrid first 5 mins or so - they could have been 3 up before they scored (and that was after 3 mins !!), walking through us at ease. The goal came from a well hit shot in the area and not a corner as such. We then gradually began to get a grip on the game with plenty of possession and a few chances. We scored from a corner by Snoddy that was turned in from close range by Becchio. This led to a cracking end to end first half that had all the feel of a cup tie with both sets of fans getting behind their teams. We came close via Becchio and Beckford (with 2 overhead kicks - one tipped over the bar) In fact we were starting to control it so much that they made a tactical sub half way through the first half. But like I say it was far form one way traffic and we somehow survived a number of corners with both Sheehan and Lubo clearing off the line (Sheehan did the same second half) -although it was far from pretty and was desperate at times the players seemed willing to put their bodies on the line and give their all to stop them scoring. The second half never lived up to the excitement of the first half and was mainly a midfield scrap but for once we were solid at the back - so much so that I christened Casper as the "Casper the catching Dane" as he came out and caught two or three corners in succession - why he has not done that before who knows? The players(on both sides) were giving it everything and none more so than Becchio who chased down the keeper and made him play a rash kick which went straight to a Leeds player out on the wing 30yds from an empty net. Had that player been Douglas or Hughes etc our cries of "shoot" would no doubt have ended with us watching the ball fly into the stand, but on this occasion it came to Delph who - drink driver or not - is a class act and he took one touch to control it and then volleyed it into the net - absolute class - worth subscribing to LUTV to watch it !! Put another few quid on his transfer fee. If this had been Beckham, Gerard or Lampard you would be watching it on every football show from now till eternity. It was brilliant and how Delph and us fans loved it. The question then was could we hold out or even add it it - thankfully the answer was the latter as a ball found Christie on the edge of the box and he finished with style - 3 -1 game over with only 3 mins left. The relief and joy on his face was great to see - 3 years or whatever since he last scored but if (and it is a big if) he can stay fit he will be similar but better than Freeman last season. So overall a good game and a great result in a game that we would not have won in similar circumstances under McAllister and 4 points in 3 days when perhaps none were expected. Well done Simon Grayson - now comes the hard work in the transfer window and on the training ground. As for individual players - something I don't generally do Casper looked solid and assured. Rui and Lubo for once put in some 'bottle' and a will to win Sheehan - booked for diving and lucky to stay on the pitch after a deliberate shirt pull, he did well and is our best left back but his tendency to leave the ground when tackling and going in studs up will see him getting red again before long. Frazer - good sold performance Delph - got stuck in, created a bit and is a class above the rest - his goal was sublime Douglas - has his critics, myself included, but this was his sort of game - a midfield war and he never shirked a tackle Hughes - 100%commitment and effort - 10% skill and ability Snodgrass - average - did OK but never really a threat Beckford - still not fully fit and tired at end but even at 90% has to be picked- he scares defenders making space for others and came close on occasion especially with one overhead kick - tries hard and never stops - fans that question his work rate and commitment need to get a grip -after Delph our star man. Becchio - has seemed jaded and worn out in recent weeks but today either cos of his goal or the fact that Becks was back, saw him at his best - he did the work of 2 men and won lots of headers and held the ball well - great perfomance. Got an undeserved booking for 'over celebration" - all he did was run the two yards behind the goal into the massed ranks of Leeds fans - stupid rule trying to take fun and passion out of the game Subs Pruttton - off the pace Howson - ditto Christie - took goal well which gave him confidence to show his skill is above this level Grayson - brilliant - made a double sub at 1 -1 and we go on to win 3 1 , says it all. 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 Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad _______________________________________________ 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 Sorry Macca - it's the curse of Bates old lad
