Best team won. I’m sure there will be usual reports that we had all the
possession and were unlucky but nothing could be further from the truth.
Carlisle, in the first half had far too much pace and invention up front for
our clueless, pedestrian defence and in the second half they sat back , took
their 3 front men off and showed us how to defend. They gave us a lesson in how
to play football.
So how was this possible that we were second best all over the park to a team
who hadn’t won away since the second week of the season ? Well, we were bad,
really bad at times. Grayson got the team selection wrong – he’s allowed to do
that at this stage but next game I hope he really takes a long at this game and
as a result I don’t expect to see Hughes, Douglas (yes Douglas !) and Becchio
in his next starting line up. We had to get out of the blocks early against
this team and we just didn’t. Hughes on the right wing doesn’t work. Didn’t
Grayson watch the videos of earlier games ? Didn’t Gwyn Williams tell him that
every time Hughes starts on the right he ends up getting subbed due to being
completely ineffective? The mind boggles – what happens in training do you
think ? Hughes takes the ball down the right, beats Fraser, nutmegs Lubo,
outpaces Rui , draws Casper and slots it home? I suppose it could happen ?
So why wouldn’t I pick Douglas. Well I think we have to start to consider his
role in the team. He is supposedly our holding , defensive midfielder. Well,
we’re all pointing fingers at the defensive four week in week out but surely
Douglas is part of that unit ? Let’s face facts folk he is ineffective. Maybe
he’s spending too much time trying to play the Glen Hoddle role ? Whatever the
reasons he was shocking today and if there’s a worse passer of the ball in this
league I’ve yet to see him (maybe Becchio ?). Compare him with Carlisle’s
holding player Kavanagh. Chalk and cheese. Kavanagh keeps his position, can
pick a simple pass, can hassle and annoy the opposition and link the team up
with simple pass and move football. He’s streets ahead of Douglas. We need a
Kavanagh.
Up front Becchio had a nightmare. Here’s a diary of Luciano’s day:
3.03 – put through. Only had to play a simple ball through to Christie but
overcooked it by 250% - it was the worse pass I’ve ever seen.
3:10 – put through on the left, kept the ball well ran into the box and hit it
into the side netting. At very least he should have made the keeper make a
save. He has repeated this trick of being unable to hit the target in the last
half dozen games I have seen .
3:30 – peach of a cross put directly on to his head from 3 yards out. Becchio
heads it straight at the keeper. Anywhere else and it would have been a goal.
Terrible miss.
3.13/ 3.23/3.31/3.40 – Becchio falls on his arse and gives away a freekick.
Second half:
Can’t remember the times but there was a catalogue of misses including one from
the 6 yard box where he tried to loop it backwards with his left foot. He had
time and space. All it needed was a decent connection with his right foot and
it was a goal.
Overall it was a shite performance. Eddie Gray pointed out that he got into the
positions to score the goals and that he will always score goals. Well 9 goals
in 25 games doesn’t sound that bad but it this league its nothing special and I
don’t think it’s that many in the last 10 games. Can anyone seriously tell me
that this bloke is up to the job ?
Carlisle’s goals were well taken but you have to ask questions about our
defence. First of all Sheehan who looked pedestrian next to the excellent
Taylor who was played in by Kavanagh. Graham had all the space and time in the
world to site foot home. The second was better on their part. Man of the match
Kavanagh yet again played a superb through ball to Bridges who did well to
convert from a tight angle. Good goal – at least you could say that it was
skill that took us a part rather than us handing a goal on a plate. Carlisle
were by far the best team in the first half. Second half they decided to play
on the break and we had all the possession. They took Taylor, Bridges and
Graham off – 3 of their 4 best players. They actually had the best chance of
the 2nd half when their player side footed wide from 5 yards – it was as bad as
Becchio’s miss.
Second half we made 3 subs , all of which had an impact and I think if we’d
managed to scrape a goal we may of gone on to win but a mixture of bad
finishing and good goalkeeping kept us at bay. All 3 subs impressed though and
all should get a start next time around.
Scores:
Casper – 5. One or two decent saves but looked hesistant at times. Not
surprising given the circus going on ahead of him.
Richardson – 2. Very, very poor. He just gives the ball away and doesn’t look
convincing at the back.
Sheehan – 5. Steady but no pace made him vulnerable against the pacey Taylor.
Lubo – 1. What’s happened to him. He looks shit.
Rui – 2. What’s happened to him. He looks shit.
Douglas – 3. Nothings happened to him – he is shit and always has been.
Hughes – 1. Non league footballer.
Delph – 5. Poor first half. Tried to do it alone in the second half. Some good
things but ended up over hitting passes and getting frustrated.
Becchio – 4. Worked hard but let’s face facts, he only had to have a half
decent game and we would have scored 2 or 3 goals. Still don’t think we would
have won though. I don’t rate Becchio as a goalscorer or as a footballer.
Christie – 4. He looks painfully short of match practice although you can see
he has intelligence and ability. Managed to get our only shot on target in the
first half. I would definitely persevere.
Snodgrass – 7. Lively but ineffective.
Subs:
Johnson – 7. Looked , strong and very lively. Ultimately I don’t think his end
product is up to it.
Trundle – 7. I thought he looked good and will score goals at this level.
Should start.
Robinson – 7. Lively.
Grayson – 0. Got it all wrong and now has to learn.
_______________________________________________
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
