I would need to get my Thesaurus out to find enough superlatives to describe
this game.
>From first to last we were superb.
Just before I left home I said to Mrs I felt uneasy because it did not feel
right going to a game thinking and expecting to win, but within the first
minute by new found optimism was to prove correct. A bad pass \ clearance fell
to Becchio who fed a lovely ball through to Beckford who hit it at the keeper
when really he should have scored.
After that it is all pretty much a blur. At some stage a bouncing ball almost
fell to Ian Moore (or Ian Thomas-Moore as he now is) but Kisnorbo put his head
in where it hurts and cleared the danger. I remember that cos it was there one
and only half chance in a game we dominated from first to last.
I cannot count on one hand the number of times we hit the woodwork or their
keeper pulled off good saves.
We could have had 5 or 6 and it would not have flattered us.
The actual goals as I recall them. First - a cross was well met by Becchio and
the keeper saved well but the ball came out to the feet of Johnson who finished
well. Then another cross fell to Beckford (who could have had a hat trick by
then) and he slotted home via the post.
Second half a storming free kick came back off the woodwork and Becchio threw
himself at the ball to scramble it over the line.
In addition to the three goals, Johnson missed a one on one, Kisnorbo had a
deflected shot from outside the box tipped just over, Grella tied the defence
in knots and hit the post and put the rebound into the side netting, and
Kilkenny dragged a shot just wide.
We had that many shots and chances that it is impossible to record or remember
them all.
It was the most comprehensive victory I can remember for many a long year -
made all the sweeter by the fact that it was against Scousers and scousers
managed by John Barnes - a player who I have always disliked from his pathetic
performances (one or two exceptions) for England and thought not his fault the
worst bit of commentating I have ever heard. England fans (myself included)
booed Barnes one night at Wembley and the commentator put it down to racism -
which would not have been so bad if the fans as well as booing Barnes had not
been singing for the introduction of the equally black Andy Cole !! Anyway I
digress and back to ER.
I went to the game thinking it was my first glimpse of Doyle and I was
interested in watching him play - a fact I forgot about till he made a good
tackle in the 75th minute - the first thing I noticed him doing all game and
minutes before he was subbed. That is how good he was at doing the simple
things well, I never noticed him and yet him and the equally invisible Howson
ran the game. Doyle was a different class to Johnny Douglas.
Higgs just oozes confidence, Crowe, Rui and Hughes did what was required,
Kisnorbo was solid as anything, Howson and Doyle bossed things in midfield,
Snoddy worked hard and is getting back to what he is capable of, Johnson
was great - he made me eat my words today, and up front B&B caused them untold
problems with their movement and effort.
All the subs showed they are good enough to be on the pitch with Grella
especially impressing (shame the Kop did not read his LLL interview where he
said he thought of himself as Italian and not American and so they carried on
with the awful USA chant)
All in all a magnificent day and performance and result - just a shame
Ken's idea of making it a Cat A game meant a crowd of 20 and not 30 thousand
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
http://www.worldnet.org.uk WorldNET2009
