I took no pleasure from the fact that this was an attractive, open game with
lots of chances for both teams. For 94 minutes we were outplayed, outfought and
outskilled by a lively Huddersfield team. We might have a big squad but outside
our best 11 we will struggle against the better teams in this league. The plus
side is that the manager seems to have enough options with players to scrape
results and get goals when we’re up against it. Grayson’s success this season
has been built on a solid defence and we’ve all said that no matter who plays
we do seem to look fairly solid. That all changed today and the back 5 were
disorganised throughout. It was a shambles.
Huddersfieldmust have had 20 corners and every time that ball came over it
seemed likely that it would end up in the back of the net. Casper flapped and
punched when catching seemed easier. Lubo and Bromby worked hard and put in a
serious number of tackles but they shouldn’t need to be flinging themselves all
over this shop to cover lost ground, instead they should be up the attacker’s
arse. We just didn’t learn. After going ahead from a bad mistake from their
keeper Town went straight down the other side, a cross came in and the Town
player was given a yard of pace and he fired against the post. This happened
time and time again. Crosses were coming in left and right.
Crowe and Capaldi turned in the worse two defensive performances I’ve seen from
a Leeds player since Ronnie Robinson and Brian Caswell. They were shocking,
especially Capaldi who looked slow, pedestrian and lacking in any confidence.
Grayson should admit his mistake there and send him back immediately. Bring
back Andy Hughes, all is forgiven. We all know that Jason Crowe can’t defend
so why does Grayson pick him ? He’s a right sided midfielder but unfortunately
he doesn’t offer enough going forward to be considered a right midfielder. It
was a shambles at the back and they took us to the cleaners. Only some good
stops by Casper, some desperate last ditch defending and some crap finishes
saved us from embarrassment.
Playing Howson on the right wing is a no no. He can’t play there, he doesn’t
protect Crowe and it just doesn’t function properly. It really knocked him off
his stride today. Even when reverted back centrally he’d started so poorly he
just couldn’t recover. Doyle for me is the weak link. He dives around because
he doesn’t have the legs and when he gets the ball he can’t do anything with
it. Second half Grayson took Kilkenny off just after he had played the ball of
the match through to Beckford, who in typical Beckford fashion showed a heavy
first touch which ruined the pass. Why did he do this ? Kilkenny was our best
midfielder and the only one who could match Town for creativity.
Gradel gave us hope with a really well taken goal but it was only a matter of
time before Town went down the other side. Another cross came in and somehow
ended up in the back of the net. It looked like really bad defending and really
bad keeping from where I was sat.
People will point to our league position, our defensive record and the fact
we’re unbeaten at home. All I can say is that if we played that 11 for the rest
of the season I reckon we’d end up the play offs. Fair result today would have
been Leeds 2 Town 5. We were second best and that really pisses me off ‘cos I
f’cking hate Town.
Scores:
Casper– 5. Some good stops but he creates no confidence with his refusal to
come for crosses with any confidence. I think his time has just about run out
now.
Crowe – 1. Piss poor. Can’t defend, can’t really pass, gets knocked off the
ball.
Capaldi – 0. That was a horror performance. He didn’t do anything right – not
one thing, not one f’cking thing. Send him back sharpish.
Lubo – 5. On the face of it you could say he did a lot of work and defended
really well at times. The truth is though his brain at times is slow, he gives
attackers a chance and then tries to recover which he does well at times. Needs
to defend like Kisnorbo. Get close to them Lubo.
Bromby – 5. Someone said it was his best performance for Leeds so far. Well
f’ck me that doesn’t say a lot. Him and Lubo were all over the place.
Doyle – 4. Works hard, gets his sliding tackles in but contributes little. I
think Grayson is accommodating him at the moment.
Kilkenny – 7. One man midfield. People say that he doesn’t contribute enough ,
well he covered more ground and did more defending that anyone …. And then
Grayson subbed him.
Howson – 4. Worse Leeds performance I’ve seen him have. Stop playing him on the
right wing.
Snodgrass – 6. Did ok, but is he fit ? Can’t he last 90 minutes. Looks
overweight and leggy in second half. Grayson had to take him off.
Beckford – 6. Heavy touch from the pass of the game from Kilkenny. Goes too
early at times , works hard and did really well for Gradel’s goal proving he
can jump and contribute in the air rather than falling over and looking for the
freekick.
Vokes – 5. Got into some good positions but looks timid in front of goals.
Subs:
Gradel – 7. Scored another very impressive goal. I’d start with him.
Becchio – 3. The crowd sang his name , Grayson put him on. He looked lively for
3 minutes and won his first header then lost his next 7 headers and just didn’t
contribute. He’s f’cking shit.
Some other bloke came on and didn’t touch the ball.
Grayson – 1. Got it all wrong today for me. Town’s defence were only slightly
better than ours. It was all about who would score the most goals today given
the defence that he was forced to pick through injuries. So why not just go for
it with Gradel from the start and Kilkenny and Howson centrally. Howson got all
the space in the world but was asked to perform as a winger. He could have used
that space centrally.
I feel like we’ve lost today.
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