Re: [LU] Spurs
100% Agree This is getting distressing and happening far too often Michael -Original Message- From: Leedslist On Behalf Of Robert Heath Sent: יום א 03 ינואר 2021 01:03 To: bruvvalee...@yahoo.co.uk Cc: leeds list leedslist@gn.apc.org Subject: Re: [LU] Spurs OK I know I'm going to be accused of arrogance again, but..you guys just don't get Bielsaball. The style of play he demands from his players requires them to take huge risks with the ball every time they have it. He understands that they won't get it right every time, he understands the danger that they will give the ball away (sometimes in very dangerous places..sometimes leading to goals against us), but he believes that the potential benefits are worth it. What is astonishing for me is the number of times they risk so much and it comes offsome breathtaking rat-tat-tat of one touch passes, each one perfectly weighted and angled. You guys can get all hot under the collar as much as you like about the CHs we aren't going to buy and the replacements for Bamford we aren't going to buy.but Bielsa knows that gradually these boys are getting the hang of this league, they're getting better by the day, and he's in it for the long haul. The last thing he will want is to try and add a new player to the group. An alternative analysis of this game is that the Curse of London has hit us yet again. When we play in London, you can guarantee that if there is a foul right on the edge of the box, it will be a pen, and if the ball is clawed back as it crosses the line, it will be over by 1 mm. Somehow, not even Bielsa seems to be able to find a way to overcome this problem. On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 11:23 PM John Lee via Leedslist wrote: > Unless there is some ‘bargain’ Uruguayan/Argentinian centre back under > everyone’s radar bar Bielsa’s, I can’t see us buying anyone in the > transfer window! > > We played ok in the first 30 minutes, and Spurs looked a bit surprised > as to how full-on we were. Of course not scoring would cost us - same > old story. Same old problem re giving the ball away - I thought Ayling > and Rodrigo were the main culprits - they weren’t alone in doing that, > but I’d also give Rodrigo a run out up front, mostly to stop him > giving the ball away in our own half, or giving away stupid fouls by > ‘tackling’ with his arms! He is bloody frustrating at times, despite > looking like the best player we have at others! > > We looked weary in the middle 30 minutes too - maybe Bielsa needs to > think about the word rotation? Rapha definitely looked off the pace, > and Bamford and Harrison too. > > I wonder if we’ll play the under 23 team v Crawley? I don’t want us to > lose to them, as we’ll never hear the end of it, but some of our first > xi need a rest. > > Like Rich, I didn’t think Spurs looked anything special as a team, > especially as they’d had a rest. > > Hacked of I paid £25 to BT for a monthly pass :-( > > Sent from my iPad > > > On 2 Jan 2021, at 20:42, Alec McQueen wrote: > > > > Rich > > Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class > > defenders, > and preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God > Knows), who (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want > to try to instil his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? > > > > I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as > > competitors > given we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less > than 40ish million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. > Alas, I just can’t see it happening despite it being our best option right > now. > > > > More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type > > players > who won’t make a difference. > > > > Pessimistic? Me? > > Cheers > > Alec > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > >> On 3 Jan 2021, at 04:25, Richard Walker via Leedslist < > leedslist@gn.apc.org> wrote: > >> > >> Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up > against one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting > hammered at Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million > miles away. Defence needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. > If Bielsa really believes he can get through this season without > another central defender then I think that would be a bad call. Today, > it's the same old problems - a left back who's not a left back giving > away a needless pen (it wasn't a pen but still a terrible half > tackle). Defending corners - there were lots of Leeds players around > him - Philips etc but nobody got near him and as usual Meslier was > stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How many more times ? > Then for their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as > defender) commits himself in midfield and as a result we're a man > short at the back. Kane cross, Sol 2-0. Avoidable. You just can't come > to places like this with a
Re: [LU] Spurs
Alternatively why would we. I assume that Koch and Llorente are the long-term CB partnership in Bielsa's mind - so why get someone else when they have never had the opportunity to play with each other. If you are assuming we are safe - we'd be buying someone for 4-5 games until Llorente and Cooper should be fit - and Ayling has actually done pretty well there. I suspect centre-midfield and left-back are seen as bigger priorities. The fact that Klich has to play every game basically on his own in the wide open space of our midfield is a big risk and Bielsa has said before that he prefers to play with 2 8s. Not too worried about today - a makeshift defence against the best striking partnership in the league - and 3-0 flattered them. Matt -- Original Message -- From: "Richard Walker via Leedslist" To: "Alec McQueen" Cc: "leeds list leedslist@gn.apc.org" Sent: Saturday, 2 Jan, 21 At 22:19 Subject: Re: [LU] Spurs If we accept we will be safe this season then why wouldn’t we spend part of the transfer pot for next season on White or other top class central defender. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Saturday, January 2, 2021, 8:42 pm, Alec McQueen wrote: Rich Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class defenders, and preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God Knows), who (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want to try to instil his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as competitors given we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less than 40ish million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. Alas, I just can’t see it happening despite it being our best option right now. More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type players who won’t make a difference. Pessimistic? Me? Cheers Alec ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Dorigo's Right Buttock...
Re: [LU] Spurs
Phillips is banned for Brighton game as bookings now only relate to the competition they were earned in Matt Sent from my iPad > On 2 Jan 2021, at 22:27, Tim Whelan via Leedslist > wrote: > > > I was wondering if Phillips intentionally got booked near the end, so he can > serve his ban during the Crawley game, for which he might have been rested > anyway. But if that theory was right Klich would also have got himself booked > for the same reason, and he didn't. > > -- Original Message -- > From: "John Lee via Leedslist" > To: "Alec McQueen" > Cc: "leeds list leedslist@gn.apc.org" > Sent: Saturday, 2 Jan, 21 At 22:22 > Subject: Re: [LU] Spurs > Unless there is some ‘bargain’ Uruguayan/Argentinian centre back under > everyone’s radar bar Bielsa’s, I can’t see us buying anyone in the transfer > window! > > We played ok in the first 30 minutes, and Spurs looked a bit surprised as to > how full-on we were. Of course not scoring would cost us - same old story. > Same old problem re giving the ball away - I thought Ayling and Rodrigo were > the main culprits - they weren’t alone in doing that, but I’d also give > Rodrigo a run out up front, mostly to stop him giving the ball away in our > own half, or giving away stupid fouls by ‘tackling’ with his arms! He is > bloody frustrating at times, despite looking like the best player we have at > others! > > We looked weary in the middle 30 minutes too - maybe Bielsa needs to think > about the word rotation? Rapha definitely looked off the pace, and Bamford > and Harrison too. > > I wonder if we’ll play the under 23 team v Crawley? I don’t want us to lose > to them, as we’ll never hear the end of it, but some of our first xi need a > rest. > > Like Rich, I didn’t think Spurs looked anything special as a team, especially > as they’d had a rest. > > Hacked of I paid £25 to BT for a monthly pass :-( > > ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Dorigo's Right Buttock...
Re: [LU] Spurs
OK I know I'm going to be accused of arrogance again, but..you guys just don't get Bielsaball. The style of play he demands from his players requires them to take huge risks with the ball every time they have it. He understands that they won't get it right every time, he understands the danger that they will give the ball away (sometimes in very dangerous places..sometimes leading to goals against us), but he believes that the potential benefits are worth it. What is astonishing for me is the number of times they risk so much and it comes offsome breathtaking rat-tat-tat of one touch passes, each one perfectly weighted and angled. You guys can get all hot under the collar as much as you like about the CHs we aren't going to buy and the replacements for Bamford we aren't going to buy.but Bielsa knows that gradually these boys are getting the hang of this league, they're getting better by the day, and he's in it for the long haul. The last thing he will want is to try and add a new player to the group. An alternative analysis of this game is that the Curse of London has hit us yet again. When we play in London, you can guarantee that if there is a foul right on the edge of the box, it will be a pen, and if the ball is clawed back as it crosses the line, it will be over by 1 mm. Somehow, not even Bielsa seems to be able to find a way to overcome this problem. On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 11:23 PM John Lee via Leedslist wrote: > Unless there is some ‘bargain’ Uruguayan/Argentinian centre back under > everyone’s radar bar Bielsa’s, I can’t see us buying anyone in the transfer > window! > > We played ok in the first 30 minutes, and Spurs looked a bit surprised as > to how full-on we were. Of course not scoring would cost us - same old > story. Same old problem re giving the ball away - I thought Ayling and > Rodrigo were the main culprits - they weren’t alone in doing that, but I’d > also give Rodrigo a run out up front, mostly to stop him giving the ball > away in our own half, or giving away stupid fouls by ‘tackling’ with his > arms! He is bloody frustrating at times, despite looking like the best > player we have at others! > > We looked weary in the middle 30 minutes too - maybe Bielsa needs to think > about the word rotation? Rapha definitely looked off the pace, and Bamford > and Harrison too. > > I wonder if we’ll play the under 23 team v Crawley? I don’t want us to > lose to them, as we’ll never hear the end of it, but some of our first xi > need a rest. > > Like Rich, I didn’t think Spurs looked anything special as a team, > especially as they’d had a rest. > > Hacked of I paid £25 to BT for a monthly pass :-( > > Sent from my iPad > > > On 2 Jan 2021, at 20:42, Alec McQueen wrote: > > > > Rich > > Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class defenders, > and preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God Knows), > who (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want to try to > instil his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? > > > > I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as competitors > given we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less than > 40ish million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. Alas, I > just can’t see it happening despite it being our best option right now. > > > > More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type players > who won’t make a difference. > > > > Pessimistic? Me? > > Cheers > > Alec > > > > Sent from my iPad > > > >> On 3 Jan 2021, at 04:25, Richard Walker via Leedslist < > leedslist@gn.apc.org> wrote: > >> > >> Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up > against one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting > hammered at Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million miles > away. Defence needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. If Bielsa > really believes he can get through this season without another central > defender then I think that would be a bad call. Today, it's the same old > problems - a left back who's not a left back giving away a needless pen (it > wasn't a pen but still a terrible half tackle). Defending corners - there > were lots of Leeds players around him - Philips etc but nobody got near him > and as usual Meslier was stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How > many more times ? Then for their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as > defender) commits himself in midfield and as a result we're a man short at > the back. Kane cross, Sol 2-0. Avoidable. You just can't come to places > like this with a makeshfit defence and expect to win the game no matter how > lively you are in attack. Let's see what happens in the January window. > >> It might sound like sour grapes but I don't think Spurs are a great > team. Yes they have some good individual players (Son in particular) but we > were all over them in the first half. Our movement and
Re: [LU] Spurs
Given our history, I am not sure there would be that much appetite to invest money we haven’t earned yet. Does Rad have any money to loan the club until next season? Sent from my iPad > On 3 Jan 2021, at 09:19, Richard Walker wrote: > > If we accept we will be safe this season then why wouldn’t we spend part of > the transfer pot for next season on White or other top class central defender. > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > On Saturday, January 2, 2021, 8:42 pm, Alec McQueen wrote: > > Rich > Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class defenders, and > preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God Knows), who > (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want to try to instil > his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? > > I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as competitors given > we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less than 40ish > million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. Alas, I just can’t > see it happening despite it being our best option right now. > > More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type players who > won’t make a difference. > > Pessimistic? Me? > Cheers > Alec > > Sent from my iPad > > > On 3 Jan 2021, at 04:25, Richard Walker via Leedslist > > wrote: > > > > Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up against > > one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting hammered at > > Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million miles away. Defence > > needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. If Bielsa really believes > > he can get through this season without another central defender then I > > think that would be a bad call. Today, it's the same old problems - a left > > back who's not a left back giving away a needless pen (it wasn't a pen but > > still a terrible half tackle). Defending corners - there were lots of Leeds > > players around him - Philips etc but nobody got near him and as usual > > Meslier was stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How many more > > times ? Then for their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as defender) commits > > himself in midfield and as a result we're a man short at the back. Kane > > cross, Sol 2-0. Avoidable. You just can't come to places like this with a > > makeshfit defence and expect to win the game no matter how lively you are > > in attack. Let's see what happens in the January window. > > It might sound like sour grapes but I don't think Spurs are a great team. > > Yes they have some good individual players (Son in particular) but we were > > all over them in the first half. Our movement and our interplay was > > excellent and we really should have scored. For me, Bamford isn't the > > answer and that might sound stupid giving he's breaking all records and is > > just about top PL scorer. I think he's benefited from our great play and > > he's played and finished pretty well at times. He's scored 1 in the last 4 > > and that was a pen and today he didn't even look close. He looks a yard > > slower than the rest of the team and he never looked like he was going to > > get on the end of a cross and finish. I'd like to see Rodrigo play as > > number 9 with Pablo behind him. More creativity, more intellignet play and > > yes more goals. > > The penalty gave them confidence because there's no doubt Spurs were 2nd > > best up to that point. We started to make silly mistakes at the back. > > Ayling and Phillips giving the ball away and as soon as they got the 2nd it > > was game over. I lost count of the number of times we just aimlessly gave > > the ball away sometimes just passing in to touch. Very frustrating. > > To our credit, we made 3 subs and they all contributed to us continually > > having a go in the 2nd half. Pablo was fantastic and you can see he is > > looking fitter and battling for his place. I think he deserves a start. > > Even his passing was good. > > Bielsa looked more frustrated than I've seen him for a while and I'm not > > surprised. We could have got something from this game but again I would say > > to Bielsa you will get nowt against the top teams with a makeshift defence. > > Every fucker can see that ! > > Scores: > > Meslier - 7. Some good saves as always and little chance with the goals. > > Dallas - 7. I thought he did well. Lost Son for the 2nd goal but not sure > > why he was last man. > > Allioski - 5. Started well down the left wing but when it comes to pure > > defending ... well he can't. > > Ayling - 7. I thought he did well first half but then things went downhill > > and he made some basic errors. > > Struijk - 5. Out of his depth for me. Yes he's got a nice left foot and he > > picks a pass well. But look at their 2nd goal he is on his knees lunging in > > when he really shouldn't be. > > Klich - 7. I thought he played pretty well
Re: [LU] Spurs
Unless there is some ‘bargain’ Uruguayan/Argentinian centre back under everyone’s radar bar Bielsa’s, I can’t see us buying anyone in the transfer window! We played ok in the first 30 minutes, and Spurs looked a bit surprised as to how full-on we were. Of course not scoring would cost us - same old story. Same old problem re giving the ball away - I thought Ayling and Rodrigo were the main culprits - they weren’t alone in doing that, but I’d also give Rodrigo a run out up front, mostly to stop him giving the ball away in our own half, or giving away stupid fouls by ‘tackling’ with his arms! He is bloody frustrating at times, despite looking like the best player we have at others! We looked weary in the middle 30 minutes too - maybe Bielsa needs to think about the word rotation? Rapha definitely looked off the pace, and Bamford and Harrison too. I wonder if we’ll play the under 23 team v Crawley? I don’t want us to lose to them, as we’ll never hear the end of it, but some of our first xi need a rest. Like Rich, I didn’t think Spurs looked anything special as a team, especially as they’d had a rest. Hacked of I paid £25 to BT for a monthly pass :-( Sent from my iPad > On 2 Jan 2021, at 20:42, Alec McQueen wrote: > > Rich > Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class defenders, and > preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God Knows), who > (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want to try to instil > his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? > > I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as competitors given > we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less than 40ish > million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. Alas, I just can’t > see it happening despite it being our best option right now. > > More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type players who > won’t make a difference. > > Pessimistic? Me? > Cheers > Alec > > Sent from my iPad > >> On 3 Jan 2021, at 04:25, Richard Walker via Leedslist >> wrote: >> >> Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up against >> one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting hammered at >> Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million miles away. Defence >> needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. If Bielsa really believes >> he can get through this season without another central defender then I think >> that would be a bad call. Today, it's the same old problems - a left back >> who's not a left back giving away a needless pen (it wasn't a pen but still >> a terrible half tackle). Defending corners - there were lots of Leeds >> players around him - Philips etc but nobody got near him and as usual >> Meslier was stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How many more times >> ? Then for their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as defender) commits >> himself in midfield and as a result we're a man short at the back. Kane >> cross, Sol 2-0. Avoidable. You just can't come to places like this with a >> makeshfit defence and expect to win the game no matter how lively you are in >> attack. Let's see what happens in the January window. >> It might sound like sour grapes but I don't think Spurs are a great team. >> Yes they have some good individual players (Son in particular) but we were >> all over them in the first half. Our movement and our interplay was >> excellent and we really should have scored. For me, Bamford isn't the answer >> and that might sound stupid giving he's breaking all records and is just >> about top PL scorer. I think he's benefited from our great play and he's >> played and finished pretty well at times. He's scored 1 in the last 4 and >> that was a pen and today he didn't even look close. He looks a yard slower >> than the rest of the team and he never looked like he was going to get on >> the end of a cross and finish. I'd like to see Rodrigo play as number 9 with >> Pablo behind him. More creativity, more intellignet play and yes more goals. >> The penalty gave them confidence because there's no doubt Spurs were 2nd >> best up to that point. We started to make silly mistakes at the back. Ayling >> and Phillips giving the ball away and as soon as they got the 2nd it was >> game over. I lost count of the number of times we just aimlessly gave the >> ball away sometimes just passing in to touch. Very frustrating. >> To our credit, we made 3 subs and they all contributed to us continually >> having a go in the 2nd half. Pablo was fantastic and you can see he is >> looking fitter and battling for his place. I think he deserves a start. Even >> his passing was good. >> Bielsa looked more frustrated than I've seen him for a while and I'm not >> surprised. We could have got something from this game but again I would say >> to Bielsa you will get nowt against the top teams with a makeshift defence. >>
Re: [LU] Spurs
If we accept we will be safe this season then why wouldn’t we spend part of the transfer pot for next season on White or other top class central defender. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Saturday, January 2, 2021, 8:42 pm, Alec McQueen wrote: Rich Absolutely agree: we need at least a couple of premier class defenders, and preferably a hotshot striker this window... but where from (God Knows), who (any ideas?), do we have the money (no), and will MB want to try to instil his philosophy in new signings mid season (no)? I come back to Ben White... will Brighton still see us as competitors given we are already 10 pts above them? Will they let him go for less than 40ish million? I doubt we would pay the amount they will demand. Alas, I just can’t see it happening despite it being our best option right now. More likely we will go buy a couple of cheap European squad type players who won’t make a difference. Pessimistic? Me? Cheers Alec Sent from my iPad > On 3 Jan 2021, at 04:25, Richard Walker via Leedslist > wrote: > > Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up against > one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting hammered at > Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million miles away. Defence > needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. If Bielsa really believes > he can get through this season without another central defender then I think > that would be a bad call. Today, it's the same old problems - a left back > who's not a left back giving away a needless pen (it wasn't a pen but still a > terrible half tackle). Defending corners - there were lots of Leeds players > around him - Philips etc but nobody got near him and as usual Meslier was > stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How many more times ? Then for > their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as defender) commits himself in > midfield and as a result we're a man short at the back. Kane cross, Sol 2-0. > Avoidable. You just can't come to places like this with a makeshfit defence > and expect to win the game no matter how lively you are in attack. Let's see > what happens in the January window. > It might sound like sour grapes but I don't think Spurs are a great team. Yes > they have some good individual players (Son in particular) but we were all > over them in the first half. Our movement and our interplay was excellent and > we really should have scored. For me, Bamford isn't the answer and that might > sound stupid giving he's breaking all records and is just about top PL > scorer. I think he's benefited from our great play and he's played and > finished pretty well at times. He's scored 1 in the last 4 and that was a pen > and today he didn't even look close. He looks a yard slower than the rest of > the team and he never looked like he was going to get on the end of a cross > and finish. I'd like to see Rodrigo play as number 9 with Pablo behind him. > More creativity, more intellignet play and yes more goals. > The penalty gave them confidence because there's no doubt Spurs were 2nd best > up to that point. We started to make silly mistakes at the back. Ayling and > Phillips giving the ball away and as soon as they got the 2nd it was game > over. I lost count of the number of times we just aimlessly gave the ball > away sometimes just passing in to touch. Very frustrating. > To our credit, we made 3 subs and they all contributed to us continually > having a go in the 2nd half. Pablo was fantastic and you can see he is > looking fitter and battling for his place. I think he deserves a start. Even > his passing was good. > Bielsa looked more frustrated than I've seen him for a while and I'm not > surprised. We could have got something from this game but again I would say > to Bielsa you will get nowt against the top teams with a makeshift defence. > Every fucker can see that ! > Scores: > Meslier - 7. Some good saves as always and little chance with the goals. > Dallas - 7. I thought he did well. Lost Son for the 2nd goal but not sure why > he was last man. > Allioski - 5. Started well down the left wing but when it comes to pure > defending ... well he can't. > Ayling - 7. I thought he did well first half but then things went downhill > and he made some basic errors. > Struijk - 5. Out of his depth for me. Yes he's got a nice left foot and he > picks a pass well. But look at their 2nd goal he is on his knees lunging in > when he really shouldn't be. > Klich - 7. I thought he played pretty well and was part of most of our good > work. > Rodrigo - 6. Good first half and showed some real class but then he seemed to > go to pieces and lost the bal far too easily for someone of his quality. I > still would not take him off. Take Bamford off and shove him up front. He > plasy number 9 for Spain FFS > Raphinha - 5. I thought this was his poorest performance since joining. He > wasn't awful, he just
[LU] Spurs
Not sure i expected much different from what we saw to be honest. And I think it pretty clearly demonstrates where we are. We’re not really match for the top 6 or 7 (yet), we have effort, heart, sustained durability and good self-belief…and every now and then we will catch one on a bad day and beat them...what we don’t have is that step up in class, which all the mega bucks buys you…so, as we all thought, when you make a mistake you are much more likely to get punished. What we do look like is a good bet for the mid-table thanks to our goalscoring, which is clearly something we can do against (almost) anyone. The penalty was borderline - but so was ours against Burnley (these things still even out even though VAR was supposed to get rid of chance / bad decisions) - I can see why it was given and In real time I thought it was a penalty, only the really slow motion showed the main contact was outside the box…still though Alioski was wrong side because he had moved out in anticipation of a better clearance from Meslier. The second goal - beautifully taken though it was came from one lost ball in midfield and a mistimed tackle on Kane. The third was Meslier coming out for high ball - which he has obviously been drilled to do - and Son being too cute when taking the corner, leaving the keeper too far out to recover. We huffed and puffed - could have had a couple with more composure…but that is also the class-gulf. We looked a sharper proposition when Pablo came on. Meslier - he’s naive at times and his distribution occasionally veers madly of course but I like him as a keeper, he’s brave, he stops shots and he picks himself up and dusts himself down for the next one. I think he’s got heart and a good future. I like Struijk and I think he is worth persevering with but whether in midfield or defence I don’t know. Kane did him, but he is top class. Ayling is doing all that could be asked really for someone out of position, Dallas - awesome work rate, but still worryingly ’not really a full back’ Alioski - is not a full back - 2 minutes after the daft challenge for the penalty, he flew into another in the box We know the problem with Philips - give him space and he’s brilliant - pressure him and run at him with speed and he struggles. But we are better with him in than out. Suspended next time. Let’s see. Klich must be getting close to being dropped - it isn’t working for him - hard to know where it is going wrong but it is… Harrison, Bamford and Raphinha were pretty much peripheral (as was Poveda when he came on) Rodrigo worked hard, looks for the passes and covers a huge amount of ground…but he is apparently a #9 not a #10…so let’s see whether him and Bamford can play as twin forwards. We are still the best team to watch in this damn league by a mile. Nick ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Dorigo's Right Buttock...
[LU] Spurs
Another heavish defeat and another chance to see how we measure up against one of the most organised teams in the league. Despite getting hammered at Scum and losing 3-0 today I don't think we're a million miles away. Defence needs to be sorted and needs to be sorted in Jan. If Bielsa really believes he can get through this season without another central defender then I think that would be a bad call. Today, it's the same old problems - a left back who's not a left back giving away a needless pen (it wasn't a pen but still a terrible half tackle). Defending corners - there were lots of Leeds players around him - Philips etc but nobody got near him and as usual Meslier was stood on his line and didn't stand a chance. How many more times ? Then for their 2nd, Struijk(midfielder playing as defender) commits himself in midfield and as a result we're a man short at the back. Kane cross, Sol 2-0. Avoidable. You just can't come to places like this with a makeshfit defence and expect to win the game no matter how lively you are in attack. Let's see what happens in the January window. It might sound like sour grapes but I don't think Spurs are a great team. Yes they have some good individual players (Son in particular) but we were all over them in the first half. Our movement and our interplay was excellent and we really should have scored. For me, Bamford isn't the answer and that might sound stupid giving he's breaking all records and is just about top PL scorer. I think he's benefited from our great play and he's played and finished pretty well at times. He's scored 1 in the last 4 and that was a pen and today he didn't even look close. He looks a yard slower than the rest of the team and he never looked like he was going to get on the end of a cross and finish. I'd like to see Rodrigo play as number 9 with Pablo behind him. More creativity, more intellignet play and yes more goals. The penalty gave them confidence because there's no doubt Spurs were 2nd best up to that point. We started to make silly mistakes at the back. Ayling and Phillips giving the ball away and as soon as they got the 2nd it was game over. I lost count of the number of times we just aimlessly gave the ball away sometimes just passing in to touch. Very frustrating. To our credit, we made 3 subs and they all contributed to us continually having a go in the 2nd half. Pablo was fantastic and you can see he is looking fitter and battling for his place. I think he deserves a start. Even his passing was good. Bielsa looked more frustrated than I've seen him for a while and I'm not surprised. We could have got something from this game but again I would say to Bielsa you will get nowt against the top teams with a makeshift defence. Every fucker can see that ! Scores: Meslier - 7. Some good saves as always and little chance with the goals. Dallas - 7. I thought he did well. Lost Son for the 2nd goal but not sure why he was last man. Allioski - 5. Started well down the left wing but when it comes to pure defending ... well he can't. Ayling - 7. I thought he did well first half but then things went downhill and he made some basic errors. Struijk - 5. Out of his depth for me. Yes he's got a nice left foot and he picks a pass well. But look at their 2nd goal he is on his knees lunging in when he really shouldn't be. Klich - 7. I thought he played pretty well and was part of most of our good work. Rodrigo - 6. Good first half and showed some real class but then he seemed to go to pieces and lost the bal far too easily for someone of his quality. I still would not take him off. Take Bamford off and shove him up front. He plasy number 9 for Spain FFS Raphinha - 5. I thought this was his poorest performance since joining. He wasn't awful, he just didn't get involved first half and only had scraps in the 2nd. Harrison - 5. Started lively but faded badly with the team Phillips - 6. I thought he battled well at times but he didn't really impose himself on the game. Then again, I didn't expect him to. He is what he is. Bamford - 3. Never looked at it for me. Never looked like scoring. Subs: Pablo - 8. I thought he made a real difference. Shackleton - 7. I thought he also did really well down the right Poveda - 5. Didn't really happen Another defeat against the big boys. Hopefully we'll learn, we'll invest in a central defender soon and we'll push on. Happy New Year. ___ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email leedslist-unsubscr...@gn.apc.org Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Dorigo's Right Buttock...
