Thanks for the report Rich, much appreciated. I read your comments about Collins standing off the man and performing last ditch tackles, I seem to remember a certain South African legend doing the same during his stint in our side and it seemed to work for him. Maybe that's the way he's being coached?
I haven't been to ER for a long time now but from the List's musings it seems that Grayson is one of the most tactically aware managers in this division. He also however seems to have a team that starts many games badly and then rescues them. Maybe he's not getting enough pre-match info on the opposition and getting this to the players or possibly he relies on the mantra of "We'll play our game and let them worry about us"? Maybe it's time for some Don style dossiers??? Whatever it is, the team seems to be progressing but our current league position seems to flatter our play according to match reports. If that's true, then I'm happy for it to be flattering all the way to May! -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Walker Sent: 12 September 2010 08:41 To: leedslist Subject: [LU] Swansea Grayson got his tactics all wrong today. Fair play to him for eventually changing them and changing the result but I hope he learnt some things today that he wont repeat. He went 4-4-2 with Watt and Becchio up front, Johnson on the left and our best and most lively player, Gradel on the right. It didnt work, why ? Basically, there was a lack of pace. Gradel, the only one with pace was up against a tenacious Swansea left back who really gave him a run for his money. First 10 minutes wasnt too bad actually, we passed it around a bit and created the best chances both of them falling to Becchio. The first a good move ended up with Becchios shot being deflected for a corner then the second, a corner saw Becchio unmarked with a free header from just outside the 6 yard box, he headed it into the top of the South stand, a really bad miss and he knew it. Then Swansea scored. They hadnt really been in the game, but had just started to pass the ball around. A simple ball through should have been easily cut out by Naylor but he got himself in an off-balance muddle where he couldnt decide whether to kick it or control it he did neither and the Swansea forward was through on goal. I might be being a bit harsh here but I thought Higgs (Casper injured apparently) made it very easy for him by sticking to his near post leaving a big gap to his left which is exactly where he placed the ball. 1-0. The Swansea fans went loopy. Swansea then took total control of the game, their only crime was that they didnt make their superior play count. They had their chances as they completely outclassed us on and off the ball. Higgs made two outstanding saves to keep us in it, one another one on one through bad defending which he did well with his feet, the second he tipped around the post after a good shot. Grayson looked lost on the bench. We were terrible all over the pitch. Up front Watt and Becchio just never worked, neither has any pace so they were not making runs and were completely ineffective. You wont see that partnership again this season (I hope !). On the left wing Johnson showed us yet again he isnt a left winger. He did have one or two moments though and hit the bar with a good effort and also played a great cross which picked out an unmarked white shirt in the box, unfortunately that white shirt was Kilkenny whose header looped over the bar. On the right Gradel was lively but hed met his match with their left back, it was a good scrap but effectively it nullified our best player. In the middle of the park Kilkenny and Howson just never got into the game and when they did they just lost possession particularly Howson who just kept getting the ball stuck under his feet. At the back we were atrocious, Collins and Bessone cannot defend and I think they are both a liability. I was watching Collins closely, he stands off his man and lets them play as if hes scared to tackle but then tries to make up by performing some heroic last ditch tackle. He needs replacing quick. Bessone is a disaster, Swansea had the freedom of the right side of the park. At the final whistle he looked like hed just won the cup final as he was playing against his old club, no thanks to him. Naylor was the only defender in the back four doing any tackling. So 1-0 down at the break, outplayed and clueless, there was only one solution and that was Grayson change the formation. He didnt ! Ive noticed Grayson is a manger who obviously gives them a boll*cking and then gives them 10 minutes to change their ways before he changes it, he very rarely makes half time tactical changes. Second half started the same as the first ended with Swansea completely in control and us looking lost. Watt went from an ineffective performance to a player who couldnt do anything right, he was lost alongside Becchio and the partnership just crumbled. Swansea should have been out of sight by now and I think they only have themselves to blame. At every opportunity since they went 1 up they were looking to time waste. Really strange, negative tactics and I think their negative attitude and our positive attitude was the main reason they lost this game. So after 50 odd minutes Grayson dragged Watt off to be replaced Sam and reverted to his 4-3-3 with Watt on the right and Gradel over to the left. This change won us the game. Swansea continued to have more possession but we were now much more effective on the break and were playing as the away team. Sam made an immediate impact. It was a strange decision not to start Sam as for me he is not only our top goalscorer but best player. He looked a different class today when he came on, lots of time on the ball making possession seem effortless and allowing others to get into space as he dragged the black shirts towards him. Meanwhile Gradel was getting all sorts of space on the right wing and just ran Swansea ragged on the break. Kilkenny and Howson finally came in to the game and at last we looked like a team. The crowd also came alive. All these factors combined to give us our equaliser. Gradel did really well on the left, got his cross over, Naylor headed, their keeper made a good save but it came out to Johnson unmarked in the box and he crashed it home. We didnt deserve to be equal. Swansea strangely werent time wasting anymore and seemed in a hurry. They still looked dangerous but we looked like the team with the momentum and shortly afterwards we got the winning goal. Gradel again did well, there were a couple of attempts (Kilkenny and someone else ?) it then fell kindly to Becchio who was unmarked in the 6 yard box and he turned it into the empty net. Swansea then got frantic and tried lots of long range shots most pretty decent but just missing the target. They moaned to the ref about Higgs time wasting . What a shame. Theyve only got themselves to blame. Theyre a powder puff team, excellent footballers, great pass and move football but no bloody conviction at all , no backbone to the team just a group of nice footballers that will probably dominate most games they play in this league. That doesnt win you football games something that Grayson to his credit knows. We were second best today by a mile but in terms of our attitude we were streets ahead and that is why football is a fascinating game. Higgs 7. Two great saves to keep us in the match. His kicking was poor today , he overhit too many kicks. Maybe weve been spoilt by Casper ? Connolly 6. Looks shaky to me, nothing coming forward and very dodgy defending at times. Collins 4. Hes a tall, lumbering mess at the back. Naylor needs a strong partner. Couple of good last ditch tackles second half but he shouldnt be making these. Naylor 7. Badly at fault for the goal but I thought he held the defence together at times with some strong , committed tackling. Bessone 3. New left back needed, hes hopeless. Kilkenny was giving him a right talking to at the end of the first half. Kilkenny 7. Took him a while to get in to the game but when he did he was effective. I dont think his fitness levels are great , he needs to step up. Howson 6. I was disappointed with Howsons first half performance in which he lost possession time and time again and just didnt do enough for me. Second half when the tide turned a bit he came in to it and showed what he can do running with the ball which is why I expect more. Johsnon 6. He had a busy game and had a lot of the ball. For every good thing he does theres 3 or 4 moments that remind you that this bloke is lacking. Hes no left winger and when Kilkenny was dragged off second half he was moved centrally. Scored a good goal though. Watt 3. Tried hard first half but didnt gel with Becchio at all although they both suffered through lack of service. I was a bit surprised to see how slow he is. Hes all legs and definitely very inexperienced at times. Becchio 7. I thought he played ok today. My expectation levels are low and to see Becchio actually show some composure on the ball is surprising to me. He missed our best 2 chances first half but to his credit and one thing I could never criticise him for is his effort and determination to get his goal and he did. Gradel 8. Very lively throughout, our best player. Hes a real handful and caused them all sorts of problems second half. Subs: Sam 8. Made a real difference. McCormack looked hungry and lively and caused some problems. Id like to see more of this lad. Somma looked classy. Grayson hope he is learning, I suspect he is. Good changes second half today. Roll on Barnsley. The police let the Swansea fans out and it could have got nasty with the police horses running around kicking cars etc. Im sure the police like to justify their wages by creating a bit of a stir now and again. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
