I think so too. On paper our defence should be solid but it is not. Last year it cost us the playoffs, this year it could cost us much more.
> Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:27:26 +0100 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > Subject: Re: [LU] Matteo > > Talkes a lot of sense does Dom. > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Dr Michael Benjamin <[email protected]> > To: LEEDSLIST <[email protected]> > Sent: Thu, 11 August, 2011 14:39:50 > Subject: [LU] Matteo > > ublished on *Thursday 11 August 2011 16:24* > > Whatever else can be said about Saturday’s defeat to Southampton, it’s only > fair to point out that Leeds United were beaten by a decent team at St > Mary’s. > > I’ve played Southampton many times in the past and I always found it a > difficult club to visit. They’ve ridden the wave of promotion from League > One and they look like a side who are confident, sure of themselves and in > the habit of winning matches. That game was no gimme and losing there should > not have been a complete disgrace. > > The problem with Leeds United’s performance was that it fell short on so > many levels and in so many departments. As displays on the first day of the > season go, it was pitiful. You expect players to be bright, bubbly and full > of spark when a new term begins but Leeds were unbelievably flat and devoid > of imagination. That does not bode well for the 45 games to come. > > Did I see that result coming? To some extent yes, as my comments throughout > this summer will show. > > I’ve questioned the club’s transfer policy and stated many times that the > squad at Elland Road, and the defence in particular, were weaker than they > needed to be. > > I didn’t want to see Leeds take a beating at Southampton but, like most of > the supporters, I wondered if it was a possibility. The past few months have > inspired little confidence in a side who should have been seen as major > contenders for a play-off position. > > Some 3,000 fans made the journey to the south coast, a fantastic following > who I’m sure were full of optimism in spite of all that’s gone on. My > Facebook page on Saturday morning was awash with hopeful predictions and > confident comments. But by full-time, the shift in mood was obvious and > negativity rife. The travelling support were badly let down and > understandably made their feelings plain. > > I’m obviously aware of the criticism flying at the Leeds chairman, Ken > Bates, and it’s clear enough that the majority of the fans want to see more > money spent on the team at Elland Road. I’ve said exactly the same since the > end of last season and the manner of Saturday’s display proved that the > point we’re making is a valid one. > > You get the feeling from time to time that football supporters as a whole > are credited with very little knowledge or common sense, but a lot of them > read the game very well and the complaints I hear about the squad at Leeds – > that Simon Grayson’s resources aren’t deep enough and his defence isn’t good > enough – are spot on. > > It’s not a case of asking Leeds to spend money for fun. It’s a case of > asking them to spend money which, in my view and the view of many other > people, needs to be spent. Without that investment, I really fear that this > season will pass the club by. > > The defence is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. In two > competitive matches so far, it has looked no better than it did in the > Championship last term – the same mistakes made by the same players. For the > life of me, I cannot understand why so little work was done to the backline > and why it is once again threatening to be the club’s undoing. > > After the game against Southampton and the win over Bradford City in the > Carling Cup, I heard Simon talking about the need to eradicate mistakes and > felt a sense of deja vu. How many times has he said that in the past 12 > months? If his players can’t learn then, as ruthless as it sounds, they need > to be replaced. Loyalty can only stretch so far and it’ll do Grayson no good > in the long run to persevere with players who are letting him down > regularly. > > He was let down by so many at St Mary’s that it’s easier to mention those > who didn’t. Adam Clayton had a tidy game in midfield and the goalkeeper, > Andy Lonergan, made a couple of very good saves. But I’m struggling to be > complimentary about the performance as a whole. > > Routine > > Ken Bates took his share of criticism but some must be aimed at the team > too. I hope the players don’t think that the abuse thrown at their chairman > vindicated or excused their display because in my eyes it didn’t. > > Southampton on the other hand played very well and it’s important to say > that. It wasn’t as if Leeds lost to a woeful team. But what disappointed me > more than anything was United’s inability to make Southampton fight for the > points. It was far too easy and far too comfortable, the sort of loss that > really hurts. If nothing else you should always go down fighting. > > To my mind, Leeds need to learn the art of grinding out tight, scrappy, > horrible wins. Successful teams usually play good football but all of them > have a knack of taking three points from nothing games. > > Whenever I watch Leeds, I always feel that they need to play extremely well > to win a match – the old concede two but score three routine. It’s so rare > to see them steal a 1-0 win from a match with a couple of shots on goal and > 90 minutes of boring football. Those games don’t create a great spectacle > but they’re the bread and butter of promoted sides. As much as I admire > Leeds’ attacking ethos, I’d still argue that the team suffer from an > imbalance because of it. > > Even after Tuesday’s defeat of Bradford, a turgid 1-0 win over Middlesbrough > this weekend would be exactly what the doctor ordered. > > It sounds ridiculous to be talking about must-win games after one league > match, but I honestly feel that Saturday’s fixture falls into that category. > > There’s a lot of anger among the club’s support and a bit of a poisonous > mood around Elland Road. The longer Leeds go without a league victory, the > worse it’s going to get. > > We all thought August would be a vital month and it’s starting to look that > way. Judge us on results, clubs always say and ,trust me, these supporters > will. > > ●* Leeds are 23/20* to beat Middlesbrough on Saturday and can be backed at > 9/1 to win 2-0 with Sportingbet. For a bigger payout get on Max Gradel to > score first and Leeds to win 2-0 at 33/1. Don’t forget to claim up to £100 > in free bets when you open a Sportingbet account. > > * Prices correct as of 10/08/11 > Dr Michael Benjamin, > Community Psychiatrist > ------------------------------- > myRay: On-line Self-Help CBT > http://www.myRay.com > ------------------------------ > Mental Health: > http//www.MyDoctorExplains.com > -------------------------------- > Auditing || Quality Control > http://www.MyDoctorExplains.com/alamo/ > -------------------------------- > Blog: > http://www.DrMichaelBenjamin.com > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > MARCHING ON TOGETHER (There's it) > > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: > http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > MARCHING ON TOGETHER (There's it) _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER (There's it)
