So let's get one thing straight we were awful today but having played pretty well in some games this season for very little reward who gives a toss if today we won a game in which we were second best all over the park.
Crystal Palace showed that they had more pace, skill and adventure than us in a first half that they dominated. We were second best after Dougie Freedman did his best to unsettle us by making us shoot towards the Kop in the first half. Everyone around me was berating our defence and yes as individuals and collectively as a group they were poor but midfield was our main problem. Palace controlled the game in midfield and Howson and Brown were just completely overrun. Snodgrass saw a lot of the ball but was really off par to the point that he was being accused of not trying. I doubt that but there were times when he didn't track back and that's just not like Snodgrass. Maybe he wanted to leave like Max ? I hope not. I've since heard Grayson's interview in which he has suggested that Brown shouldn't have played as he had only trained on Thursday for the first time for 3 weeks and that also wasn't 100% - a point proved when the game had to be stopped whilst Howson chucked his guts up onto the pitch. Credit to the lad though he carried on and towards the end of the game he became stronger and stronger especially with the livewire that was Ross McCormack at his side following Brown's departure. It's a shame that we have to play 2 central midfielders who are not fit. Back to the first half and I reckon that's the worse we've played for some time. We did however take the lead when new lad Charlie Taylor did really well on the left and put in a great cross into the six yard box to find the head of McCormack who looped his header into the corner of the net. Yet another headed goal for McCormack showing how easy it is to not only score goals in this league but head in from 6 yards unmarked. How many goals is that now ? Almost straight away Palace went down the other end. Taylor showed his inexperience giving their winger the freedom of the park and Lees at the far post was out of position leaving a Palace man not only time to receive the ball but to bring it down and half-volley into the net. Terrible defending and I think Grayson's gamble of playing two young lads in key positions against pacey opposition was with hindsight foolish. With a bit of confidence Palace then took the game by the scruff of the neck and completely controlled the game. They broke down the left, the cross came in and Taylor and the Palace attacker seemed to bundle it into the net. Looked like another own goal to me. Palace could have put the game out of sight but their final ball at times wasn't good enough and Lonergan made some excellent saves. We had a few minor chances mostly falling to McCormack. At times he was greedy but you could see what he was trying to do and to be honest there wasn't much point in giving the ball to Snodgrass because he wasn't in the mood. Nunez was a passenger in the Max Gradel role on the left , he just didn't figure and gave no protection to young Taylor. A complete disaster. He did however have a cheeky freekick which nearly caught their keeper out at the near post, I think it may have sneaked over the line but the linesman gave their keeper the benefit of the doubt. So 2-1 down, the crowd turning their anger on the team, the Stoat and anyone else who happened to get in their way. I thought the booing at half time was pathetic. Yes it wasn't good, but FFS there is a kid making his debut and another having a torrid time. It didn't help. Second Half – the one thing I like about Simon Grayson is that he is a tryer and he is constantly thinking about what is going wrong and how to change things. He first tried pushing Nunez up front with Keogh and McCormack on the left wing. Didn't work, so he dragged Nunez off and dragged Keogh off and put on Forsell and the donkey. The crowd's favourite certainly turned the game today . Becchio lifted the crowd and immediately won a header – he flicked it on to nobody but it didn't matter it was the first header we had won all day. Forsell then showed quick feet and good link up play with his team mates and suddenly we looked a different side. I think Palace had slowed by then but all credit to us in that we kept going and we crafted some openings. We still could have conceded at the other end and the defence still looked dodgy but Lonergan yet again kept us in it with some top class saves. He really looks the part and is in a different league to Kasper. The equaliser when it came was simple. Good cross from the left finding the unmarked Becchio in the six yard box at the far post. He found the net with ease and probably made it look easier that it actually was. Lloyd Sam then came on and Macca moved to central midfield where he took control. The winner came with 10 minutes to go when Forsell headed the ball to Macca in the box he turned the defender and fired home into the bottom corner. A very clever goal and if anyone deserved to be on the winning team today it was him. Man of the match by a mile. Palace didn't have much left but we still looked jittery towards the end. Taylor's legs had gone and he really was a liability in that last 30 minutes. Another brace decision by Grayson to let him last the full 94 minutes. Scores on the doors: Lonergan – 9. Top class. Kept us in the game (again). He must be fed up with the brittleness of his defence. Lees – 4. Lost all confidence, obviously is not a right back and shouldn't play there again. Taylor – 3. He showed he can play football and it was his debut but leaving all that aside and just judging his performance as a left back it only told me one thing. He can't defend when put on the back foot. Just doesn't get his foot in. Can't see a future for the lad as a defender. O'Dea – 5. Pretty much a big lump at the back. Was awful at times today. I think we need better if we're serious of promotion this season. Kisnorbo – 5. Looked a yard short today. Is he the same player ? Howson – 6. Poor first half, came into second half. Don't like his new black boots , he looked a bit flat footed today. Brown -5. Plenty of effort and some good tackles but his best days are gone. Snodgrass – 4. Was very poor today but second half he improved marginally and was always an outlet. Nunez – 5. Where do you play him? He can play but I'm not sure where he's going to fit in.He sulked like a baby when subbed. McCormack – 9. I think he's becoming our Wayne Rooney – not just a goalscorer but a playmaker who wants the ball and makes things happen who can also decent with his head for a little man. I just wish he had a bit more pace. Keogh – 6. Didn't do a lot wrong, just played the part of the game where we were awful so not a lot to feed on. Subs: Becchio – 8. He changed the game because not only did he score a goal he got the crowd going and made everyone expect that something was going to happen. Should he be our number one striker – no way. We've seen him at his best last season and it wasn't good enough , we need to be more progressive. Still managed to show the best aspects of his game – falling over, heading the ball to noone and taking 20 yards of the pitch to control a ball. Forsell – 7. Looked very lively. I get the feeling there's much more to come from this bloke. Sam – 7. Did well. I think he will be Max's replacement for the next game. Grayson – did well in that he changed things and they worked. He needs to get us some defenders. Crowd – fickle Leeds fans at times. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER (There's it)
