It can really be summed up in one word - Rachubka ! We had a serious talk on the way back with a few long time Leeds fans and we decided that it was indeed the worst performance by a keeper in our lifetime. The only ones that come close were Lukic v Arsenal (another 0 5 defeat) and Day v Barnsley when we lost in our promotion season (cannot remember exaclty what he did I just recall him being booed when he took goal kicks at the end)After a slow start there came 2 incidents which decided the game - their keeper spilled the ball and it fell to Kisnorbo who failed to score. Soon after a regulation shot was parried by Rachubka and fell to Lua Lua who tapped it home. What little confidence Rach had in himsef or the fans had in him evaporated at that point.- this was illustrated soon after when Rach spilled a simple gather and catch , it again fell to a striker whose shot hit Lees - at the time I though Lees was unlucky, but watching it again he deliberatley handled it and stopped a certain goal , so straight red it was. Rach failed to save the pen but it was taken before Lees had left the pitch and so had to be re-taken. A chance for Rach to redeem himself - if it was he did not take it and the re taken kick again ended in the net. Game over. We were all over the place after that and Blackpools slick passing game tore us apart as we chased shadows for the rest of the half. Things got even worse for Rachubka when he spilled yet another shot and again it fell to the feet of the striker who tapped it home. Half time came and a number of fans left. We wondered whether SG would subject Rach to another 45 mins of hell or bring on the kid. He chose to give Cairns a go and we saw the last of Rachubka for the night and probably for ever. A decent enough keeper but whose confidence was shot after his schoolboy error v Coventry - playing for Leeds just too much for him ?Second half we really went for a bit and did play with some pride and gave it a real go but it was never going to happen. Then with 15 or so minutes left a goal against the run of play as Lua Lua lashed it past Cairns to make it 4 and a few minutes after they cut through our tiring defence and it was 5. Cue anoither mass exodus of fans. However those who did stay then did the team and themselves proud with a rousing waccoe and other songs, totally drowning out the Blackpool fans who looked on in stunned silence. If only we could get behind the team that well at the start of the game.It is hard to look beyond Rachubka and his performance but on the down side it was another blank for McCormack and I thought Keogh had his worse game for us. On the up side Kisnorbo looked like he was getting back to something like his old self and I thought Becchio looked lively when he came on - he won a few headers and linked play well.A very bad day at the office and only time will tell whether there will be any long term consequences. I expect SG will get another keeper on loan ( a lad on the bus said he had heard Lonergan himself say he was 4 weeks away from a return) We cannot start with Cairns and I really cannot see how Rachubka can play for us again - a player who looked decent enough in pre season but who fell apart when it counted Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
PETE CASS (1962 - 2011) Rest In Peace Mate
