> > Two new players on the team sheet in a very attacking team. > > Right from the off we were at them, our primary tactic was to get the ball to > Thomas who showed he has pace and skill. He was very direct and we haven't > seen play like that since Max Gradel left. A breath of fresh air. I lost > count of the number of great crosses that he put over and I was wondering > where Becchio was ? I think he had 1 header which he tamely headed at their > keeper. > > Thomas's play was matched by the whole team. Norris , Tonge and Green all got > forward and we created some good chances the best from Norris who forced a > good save after a good forward run. The most encouraging aspect of our play > was how we completely dominated for the first 16 minutes as we passed and > moved the ball around like we haven't done at all this season. It was a > different team , with different players and not just the new lads, every > player (with the exception of Becchio) looked comfortable on the ball and in > tune with his team mates. It was the best 16 minutes for a very long time. > > Palace then began to play and showed why they are top of the league. They > have a load of gangly , skilful, pacey players however as a team unit I > thought they were lacking. In Zaha they have a real talent and every time he > got the ball he threatened. On some occasions it took 3 or 4 of our players > to crowd him out as he tried to do it on his own. Byram also worked hard to > keep with him and get his tackles in. He did just enough. > > With Thomas drawing Palace defenders towards him I thought we saw the best of > Diouf for a while. He seemed to enjoy having someone around him with pace and > the ability to run beyond their defenders. > > On the right Green and Byram linked up well and Byram had a few good runs > down the right. Zaha doesn't defend so Byram got ahead of him and basically > had a free run. > > The last 20 minutes of the first half , Palace probably shaded it and Kenny > made a great double save to prevent them taking the lead. There were also a > few crosses where we seemed to ride a luck, this continued into the second > half and I think our 2 centre backs (Lees and Tate) were all at sea on many > occasions. Given Palace's pace and skill this was probably to be expected. > > The most encouraging thing about the first half for me though is that we > played the ball on the floor, we moved around, we showed good skill and very > rarely pumped it long to Becchio. As a result Becchio didn't really figure in > the play. > > Second half and Palace continued to have the edge and we were playing on the > break using the pace of Thomas and the hold up play of Diouf. Palace's main > tactic was to get the ball to Zaha but in the second half Sam Byram showed > why he is the best prospect at Leeds for many a year. He kept close to Zaha, > he got a tackle in early, when Zaha appeared to get the better, Byram > recovered and won the ball. He put in last ditch tackles to save us and > basically snuffed the England player out of the game. So much so, that > Holloway switched him to have a go at Peltier. I was proud of the lad, he is > a real star. Zaha came back late on to have another go at Byram but he got > nothing at all. I don't even think Byram is a right back but he's got so much > pace, balance, control and natural ability he can play anywhere. Man of the > match. > > Our first goal was a total gift. A cross from Peltier was headed back by > Green. There were 2 Palace defenders who failed to clear and I think one > headed it against the other and it fell kindly to Becchio and he prodded home > from 2 yards. It needed something like this for Becchio to break his goal > drought, he never looks like scoring these days. > > Palace continued to play most of the football but we didn't sit back and > continued to break when we could. It was very positive stuff from us. As legs > started to tire we did resort to the long ball to Becchio and he did win a > few headers but most of his knock ons were to nobody. > > Then to everyone's surprise we went 2 up. After another threatening attack > by us , the ball fell kindly to Green who hit it first time into the net. It > may have taken a deflection but he did hit it well. > > Palace then stepped it up again and to be honest it was only a matter of time > before they got back in the game. Warnock didn't help by taking our two best > players and two best outlets off. Ok, I believe Thomas was shagged but Diouf > still had a lot to offer and we know his ability to hold up the ball and win > free kicks although this ref wasn't having any play acting. Most folk thought > he was terrible but I quite like how he waved away free kick and penalty > claims all over the park. He let the game run. > > Their goal was just plain, shite defending the type we've become accustomed > to. A good cross yes, but only one Palace player in the box surrounded by > white shirts who watched hi head in from 6 yards. Shocking. > > 5 minutes of injury time was desperate stuff and Palace had chances to rescue > a point. I think they are the most talented team I've seen in the > Championship for a while but as a team I think they are naive. We deserved > this victory because I thought we were the better team. > > The atmosphere was the best for ages and everyone was up for this. Could it > be a new start. I hope so, I think the back 4 need more games together, I > think the midfield is coming together, I like the pace and skill of Thomas > and I think Diouf will benefit from him. I think if we can replace Becchio > in January we've got the makings of a good team. > > Scores: > > Kenny- 9. Had no chance with their goal. > > Byram - 10. Class act, I'd love to hear Zaha's take on this match. He's never > come up against a player like Byram. > > Peltier - 8. Thought he also did well playing out of position. > > Tate - 7. He looked in control some of the time and he showed the value of a > central defender who can bring the ball out of defences and a play a simple > ball to start an attack. My worry and this is a bit harsh on his first > appearance would be his lack of pace. > > Lees - 7. Did well but we really rode our look at times. > > Norris - 8. Started like a steam train, he's quick into the challenge and > made some good forward runs. Worked hard all afternoon. He's a good, solid > player. > > Green - 8. I like this lad, he's got that something extra. He's clever with > the ball, has a good engine and I reckon he can score a few goals. Reminds me > of Lee Bowyer. > > Tonge - 7. Worked hard, and used the ball well, especially first half. > > Thomas-9. Exciting performance. Turning and beating men with ease, we ain't > seen Thant for a while and it makes a hell of a difference. He even did his > fair share of defending. Will be a great asset in the coming weeks. > > Diouf - 7. Looked very lively first half. I sometimes wish he had an extra > yard but I think if we can get even more pace around him we will get the best > of chum in this role. > > Becchio- 6. All credit to the lad, he ran himself into the ground and got his > goal. He also made a nuisance of himself second half and rattled them at > times, however I am still amazed at his inability at times to control a ball > and do very simple things. Everything is such a struggle and usually ends > with him throwing himself on the ground looking for a free-kick. The ref was > having none of it. Such a poor footballer. > > Subs: > > Poleon - was brought on, got skinned for their goal and then taken off. Poor > lad. > > Brown- came on for 1 min and put one decent challenge in. > > Macca - had a shot , ballooned it into the crowd. He's got good control > though and you appreciate that immediately. > > Overall, this was a really entertaining match and I'm now going to open a > nice bottle of red to celebrate. A new era ? Might be a bit early for that > but it's certainly the best we've seen for a long while. > > > On on on ! > > >>>> >>>> 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 >>> >>> -- >>> Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 _______________________________________________ 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
