Two ways of looking at this match / result. First, it was a stuffing and a humiliation. Second, we matched them for half the game and played some good footy. I’ll go with the second opinion and when Chelsea bring on a 30 million pound player as a sub you realise that we’re talking about a different world. I thought we fought hard, we made them make mistakes and more importantly when we had the ball we used it pretty well. Some of our midfield play was good and the movement from Thomas, Diouf and Green was impressive. At the back I thought both central defenders did well. I’m not going to go through the full game , you all watched it. Here’s my scores (I’m only including up to their 2nd goal because after that it was game over and our heads went down). Ashdown – 8. Ok, their equaliser was a mistake but he’d made half a dozen top class saves prior to that and continued to make saves after. I like the look of him. Peltier – 5. Massively uncomfortable on the left. I don’t think he’s happy and he’s our captain. Need to sort something out here. Byram – 7. I thought he did well, but again I would have loved to see him more involved and getting forward from midfield. Pearce – 8. I thought he really defended well. Lees – 8. Again I thought he was strong. I’m liking the look of this lad, I think he’s come on in the last few months. Brown – 7. He was given the job of being an annoying little bugga. I was watching him closely and he was mouthing off, niggling, elbowing, fouling. It worked for 45 mins. Tonge – 8. I thought he played really well and stepped up his from his usual contribution. Very creative. Thomas – 8. I thought he really gave them the runaround. His cross for the goal was spectacular. Green – 8. Lively throughout, not much end product but really put a shift in. Diouf – 7. Was lively and really tried to make things happen, I just think he needs some pace around him. Becchio – 6. Thought he took his goal like a proper striker and I agree it wasn’t that easy although unmarked 6 yards out you would expect. I thought he worked hard, got stuck in and unsettled them at times. Having said that I think it’s low expectations again, he was too slow, he creates nothing, he needs it handing on a plate, he makes controlling a simple ball a real effort and he has not pace – Tonge played a lovely ball through to him and he just didn’t have the legs to get on it, then a simple one two was asked of him and he just prodded it to a Chelsea player – groans all round. Every goal is delaying the inevitable. Just not good enough. Somma was on the bench. Chelseafans – I thought they were funny (for once) – after Leeds fans had sung “You’re just a fat Spanish waitor” they repeated it. They also sang “Are you Saville in disguise ?” to Neil Warnock. And then sang a 10 minute song about paedos at Elland Road and went through the list “Michael Jackson, Arsene Wenger, Jimmy Saville … “ The Kop sang “4-1 and you still don’t sing” – believe me they were louder than the Kop from the East Stand. For me it lacked the atmosphere of an old Chelsea match – I had a Chinese couple in front of me who just took photies for the full 90 mins. Times are changing and not for the better IMO. _______________________________________________ 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
