We seem to be in this weird becalmed situation where we don't play all that bad, don't play all that well; don't often look like scoring, but do on the whole look comfortable; don't look too wobbly at the back but always let in a soft one (or two)…hard to know what to make of it really. You can press the case for most of the players as being "first name on the sheet" and also for being someone's nominee to be subbed off after about 30 minutes. One thing that has to be said is that under McD we are looking comfortable on the ball for the first time in 2 or 3 years and looking like a team (most of the time). The spirit seems good as is the application, we need a few things to fall right.
Kenny - I've always had a worry about a keeper that does't command his box and doesn't deal with crosses - never liked it when playing, as a CHalf you need to know he's going to come and take the ball - he's got quite a few plus points but those are big negatives for me. Byram - a decent enough 60 minutes given the length of his lay off - need not to rush him back though…and the other guys need to take their share of the work, we can't just sit tight and wait for Sam to come back to give us some options going forward. Made a good initial block for the first goal - I thought the striker scuffed the second effort with his heel, hence it skidded in wrong footing a few… White - did OK at left back…surprisingly uninvolved going forward, except for that penalty shout Pearce - Steady, but for me his always gonna drop at least one bollock every game; too slow; gets wrong side; too easily decides to pull a man down Wootton - I think he has quietly made himself our first choice centre half. Austin - great energy and drive - some good balls some dreadful ones - if they were all good we would't have been able to afford him - might have done better with the volley at the end Murphy - quiet game, yes, any more quiet than several others, I doubt it Tonge - one of those who must have been surprised when Murphy's number came up for subbing Diouf - tried hard, couple of good flicks…all in all better than Hunt, but not enough to get us going - great cross for Smith's goal - the lump needs it on a plate McCormack - so we all love Ross, don't want him to leave, he scores a few, we give him a new deal…he disappears as a threat…great Varney - headless, clueless…but frankly not given much more than scraps to feed on when the boards went up we all thought Tonge and Varney off…no, it was Byram (which you can understand) and Murphy…ah well. Poleon - came on and did his slow/fast/slow/fall over thing - threaten a couple of times and had a couple of poor efforts at goal when he should have done better Green came on at right back and had probably the most influential 35 minutes of any Leeds player yesterday afternoon. Then Smith did come on for Varney - and scored well with a far post header - otherwise achieving sweet FA. Interestingly went with a neutral (who agreed to shout for Leeds) and his opinion was that we were nowhere near sharp enough in the first half, that Burnley moved it about with more speed, accuracy and intent…this did change in the second half but by then they were 2 up. He wasn't impressed by any Leeds player although he did at least know who Diouf and Kenny were. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
