Two great results in a week in two very different games. As expected Town came for a draw and I think they frustrated us in what was a pretty turgid first half. I've got to be honest, at the time I was frustrated and bored by our play. Forward, forward, fucking forward I shouted but we just seemed content at times to play square and backward balls. Most things were coming through Bianchi and I was doing my nut with him because he was strolling around like Glen Hoddle but just playing 5 years back passes every time he got the ball.
Then came the goal which completely changed the game. We broke down our right and their defender really should have put it in Row Z instead he tried to be clever and we ended up getting a very fortunate ricochet which gave the ball to Rudy in their area. He still had loads to do and he made room for the shot and fired it home. You have to ask questions about Smithies and it looked to me like he ducked out of the way of the ball. Poor keeping but what a shot from Rudy. I think I would have ducked that one. Town were then forced to try and play a bit and they did cause us a few problems but their final ball was as bad as ours was a few games back and playing Wells on his own up front was a tactical disaster. I don't think Bellusci or Pearce have had an easier target to mark in their careers. Wells is definitely not 'fucking shit' as the Leeds fans sang but he cannot lead a line on his own and needs someone to do the donkey work so he can feed off them. As Town started to play , so did we, and there was some good link up play mainly down our right with Rudy, Sloth and Antenucci who is growing in confidence with every minute he plays. With a minute of first half injury time to go we broke with pace ( a real feature of our play today). Strange that it was Bellusci and Antenucci breaking. Bellusci showed that he is a better player than defender by sublimely drawing and chipping the keeper. He deserved a goal but it hit the bar and came back kindly to Antenucci who did well to get over the bouncing ball and put it in the back of the net , via the bar again I think. Game over. The second half was just fantastic and the best 45 minutes I've had at ER for a while. Good atmosphere and a great team display from Leeds. I think all the players did their bit, there was no stand out player, it really was a full team performance. Our passes were meaningful and progressive including Bianchi who really grew into the game and actually did look like Glenn Hoddle at times in the second half. It's been a long time since we can say we have had real pace and work rate up front. McCormack, Smith, Becchio all scored goals but none had any pace. With this team Town didn't know which way to look, we were coming at them from all directions. Antenucci was everywhere, Rudy was playing as a 3rd striker, Bianchi was pushing balls left, right and centre, Warnock was charging down the left, Sloth down the right and at times, Cook had a go too. Everyone in that team has a bit of pace, good control and great commitment. There's something special happening here I feel and I think they will get better. The 3rd was all about Doukara who was pretty quiet in the first half. He seemed to be playing slightly left which I didn't think suited him. He doesn't win much in the air for a big lad and looks a little pedestrian at times but when he gets the ball he is very direct. He got the ball cut into his right foot and smashed it in the bottom right. A great goal and then he got himself booked by taking his shirt off. That's 2 bookings this season for that. Brainless. Town came forward and in young Bunn on their left they finally had someone who could unlock the Leeds defence. He had the beating of Beradi at will and because Beradi was on a yellow from a ridiculous red card tackle in the first half it was only a matter of time. Redders told Byram to warm up but he was indecisive and Beradi did what Beradi does and hacked Bunn down and gave the ref no choice. Shit defending and shit management , the only criticism I could level at Redfearn in his 4 games. Down to 10 men only emphasised what great team spirit this team has and if anything we were more dominant with 10 men than with 11 and really should have gone four ahead when the excellent Antenucci took the ball, ran with it as he does, got himself one on one, and placed the ball past Smithies into the net, except Smithies got his fingertips to it and pushed it onto the post. A very good save from a very average keeper. In the last 10 minutes we completely controlled the game with 10 men. Byram showed how to defend against Bunn and we just continued to push forward with Rudy running the show. Bianchi also showed some really good vision with his passes. Town did have one or two moments but we defended well and were well worth the 3-0 victory. I really would give the job to Redders. In his post match interview you could tell he wanted the job. It doesn't make sense now to bring in a new manager, it just doesn't. Scores: Silvestri - 7 I don't think he's had a save to make all afternoon to be honest. Bits and pieces keeping, good kicking. Don't like his time wasting, it's just boring to watch. Beradi - 3. Ridiculous tackle in the first half continuing where he left off from Altringham. Is that 3 starts, 2 red cards. He can't defend. Bellusci - 7. Started poorly and got a yellow card for reckless defending ( again), but did brilliantly for the second goal and defended strongly second half. He's obviously a decent footballer but I'm not that bothered about that when it comes to a centre back. Pearce - 8 no nonsense defending throughout. Easy job with Wells not providing much danger. Austin - 9. All action, man of the match display, scored a goal, ran strongly with the ball, won tackles, started attacks. You have to ask why was he so effective at times last season and I think you can only look to the players around him particularly Luke Murphy, who can't even get in the squad now. In this team everyone is working for each other and there's always a white shirt available. he's not having to do everything and can get forward when he wants. He looks a yard quicker and stronger than everyone on the pitch. I would have sold him in the Summer !!! Cook. 8. Did all the unspectacular stuff really well. He's busy, he covers the ground , gets the tackles in and with the ball he keeps it simple and effective, just a great little player, didn't do as much moving forward today but he didn't need to. This lad typifies this team. Bianchi - 9. Ok, I think I got this one wrong. This lad can pass and he also is now showing a real presence on the pitch. He can tackle, win headers and showed today has vision that is beyond your average championship player. A great performance. Sloth - 7. I thought he did well, he looks fitter, he looks good on the ball and like the others always makes himself available. It was a really strong four in midfield today. Antenucci - 9. This guy is fantastic. I think I gave him a 3 for his last home performance but what a transformation. He controls the ball dead , the turns sharply and runs with he ball. He has skill and pace and now a couple of goals to his name. Very busy player, just what you need in this league. Doukara - 7. I thought at times he looks the odd man out because he's not as mobile as the others and his play is not natural and sometimes he looks a tad pedestrian. However, he does use the ball intelligently and some of his passing it pretty good. His best assert though is his directness in front of goal. Subs: Byram - 7 thought he did very well with Dunn when he came on. Too good to be sat on the bench. Tonge - didn't touch the ball. Redders - 9 ( 1 off for not subbing Beradi). Sky bet challenge - money for old rope, what a joke. Good crowd , great atmosphere. Not heard the Kop so loud for a while. The Town fans were very quiet second half and a lot had gone at the final whistle. So we await the new manager. I just wouldn't appoint one. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] John 'Grampa' Sykes Rest In Peace old lad 28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013 MARCHING ON TOGETHER
