I think this a very fair summary. Couple of things from me though:
* We were not shit as some have said. Some of the football we played
was better than we have played for a long time. But we are a Championship side
so cannot keep that up.
* I think Austin is awful. A couple of lung busting runs and odd shot
does not make up for the late tackles, poor passing and big holes by his
running all over the place. Not impressed.
* Sloth was better in other games so prepared to give him more time.
* I tried to give Murphy the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe it
was McDermott's tactics that made him appear the way he is. But even I have had
enough now. He was so one-paced and non-involved today it was painful. Don't
want to see him again.
* Morison instead of Adryan? Surely this kid is worth 15-20 minutes?
* I love Bellusci. Nutter yes but that goal was genius. So calm.
* Didn't think Doukara played that badly myself. I actually thought we
were better before he went off. The 10 minutes of Beradi and Bellusci losing
the plot a bit stopped us building up a head of steam for the equalizer (yes I
know just said I love Bellusci oh well.)
* What is wrong with a sideways and backwards ball? This is what the
best teams do, they build attacks and wait for the right moment. I am glad we
are looking to retain the ball. Other teams can't do anything if they don't
have the ball.
All my opinion of course.....
Nick
________________________________
From: Nick <n...@6haroldplace.co.uk>
To: leeds list <leedslist@gn.apc.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 4, 2014 12:21 PM
Subject: [LU] Sheffield
I thought it was a pretty decent game, in which we played reasonably well -
without looking like world beaters…but being the better side over an average
and distantly happy to cheat and foul their way through the game, Wednesday.
We had a couple of decent penalty shouts and their keeper pulled off 3 cracking
saves - 1 from Austin and 2 from Antenucci. Antenucci also had a goal
disallowed. So all in all it could easily have been 3 points.
Main problem is while we’re retaining possession well, there are times we
aren’t driving forward with pace and intent. I think this drive is what we
missed on Wednesday night when Austin didn’t start. Sometimes we slip a ball
through and a forward is suddenly in on goal (or offside) but it is a rarity.
We also lack a great deal of width going forward - although as we don’t really
have any target in the middle, whether getting to the by-line will actually
achieve anything at the moment is a moot point, so our aim is to work a gap
down the central channels…tough call sometimes, as it is the most heavily
defended part of any team’s set up.
The defence looks pretty solid - and that’s the first game I’ve seen Berardi
finish - the midfield…is a funny one, the 4 against Huddersfield was our best
combination - Austin, Bianchi, Cook and Mowatt - but today Mowatt, looked
alright on the ball but was often off the pace of the game and his dead balls
were hopeless; Sloth I don’t get at all…; Austin and Bianchi had solid games,
involved all the way through, lots of effort, lots of breaking down Wednesday
possession and both looked to move us forward when they had the chance. A lot
of our play stutters because we’re playing so intricately that the movement
stops being forward, and players begin to receive passes with their back to the
opposition goal…and the momentum is gone, the opposition are back in numbers.
We need to be faster out of defence, without it turning into hoof ball.
The forward line was mobile (Antenucci more so than Doukara), but never really
able to shake their men. Antenucci is the best forward we have at the moment -
had one disallowed for an offside and then two well saved, one of which he
should probably have finished better than he did - he is always moving, has a
good touch and a reasonable turn of pace.
Wednesday scored against play, as we had just missed a couple of half chances
down their end, the ball came down our right and the winger was allowed to
carry it too far and get in too easy a cross - the fault lay somewhere between
Bellusci and Byram - the low cross was deflected and part cleared all the way
across the box to their number 10 who slotted a first time shot low and hard
back across goal into the far corner - perhaps Silvestri could have done
better; perhaps he was unsighted a bit.
The game got physical - lots of off the ball stuff going on, a few bookings, a
few rash challenges. Bringing on Sharp made us more direct but he did nothing
of note himself. Then we won a corner, which was swung to the back post and
fell loose to Bellusci about 12 yards out, who hit a very nicely controlled low
effort back through the legs of several defenders - so it could have gone
anywhere, but as it happened it rolled into the far corner with their keeper
nowhere.
Things kind of petered out there despite the excitable 24000 crowd.
SILVESTRI - another solid display, he has good hands and good positional sense;
seems to dominate his area pretty well - i guess he maybe a little disappointed
with their goal…
BYRAM - is nothing like his former self at the moment; more involved than of
late…and seems to be doing OK defensively, but i haven’t seen him drive forward
and go by his man so far this season, we miss that penetration as a team
BERARDI - had a decent enough game, and managed only a booking; but again,
doesn’t get across the half way line much
BELLUSCI - reads the game well generally, prone to the odd moment of
madness/lack of concentration; kept his cool for the goal when he could have
just lashed it into the crowd
PEARCE - solid, unspectacular
BIANCHI - MOTM for me, always available, slipping loads of little 5 and 10
yards passes, pushing us forward; covered loads of ground and got his tackles
in all over the place
AUSTIN - pretty much the same as Bianchi - one pile-driving shot from 30 yards,
had to be tipped away at full stretch by their keeper (who was their MOTM)
MOWATT - I like him. he can be tidy and effective, but also very one paced
SLOTH - I really fail to see what he brings to the team at all (having said
that, his half time replacement Murphy did little better)
DOUKARA - its difficult, he looks like he should be bigger stronger and
altogether more threatening than he actually is…but then also, he is not a bad
player, but he will quickly become the target of the discontented with the lack
of goals
ANTENUCCI - good game; mobile, threatening, could have had a couple today with
a bit more luck
subs:
Sharp - we looked better with him on, but without him apparently having much to
do with that himself…I haven’t seen much to impress, but then in fairness he
hasn’t had long on the pitch either.
Morrison - won a couple of headers…
We’re a team in transition. We have some decent players, but most of them
haven’t played together much at all. I think this calls for patience and some
encouragement when we try good stuff…we are playing better football than we
have for a couple of years. that’s a start.
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John 'Grampa' Sykes
Rest In Peace old lad
28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
_______________________________________________
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John 'Grampa' Sykes
Rest In Peace old lad
28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
