Out of lurk mode to write two lines from the weekends events... (back in the old days it would have been a full report from pre and post match list meets, ascii maps, and scores on the doors, but times they are changing, right?)
Was over for the first time of the season, in Marriott with my cousin.... Happened to see the players coming off the bus on Friday, realized I did not recognize a single player... Then was too late to meet them for Sat breakfast, but saw them leave the restaurant... Went off to the store, and it must have been the chairmans daughter at the till, she was getting trained, and I had my free membership shirt and some more stuff... Back to the Mariott just to leave the goods, and there they were outside waiting for the coach bus. I did something I didnt do for 10 years or so, had my pic taken with a player! Some of you might know I am a big Brasil fan; country, nature, culture, food, drinks, beaches, women... the lot! My team is Flamengo, hence Adryan was a player I knew a bit about ... the locals (in Rio, that is) rate him as "better than Zico"... (obviously talentwise, yet, but just wait and see!) I happen to speak a bit of Portuguese as well, so I have no idea whether Adryan speaks English... I had a nice pic taken (see facebook), and a good small chat... Let me put it this way: I printed ) Adryan on the back of my shirt, first player since Yeboah on my back, actually... tells it all, really... Off to SOTG again... Went to the pavilion ahead of the game, most exiting was to see Sky sport... Well, KO, seated in Kop end, only to see south stand is the place to be these days (left of the goal, lower tier, it seems). I thought we played very good first half! We played towards south stand, so didnt see a thing! Good passes all around, safe in defence.. A goal well taken, and some disappointment that the powerplay didn't lead to one more... Tried to follow number 9, he fought defensively, won tackles, got away with the ball, did some samba with it, and passed it on... sometimes not successfully... I have to say I love his efforts, his skills, his ambition, willpower... when he is a bit more experienced (play him from start some games!), he will bloom! But first half, difficult to give different scores, it was a solid and entertaining team performance! Then came second half. Let me put it this way: whatever our manager (eh coach!) did before, with Leeds, before Leeds, whatever.. whatever his history, his skills... for what he told the Leeds players in the break, he deserved to get the sack! His words should have been "this is brilliant, lads, now go and do more of the same!!" Instead, he changed formation. I still dont know what he did. But Robinson was moved to the right, Adryan, who in first half was all over the pitch working his socks off, was now a left winger. And it seemed like we wouldnt attack for money... North stand chanted "attack... attack.... attack-attack-attack", but they did not respond (cant seriously blame them for listening more to coach than supporters, though!) We were apparently trying to defend the 1-0 through 45 minutes.. . of course, it would be failure. Disaster..... Our substitutions was likewise meaningless... did not achieve a thing, apart from weakening the side.. with all of them... The rest is, as they say, history... I think it is possible to get good performances out of this squad. I think we have hungry players. Talented players. I would like to see us get an experienced midfielder, a boss like Strachan. An older player, able to tell the others to "calm down, have faith, we are in control" type of things, when the home crowd goes wild because of failures and stuff. The player the others can learn from. Perfectly ok to hire a former premier league player a season or two at the end of the career for this purpose. Apart from that, players were not the problem. Players are not the problem. Lack of management were. That half time change and subs lost us the game. Only that. We need someone with championship experience. English footy experience. Simple as that. I believe Redfarn can do it. I really do. I love Leeds, me! Øystein Noggie on the list.... _______________________________________________ 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
