This was proof, if proof were needed, that despite our recent run of good
results we are a long way from being a promotion fighting team. They were miles
better than us and at times it was men v boys.We started OK and got the luck of
the day when a long ball from Murphy was headed back by the defender, but he
got it wrong and ended with the keeper making a decent save but pushing it
straight out to Billy Sharp who could not miss from a few yards out. So once
again Sharp does what is expected and needed from him , a goal poachers goal,
and I can understand why he is unhappy at not being picked, he has done nothing
wrong, BUT it is almost all he did do all afternoon and this meant we had no
outlet and no-one to hold the ball up and take the pressure off. Things got
even better when Rudy scored a contender for goal of the season, he got the
ball right on the corner of the box took it on his thigh and lashed it into the
net, a bit similar to the Yeboah goal v scousers, not as far out but a harder
angle. 2 up with 25 minutes gone, surely we would win this one ? Watford seemed
to take it all in their stride though and really got a grip of things,
strolling through our midfield time after time. Then just like we make
Micheal-Smith at Brighton a world beater we do the same with Troy Deeney. Ok he
is decent at this level but he is not the cross between Pele and Maradonna that
we make him look. A straightforward big ball over the top and we let Deeney
swat our two centre halves away and bury it in the corner. 1 -2 and game on. So
much so I texted my son at half time and said I would be happy with 2 1 but
could see it ending 2-4 or even 2-5 (so I suppose 2 3 was not that bad). Then
came, in a way the defining moment of the game. Just after the second half
kicked off we broke forward and it was Rudy v the keeper, he never looked
confident and his shot was straight at the goalie who saved it and pushed it
back to Rudy whose second shot went wide. From then on this had the feel of a
defeat and it was no suprise when they equalised.Some good passing totally
split us apart, various defenders stood with their arms in the air asking for
non existent fouls and offsides but as we once again chased shadows they fed
Deeney who pulled it back across the 6yd box setting up their striker for a tap
in. We huffed and puffed after that but were mainly chasing the game trying to
get a grip and to get control of the ball. Murphy then danced his way into the
box but his great run was crowded out as their 7 in the box managed to take it
off him. They then broke and from outnumbering us 7 v 3 in their box they
somehow got a spare man in our area, Silvestri seemed to have it but the ball
squirmed free and their lad reacted faster than Bamba and suddenly we were
losing. We kept going but never looked like getting back, in some ways our play
was summed up when we got a corner, sent on the very tall Cani and then sent
over a low corner! No wonder it is now 70 ? games since we scored from a
corner.So overall a very disappointing day - 2 up at home and losing- but it
shows how far away we are from where we need to be. They were miles better than
us and despite continuing with the 5 man midfield that has meant we have kept
it tight in recent weeks , they carved us open time after time and could have
had more than the 3 they got. I had great hopes for Cooper early in the season
but now he is starting to worry me, Bamba had a bad day at the office, Mowatt,
Cook, Murphy and Austin all have lots of good points and have something to
offer but today their flaws all came to the fore and we suffered for itAdyran
came on and did some stuff that makes me think he can be the business at this
level if we keep him next yearGiven that the season is pretty much dead for us,
at least we got to see what could be the goal of the season from Austin so not
all a wasted dayDave
From: Nick <[email protected]>
To: leedslist <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, 28 February 2015, 18:29
Subject: [LU] what's the point of Sharp?
Both sides could have had 5…both were pretty good going forward - they were
marginally better at that…both were shocking in defence…but you shouldn’t be
losing at home after being 2 up…half of our lot were knackered by 65
minutes…their big number 9 (Deeney?) kept going to the end why can’t ours? He
ran the show for them going forward but the 22 and the 3 (when he came on)
weren’t far behind.
For us, the first 40 minutes were cracking - Sharp’s goal was on a plate after
the defender misread the keeper’s position, tried to nod it back to him, but
the keeper was already on his way out…the ball would have gone in had the
keeper not made a sort of reflex save, but he only succeeded in putting it in
front of Sharp 8 years from an empty goal…Lucas the Kop Cat has scored from
more difficult chances.
Austin’s was a belter out of nowhere, control and looping thump from the top
corner of the box, over the keeper’s head…lovely.
But all the time they were flashing the ball all over the place and we were
chasing shadows - they cut through the centre of our defence time and time
again…Cooper and Bamba struggling to last ditch saving tackles…we needed
protection in front of them…Cook or Murphy nowhere defensively but both having
good games going forward.
Eventually one chance too many and Deeney managed to muscle his way through
both Cooper and Bamba...both are big guys and it shouldn’t happen…he just
wanted it more…and they get a goal back just before the break. Those two that
Sharp had where the ball was played through to him running onto the top of the
box with only the keeper in front of him begin to look important misses - he
fluffed the ball each time.
We start the 2nd half like a train…Austin through one on one - looks
unconvincing the keeper saves…the ball balloons, Rudi has another go, his
softish shot is on target but cleared off the line…out wide, where it is picked
back up (Byram?) fizzes a low cross in, to Sharp’s feet on the front post, he
misses the ball…the chance goes…the ball runs out Mowatt tries a curler from 25
which flies past the angle with the keeper rooted…
They come back into it - our midfield disintegrates - seriously big holes all
over the place…they pass the ball through our defence, 6 forward diagonal
passes, each time taking out a Leeds player…until eventually in on goal and 2-2.
We’re pushing for a goal, Murphy is making a run straight out of the Eddy Gray
vs Burnley school, but he fluffs his final line, loses control, one clearance,
to Deeney on halfway, he turns, and rolls the ball through the middle, 40
yards, splits the defence, 22 is onto it, bit of a bundle between him,
Silvestri and a defender…he gets a second go, 2-3.
Taylor was the only one of the back 5 who had a solid game…Bamba did some
decent stuff and some awful stuff…
Cook was good driving forward in the second half…Byram was always a
threat…Mowatt had a patchy game (dreadful for 10 minutes; then everywhere for
the next 10); Murphy was prompting and pushing forward but hopeless defensively…
But it is a real pisser of a result - if Watford can sort their defence they
will go up…because going forward they have pace, accuracy and clinical
finishing and they work like bastards for each other.
I lost count of the times a Leeds player looked up and had no-one to pass to.
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John 'Grampa' Sykes
Rest In Peace old lad
28th Oct 1938 - 12 Nov 2013
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
_______________________________________________
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
