What a fantastic report, I am almost breathless after reading it! Halfway down I was thinking, c'mon, this is Leeds, he is going to end with "nah, just jokin' with yer.... It was shit as normal, nothing to see hear. We are doomed".
I rarely get to see the games here in Aus. This is the next best thing! Thank you. Cheers Alec > On 9 Aug 2015, at 6:00 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well I went to this game full of hope and optimism, looking forward to the > season to come and thinking it may just be a good one. I have come home (via > a pub or two) in exactly the same frame of mind.We had 26,000 Leeds fans > there today and (subject to money, holidays, other commitments) everyone of > them should be there next time too. Apart from the final result I cannot > think of anything else anyone could want from their team. A team made up of, > mainly, young lads, most with a connection to LUFC gave 100% in a full > blooded exciting, entertaining game. If you did not go home happy today then > I would ask 'what more do you want?" > From first to last we got into them, hunting them down in packs, keeping and > passing the ball, running at them and never letting them settle. From 1 to 11 > we showed a commitment to the cause coupled with a composure and ability and > comfort on the ball that we have not seen for years. Not one player treated > the ball as the proverbial hot potato that they just wanted rid of, instead > each of them wanted the ball and wanted to do something with it. > Were we perfect, no of course not. but the players did everything we , as > fans, could expect or want from our team.The line up was as expected with > Dallas getting the nod over Doukara and they came out in glorious sunshine to > a brilliant reception. The debutants knew from the first minute - this is > LEEDS, deal with it. We began like an express train, tackles flying in, > chasing down the ball and giving them no respite. Without getting carried > away and making false comparisons , this was like a Wilko team. Adeyemi Cook, > Mowatt were everywhere winning the ball and laying it off. We had so many > good moves it is hard to remember but the best was a great ball over the top > that Byram controlled brilliantly, and put in a cross straight to Wood. We > all thought he would head home but, (not for the only time) he went for the > fantastic and tried an overhead kick that did not quite work. On another > occasion the ball went over Wood and Dallas was there at the far post to > shoot but it hit the keeper. The first 20-25 minutes was breathless stuff and it was hard to understand why it was still 0 0. We then ran out of steam a bit and let them back in it but Silvestri was more than capable to deal with their only shot of note. So the half time whistle came and the players went off to a standing ovation - a well deserved one.Second half the same story - Mowatt fizzed one just wide, a great cross from Berardi found Wood but was at an awkward height and his first touch on his thigh made the chance go. We kept at it and on 60mins or so the tiring Dallas (good on his first appearance) made way for Antenucci (or Antenucci, Antenuccis na na nana na na (think old Arthur Graham chant) as I call him) came on. He was determined to make his mark and he ran at them and hit a stunning shot just over. Then later, an early contender for goal of the season, as he came in from our right and hit an unstoppable drive into the other corner of the net. Cue absolute pandamonium in the stands, and a 1 0 score line that we well deserved. Then came the only bad bit of the game, as within a few minutes, Taylor was caught out and allowed their lad to put in a cross which was met by the mainly unmarked Vokes who headed home. A very soft goal and totally unmerited. Antenucci tried again to level with another rasping shot from our left but the keeper held it. Uwe threw on Doukara and (somewhat surprisingly Wooton) but time ran out on us , but not before Wood had another half chance.So it ended 1 1 but, for the most part we had played a very good Burnley side off the pitch. Wood could have had 3 or 4, Antenucci 3, Mowatt 1 and Dallas 2. If we create this many chances every game things will be good for us. Burnley, the goal apart, had one chance that went wide, one that Silvestri saved and a couple of scrambles.This was the most composed performance I have seen for ages - all of our players looked good on the ball.We had 2 centre halves who are happy with the bal l at their feet (Bamba after a world class tackle then took on the player in our box and nearly messed up) 2 full backs who like to run with the ball and a forward 3 3 or 5 1 formation that put in 100% effort coupled with skill. A couple of well worked corners and free kicks showed that we have been trying things in trainingIt all bodes very well. We need to be able to shut out a game when we get a goal up and deservedly so.So impressed was my mate that on the bus back he asked who was our least impressive player (Taylor, we decided) as opposed to who was our best player - Bamba immense, Adeyemi breaking up the play a la Batty, Cook and Mowatt - here there and everywhere. Dallas looking like the winger we needed, Wood a proper centre forward, one who will get a bagful of goals when he calms down a bit, Byram showing why Prem teams want him, Bellusci showing his attributes and finally, and just maybe our Mom Berardi - calmness personified, getting stuck in, holding them up wh en outnumbered and getting forward with style and purpose.So overall a 9 out of 10 performance and , like I say, if fans do not come back next match then i really do not know what they want. 89mins of good stuff,1 minute of lapse of concentration - we have so much to build on. I loved it ! > Dave > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > > MARCHING ON TOGETHER _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
