Rich - please don't take this as a put down ('coz it isn't) - but I think
that your mail is up there with the most positive match reports that you've
ever done. That plus:
-I wasn't ever worried about us not winning and the only annoying let down
was Reading scoring late on rather than Rotherham (Town never entered into
it...)
and
- Rotherham have been a bit of a bogey team for us
Makes me think we are on the up.
If the play offs were tomorrow I wouldn't even automatically expect that
we'd lose....
Happy New Year Rich and everybody else. And felice anno nuovo to Mr.
Cellino and his family who aren't doing such a bad job at all!
On Mon, Jan 2, 2017 at 8:08 PM, {broken-address} Richard Walker <
[email protected]> wrote:
> For me this was a very important game for us because ithopefully told us a
> couple of home truths, if we didn’t know them already.
>
>
> 1) If we’re not on our game and are not tacticallyset up to compete we
> will struggle even against the weaker teams in thisleague.
>
> 2) Playing 2 wingers together with Roofe andHernandes doesn’t work.
>
>
> I have to admit this was a big surprise to me as I thoughtour line up
> looked attacking and strong but it came as a big surprise to see itreally
> didn’t work. Playing as acounter-attacking team at Villa was perfect for
> us and I think we are set up toplay this formation away from home
> perfectly. However, when asked to force thegame against a team who are
> battling for everything and more intent on notlosing it is a different game
> and we really struggled in the first half.
>
> Bridcutt was being asked to do the midfield job on his own andhe couldn’t
> so Hernandez came deep to collect on many occasions. This led topass after
> pass going astray and we looked like a team who had never playedtogether.
> There was no movement up front. Wood was poor and ineffective, Roofetried
> but he never looked dangerous and Doukara and Sacko were totalpassengers.
> Doukara to me looked heavy and unfit. I’d like to know what he wasdoing
> over the New Year weekend ?
>
>
> It was Rotherham that created the best chances one of whichwas excellently
> saved by Green and then they hit the post from the rebound. Intheir captain
> (Frecklington) and Brown up front I thought they had the two bestplayers on
> the pitch and I thought they were unlucky not to be in the lead inthe first
> half. I know this is a popular phase amongst footy fans but I don’tthink
> I’ve seen us that poor this season and don’t forget we’ve served up
> someshite (Town at home for one).
>
>
> Something had to change and Monk did it immediately at halftime. Simon
> Grayson would have waited annoyingly until 52 minutes before hechanged
> things but I like the fact that Monk realised it was not the righttactical
> set up.
>
> And what a difference a small change can make. Sacko who hadturned from
> exciting and dangerous against Villa to completely ineffective andrubbish
> was taken off to be replaced by Vierra. It changed everything and wewere
> quickly ahead from a great Bartley header. He is making this is trademark
> thesedays.
>
>
> With Vierra busy in midfield, Bridcutt suddenly had moretime but more
> importantly Hernandez pushed forward and began to find spice.Suddenly we
> looked to have an extra man and the one touch, pass and movefootball that
> we did so well at Villa second half came back. Rotherham didn’tknow what
> had hit them and everywhere you looked there was a white shirt and apass
> on. Players who looked like they couldn’t pass a ball in the first
> halflooked confident and happy with the attacking one touch football. Roofe
> gotmore space and made a few runs together with Ayling on the right and
> Doukarawho looked much better second half. If it wasn’t for a dodgy
> linesman giving off-sidewe could have a had a few more chances.
>
>
> The main player for me though was Vierra. I’ve said itbefore I think he’s
> our best midfielder. He’s got everything – pace, strength(he’s like an ox),
> passing ability and skill. He came on and just took control,pushed us
> forward and led the way. It seemed like the whole team just followedhis
> lead. He’s a real talent and I’d get him on a long term contract if he
> isn’t.
>
>
> The second goal was only a matter of time and it was alldown to Chris Wood
> who took a ball with his back to the goal, managed to turnand smack it into
> the top of the net. A great goal and if truth be told hisonly positive
> contribution up to that point. He suddenly looked like a worldbeater even
> contributing to a great one two with Beradi who ran on and smackedit
> against the post. It deserved a goal.
>
>
> The third was another good break which led to Roofe puttingin a good cross
> to an unmarked Wood 5 yards out – he couldn’t miss and he didn’t.Good goal.
>
>
> Wood was then subbed for Antonsson, or someone with asimilar name as that
> – he can’t have beentoo impressed by that.
>
> We could have had a few more – the excellent Hernandez hitthe post from a
> free kick and we had numerous breaks in which we could havedone better.
>
>
> A real game of two halves showing how simple tacticalchanges can change
> matches.
>
>
> Scores:
>
> Green – 8. Good save first half – didn’t have a lot to dobut what he did
> he did well.
>
>
> Beradi – 7. Battled well with their right winger and nearlyscored. He’s a
> top player but you did see his limitations in the first halfwhen he got
> into some good positions but was unable to cross well with his leftfoot.
> I’d still pick him in front of Taylor – I think he’s a better defender
> than Taylor butmore crucially Taylor doesn’t want to play for Leeds cos he
> thinks he’s premierleague.
>
>
>
> Bartley – 8. Great goal and some great defending in a desperatefirst half.
>
>
> Jansson – 7. As usual he was solid although he did getcaught out once
> trying some of his unnecessary skills. I wouldn’t want him tolose his
> swagger but against better teams I think he should keep them to aminimum.
> Great when they come off, as it’s really taking the piss but when theydon’t
> come off and put us under pressure then it’s not worth it.
>
>
> Ayling – 7. First half he struggled like the rest. Couldn’t getanything
> going with Sacko or Hernandes, passes going astray. Second half, helooked
> like he did at Villa. Skilful right back, attacking whenever possibleand
> really making an impact.
>
>
> Hernandes – 7. First half was just too much for him. He wasexpected to do
> everything and as a result 90% of his passes were to a blueshirt (why
> weren’t Rotherham playing in red?). Second half with Vierra andBridcutt
> sharing the load he was let free. An amazing transformation and hejust sat
> in the middle and sprayed balls left , right an centre. He really is agreat
> footballer but let’s not ever ask him to sit in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 as acentre
> midfielder that has to do the grunt work. He can’t.
>
>
> Bridcutt – 6. Again he was overrun first half and wascompletely
> ineffective. Possibly his worst game for Leeds. Second half, Vierratook
> over and he began to look like himself and contributed to the greatfootball
> we played. As much as I love Bridcutt I do think Vierra is the betterplayer
> and when you consider the potential Vierra has to be part of this
> teammoving forward.
>
>
> Doukara – 5. I thought his first half performance actuallytopped all the
> poor first half performances. He looked pissed, couldn’t pass,move or do
> anything effective. Second half he did improve but I reckon he’sbeen on the
> lash. Struggles as a left winger in my opinion.
>
>
> Sacko – 2. Obviously a low mark because he only played inthe shit half. He
> did have a few opportunity but there was no end product. Anaway player for
> me.
>
>
> Wood – 7. Again, first half I thought he was poor. Nocontrol, no running,
> big lump up front. I would have taken him off and Ihonestly believe that if
> I had we would have still won this game 2 or 3 nil butall credit to Wood he
> bagged his brace and proved his doubters wrong. Hissecond goal was more
> than a lump putting in from an unmissable range, it was atop quality finish
> showing that Wood definitely has something. I just wish he’dshow it more
> often. I thought it general play up to his first goal was reallypoor and I
> think he should not be considered a certainty for games especiallywhen
> we’re trying to play a counter attacking game. Remember out best 20minutes
> of football was when he wasn’t on the pitch. I don’t rate him and Ibelieve
> we do need better than him to get promoted. Obviously his fans willpoint to
> his 16 goals as they did with Becchio but we would have never gotpromoted
> with Becchio and I think if Wood is given the shirt every game
> withoutconsidering how we are going to play.
>
>
> Roofe – 6. First half poor like the rest, second half cameinto it without
> looking really convincing. Yes he put the cross in for the 3rd(I could have
> done that). Seconds earlier he had a similar cross to make withWood (marked
> this time) sliding he. He painfully overhit it when all he neededwas to
> slide it across. Everything looks heavy to me, his footwork his carelessand
> he has no pace which is amazing really when you consider his game was
> builton that in the lower leagues apparently. He won’t make it.
>
>
> Subs:
>
> Vierra – 10. Transformed the team , the performance and theresult from his
> high energy. He’s a star.
>
>
> Dallas – didn’t do a lot.
>
>
> Antonsson – one or two touches. Big arse.
>
>
> Monk – superb tactical change transformed the game.
>
>
> Crowd – 33k and Rotherham bought a taxi load. Should havesold the seats to
> Leeds fans.
>
>
> All still looking good.
>
>
> Happy New Year.
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