Cheers. My Villa report was even more optimistic however that was alcohol fuelled.
Yes I remember the Last Rotherham game when Redfearn was in charge, we lost 1-0. Progress has definitely been made. > On 2 Jan 2017, at 19:55, Damian Walsh <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
