Well (eventually) this was the start to the New Year that we were all hoping for , as we scored 3 at home for the first time this season - something we managed only once in 2016 (v Reading), and to cap it all we kept (yet another) clean sheet. There really is the feeling that we are going places, as evidenced by the 'ground full' notices going up at ER again. However it was far from plain sailing. Knowing it was a full house we expected the pubs and town centre to be rammed but this was far from the case, with the Ridings being half empty and the bus queue small. Perhaps this lack of pre match alcohol contributed to a very mute atmosphere in the ground and totally lethargy on the pitch from Leeds players in a first half that was very poor. I had misgivings about the game beforehand , the defeat to Barnsley in 89/90 season kept looming large in my memory - us unbeaten at home, them winless away- when 'divine intervention', goals by Bishop and Archdeacon meant that we lost a game that we had all expected to win 3 or 4 nil. Yesterday had that same feel, everything I read on waccoe etc and conversations overhead all giving the belief that all we had to do was turn up to win.
Monk may even have fallen into this trap as he changed from the 4 2 3 1 that has served us so well, and started with only Bridcutt in a holding midfield position as we looked to be more adventurous at home. Good idea, I, and most around me, thought before kick off. However so inept were we that I am not even sure if we were 4 4 2 with Roofe up top with Wood, or 4 1 4 1. Whatever it was meant to be , it did not work. Sacko struggled for space, something he needs and gets away from home, and we failed to do the basics right (Green excepted) with Hernandez a chief culprit. I lost count of the times he gave it away with sloppy passes, not the intricate or long range stuff that the lesser players do not always read, but simple sideways 5 yard passes. Thankfully we still managed to look reasonably strong at the back and Green, who is getting better as the season goes on, made a couple of decent saves when called upon, these were mainly long range as they failed to open us up and one was a free kick, where we also got a bit of luck as the rebounded save fell to ex loanee Adeyemi who hit the post. As the players trudged off at half time I half expected boos to ring out, but this set of players have earned themselves some leeway and some patience so they left to muted polite applause. Those returning fans who filled the ground must have wondered why they bothered and were probably thinking that they would not bother again. Then came the moment that changed the game, we started the second half with Vierra on the pitch and reverted to 4 2 3 1. Perhaps a slight knock to Sacko made this an enforced change but I am prepared to give Monk all the credit, since even if Sacko was injured Monk brought on Vierra rather than a like for like swap with Dallas. I have said since the first time I saw him that Vierra is the best newcomer since Delph and he proved that again yesterday as his 45 minutes was enough to be joint man of the match (with 2 goal Wood) for me. We just looked a totally different team and ran them ragged for 45 minutes. First a lovely corner was met by Bartley, as Rotherham 'took out' our perceived dangerman, Pontus. Hah! we now have 2 centre halves who can score from corners not just defend them. From then on there could only be one winner. We were rampant at times, in addition to the goals, we had Pablo hitting the post from a free kick, Roofe just overhitting a cross so that it eluded Wood, Beradi storming through their defence and clipping the post, a number of very dubious off side decisions and some exquisite pass and move football. So, to the second and third goals, both scored by 'lump of' Wood. Here I depart massively from Rich and his report, to compare Wood to Becchio is a real insult to Wood , who is twice the player Luciano ever was. I get that Wood is cumbersome and can look slow and ungainly, and is perhaps not as good in the air as is expected, and yes, he does miss some easy goals and have some poor gamse- but name me a player who doesn't, but overall he is brilliant at this level, or at least he has been this season. 16 goals by the first week of January only tells half the story as he holds the ball up, leads the line and makes space for everyone else. I suppose he will always have his detractors but if his two goals yesterday do not shut them up then what will ? His first, our second, was Shearer-esque as he out muscled the defender and stood his ground, taking the ball on his chest to control it and then Bang, roof of the net. A goal of high quality. Then his second, our third, was one out of Lee Chapmans catalogue as he made up all the ground and got on the end of a great cross from Roofe and slid it in. Yes a simple goal and no doubt the haters will say 'I could have scored that' - well maybe you could, except you would not have made up the yards and found yourself in that position. For me Wood is our player of the season and our most important player bar none. So a brilliant end to the game and a great start to the year. We are genuine contenders for the play offs and may even have enough to be on hand if Brighton or Newcastle slip up (I doubt they will) We need to make sure we sign Hernandez who second half showed his class as his touch came back, and Jansson , our biggest cult hero since Vinnie, then it is a matter of maybe bringing in a player or two to freshen things up (another forward and a defender to replace Cooper as back up maybe - though it will be hard to find someone who is willing to come to ER and not get a game other than when Jansson is suspended- another yellow yesterday) Onwards and upwards - Cellino or whoever is taking over (if it happens) make sure we sign the loan players and get Vierra sorted on a long term contract with a £20m buyout price - he really will be that good and then the future will, indeed , be bright Dave _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
