The Hawthorns has always been a difficult ground for us and I don't remember too many victories there. Coupled with the West Midlands police it was never a great place to visit. The game yesterday was remarkable in that not only was it easy, we looked to be on different footballing plane to West Brom. Looking at their players, they looked bigger, heavier, leggy and they just couldn't keep up with us and the gap between these 2 promoted teams is massive. If you think back to a couple of seasons to west brom games: at home on the Friday night when Pablo scored after 0.5 seconds and then at their place when they gubbed us 4-1 the progression is obvious. Pablo was the man of the match in that home game and ran the show. Yesterday, we brought him on for a run about when we were 5 up. This was a similar game to the Everton game where we seemed to freedom of the park and all the time in the world to stroke the ball around and play as we want. When we are allowed to do this there is no better team to watch in the country. Some of the interplay was breathtaking and I don't think I've seen a Leeds team play like this before. Our final ball on ocassions was lacking but if you look the goals then you see what a great footballing team we can be. For me Rodrigo ran the show and he was back to his best. He almost looks a tad casual and lazy in his approach but then he drops his shouler, goes past his man and plays killer passes. He's the best I've seen at Leeds for a while and he is nowhere near his potential yet. Exciting stuff. The only disappointment was that we didn't get 10 because I think we could have if we hadn't taken the foot off the gas 2nd half. At the back, they never troubled us. Ayling looked confident again and apart from some dodgy distribution at the back where we put ourselves under pressure the defence coped ok. How much do we read into this ? Not much for me and I'd make a centre back a priority asap. Scores: Meslier: 7. His best save was from his own cock up. Dallas - 9. Man of the match for me. He's defiitely at home in that wing back position. Allioski - 8. Always good when defensively he doesn't have to do too much. Great goal. Ayling - 8. Confident and I'm loving the forward runs. The Ripper - 7. I like the way Strujik picks out Rodrigo with accurate balls into midfield. Much better than Cooper's 40 yard cross fielders. Klich - 6. Slightly improved however I think Rodrigo was taking centre stage hen it came to being at the centre of everything. Philips - 8. LIke at Everton, he seemed to have the freedom of the park. Nobody running at him and nobody putting him under pressure. As a result I thought he had a great game. Simple football at its best. Harrison - 8. I'd have dropped him and given Poveda a start but credit to Harrison he keeps coming back with the performances after a dip. I think like a lot of our players, if the opposition gives us the chance to play we can. If you put us under pressure then we struggle. His goal was pure quality, Bamford - 6. If there was one player who I thought didn't quite fit into to our attractive one touch, pass and move football it was Bamford. Raphinha - 7. When I saw their team and Lee Peltier at right back I thought Raphinha would have a field day but strangely he didn't have too much success in the first half. 2nd half he came more into it and he scored a belter. Like Rod, he's going to get better and better. Rodrigo - 9. Could watch him all day. One of the players who can have the ball in the tightest of situation but still look like he's got all the time in the world. Pure quality. I hope he gets that goal. Subs: Pablo - 7. Some good interplay in their box. Shackleton - 7. Did very well and he must be pushing Klich for his place now. Costa - did he do owt ? Spurs next. We won't get as much time on the ball there.
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