Yeah, on Firpo, I hadn’t how badly out of position he was for their first goal, until I saw the playback yesterday…that was woeful.
Sent from my iPad > On 26 Sep 2021, at 22:34, [email protected] wrote: > > A very upbeat assessment Nick - I really hope that is the reality? > > Firpo seems continuously out of position, but then so did/do Alioski and > Ayling for much of the time. I think there’s hope yet, but he’s getting > plenty of stick! > > That said, imagine if Klich had scored with half the shots he’s had in the > last couple of games - our inability to hit a ball harder or on target is a > problem we have yet to solve this season, Rapha aside. Hoping they get some > shooting practice in this week! > > Sent from my iPad > >> On 26 Sep 2021, at 10:20, "[email protected]" >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> In all the grumbling forgot to say, our goal was a peach…passing move down >> the left, two balls square across the box (Rodrigo & Klich?)… for Raph to >> place in the bottom corner from the edge of the box. >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >>>> On 26 Sep 2021, at 10:05, Nick <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> If they hadn’t had that last minute winner I would feel that this was a >>> pretty good day at the office - 7 first teams injuries, playing two >>> relatively inexperienced youngsters - a bench of 12 year olds - against a >>> seasoned team having a pretty good start. One all would have felt OK. This >>> doesn’t. >>> >>> At 1-0, we hit the post (Raphinha again - they didn’t know what to do about >>> him, so they kicked him, when they could catch him); had a good penalty >>> shout turned down and missed two or three more decent chances. The came >>> their disallowed goal. A high ball in, several people go up, Meslier is in >>> a heap on the ground, someone bundles in the goal. Leeds players are >>> incensed, WHam players seem uncertain. They go to VAR - and show it on the >>> big screen, which I didn’t think was how it was done - the video clearly >>> shows their #9 leading with his elbow and smashing it through Meslier’s >>> face - the keeper’s head snaps back on impact - so the goal is disallowed, >>> the Leeds crowd is going mental for a red card for their guy, instead he >>> gets a yellow. >>> >>> Minutes later their #9 clatters Cooper, again with his elbow. A bookable >>> offence…not this time. >>> >>> Then someone follows through on Meslier - who apparently had to change his >>> shirt after the first incident, and I can only guess that that was because >>> of blood - there’s no foul given. Meslier goes nuts at the ref and earns a >>> yellow card. >>> >>> Finally they get a deserved equaliser - the pressure has been good and >>> sustained - but the manner of it was less so, apparently a double >>> deflection (we couldn’t see what happened), eventually going in off Firpo’s >>> backside. >>> >>> Then with 5 minutes of injury time clocked up, their #9 muscles through and >>> scores the winner. Cue mini pitch invasion by the W Ham fans. >>> >>> That’s the bones of it. We were the better team in the first half. Although >>> both sides created and wasted good chances / half-chances. Cresswell stood >>> up and wrestled with that #9 all game and had a really solid game. He’s a >>> definite on the team sheet for Watford. He was a little nervous in some of >>> his distribution later in the game, when there was less movement ahead of >>> him, but that’s about the only fault, I can find and that is being picky. >>> Cooper would now be my 5th choice (perhaps even 6th after Kalvin…) centre >>> half. >>> >>> W Ham spent the whole game battering Meslier and Raphinha - every corner >>> they got that #9 was leaning on the keeper trying to rough him up. The ref >>> pulled him up a couple of times. >>> >>> Once Raphinha went off, we had no real outlet - Rodrigo, Harrison, Roberts >>> combined didn’t give the team what Raph or Bamford on their own usually do. >>> And we just fell deeper and deeper. >>> >>> Meslier - had a sterling game in very difficult circumstances - deserved >>> better protection from the referee - that was a red card challenge. Made >>> several good saves. >>> Shackleton - well, I think that is the best right back performance this >>> season - mobile, good challenging and positional play - not the tallest, so >>> liable to get beaten in the air but there’s not much he can do about that >>> Firpo - another ‘best game so far’ for us I think…there is work to be done, >>> to be convincing, but it is not out of his reach >>> Cresswell - said it all above - stand out game >>> Cooper - his kind of battle, this game, and he did OK >>> Phillips - is in danger of moving beyond some of his team mates…he still >>> makes mistakes, and he still is not the fastest, but without him we are >>> much less of a team, he holds it all together. But he can’t do it himself. >>> I think he really misses having the guile of Hernandez next to him. >>> Klich - one of his better games, pushing forward from the middle, covered a >>> lot of ground, ultimately faded >>> Dallas - was solid in his own way, but lacks the sparkle of 6 months ago >>> Raphinha - was basically unplayable yesterday - an absolute joy to watch >>> Rodrigo - what do you do with a ‘forward’ who is tremendously hard working, >>> but never on the end of crosses, rarely gets a shot away and genuinely >>> seems to pose no threat to the opposition goal? >>> James - played the first half. Barely noticed him >>> >>> Harrison on for James in the second half - had a couple of flurries and one >>> scuffed shot but seemed lethargic - someone said he might not be fully >>> recovered from Covid and I guess that’s fair >>> Roberts - came on and does what he does but this rapidly proving not to be >>> good enough. He’s basically doing the same as he did for two years in the >>> Championship. >>> Somerville - came on, made a couple of good links / runs down the wing, but >>> they came to nothing. >>> >>> I suspect if W Ham had scored 5 minutes earlier we might have had Geldhart >>> on. >>> >>> It was a good battling performance that tailed off under pressure - >>> everyone seemed tired towards the end. But its really difficult to swallow >>> the defeat to that goal by that player. >>> >>> I would like a win, and I think we’re too good to not get one soon…we just >>> need some injured players back and a bit of luck. >>> >>> Nick >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leedslist mailing list >>> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >>> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >>> >>> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >>> >>> Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat! >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leedslist mailing list >> Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >> >> Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ >> >> Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat! > _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat!
