Well, bloody hell, what do you say about that goal? Lovely clipped ball out from Llorente - simply world class skill and composure from Gelhardt - and a thumping back post header from Pascal, who had been lying prone on the ground 5 minutes earlier having had a bad clash of heads…he was doing that thing when older heads in the ground go “oh, its serious, he hasn’t moved at all since he went down”. And then carnage…again.
On 92 minutes. It could make the difference… Apparently that’s something like our 7th goal this season after 90 minutes, that have changed the result. Welcome to Elland Road - cardiac central of the Premier League. On the other hand, "sack the board” and “Marcelo Bielsa” were ringing round the ground come 80 minutes. We were second best for most of a dreadful first half. Brighton took us apart down our left. Time and again, someone popped up on the left of the box, behind the defence, with all the time in the world - I think Meslier made three saves in the opening 20 minutes. The defence was all over the shop; midfield non-existent; Rodrigo conspiring to pass anywhere except to a team-mate, from pretty much anywhere on the park - I’ve rarely seen such a bad 40 minutes from an individual. They looked compact and composed - like they came with a plan and knew how to execute it. 2 or 3-0 at half time wouldn’t have flattered. Meanwhile we looked ready for relegation. The goal was a shame - Wellbeck and Llorente chased a ball over the top; Wellbeck initially had the best position, but Llorente outmanoeuvred him, did really well, got in the prime slot and then inexplicably gave it back to him…Wellbeck finished with casual aplomb. Shortly after that Koch made a brilliant sliding tackle in the box when they looked certain to score again. In the process he seemed to injure himself, he played another 50 minutes or so with a bad back and limited mobility. The second half wasn’t a sudden magical change, but we fought, and ran and grew into and eventually earned the draw - at least. Raph hit the bar from a free kick - both Rodrigo and Raphina almost got on the end of wonderfully fast attacking moves (each provided the final ball for the other); there were scrambles and last ditch tackles to deny us clear strikes on goal. And also a good penalty shout about 5 minutes into injury time. I guess in the end a draw was fair. It angers me when people say casually ridiculous things like Raphinha doesn't try / care - he covered more ground than anyone yesterday, and bust his balls trying to make something happen. He’s been a shining star in a difficult season. If that is his last game at ER, I feel privileged to have seen him play - at a time when he moved from a promising young talent to a genuine star. Leeds and Bielsa made that happen for him. And I think he knows it. Lots of pictures on Twitter of him coming out onto the pitch after the ground emptied and sitting by a goalpost, for quite a long time I understand. He is one of the best attacking players I have seen play for us. And stay up or go down that’s probably the last we will see Kalvin in a Leeds shirt at ER: he has been immense. What he grew from, how he has matured, beyond even his own belief of what was possible. He is lost at the moment. There is no viable team system. We have reverted to the keeper hoofing the ball down the park…defenders passing it square with no purpose and no movement in front of them, before hoofing it long. The tactic yesterday, genuinely appeared to be for Meslier to aim for the head of Raphinha, who barely wins anything in the air. Meslier - kept us in it. I’d love us to keep a clean sheet at Brendtford, if only for this guy, who has put in quite a shift these last 2.5 years. He’ll go on and be really good somewhere. Koch - not a right back…stuck to it, despite injury…one great tackle Llorente - horror show for their goal, much more composed in the second half Cooper - lots of pointing and shouting, won some good aerial stuff - lots of grit Firpo - car crash all season - sell him Philips - such a genuine star for the last 4 years, but yesterday only really imposed himself for the last quarter when he pushed further up the park, hassled their men when they had the ball - do you remember when that immediate and relentless closing down of the opposition was one of the hall marks of Leeds? He will be a big loss. Klich - one of the prime examples of “what happened to that footballer” who used to run games, score goals…and has just gone back into his shell. His effort in the second half yesterday cannot be questioned. One cracking shot in the first. Raphinha - woefully cast as the target for the long balls out from the back…became more involved and dangerous as the game went on - ran himself into the ground. V unlucky with that free kick. Rodrigo - had a good enough second half after a dreadful first. But this is the thing, the man on the ball used to have options, now they have nothing to aim at. That is the system’s fault. Harrison - largely uninfluential Gelhardt - as above, for 90 minutes…then came injury time. SUBS Shackleton, brought more balance to the side, and is more naturally inclined to attack down the line than Koch Struijk - and eventful 10 minutes! Greenwood - this lad looks class, only had 15 minutes, but he has a cool head and eye for a good pass. Part of my problem with Marsch’s system is that it just so prosaic, so mundane after all that joyous chaos with Bielsa: long balls hoofed out from the keeper, no one gets behind the opposition defence, no one has anyone to pass to, 2 men go to stand over the corner / free kick - I have never understood what that achieved. Ah well. One more week to go. 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!
