First let's start by asking, why are we playing Bournemouth in the PL ? Whose idea was it to allow them in this league. We slogged our guts out to get promotion only to find we get games like this against Bournemouth ! Surely they need to take their beach, pier, pensioners and rubbish tinpot ground back to Division 4 where they belong ! Now I've got that off my chest, what about the game ? Well, to be fair to them, they are a decent team and they do have some outstanding players but overall all Darlow had to do in the game was pick the ball out of the net a couple of times. I thought we outplayed and outfought them throughout and I think we deserved to win but when you got to sleep in the 93rd minute you will get punished in this league and that's what we did. The warning signs were there slightly early when Kroupi found himself unmarked in the box and fluffed his shot. How can we leave players onside and unmarked in the box when there's a minute to play ? What was Bogle doing ? Who was he marking ? Did he think he'd done enough and was thinking of the bath and bar afterwards. He looked good today but you can't switch off like that. We started strong with Aarronson putting DCL through for a one on one. Slightly arkward angle but he should have done better. He then poked a cross shot towards the goal which was well saved and then surprisingly found himself on the end of a speculative overhead kick from Aaronson. He could have chested it down and walked it in but he tamely headed at the keeper. Bournemouth looked dangerous on the attack but never troubled Darlow until Stach clumsily pushed over a Bournemouth player on the edge of the box. Darlow took a very long time to arrange the wall together with Aaronson lying on the floor only for the Bournemouth player to run up and smack it straight thrpough the wall and into the back of the net. Darlow was only stood a yard away but he never got near it. People asking questions of Aarronson and how he was lying but surely the keeper needs to organise that. He was also painfully slow to react. We continued to be the dominant team and Okafor came into the game after hardly touching it for the first 20 mins. One run was very John Barnes v Brazil like but instead of placing past the keeper into the net he fell over. Our goal came from a corner, and what an improvement Longstaff's corners are. High and looping and on their way down in the box so people like Rodon only have to get their head to it and power is generated towards the goal. We haven't seen corners like this for years. That's what Rodon did and it looked like the keeper just totally missed it but having seen the replay this morning, it was helped by a Bournemouth player's head. Second half we largely dominated again without troubling their keeper too much. Longstaff was inspirational. A tall, Batty like player who can take corners and score goals - what's not to like. His goal came from some good battling from the excellent Gudmenssen (best left back since Dorigo). A series of shots rebounded and finally came to Longstaff on the edge of the box who it hit. At the time, I was totally perplexed how it ended up in the back of the net but having seen the replay it came of the outside of his boot / shin , hit the right post and richoched into the top left hand corner. I've hit shots like that before and they usually end up near the corner flag. Great goal from a really good player. They made lots of subsitutions which didn't really improve them and they didn't threaten till the fiasco late on. We continued to make chances and Harrison came on for Okafor to great applause (didn't hear any boos from where I was sitting). I thought he was great when he came on and had a good shot saved. As for the other subs, there's an argument that taking Aaronson and DCL off was no a good idea. Aaronson may have provided the cover Bogle needed to get back in the box where he should have been for their goal ? Gutted but not totally unexpected. I think it's a good point against a good team and I think overall I'd say they probably have a few individuals who are better players than ours but as a team we more than matched them. If I was to be critical, I'd say the midfield is a bit samy. Stach and Longstaff do the same job but Longstaff does it better and gets through loads more work. Stach is decent on the ball but he lumbers around a bit and I'd prefer Tanaka in home games.Also, Aaronson is no right winger but you have to say his work rate and his creativity was as good as anyone's yesterday. He got a standing ovation when he came off and you just have to admire what he did. He can't be dropped after that but you just wonder where he plays ? Maybe right wing is the place ? Scores; Darlow - 6. I'd be asking questions about the first goal and his wall organisation skills. He's done well but I just don't trust him as a PL keeper. Bogle - 7. Very lively going forward and also got through his share of good, solid defending. JUst a shame about the goal. Look where he's stood. Gudmenssen - 8 (Or Razmansen as someone called him) - great coming forward, hard in the tackle, rarely give the ball away. Great prospect. Rodon - 8. Great goal, defended well throughout against lively opposition. Struijk - 7. Defended solidly. Stach - 5. Bits and pieces but didn't figure much. Gave away stupid freekick for their goal. Longstaff - 9. Man of the Match (just). Ampadu - 7. Kept us ticking along and nearly decapitated Tyler Adams who got abuse all afternoon. He was subbed soon after to great cheers from everyone. Not his best day out. He plays a lot of square balls. Aaronson - 9. 100% effort with quite a bit of skill and creativity as well. Surprising a lot of people. DCL - 7. Could / should have had at least 2 goals but he didn't however I like his movement, he wins EVERYTHING in the air, unfortuantely his flicks on usually go to waste. If he stays clear of injury he could be the signing of the summer. Okafor - 7. He's not quite bedded in yet and it took him a while to get going yesterday but when he does he is formiddable. He's a pretty big lad but he can move and is strong with the ball. Will get better I'm sure. Subs:Harrison - made a difference Nmecha - didn't have much time to do muchTanaka - lost the ball and gave away a freekick. Bourenmouth didn't sell all their tickets and didn't have a response for 'We're Leeds United and we smashed up your town' One other thing, the pubs emptied earlier because of the big announcement at 2:45. Someone on the P2 down to the ground reckoned he had inside information that Erling Haaland had finally recognised his love for Leeds and was to be presented to the crowd as a January signing. Sounded plausible to me. Tomas Skuhravy was the agent that made the deal. Turned out it was to present Johnny Giles with a lifetime achievement award. All very nice and obviously well earned but has anyone else been given this award ? All seemed a bit randon ? Is Johnny on his way out or something. Big Lee Nicholson looked like Gulliver stood next to little Johnny. I know Johnny wasn't a big player but he looks like he shrunk a bit and I reckon he's no taller than 4ft 7. _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected]
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