Such a relief to get the result after Burnley. I think the pressure told on the team in the second half. We play better in the games we are not expected to get a result because we are less fearful. I feel the pressure so god knows they must. Hopefully we can get a surprising result in the next set of games when we are not expected to get much.. Just noticed that we play Sunderland away on Dec 27th when they lose 6 or likely 7! players to AfCON (This is for at least 3 games and most players will miss 5). We are 3 points behind so this is a huge opportunity - Pressure’s on again…. B
> On 25 Oct 2025, at 12:55, Robert Heath <[email protected]> wrote: > > Disappointed but not surprised with our approach in the 2nd half. But on > the plus side............we basically gave Wham the ball for 50 mins and > said "Come on then, break us down twice if you can." And I know they are > woefully lacking in confidence but they had some pretty high class > attackers (Bowen, Paqueta, S/ville) and yet they couldn't do it. In fact I > don't think Perri Como really had an actual shot to save (apart from their > one goal.) All with a new keeper, new CH and a new LB. So that's > encouraging. > > I thought it was interesting that on the day "the board" flew in from > America for a meeting where they reportedly discussed our financial > situation Farke chose to finally pick our two 15 m quid signings who had > hitherto been languishing on the bench. > > I was seething when all that poppy day nonsense happened AFTER MOT. We're > going to lose all the momentum we always get from that song in the first > few minutes, I said (to my dog.) 3 mins.............1-0...........oh OK. > That's one of the great things about dogs; they don't call you a pillock > when you obviously are one. > > On Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 11:45 AM nattan--- via Leedslist < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Pretty comprehensive from Rich so not too much to add. Summerville did >> get some stick but not from me, I was happy to boo Adams but as far as I'm >> concerned Jimmy is just another ex player about whom I'm ambivalent- he had >> one great season for us and moved on to " better things" so not a hero >> worthy of applause but not a villain either.Friday night should not be a >> match day, but there is something special about games under the lights and >> in the rain at ER and this did not disappoint. The fans in the Revie stand >> were relieved but ecstatic at the end and there was a buzz leaving the >> grounds rather than it being subdued?I recall Brendy's only other Prem goal >> early in our first season when we beat Chelsea 3-0 , I recall Shearer on >> MOTD raving over him and saying he was a bargain at £25m or whatever it >> was, and "he can only get better" Unfortunately since that date he has only >> got worse and has become the fans scapegoat ( not helped by using his loan >> release clause ) and all my mates moaned when we saw he was starting again, >> another black mark for DF the only one who rates him. Well I take some of >> it back, he was excellent last night and his brilliant run would have been >> the best individual goal seen at ER for many a year ( rod Wallace v Norwich >> in title celebration game?) but it was deflected onto the bar. >> When we play that " get up and at them" and attack with purpose as we did >> in the first half we looked great , when we retreat into our shell our >> frailties are exposed. We lost a lot when Okafor was subbed and equally >> when Gudnundsson went off ( James was fine but did not give us as much >> going forward) >> As for Bijol I thought him and Rodon looked solid and I would not drop >> him - having said that apart from Bowen , West ham offered nothing >> Loved Perri punching the ball to clear after he parried the original >> shot.Also liked DCL lying on the floor trying to head it >> We must start Tanaka at home and in any away game we think we can win ( >> eg Burnley last week ) as he offers creativity that is otherwise lacking- >> albeit he was out on his feet by the time he was subbed >> Gruev is starting to worry me -I liked him jn the championship, no >> nonsense win it and give it to a leeds player - but so far he looks too >> slow at this level being caught in possession few times >> Another worry is conceding thses very late goals, Fulham, Bournemouth and >> now West Ham, you need to keep the concentration levels for all 90 plus >> minutes >> But these gripes apart it was a must win and we won in front of an >> atmosphere most Prem teams can only dream of these days and I loved it >> A really tough run of fixtures coming up but if we can nick the odd point >> in the really difficult games and maybe beat villa at home we may just be >> OK. Whatever, we have given ourselves a fighting chance with points on the >> board >> Dave >> >> >> >> On Saturday 25 October 2025 at 08:23:54 BST, Richard Walker via Leedslist < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Friday night under the floodlights in the pissing down rain yet they >> still water the grass before the game and then the ball skids across and >> gets held up and players are sliding and falling ? Did the groundsman get >> any O Levels ? >> On to the game, and another good win and 3 more points towards safety. Not >> to be sniffed at especially when you consider our two best players both >> went off injured early in the game (Okafor and Gudmondsson). Leaving the >> ground trying to avoid the puddles (God knows why I chose to wear white >> trainers) the atmosphere was subdued. I think most were very disappointed >> with the 2nd half as we set out to play like the away side by defending >> very deep and trying to player on the counter. Unfortunately that tactic >> relied on either 1) DCL winning the ball on his own, going round a couple >> of defenders and smashing it home, He was never gonna do that.2) Brendy >> (seems to be what everyone calls him these days) running the length of the >> pitch, beating 4 men and smashing it home. He nearly did that and was only >> denied by the bar. >> So the tactics were questionable but if you looked at our team , you might >> realise it was probably the best we could do. Tanaka was playing after a >> lengthy delay, Bijol (more on him later) was making his debut as >> effectively was James Justin who came on early for Gudmondson and Ampadu >> wasn't 100% fit apparently. We really struggled and you could see by >> letting West Ham dominate the game we would end up hanging on. We did >> though so let's forget that 2nd half and concentrate on a great 1st half. >> 2 early goals set us up with Aaronson getting his goal after a good header >> from Okafor was parried. He probably scuffed it like he does most passes >> and shots but he managed to scuff it into the net this time. Then Rodon, >> the corner converter specialist, unmarked bagged a 2nd and his 3rd from >> corners for club and country. Long may it continue. DCL ran his socks off >> and Okafor looked dangerous as did Brenda and Bogle on the right. Tanaka, >> Longstaff and Ampadu won everything in midfield and we dominated throughout >> and thoroughly deserved the 2 goal lead. The Hammers offered little apart >> from one half volley which Perri initially saved but spilled it but his >> recovery was really good (reminded me of Schmiecel) as he quickly got down >> to punch the ball away. Great goalkeeping. I was worried when we signed a >> Brazilian keeper - there hasn't been too many of them over the years, and >> he's looked a bit dodgy early doors but he was solid last night and his >> kicking and throwing were excellent. Still need to see him tested more with >> shots and I haven't seen their goal back yet - didn't look like he had much >> chance ?? >> Tanaka definitely gives us something different in midfield rather than >> having 3 very similar defensive midfielders and hopefully he will get >> fitter and better in coming games. I thought the subs did ok especially >> Justin, who I really like the look of. He's quick, confident on the ball, >> decent awareness and gets stuck in. I think he's too good to be sat on the >> bench. >> I think the main area of concern for me was Bijol. I think it's always >> difficult for a new centre back coming into the team and immediately >> forging a new central defensive pairing. I think back to Rio Ferdinand and >> Chris Fairclough's debuts - both were spectacularly bad with Rio getting >> subbed early and with Fairclough I thought we'd bought a dud. Bijol >> struggled and we definitely missed Struijk's confident and intelligent >> passing. For a centre back, he's got good feet and good passing ability. >> Now I'm not Struijk's greatest fpan - I think at times he's too slow and >> ponderous and I think he's going to have his problems in the PL. However, >> Bijol looks to be lacking both in ability on the ball and ability to >> defend. I felt we struggled to get things going from the back especially >> down the left as Bijol wasn't as comfortable or as adventurous on the ball. >> Also his defending left a lot to be desired. He was fouling and holding his >> opponents all night and towards the end I felt he was really struggling. >> Obviously it was his debut but the signs weren't good for me. Struijk comes >> straight back in for me and I think central defender is a priority in Jan. >> Jimmy returned and had a nightmare. We marked him well and he looked very >> low on confidence. He got subbed 2nd half to boos ringing around the ground >> but he got a good ovation from the West Stand where I was sitting. >> scores: >> Perri - 7. Confident performance Bogle - 7. Not his best game but he >> worked hard defensively and tried to push forward Gudmondson - 6. Got >> injured (hope it's not bad). His link up play with Okafor didn't quite come >> off today.Rodon - 9. Man of the match for me. Scored a goal and had to do >> more defending than usual. Also contributed well going forward in the first >> half.Bijol - 5. Struggled, He did do a few decent clearance and >> interceptions but he looked out of his depth. Ampadu - 7. Worked hard, Had >> a great moment 2nd half when he ran the length of the pitch, nutmegged the >> defnder and then tried to curl it with his wrong foot into the bottom left >> hand corner. It nearly hit the corner flag. Need to see a bit more quality >> from him at times.Longstaff - 6. I've been a bit disappointed with him over >> the last 3 games. Lots of ground covered, lots of challenges, good corners >> but not really stamping his authority on the game.Tanaka - 7. Ran out of >> steam but was everywhere in the first half.Okafor - 7. Looks our most >> dangerous player. He wasn't fit tonight but he still had his >> moments.Aaronson - 8. Bloke sat next to me refused to clap or acknowledge >> anything he did but the fact is Brenda is our hardest working player, one >> of our best defensive players and the one who creates a lot of chances. Yes >> he's probably our most wasteful player at times but last night he was >> tremendous and he was our only outlet for most of the 2nd half. His run and >> shot 2nd half was brilliant and for all his faults he cannot be >> dropped. DCL - 6. Totally isolated. Won lots of headers but with nobody >> within 20 yards of him it's to no avail. >> Subs:Justin - 7. Could be a really good utility player this >> season.Harrison - 6. Typical performance, worked hard, one half decent shot >> and gave it away as well Gruev - 6. Interesting that he chose Gruev over >> Slack ? Gruev looked off the pace for me - he's a player that needs to play >> week in , week out and get into his groove. He's not going to get that this >> season. James - can't remember him doing owt ? Nmecha - 5. Came on and >> didn't really offer anything. >> there were 13 mins of injury time in the first half ! Stuart Atwell was >> bloody awful. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 Steve "Score one, score one more!" Gillen. >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 Steve "Score one, score one more!" Gillen. > _______________________________________________ > 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 Steve "Score one, score one more!" Gillen. _______________________________________________ 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 Steve "Score one, score one more!" Gillen.
