The team picked today barring any late signings is likely to be the one that kicks off the season against Burnley. It was certainly 4-5-1.
Leeds were good today. Well worth a 2 goal victory and a nice confidence booster ahead of the Burnley game.
So how did the players do
Silvestri. 7 Not a lot to do but did well. Judgement was better coming out to kick away once and then collect at the edge of the box. One nice punch dealt with a dangerous cross.
Berardi. 7 Solid game defensively and played sensible to feet passes. Crossing was poor though and can't see him offering much going forwards.
Taylor 8 Very very good. Of the four kids he is for me improving the quickest and could have a big future in the game. The back four played quite narrow which was possibly tactical and it did give Everton the option of getting the ball out wide but Taylor often closed down the attacks. Made a few lung busting runs.
Bamba 7 exceptional for 88 mins of the game but there is always an error in him and twice nearly cost us. He successfully on many occasions played his way out of the back but got caught in the first half and then came storming out missing a tackle and leaving a hold in the second half. Very nice to see him calling players to come back from the tunnel to thank the fans as a team at the end. Good lad.
Bellusci 6 still can't jump although I swear I saw him win one header. This lack of aerial capability will tell. Made some decent tackles but failed to clear his lines several times.
Byram 7 still for me not a natural attacker but did ok. Has to use intelligent passing because he doesn't have blistering pace nor tricky skills.
Cook 6 quiet game today.
Mowatt 7 nice goal, some good set piece delivery and nice passing
Adeyemi 8 sat in front of back four. Very disciplined, made some nice tackles and offers help in the air at both ends. Looks a useful player.
Doukara 6 started well but faded badly. Used his strength well at times and battled well but decision making poor.
Wood 9 looks a very good signing. He was often isolated but is very good at holding the ball up. Won a lot of headers in crucial areas. Lacks that yard of pace. Can clearly shoot!
Subs
Erwin. Struggled to make an impact.
Antenucci. A couple of good runs and did well
Morison. Still our best defender at set pieces. Still struggles to finish chances.
Wootton. Played in midfield as rosler looked to keep his back four for the entire game.
Phillips. Kicked a few people. Right dirty little bleeder this kid is.
Areas to work on
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Isolated striker. No midfielders naturally make the kind of attacking runs needed to support a lone striker. Some long balls to wood in the first half left him with 4 defenders and no yellow shirt within 30 metres.
Defenders selling themselves. Bamba and Bellusci have to hold the defensive line and resist the temptation to come out looking for tough tackles. They too often leave huge holes in behind them.
Width. Can't remember a single threatening cross in open play.
Overall a very promising display but one needs to air with the side of caution. This was a team full of youth players and it was a friendly. Bianchi looked a beast against Dundee united in last seasons home friendly and look how that turned out.
Top half here we come!!
Leeds v Everton
posted on 1/8/15
Saying that Jonny, quite a few of last season's imports/signings are still here and they don't look
that bad either. Maybe all it needed was a season of seasoning? And Uwe. Let's face it, as much as I loved
Redders, he had a limited group of players he relied on. So the rest of the squad played dominoes all week.
posted on 1/8/15
Does anyone know how good last seasons crop of Serie B players were considered to be in their own division? I'm sure if you bought the divisions best players, you could form a good side?
posted on 1/8/15
So we won........
Could have another player in before we kick another ball in anger.
I guess we're still a few baby steps away from Utopia but haven't we come a long way in a short space of time?
Credit where credits due I say.
Mot
posted on 1/8/15
comment by Batty (U4664)
"Saying that Jonny, quite a few of last season's imports/signings are still here and they don't look that bad either."
Agreed but it is a little like saying a broken clock is right twice a day.
I am sure I will leave one or more out but last season the following, who are no longer here fitted into that group:
Dario Del Fabro
Žan Benedičič
Granddi N'Goyi (ok came later)
Adryan
Edgar Çani (ok came later)
The successes were Silvestri and Antenucci, to a lesser degree Berardi and Bellusci, and jury still divided on Bianchi and Sloth.
Open to correction but not a great success in my opinion.
Plus what chance does such a large group, absent the -15 season which was unique, with so many foreigners have a chance to gel?
posted on 2/8/15
Kebab,
"Isolated striker. No midfielders naturally make the kind of attacking runs needed to support a lone striker. Some long balls to wood in the first half left him with 4 defenders and no yellow shirt within 30 metres."
Good point Kebab and you noticed what I noticed, which is a problem we had last season.
If we're going to fall down at beginning of season it's going to be in midfield again unless Rosler has something up his sleeve.
A 4-5-1 formation certainly limits our attacking abilities and makes it harder to pass to a loan striker with 3 or 4 defenders close to him, but it does open up more wider options to get the ball into box.
We're still limited in our through passes to strikers which is a tactic we had success with bt drastically waned last half of last season.
I think we'll be up and around the top 6 if Rosler tightens and/or strengthens the midfield.
posted on 2/8/15
I'll start by saying that last pre-season I thought Bianchi was going to be one of the best in the Championship. Pre-season is misleading.
Unless Dallas fails a medical, he's signed. I'd say if we can make one more signing (even a decent season loan) and we avoid injuries and suspensions then we can be up there this season. I do think we'll be reliant on certain players and the wrong injury to the wrong person will change the season.
posted on 2/8/15
"Unless Dallas fails a medical, he's signed."
How do you know this? Has he agreed terms?
posted on 2/8/15
"Agreed but it is a little like saying a broken clock is right twice a day."
JLA - you need a new catchphrase mate
posted on 2/8/15
"Unless Dallas fails a medical, he's signed."
How do you know this? Has he agreed terms?
-------------------
Yes, 3 year deal with the option of a 4th.
posted on 2/8/15
Why Stevie?
Pro, I read that was being offered, was unaware that wages etc. had been agreed. We have had other "done deals" before so was just wondering.