Firstly and foremostly, a hugely characterful team performance from Leeds.
Sheff U were a very good team, we lost Cooper early on and BPF had some wobbles. Couple that with an absolutely atrocious set of officials who really need reporting to the authorities (and I never suggest this), we did so well to keep concentration, not rise to the bait and take the chance when it presented itself.
Clarke is growing in stature and was immense for the pass to Pablo who thought quickly enough to put himself in perfect position to score...seeing Egan with head in hands was sweet after all his fouling and shirt pulling.
Philips was immense at the back, the number of teens he stepped in front of his man and intercepted, immaculate reading of the game today.
Dallas was better, some good footwork and nice crosses, just need someone on etc end of them.
I wasn't that convinced by Halme, but as with Clarke, more first team minutes only improve him.
Was really impressed with Jansson. Not so much for his play, but his character. the last thing we need is to lose him after losing Cooper, but no rash tackles, no injuries and in fact a calming influence at the back, just what we needed, just when we needed it.
Re Cooper, I hope he's ok, my initial thoughts were a month out at least, hope I'm wrong and its less than that.
We've not had a great record v top half teams, so this result was absolutely immense to beat a rival team at their place, one we hadn't won against at their place for years, and it was clear from Pablo's comments that the team are fully aware of their pattern of results.
With "only" 44% possession, this was a great performance against a good team, awful referee and loss of Captain.
This is a performance that automatic promotion is made of.
Thoughts from today
posted on 1/12/18
Halme was brilliant today
posted on 1/12/18
Referee
Consistent at least with the shirt pulling in the box which cancelled each other claims out.
However, the red card, the second yellow and another missed yellow were all pivotal decisions that went the home sides way.
Add in 2 offsides that were not given in the first half, a dodgy corner at the end when Blades player took the ball over the line before crossing and dodgy throw-in award too near the end it was a completely one-sided performance. 6 key decisions in there all went the Blades way with a few low-ley decisions also.
In terms of the game/result - just wow. Superb result and i thought we played really well.
Really impressed with Halme. One mistake from his left peg but has those gangly legs that come out of nowhere to make tackles.
Dallas - best performance in a Leeds shirt for ages. Great crossing today but also really solid defending. Getting better in the RB position with more games he players.
Jansson/Phillips - rocks.
Clarke continues to impress
Klick back on form today - he was very good.
Absolutely ecstatic.
posted on 1/12/18
There were 3 potential shirt pull pens for us and 1 for them. The only blatant obvious pen was Janssons.
Halme did well under the circumstances... but his mistake nearly cost us a goal and it was his shirt pull. So, could have been very different for the lad, but difficult game to come in and he stood up to it, so fair play.
Does look like Peter crouches 12 year old love child.
posted on 1/12/18
Just watched the highlights - looked like a great game! For me, winning with a clean sheet on a derby day at Sheff Utd away with Halme and Clarke on the pitch? That's got to be a six-pointer! Agree - this is auto promotion form! Top banana.
posted on 1/12/18
Thought Klich played well. Thought he had gone off the boil a bit recently but was back to his best today
posted on 1/12/18
We've got a clearly defined shape and ethos under Bielsa. Unfortunately, Samu is looking more and more irrelevant. Just where does he fit in?
posted on 1/12/18
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 2 minutes ago
We've got a clearly defined shape and ethos under Bielsa. Unfortunately, Samu is looking more and more irrelevant. Just where does he fit in?
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Home games where teams need unlocking. Blades were not tricky to unlock, they were rough and dirty. Saiz would have been nullified today.
posted on 1/12/18
Blades needed unlocking today, Mike, but Bielsa brought
on Clarke ahead of Samu. And Clarke made a difference when he came on.
posted on 1/12/18
One minute Saiz has to start, now he wouldn’t fit in!
I think if we hadn’t used Halme so early we might have seen Saiz, wonder who next steps up to subs bench, surely too early for Brown.
posted on 1/12/18
Clarke was a straight swap for Alioski though. Youd have had to change formation to fit saiz in unless you subbed him for a cm