We lost to a team that appeared to want it more than we did.
Far too many players were off their game yesterday, whether that was down to fatigue, overawed by the occasion, conceding an early goal or simply another bad day at the office is open to debate.
As is usually the case we defeated ourselves. Forshaw then Jansson gifted opportunities that a team like Norwich City will seize upon every time.
We're still in the automatic places. We're having a wobble but not quite dropping like a stone as has been the case in previous years during our seasonal blip.
We've got players coming back to full fitness. The squad has not become "bad" overnight. I liked Saiz but he had his detractors on here; not consistent, not scoring enough. I find it ironic that they are bemoaning the lack of a replacement......
Bielsa the wily old fox was outfoxed himself by a team playing like Leeds United have been playing themselves all season. Were they really 3-1 better than us? Not sure to be honest.
There won't be many other teams like Norwich City playing us in the run-in. Middlesbrough will be a stern test. Bielsa will be out to prove the cynics wrong. I think we'll see a different Leeds United next time around.
I'm waiting for scare mongering around the board and Bielsa, that we're "skint" and the squad's not good enough.
We're second with it all to play for. We are Leeds United and this will be our year.
No reason to panic....
posted on 3/2/19
3rd was Douglas giving it away & shot was soft Casilla's fault through Douglas legs & the through Casilla's legs, double nutmeg
posted on 3/2/19
2 defeats against wba & norwich were both teams best performances of the season. Can't really complain & yup 2nd
posted on 3/2/19
I think we've done well to be where we are taking into account the squad we have, which is essentially the same as last season bar a couple of exceptions, all the long-term injuries we've had, and youngsters being called upon to fill in much earlier than may otherwise have been the case.
I just wonder if Bielsa has underestimated the physical and mental demands on the players of a 46 match season given his high-tempo, high-intensity training methods and style of play. The Premier League and most European leagues have 20 teams playing 38 games. There may be a few who have 18 teams resulting in 34 games. In these other leagues we'd be into the final run-in now. Our reality is we've already played 30 with a third of the season still to go.
Admittedly, it's the same for all the other teams in the EFL but not all will be schooled the Bielsa way. At the end of the day it will be a combination of factors. We are where we are and we have to keep going.
I have noticed that Bielsa's demeanour during the match against Rotherham, and yesterday against Norwich seemed to look more deflated - he looked a troubled man, but maybe I'm making something out of nothing.
Ultimately, we've been in a dip for a few weeks but are still in the mix. I'd rather it be this way than at the end of the season when it's too late to do anything about it.
We pick ourselves up and carry on.
posted on 3/2/19
I think this whole Spygate nonsense has deflated Bielsa as he is very sensitive to questions about his integrity and the effing football league have taken far too long to wrap this affair up and that has shown in Bielsa's body language and the teams poor showing in the last 3 games. According to Jim White the matter will be resolved next week..Amen to that.
posted on 3/2/19
new keeper 6
ayling 4
pontus 5
cooper 6
alioski 6
foreshaw 4
klich 5
Harrison 6
roofe 5
Hernandez 5
Roberts 6
Clarke 5
douglas 4
bamford 6
thought shakleton should have replaced ayling going through a rough patch atm and would be an improvment
posted on 3/2/19
We lost to a team that appeared to want it more than we did.
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So what is the excuse for the other four losses in the last six games?
posted on 3/2/19
comment by SKHMOT19 (U21893)
posted 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
new keeper 6
ayling 4
pontus 5
cooper 6
alioski 6
foreshaw 4
klich 5
Harrison 6
roofe 5
Hernandez 5
Roberts 6
Clarke 5
douglas 4
bamford 6
thought shakleton should have replaced ayling going through a rough patch atm and would be an improvment
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id go a little lower for casilla and pablo.
posted on 3/2/19
Other than Bamford who displayed a spark and killer instinct in front of goal, the whole team deserves a 4, other than Cooper who did not seem to do much wrong.
posted on 3/2/19
comment by Mattyp (U8926)
posted 4 hours, 31 minutes ago
We lost to a team that appeared to want it more than we did.
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So what is the excuse for the other four losses in the last six games?
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I'm talking about the Norwich game, not the others.
posted on 4/2/19
Problem is - there are 3 or 4 other championship teams playing better than us at the moment.
And only 2 auto places.