Every season produces a couple of games which define a team. Last season, it was Wigan at home. We never recovered from it. This season, our draw against Cardiff packed a similar kind of emotional, morale-sapping punch. The loss in self-belief since then has been palpable, resulting in mistakes all over the pitch. If ever a result can restore confidence, our win at Birmingham was it. The performance was a flawed one, but the biggest warning sign is that Leeds do not give up and no matter how they are playing, they can always score a goal.
West Brom and others will watch this and as much as they relish the idea of taking on our defence, they will be terrified by the pace and intensity of our attack. The only question for Bielsa is how to restore the defence. We have the same players who resisted all comers, including West Brom, so effectively in the first half of the season. They know how to put in consistently strong performances, they just need the self-belief to get back to the levels they were at earlier in the season.
Two tired teams will take the field tomorrow. I am expecting a tight, close game. West Brom have levelled off in recent weeks and we should be encouraged by the fact that a team that we beat 4-0 was able to get a deserved 2-0 win at the Hawthorns. The pressure is on them to produce a performance, something they have not done since they beat Swansea at the start of December. If the score is level entering injury time, I know who I am putting my money on.
Morale
posted on 30/12/19
comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 1 minute ago
" If the score is level entering injury time, I know who I am putting my money on."
I'm putting mine on a draw.
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posted on 30/12/19
After watching the Brum game, Ayala is a January must, height, ability, experience and a threat from set pieces. Why would we not wanna spend under 500k for him
posted on 30/12/19
It’s not tomorrow
posted on 30/12/19
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
After watching the Brum game, Ayala is a January must, height, ability, experience and a threat from set pieces. Why would we not wanna spend under 500k for him
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Is he running around with a price tag on his shirt or ear?
How do you know he is available for under 500k?
posted on 30/12/19
Ayala can’t pass water.
No way would beilsa want him
posted on 30/12/19
No Ayala
No Billy Sharp
Not in a million years they are Bielsa players
posted on 30/12/19
Billy Sharp would have a cardiac doing Bielsa's pre-game warm-up. Never in a million years is he coming.
posted on 30/12/19
Billy Sharp wasn’t good enough first time around.
And he still isn’t good enough
posted on 31/12/19
We'll either smash them or get smashed.
posted on 31/12/19
I’m going 0 - 0 for this, with the hope we bag a late winner