This is going to sound like a whinge so all you one-star warriors can give this your stamp of approval and move on. It's just remarkable that one year later, we find ourselves in an identical position to where we were last year. Has the club learned anything? Has Bielsa learned anything? Have the players learned anything?
Hands up, who could see that Sheffield Wednesday goal coming? You could tell from Monk's imperious body language that he had the measure of Bielsa and our team. Wednesday had absorbed everything we could throw at them, we were worn out, and they took their chances with surgical precision.
We may be the fittest team in this division but we looked jaded. The left side of our defence was a gaping wound around which the Owls circled. For so long the backbone of the team, our defence now creaks and yields under pressure. Cardiff damaged us professionally and psychologically, way beyond the two points dropped.
I counted 10 chances to score, where we scuffed our shots or put headers over the bar. A Mitrovic or an Adams would have snaffled up 2 or 3 of them at least. An earlier poster made the point that Bamford's hold up play actually slows our attacking momentum and gives the opposition time to regroup, whereas in the Brum game, we were much more incisive up front without him. However, Bamford was not the only culprit.
There is also a prevailing mentality about this league being weaker this year than last. This is nonsense. There are 3 good sides going for two promotion places at the moment. There are 3 more who, with a couple of morale boosting results, could join them.
We have lost key players from last year and Bielsa's inability to manage Pontus signifies a weakness in my view. We need his character and drive right now, but we are a team playing football to a prescription. For all his grace and guile, Pablo is not a leader. As for Coops, I did not see him rallying the troops on Saturday and giving them the hard word when it was needed.
We are easy to figure out, as Wednesday did. Plan B, as another poster said, is to play plan A, only better.
Make no mistake, we are in a promotion dogfight and the only question for me is not about our physical fitness, but about our mental strength. Have we got what it takes, or are we looking down the barrel of another glorious failure?
Deja Voodoo
posted on 12/1/20
Can’t argue we are back in the same position doing the exact same thing hoping for a different outcome
However disagree with regards to Wednesday scoring. They offered very very little and a professional keeper saves that shot 999/1000. I was only frustrated in the stands thinking how we’d outplayed them twice and got two 0-0 draws. Don’t think monk did us at all as we created some golden chances - often we create half chances only. We should have won this game but failed at both ends - our failings more than being able to credit the opposition.
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 26 minutes ago
Can’t argue we are back in the same position doing the exact same thing hoping for a different outcome
However disagree with regards to Wednesday scoring. They offered very very little and a professional keeper saves that shot 999/1000. I was only frustrated in the stands thinking how we’d outplayed them twice and got two 0-0 draws. Don’t think monk did us at all as we created some golden chances - often we create half chances only. We should have won this game but failed at both ends - our failings more than being able to credit the opposition.
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I would argue that you didnt outplay us twice. We certainly should have beaten you at Hillsborough. You did outplay us yesterday but as I wrote on a different thread its goals that win games. I dont think anyone can argue that Leeds are the best team in the division. However, teams arent scared of you. Bamford doesnt strike fear into the opposition like some other strikers do. A lot rests on how well Leeds do in the transfer window. A quality addition up front sees you up in my opinion.
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Sloppy implementer of heroic ideas (U20845)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 26 minutes ago
Can’t argue we are back in the same position doing the exact same thing hoping for a different outcome
However disagree with regards to Wednesday scoring. They offered very very little and a professional keeper saves that shot 999/1000. I was only frustrated in the stands thinking how we’d outplayed them twice and got two 0-0 draws. Don’t think monk did us at all as we created some golden chances - often we create half chances only. We should have won this game but failed at both ends - our failings more than being able to credit the opposition.
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I would argue that you didnt outplay us twice. We certainly should have beaten you at Hillsborough. You did outplay us yesterday but as I wrote on a different thread its goals that win games. I dont think anyone can argue that Leeds are the best team in the division. However, teams arent scared of you. Bamford doesnt strike fear into the opposition like some other strikers do. A lot rests on how well Leeds do in the transfer window. A quality addition up front sees you up in my opinion.
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Agreed, was well happy with the point at Hillsborough.
https://www.livescore18.com/football-match/sheffield-wednesday-vs-leeds-united/summary-1727690/
posted on 12/1/20
Blatant penalty refused by the referee in first game. White clumsily brought down
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 2 minutes ago
Blatant penalty refused by the referee in first game. White clumsily brought down
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Which doesnt mean that you outplayed us. Your keeper made a few good saves. We hit the bar. You hit the post. Westwood saved a Bamford header just before halftime if I remember correctly too. It was a good game. You have probably outplayed most this season. You did t outplay us at Hillsborough
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Sloppy implementer of heroic ideas (U20845)
posted 54 seconds ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 2 minutes ago
Blatant penalty refused by the referee in first game. White clumsily brought down
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Which doesnt mean that you outplayed us. Your keeper made a few good saves. We hit the bar. You hit the post. Westwood saved a Bamford header just before halftime if I remember correctly too. It was a good game. You have probably outplayed most this season. You did t outplay us at Hillsborough
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*didn't
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Sloppy implementer of heroic ideas (U20845)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 26 minutes ago
Can’t argue we are back in the same position doing the exact same thing hoping for a different outcome
However disagree with regards to Wednesday scoring. They offered very very little and a professional keeper saves that shot 999/1000. I was only frustrated in the stands thinking how we’d outplayed them twice and got two 0-0 draws. Don’t think monk did us at all as we created some golden chances - often we create half chances only. We should have won this game but failed at both ends - our failings more than being able to credit the opposition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I would argue that you didnt outplay us twice. We certainly should have beaten you at Hillsborough. You did outplay us yesterday but as I wrote on a different thread its goals that win games. I dont think anyone can argue that Leeds are the best team in the division. However, teams arent scared of you. Bamford doesnt strike fear into the opposition like some other strikers do. A lot rests on how well Leeds do in the transfer window. A quality addition up front sees you up in my opinion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A constructive post from a Wednesday fan, and much appreciated. I think many of our fans forget that on various occasions throughout the season we've taken points we didn't deserve - not masses, but nevertheless every team has unlucky days and yesterday was one of ours. Personally I'm pleased to see another Yorkshire team coming through - just not at our expense. I'm now praying that Radz and Orta, do their side of the business so that the team can then do theirs.
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Sloppy implementer of heroic ideas (U20845)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 26 minutes ago
Can’t argue we are back in the same position doing the exact same thing hoping for a different outcome
However disagree with regards to Wednesday scoring. They offered very very little and a professional keeper saves that shot 999/1000. I was only frustrated in the stands thinking how we’d outplayed them twice and got two 0-0 draws. Don’t think monk did us at all as we created some golden chances - often we create half chances only. We should have won this game but failed at both ends - our failings more than being able to credit the opposition.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I would argue that you didnt outplay us twice. We certainly should have beaten you at Hillsborough. You did outplay us yesterday but as I wrote on a different thread its goals that win games. I dont think anyone can argue that Leeds are the best team in the division. However, teams arent scared of you. Bamford doesnt strike fear into the opposition like some other strikers do. A lot rests on how well Leeds do in the transfer window. A quality addition up front sees you up in my opinion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A constructive post from a Wednesday fan, and much appreciated. I think many of our fans forget that on various occasions throughout the season we've taken points we didn't deserve - not masses, but nevertheless every team has unlucky days and yesterday was one of ours. Personally I'm pleased to see another Yorkshire team coming through - just not at our expense. I'm now praying that Radz and Orta, do their side of the business so that the team can then do theirs.
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posted on 13/1/20
People voting the poster not the article.as you are spot on.