Morning all
Great win yesterday and it could easily have been a lot more. Really happy that Ole’s decisions paid off (starting James was a bit of a master stroke).
I want to talk about Leeds though, and this isn’t a dig at the club or players but more the manager. Why are they getting so much praise for performances like yesterday? Yes they will score goals and are entertaining, but it isn’t difficult to be entertaining if you throw everyone forward and get hit on the counter 6-7 times a game. Plus the man marking of a fluid forward line and their defending of corners is a joke.
For all the talk about how well Bielsa does his research, he clearly hadn’t watched 1 minute of us before the game and played right into our hands.
One thing I will say though is their fitness levels were impressive. The press didn’t waver from them at all and it’s a testament to our lads that they matched them for running.
I get they’ll score goals and are amusing to watch for a neutral, but they won’t succeed for long playing like that.
Thoughts?
The raving about Leeds
posted on 21/12/20
comment by Naby8 (U6997)
posted 1 hour, 46 minutes ago
I get they’ll score goals and are amusing to watch for a neutral, but they won’t succeed for long playing like that.
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Depends how you define success I guess. Most newly promoted sides just want to stay up , I’d imagine a club of Leeds size probably looking for a solid mid table finish this year. Traditionally scoring goals is a major problem for newly promoted teams, not Leeds. Their style and ethos is likely (imo) to get them that mid table finish and they’ll be entertaining in the process.
Whether it can or will work longer term as they attract better players, which will happen as they become seen as an established epl team, I’m slightly more skeptical of. Can’t deny that I’m interested in finding out though.
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The Leeds fans that I know - right now - couldn’t seem to give much of a fack whether they finish 15th or 7th.
They just want to continue to be entertained. That’s how they define “working” for them.
posted on 21/12/20
I did think the Leeds approach was a bit naive yesterday. However, that's seemingly how they play all the time and if they can stomach the odd drubbing then playing a consistent style may benefit them over the course of the whole season.
Yesterday was very enjoyable though and maybe a lesson for Ole in one way as the players looked much better playing an offensive game themselves. I think we should look to do that most games and see where it takes us (although I understand being a bit more pragmatic in the really big games).
posted on 21/12/20
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
I did think the Leeds approach was a bit naive yesterday. However, that's seemingly how they play all the time and if they can stomach the odd drubbing then playing a consistent style may benefit them over the course of the whole season.
Yesterday was very enjoyable though and maybe a lesson for Ole in one way as the players looked much better playing an offensive game themselves. I think we should look to do that most games and see where it takes us (although I understand being a bit more pragmatic in the really big games).
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When I looked at the team, I actually thought he was being pragmatic yesterday. I think there was just too much space left for them not to attack it.
posted on 21/12/20
I agree i thought leeds got far too much recognition for essentially getting an absolute mullering. Keep hearing them say they should have got 4 or 5. Well lets be fair we should have hit double figures. Some of our misses were awful. Martial x2, Fred and Cavani all missed one on ones. Keep hearing about how great Bielsa is. Yes he is entertaining but massively naive. If that was any other manager they'd be getting hammered. Playing like that against us was amateur management in my view. Literally played right into our hands and by the end weirdly I was a little disappointed it wasn't more
posted on 21/12/20
I said at the start of the season Leeds would have problems against counter attacking teams like Crystal Palace, Leicester, Wolves and Man United and they have lost all those games.
Those teams have all one thing in common which is pace in the wide areas. Leeds play one deep lying midfield player and if their players lose the ball in dangerous positions the counter is on.
They also give too much space away in the centre of the pitch.
posted on 21/12/20
Bielsa hasn't got the balance right.
For the purists it's a joy watching Leeds. So open, so cavalier. Reminiscent of Keegan's Newcastle which had more quality players mind.
Yesterday Leeds went man for man which Ole exploited by using Bruno and McT as runners to create the space. This dragged key Leeds players out of positiob. James used his pace to great effect, we as a team used counter attack to perfection to annihilate Leeds.
One thing I loved was the work rate, the coverage of the pitch by our midfielders was phenomenal. This has to remain, I can forgive other aspects but work rate must always be high, this should be our benchmark.
posted on 21/12/20
I thought Leeds' performance was a little over stated yesterday. Have the utmost respect for their approach. Seen a lot of comments online and in the punditry world that it could have been 6-6, but frankly it could have been 10 or 11-6 as much as it could have been 6 all.
posted on 21/12/20
Having said all that they are much more likeable Leeds team than I've seen in the past and Bielsa has a certain class about him.
He's a bit like Prince. Uncompromising in his art form, with mixed commercial success and critical acclaim. He is who he is.
posted on 21/12/20
The Argentina Ian Holloway.
posted on 21/12/20
comment by Mason, Marcus, Martial - Mountains are there to be climbed (U3867)
posted 34 minutes ago
Having said all that they are much more likeable Leeds team than I've seen in the past and Bielsa has a certain class about him.
He's a bit like Prince. Uncompromising in his art form, with mixed commercial success and critical acclaim. He is who he is.
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It'd be ace if he actually looked like Prince as well