Lots fo talk before match about Leeds' frailties at the back, especially from set pieces and how efficient Burnley are at scoring from set pieces.
Early goal was a g-dsend as we really didn't have that many chances on target, Alioski, Klich, Bamford all failing to at least get good efforts in target.
I felt that we were winning a decent amount of second balls and it was almost as if it was a tactic to hit the long ball, which Burnley didnt deal with that well.
Felt like Meslier was trying to come for crosses more and we got really really lucky when he bundled in burnley player, Burnley scored from loose ball but it was foul given to us....ref really let us off the hook there.
Quite a few niggly fouls, I felt second half would see that escalate if ref didn't keep on top of it, but niggles dropped off and he actually gave a lot of decisions our way.
Second half was completely different and we have to remember that this is an established Premier team and I think credit to Dyche at getting Burnley to be more effective in second half.
We weren't winning second balls, passes from defence to midfield were going astray and Meslier's distribution was really poor.
Raphinia who was really good first half faded away as did Bamford and also Rodrigo who I think is growing in influence but is he playing in his preferred position.
Thought Klich was poor, Alioski decidedly average and Harrison just not effective (sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't there is no in between).
Ayling was great at the back, Struijk gets a bit more experience, but I think a lot of credit must got to Meslier who was under immense pressure but ultimately delivered.
For all the times we have bad ref and decisions we had another bad one today, but decisions went in our favour.
Couldn't have argued if we'd only have gotten a point today, but well done to Leeds for battling that out, but coaches need to not let that mask over defensive frailties, these must be addressed.
Thoughts from today
posted on 27/12/20
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Best Fans - ¡Leeds Carajo! (U2196)
posted 59 minutes ago
What we did today was watch markers not the ball. You don’t have to win the header if you can get in the way. Our concentration levels were good.
Meslier was obviously instructed to come for more, but it maybe showed why he historically hadn’t. It’s not a strength of his game, he flapped repeatedly but got away with it today. Not blaming him, he’s a kid learning on the job, but personally I think the praise lavished on him by a lot of fans is OTT for making a few regulation saves. He’s a really good prospect but not the finished article in my view.
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Agree the players were much better staying with their man.
But Meslier came out so many times and didn't let them get the header on in. Even when he flapped at it, it made it harder for them to get a clean effort at it and they had to get it back through all the players. It was punished once for the disallowed goal.
He'll get better at it too
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Agree best.. and I guess a goal mouth scramble is better than a point blank free range header, which was the alternative
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Amen to that! We were much more switched on and made it hard for them to get any sort of clean headers in our box
posted on 27/12/20
Milky I would rest Klich against WBA and possibly Spurs as well admittidly are options are limited and hopefully we can add a new addition to that position in January like the lad at Reading or De Paul from Italy may be possible.
Shacklelton and Struijk if Lorente is fit if not Shacklelton and Hernandez alongside Philips and Raphina Harrison and Bamford with Rodrigo on the bench would be my selection but I suspect Bielsa will still play Klich unless he is injured.
posted on 27/12/20
has anyone seen how de paul is getting on this year?
posted on 27/12/20
Klich is a weakness to me. If we want to progress he is the sort of player who you want to have playing the odd game but he’s central to every game at the moment
Can’t help but feel we need someone who starts from slightly deeper to give us more balance - Harry Winks I feel would work in this system and would benefit from getting away from a crowded group of midfield options at Spurs
Raphinha was excellent today and was impressed with Ayling and Struijk but the main man was Phillips. He was excellent
A scrappy win but a win and a clean sheet
That’s 2 wins out of 3 and 2 at home in a row against rivals in the league
posted on 27/12/20
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by A14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 1 minute ago
Copied from stats;
Leeds United have now won 20 points in the Premier League this season; no newly-promoted side has ever been relegated having won as many as 20 from their opening 15 of a Premier League campaign.
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Is this stat from the same person who said if you're top of Championship you get promoted?
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Leeds United was the last team to finish on top of the Championship. Which league are they in now?
posted on 27/12/20
2018 Jonny.
posted on 27/12/20
comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by A14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 1 minute ago
Copied from stats;
Leeds United have now won 20 points in the Premier League this season; no newly-promoted side has ever been relegated having won as many as 20 from their opening 15 of a Premier League campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this stat from the same person who said if you're top of Championship you get promoted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Leeds United was the last team to finish on top of the Championship. Which league are they in now?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think he meant the team that is top of the Championship AT CHRISTMAS always gets promoted. We were, but didn’t!
So, I’m going to ignore the stats about the 20 points, if you don’t mind! Just pleased we got the win today.
posted on 27/12/20
comment by MaidinLeeds (U2464)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by A14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 1 minute ago
Copied from stats;
Leeds United have now won 20 points in the Premier League this season; no newly-promoted side has ever been relegated having won as many as 20 from their opening 15 of a Premier League campaign.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Is this stat from the same person who said if you're top of Championship you get promoted?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Leeds United was the last team to finish on top of the Championship. Which league are they in now?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think he meant the team that is top of the Championship AT CHRISTMAS always gets promoted. We were, but didn’t!
So, I’m going to ignore the stats about the 20 points, if you don’t mind! Just pleased we got the win today.
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Exactly!
posted on 27/12/20
Klich has been excellent this season. Was our best player for the first couple of months.
posted on 28/12/20
comment by A14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 1 day, 9 hours ago
Copied from stats;
Leeds United have now won 20 points in the Premier League this season; no newly-promoted side has ever been relegated having won as many as 20 from their opening 15 of a Premier League campaign.
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There's a first time for everything, Afridi. Like, 'no team at the top of the Championship at Christmas fails to get promotion. ' Remember that one?