Me too, but also Gelhardt.
The WH game reminded me of that first game at Liverpool at the beginning of last season - we really went for it. Klich and Raphinha so unlucky, and James should have finished it off just before halt time so yes, at last we are creating more, disturbing opposition defences and midfields more, etc. There's been a huge step up in the press. Think Klich, Struijk and Forshaw have been instrumental for us in that recently. Hope Forshaw's okay. He sets a great example for Bate to follow.
What a relief to have moved up the table a bit, away from the drop zone - but it's that buzz from last year that we were missing and it was back on Sunday for the entire game. We were relentless.
Hard to say at present.
Yesterday for instance.....saw the two teams announced at 2pm and i was immediately on whatsapp telling folk i think we can have some joy attacking them today.
Reasons?
Two reserve centre backs in Dawson and Diop
Left back Cresswell just back from a lengthy absence
Soucek missing - a big player for them
3 what i call footballers who dont necessary do the dirtier side of the game in Lanzini Fornals and Vlasic. Yes i was concerned this trio could hurt us but it gave me confidence that we could hurt them.
Expected a highscoring game and got one and we could have scored 6 goals with fortune and going our way along with some composure for James.
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness.
Saturday could be completely different. West Ham at home playing to win games with no pressure. Newcastle in a very different situation and cant afford to lose games
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to hope they never get relegated.
comment by Elsbels - The Specials' One (U21658)
posted 20 seconds ago
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to hope they never get relegated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. Moyes was not happy yet failed to make any changes despite having a bench including Yarmalenko , Johnson, Fredericks and Masuaku.
Yesterday was the first time I saw why MB rates
James so highly. He never stopped running. But,
with purpose. He had their head's on swivels.
Fairly confident Bamford's back next game. Add
him and I'm sure we'll see an uptick in goals.
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 minute ago
Yesterday was the first time I saw why MB rates
James so highly. He never stopped running. But,
with purpose. He had their head's on swivels.
Fairly confident Bamford's back next game. Add
him and I'm sure we'll see an uptick in goals.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raphina and Harrison were always going to get the headlines after their performances.
However James had a great game. He didn't gwt a goal but he was the perfect Bielsa style striker.
Caused so many problems for their defense with his pace and movement.
Harrison had a great game, but he wouldn't have scored a hattrick without the grunt work James did all game.
So true Matty. I've never seen a player chase down a back pass and pressure a keeper the way James did.
Usain Bolt would've given him respect for that.
For me the unsung hero of yesterdays match was Klich. He just seemed to be everywhere, harrying and challenging anything that moved not in a Leeds shirt.
Great team performance and other players got the limelight, but i really like the contribution from a player who hopefully appears to be back to something like his best.
Yep, VOF, Klich looks to be over the long COVID now.
He was excellent. One thing stuck out in my mind was
he took a heavily struck pass with his back to goal,
around the halfway line. His technique in cushioning
that pass with his instep was a thing of beauty.
Killed the ball's pace to a slow roll, so he was able to
turn and thread a pass through to I think James?
James didn't get on the end of it. But, damn, Klich's
technique through that whole move was something else.
To be honest I thought that about Dallas more than klitch.
The amount of times dallas cleared the ball as a centre back then somehow receive a pass in midfield was mind blowing.
Don't think there was a blade of grass he didn't cover yesterday... at least twice
Dallas and Struijk were the best players for me after Harrison of course!
So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??
Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.
If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.
But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.
Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina
With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make
comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 29 minutes ago
So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??
Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.
If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.
But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.
Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina
With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ignore… just seen being discussed on the other thread
Bamford on bench, come on after 60 mins if we need him. James, Harrison and Raph deserve to continue.
Rodrigo needs some match time to get his touch back, Hjelde played really well and could start ahead of Llorente who has looked weak recently.
Biggest concern last time we played Newcastle was St Maximin turning Ayling inside out. Put Struijk on him, Koch on Wood and have Ayling at right back.
We'll be flying.
Agreed, LST. You stop ASM and you stop Newcastle. Koch on Wood sounds like something from Team America World Police. And it would probably upset Otis Redding.
I genuinely don't get this logic.
Llorente regular starte,r in fact, probably our first choice CB and yet you'd start an U23 who came on for 70 mins ahead of him?
Come on. Hjelde played ok, did nothing wrong, but some of the hype we see around the young players is too much I feel.
Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench
Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench
------------------------------
Barring injuries in training, then yes, can't see any other thought in MBs mind. Quite rightly too. Hjelde seems to be, on limited viewing admittedly, another good one for the future.
It's clear from posters on this thread that many of our players struck form at the same time, for many different reasons. But perhaps the most significant achievement was the seamless integration of U23's and first teamers. I was astonished at the maturity and confidence of Bate and Hjelde, both playing in key roles. We are also benefiting from Meslier and Struijk, gifted players with time on their side. And there are others in the wings, Sumerville, Cresswell and Gelhardt, waiting for their chances to shine. We remember 'O'Leary's Babes' from 20 years ago, but this crop of youngsters is beginning to match them in terms of ability. Credit must go to Orta and Jackon for bringing them in and bringing them on, but underpinning everything is the resolute purpose of Bielsa. It is almost imaginable that we could sell KP and Raph in the close season and still produce a competitive team. Some progress after just 4 years in charge.
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posted on 17/1/22
Me too, but also Gelhardt.
The WH game reminded me of that first game at Liverpool at the beginning of last season - we really went for it. Klich and Raphinha so unlucky, and James should have finished it off just before halt time so yes, at last we are creating more, disturbing opposition defences and midfields more, etc. There's been a huge step up in the press. Think Klich, Struijk and Forshaw have been instrumental for us in that recently. Hope Forshaw's okay. He sets a great example for Bate to follow.
What a relief to have moved up the table a bit, away from the drop zone - but it's that buzz from last year that we were missing and it was back on Sunday for the entire game. We were relentless.
posted on 17/1/22
Hard to say at present.
Yesterday for instance.....saw the two teams announced at 2pm and i was immediately on whatsapp telling folk i think we can have some joy attacking them today.
Reasons?
Two reserve centre backs in Dawson and Diop
Left back Cresswell just back from a lengthy absence
Soucek missing - a big player for them
3 what i call footballers who dont necessary do the dirtier side of the game in Lanzini Fornals and Vlasic. Yes i was concerned this trio could hurt us but it gave me confidence that we could hurt them.
Expected a highscoring game and got one and we could have scored 6 goals with fortune and going our way along with some composure for James.
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness.
Saturday could be completely different. West Ham at home playing to win games with no pressure. Newcastle in a very different situation and cant afford to lose games
posted on 17/1/22
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to hope they never get relegated.
posted on 17/1/22
comment by Elsbels - The Specials' One (U21658)
posted 20 seconds ago
and West Ham played midweek giving us a bit more freshness
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to hope they never get relegated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. Moyes was not happy yet failed to make any changes despite having a bench including Yarmalenko , Johnson, Fredericks and Masuaku.
posted on 17/1/22
Yesterday was the first time I saw why MB rates
James so highly. He never stopped running. But,
with purpose. He had their head's on swivels.
Fairly confident Bamford's back next game. Add
him and I'm sure we'll see an uptick in goals.
posted on 17/1/22
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 minute ago
Yesterday was the first time I saw why MB rates
James so highly. He never stopped running. But,
with purpose. He had their head's on swivels.
Fairly confident Bamford's back next game. Add
him and I'm sure we'll see an uptick in goals.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raphina and Harrison were always going to get the headlines after their performances.
However James had a great game. He didn't gwt a goal but he was the perfect Bielsa style striker.
Caused so many problems for their defense with his pace and movement.
Harrison had a great game, but he wouldn't have scored a hattrick without the grunt work James did all game.
posted on 17/1/22
So true Matty. I've never seen a player chase down a back pass and pressure a keeper the way James did.
Usain Bolt would've given him respect for that.
posted on 17/1/22
For me the unsung hero of yesterdays match was Klich. He just seemed to be everywhere, harrying and challenging anything that moved not in a Leeds shirt.
Great team performance and other players got the limelight, but i really like the contribution from a player who hopefully appears to be back to something like his best.
posted on 17/1/22
Yep, VOF, Klich looks to be over the long COVID now.
He was excellent. One thing stuck out in my mind was
he took a heavily struck pass with his back to goal,
around the halfway line. His technique in cushioning
that pass with his instep was a thing of beauty.
Killed the ball's pace to a slow roll, so he was able to
turn and thread a pass through to I think James?
James didn't get on the end of it. But, damn, Klich's
technique through that whole move was something else.
posted on 17/1/22
To be honest I thought that about Dallas more than klitch.
The amount of times dallas cleared the ball as a centre back then somehow receive a pass in midfield was mind blowing.
Don't think there was a blade of grass he didn't cover yesterday... at least twice
posted on 17/1/22
Dallas and Struijk were the best players for me after Harrison of course!
posted on 17/1/22
So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??
Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.
If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.
But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.
Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina
With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make
posted on 17/1/22
comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 29 minutes ago
So if Bamford and Llorente back for Newcastle who do we drop ??
Ayling keeps his place. Assuming firpo out, Dallas goes to left back, replaced in midfield by Rodrigo (or Roberts if fit). Can’t see James or Harrison doing that job.
If Forshaw out maybe Koch go defensive midfield, and the Struijk partners Llorente.
But who out of Harrison and James gets dropped for Bamford? Surely not Harrison, but tough on James.
Meslier
Ayling Struijk Llorente Dallas
Koch
Klich rodrigo
Harrison Bamford Raphina
With Phillips and Cooper still to come back, and Firpo/Forshaw surely not out for long…suddenly it’d be looking much better…..but tough calls to make
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ignore… just seen being discussed on the other thread
posted on 17/1/22
Bamford on bench, come on after 60 mins if we need him. James, Harrison and Raph deserve to continue.
Rodrigo needs some match time to get his touch back, Hjelde played really well and could start ahead of Llorente who has looked weak recently.
Biggest concern last time we played Newcastle was St Maximin turning Ayling inside out. Put Struijk on him, Koch on Wood and have Ayling at right back.
We'll be flying.
posted on 18/1/22
Agreed, LST. You stop ASM and you stop Newcastle. Koch on Wood sounds like something from Team America World Police. And it would probably upset Otis Redding.
posted on 18/1/22
I genuinely don't get this logic.
Llorente regular starte,r in fact, probably our first choice CB and yet you'd start an U23 who came on for 70 mins ahead of him?
Come on. Hjelde played ok, did nothing wrong, but some of the hype we see around the young players is too much I feel.
Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench
posted on 18/1/22
Llorente comes back in, Hjelde back on the bench
------------------------------
Barring injuries in training, then yes, can't see any other thought in MBs mind. Quite rightly too. Hjelde seems to be, on limited viewing admittedly, another good one for the future.
posted on 18/1/22
It's clear from posters on this thread that many of our players struck form at the same time, for many different reasons. But perhaps the most significant achievement was the seamless integration of U23's and first teamers. I was astonished at the maturity and confidence of Bate and Hjelde, both playing in key roles. We are also benefiting from Meslier and Struijk, gifted players with time on their side. And there are others in the wings, Sumerville, Cresswell and Gelhardt, waiting for their chances to shine. We remember 'O'Leary's Babes' from 20 years ago, but this crop of youngsters is beginning to match them in terms of ability. Credit must go to Orta and Jackon for bringing them in and bringing them on, but underpinning everything is the resolute purpose of Bielsa. It is almost imaginable that we could sell KP and Raph in the close season and still produce a competitive team. Some progress after just 4 years in charge.
Page 1 of 1