HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Wednesday night’s game at Elland Road by delving into their forums.

“What a depressing poxy week”, “It’s the same every season, a bit of hope for a few games then back looking over our shoulders”, “What a difference a week makes at Leeds”, “Our dreams are over again until next season”, “The play-offs were out of the question since November if truth be told.”

Leeds have been riding a rollercoaster in recent weeks. A run of five wins in six games - including a 1-0 at Middlesbrough last Saturday week - came to a halt with defeats at Brighton last Tuesday and at home to Watford on Saturday, a game in which the Hornets overturned a two-goal deficit to win.

The Whites now sit 16th in the table and 10 points clear of the relegation zone. “The rest of this season is about next season for me. It is about experimentation and development”, “Considering everything that has gone on this season, I’m happy to still be in the Championship.”

“This season is now done in terms of promotion and relegation. At the start of the season some people were hoping for a mid-table finish with a team that is better than we have had for the past few seasons and the potential to grow. Do you know what? I think we actually might have that.”

Neil Redfearn

“We now have a stable manager, homegrown players and are on for a mid-table finish”, “Slow progress is being made. We are sorting out the dead wood and bedding in new players this season”, “Players are being asked to do what they do well and not do things that don’t come naturally.”

“Thank God Redfearn was already at the club.” Many fans appreciate the stability the former youth coach has brought to the team. They have welcomed how he has brought youth products through at the expense of misfiring imports but they know he is working with a thin unbalanced squad.

“I do feel sorry for Redfearn as he has so little choice from the bench”, “He has stood by his players and backed them and it is beginning to look as if it is paying dividends”, “We must allow Neil to grow into his role. We have to let him make mistakes and assume he can learn from them.”

“The signing of the season for me has been assistant manager Steve Thompson [in December]. The difference since he came has been unbelievable”, “Neil cut a lonely figure in the dugout in the seven weeks it took to prise Thompson away from his previous coaching role at Huddersfield.”

Massimo Cellino

“Say what you like about Cellino, but the fact remains that if it wasn’t for him we would be in serious trouble both on and off the field”, “He has been a legend for what he has done for the club”, “He is not coming back. I listened to this and my initial reaction was one of sadness.”

The majority shareholder still divides opinion among supporters, but many feel that he has brought stability. “His past won’t go away and has caused problems for Leeds. The owner should be quietly running the club like at Middlesbrough, Bournemouth and Ipswich.”

Cellino has decided to appeal against the legality of a Football League ban on his ownership of the club without returning to the club when the ban ends next month.

“Cellino is taking this independent action so that the club is seen to be compliant with Football League rules and thus help the club avoid any sanctions”, “If Cellino challenges any up-and-coming court rulings, Leeds cannot be harmed as he no longer has a title with the club.”

Maximus Decimus Meridius

“We have had the soap opera for the last 12 months, Now Leeds United are going to the movies.” The news that Leeds supporter Russell Crowe tweeted that he would consider buying the club has met with a combination of interest and amusement from Whites. “At my signal, unleash hell!”

“First the Sicilian and now ‘the Spaniard’”, “Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” The Australian actor has successfully developed the Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league side, “taking them from a has-been team to World Club Champions in a few seasons”.

The club politely dismissed his interest but some fans felt the obstacles would have been too great in any case. References to his role in Gladiator have abounded. “There is no way he would have passed the fit-and-proper persons test after murdering all of those Romans.”

Leeds 2 - 3 Watford

“How do we lose at home after having been two up?”, “Don’t even get me started about today’s game. It was absolutely shocking.” Leeds took a two-goal lead when recalled striker Billy Sharp pounced on a Watford error and Rudy Austin let fly with a blistering shot from outside the box.

“It was a game of two halves, or rather one half and six minutes.” Many Whites felt that the turning point were two Rudy Austin shot which was parried and them cleared off the line early in the second half when United were 2-1 ahead. “If we scored one of those chances, we would have won.”

“Watford forced several errors with their pace and pressure. They won every second ball after the break and pressed with additional zip”, “They were all over us after the break, making us look a very mediocre team”, “We created very few clear-cut chances but were very poor defensively.”

Brighton 2 - 0 Leeds

“The Brighton game proved that you won’t win the game if you don’t get shots on goal”, “It appeared inevitable that a second goal would come, given the chances Brighton seemed to be creating”, “It was a flat, tired performance.”

Leeds were beaten by goals either side of the break by Sam Baldock and Inigo Calderon. “Back down to earth with a proverbial bump them”, “We came unstuck against a team on the up”, “I just think things needed freshening up for the Brighton game as a lot of hard work went in at Middlesbrough.”

“I know we have had a good run but we cannot keep expecting to score a goal and defend for our lives for most of the game”, “We did not play the right tactics. If you know a side has fast players you don’t plat a high line and leave 20 to 40 yards behind your backline, otherwise they will hurt you.”

Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Leeds

“They have battered us”, “If we tighten up and have a bit more possession, I reckon we can see this out”, “I love results like this. They show that we are playing like a unit and getting consistency into the team”, “The key today was the work ethic of everyone on the pitch.”

“That was one of the gutsiest performances I have seen in a while.” Having taken the lead with a third-minute Alex Mowatt goal, the Whites circled the wagons as Boro threw everything they had at them in vain. “It was like Chinese torture at times. We definitely needed a second.”

Formation

“On our day, when everyone is firing, we are a match for any team in this league, but the squad is too thin”, “We have the nucleus of a good team”, “We have tried to rectify previous problems when attacking but then sacrificed what was working for us at the back. It’s a case of finding that balance.”

“We persisted with the diamond for too long.” Leeds’ recent good run has seem them switch from a midfield diamond system with two strikers to a 4-2-3-1 shape. Poor performances have been down to a lack of cover for key players. “The engine does not tick over when one of these is missing.”

Most of the team [above] which began the Watford game on Saturday have started since the switch from the diamond formation in January. Sam Byram has pushed forward from his right-back berth and Rudy Austin is more of a box-to-box midfielder instead of playing his previous holding role.

Here is the starting line-up for United’s win at the Riverside. Steve Morison was the regular first choice striker before the Watford defeat. Giuseppe Bellusci was suspended for two games after picking up his 10th yellow card of the season against Boro and is eligible for Wednesday’s game.

Defence

“Our defence is too slow against pace, end of discussion”, “If we struggle with Brighton’s pace, we’ll be in trouble against Watford.” While the Leeds defence has struggled against pace, they were praised for their rearguard action against Middlesbrough. “We defended like warriors.”

Marco Silvestri

“Star man”, “Awesome”, “Our goalie has been hit with the brilliant stick.” Whites were full of praise for the heroics of the 23-year-old former Chievo keeper against Middlesbrough. “He was immense throughout. It was a near faultless display”, “I think man of the match is a foregone conclusion.”

Silvestri is not immune from criticism. “His one major fault is his handling of the ball. A lot of corners at Boro were through the keeper’s insistence to shove the ball away instead of keeping hold of it”, “Half of them could have been avoided if he tried to catch the ball instead of shoving it away.”

“His kicking problems can lose us possession but normally at a distance from the goal”, “It’s about decision making under pressure”, “He did make two crucial saves at the Riverside. He has had one or two dodgy moments but has been one of the most astute signings we have made this season.”

“Scott Wootton looks like a centre-half playing at right-back.” The 23-year-old former Manchester United youth product “is defensively sound but his distribution is nothing special”, “He has made a number of important defensive tackles but needs to be more certain on his clearances.”

“It was shame that our two best chances at Boro fell to Wootton otherwise we would have been two up”, “He was unlucky not to score”, “He is defensively very good but struggles against anyone with pace.”

“The defence made a couple of mistakes today against Watford, but Liam Cooper has played well this season, so I wouldn’t panic yet.” The 23-year-old former Chesterfield centre-back “provides solidity at the back”, “He is young and highly rated and has been bought for his future potential.”

“Bring back Giuseppe Bellusci. His suspension is over after today.” The 25-year-old former Catania centre-back “has been part of a bloody solid back four in Cooper’s absence”, “He makes me nervous but that’s how he plays, wholehearted and by the seat of his pants”, “A red card waiting to happen."

He was suspended on Saturday. “Troy Deeney would have had a harder game had Bellusci been in. He would have been in Deeney’s face and not allowed him to run the show for Watford”, “He is such a determined player”, “Many think he’s a liability, but he has to return against the Tractor Boys.”

“Charlie Taylor has done great since replacing Stephen Warnock [now with Derby].” The 21-year-old youth product “is a cracking modern left-back. He’s defensively all right but always looks to get on the front foot and create down the left”, “His tacking and runs down the wings are strong points.”

Taylor is still cutting his teeth at this level. “He struggled a bit against Adomah against Boro”, “He needed some serious cover down the left, as he was being dragged out of position”, “He needs to make decisions quicker and rely on instinct. Too often he pauses, allowing opponents to catch up.”

Sol Bamba

“Sol chose a bad day to have an off-game, especially when facing the likes of Deeney and Vydra.” The 30-year-old former Leicester centre-back “was bound to make a mistake or two sometime. It was a shame as he has been playing so well but it was inevitable at some point - Rio he ain’t”.

The Ivory Coast international was criticised for his part in the Hornets goals. “What was he thinking for their third?”, “Leicester fans said that he looked solid for a while but it was inevitable he’d cost us points at some stage”, “Had a nightmare and the rest of the defence stumbled around him.”

He was singled out for praise at the Riverside. “It was an awesome performance. He leads by example and encourages his team-mates”, “He won every header and made some superb tackles”, “Making him captain coincided with our upturn in results. You can see how he’s loving it right now.”

Central Midfield

“The 4-2-3-1 has been more of a 4-5-1 of late as we’re not expansive or good enough to be playing between the lines with this squad of players”, “With Morison not scoring as a lone striker we have relied on goals from midfield. This system has got us out of a scrape but we need more guile.”

“Cook, Mowatt and Murphy are forward-looking, while the defensive Byram and Austin have been told to concentrate on getting forward. One needs to be sacrificed for a more pragmatic defender of space. While individually excellent, but the midfield is being cut to ribbons in match after match.

“Adryan isn’t a striker but an attacking midfielder behind the frontman. He has good ability but lacks something for the Championship.” The 20-year-old Brazilian loan signing from Flamengo “is a luxury. Give him 15 minutes at the end when we are winning, but he won’t change a game”.

“Casper Sloth isn’t up to much.” The 22-year-old Denmark international “doesn’t seem to have any specific quality be can bring to us. I look at him and see an ordinary average footballer”, “Let’s be honest, there’s no evidence to suggest he’s going to displace Luke Murphy, is there?”

“The Middlesbrough game wasn’t a Luke Murphy type of game. It was very busy and congested in the middle of the pitch. He did get stuck in though, as they all did.” The 25-year-old former Crewe man “is at his best when he can take a ball down and start a move.”

“Murphy is all making himself available looking for a pass”, “He was an outstanding performer against Watford as he tried to inspire those around him”, “He needs space to operate in. I couldn’t remember seeing much of him against Boro and his passing was average compared to normal.”

Lewis Cook

“Lewis set up the Middlesbrough goal. He is so consistent and has a superb all-round game He is very effective in midfield and can run the show.” The 18-year-old youth product “is the second division’s Messi. He has quick feet and just loves playing football”, “He has pure class and is very composed.”

“Every time he gets on the ball he is looking up and around like a meerkat. If there’s nothing on, he runs with the ball until there is. He created space against Boro and showed his talent in a game with no room”, “He was industrious as ever”, “How the hell are we going to keep hold of this lad?”

He struggled against the Hornets. “As soon as he was booked he pulled out of every tackle and this allowed Watford to start cutting down the middle like a knife through butter”, “I think he needs a break”, “He does have that innate ability to nip in, nick the ball and bring it halfway down the pitch.”

Rudy Austin

“Rudy is no longer being asked to defend any more and spread passes around like Tony Currie. It’s not his game. He’s a strong fit bloke. He gets stuck in, runs with the ball as a box-to-box midfielder using his copious amounts of energy”, “His goal of the season against Watford was fantastic.”

The 29-year-old Jamaica international “is supposed to be the link man between midfield and attack, but is ineffective in that role”, “He is a powerful tackler and ball carrier, and can keep going for 90 minutes”, “His goal, while spectacular, was one that generally goes into Row Z when he hits them.”

Wide Midfield

“We have failed to grasp the concept of wide players”, “If you play against fast wingers or forwards you do not push up high or play a pressing game because those fast players will hurt you”, “Without Byram the team looks very narrow, and lacks both pace and a threat in behind the defence.”

“Alex Mowatt had his best game in a congested midfield at Boro. He will score double figures next season, a fair wind and fitness permitting.” The 20-year-old youth product “is the most creative midfielder we have. He will develop into a decent player. There’s no doubt about that.”

“Mowatt unfortunately doesn’t work so well on the left wing as he doesn’t have the pace and he cuts inside too often.” While he doesn’t stretch the play, he is “definitely effective going forward. He’s having a very good season and linking well with his fellow academy graduates.”

Sam Byram

“Here’s a simple match summary from Brighton - we missed Byram”, “We don’t have much depth in the squad and we were all worried when we realised Byram wasn’t in the side”, “We do not have another player of his type, a direct running right-sided man who can force his way into the box.”

“We had just over half the possession at the Amex but didn’t have the equipment to use it.” The 21-year-old youth product “is absolutely vital to this system. He gives us width which we simply don’t have otherwise”, “It has worked due to the width that has come from moving him up the field.”

Strikers

“We are still lacking a real attacking threat from our forwards”, “We have eight strikers in the squad. Hopefully one of them will soon start pulling up trees”, “We did nothing to hurt Brighton’s defence. We only had one shot on target in the whole game.”

“We create good chances but our failure to convert is a major issue”, “We are a team with strikers who don’t score goals. I have never known any team like this”, “One problem we have is that most of our shots come from outside the box”, “Relying on tall strikers tells me what we are lacking.”

“Edgar Cani needs to realise that you try to get the ball back when dispossessed and not just stand there.” The 25-year-old Catania loan signing is 6ft 4in tall. “The giant failed to win a single ball in the air at Brighton”, “Selling Matt Smith at a good price was not a mistake. Not replacing him was.”

“It sounds like Billy Sharp capitalised on a Watford error.” The 29-year-old ex-Doncaster striker and one-time Ipswich target started for the first time in five games against Watford and scored their opener. “He got the goal, but doesn’t lead the line as well as Morison.”

“It’s fantastic when you have a striker who knows how to score a goal”, “If Sharp plays well and shows he can lead the line then fair play, but I have a feeling he will just want for service”, “He is overrated and we try to accommodate him in the team with the wrong formation for him.”

Steve Morison

“It’s worrying that our main current striker isn’t scoring”, “The thing keeping Morison in the team is all the headers he wins, his hold up play and bringing midfielders into the game”, “He helps out defensively quite well too”, “Although this is excellent, he just isn’t getting the ball in the net.”

Some Whites are exasperated with the 31-year-old former Millwall man. “I don’t care how many headers he wins on the halfway line”, “He needs to be put out to grass at the end of the season. He’s old and slow and he just can’t score. He has helped move us out of danger but isn’t good enough.”

He was at his best against Middlesbrough. “An Everest-like amount of credit has to go to Morison. His selfless defending was essential to us winning”, “He uses a huge amount of energy and comes in for a battering. I hope that two games a week to the end of the season is not too much for him.”

Whites’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Ipswich destroyed us after the first 15 minutes”, “We might as well go for it as it not a game we are expected to win”, “Ipswich just outmuscled us at Portman Rd. We must either match them physically or go completely the other way and play our best passing side and try to outplay them.”

Totalling up prediction polls, 52% of Whites have forecast a home win and 16% a Blues victory. Only 8% expect us to keep a clean sheet. A tight game is forecast with a 1-0 home win, a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 Ipswich win the most popular score lines. Only 7% think that there will be more than one goal in it.

Their fear is not so much about our perceived physicality, but that they will be overrun as they were at Portman Road if they repeat their second half performance against Watford.

“I fear Ipswich will out-run, out-play and out-muscle us all over the park, if we play like we played on Saturday”, “Let's not forget we are at home and should be looking to win the game. We sat back in the second half against Watford and that invited them on.”

“I watched Ipswich yesterday and if we can stop Murphy scoring then we will have a chance”, “They have stuttered a little recently so let's hope their confidence is low. Having said that, how many teams seem to revive their fortunes when they visit Elland Road?”

Websites

There are a number of busy Leeds forums. LUFCTalk, Marching on Together and Leeds United Ma are the most active message boards. ToEllandBack has some very good opinion pieces and match reports.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

bgexile added 11:33 - Mar 3 thanks as ever Harry
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MaySixth added 13:20 - Mar 3 cheers Harold
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Sir_Bob added 13:21 - Mar 3 It's time for change. One clean sheet in eleven. I think everybody agrees where it needs changing at the back as well.
3

blueblood66 added 13:25 - Mar 3 Sorry but Smith has to be dropped, Parr on the right Chambo middle. Midfield almost picks itself at the moment but I would have Ando on the right and play Chaplow alongside Skuse with Tabb left.
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bluesince84 added 15:25 - Mar 3 Itfc, bringing bad teams out of their slumps since season start 2014.
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bellazzurri79 added 15:35 - Mar 3 This will be a tough away game
2

essextractorboy93 added 23:15 - Mar 3 Love reading these before games. Cheers Harry!
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