| Leeds 14:09 - Aug 29 with 1871 views | _clive_baker_ |
I took a lot of confidence from the game on Saturday, I thought we looked dangerous going forward and on another day could've had 5 or 6. Burns had an excellent chance to make it 2 just after we took the lead, a beautiful cross from Davis but he just wanted a split second too long to get his shot away. A couple of other chances for Broadhead blocked behind, 1 or 2 other times we got into the box well but couldn't test the keeper.
Defensively we were poor, although it's very easy to say we were poor without recognition of the quality we were up against. A 19 year old winger who has 12 full Italy caps, a £30m forward (who looked incredibly strong by the way), debutant Piroe who cost £12m from Swansea and has scored 20 goals at this level for the past 2 seasons in an average side, and Sinisterra, a Colombia international who they spent £20m+ on. A 'front 4' of £80m should be good in the Championship, and it was. There's levels to this game, and frankly we're not at that one...yet. I think we need a healthy dollop of realism about that, and despite it we gave a good account of ourselves and could've got a result on another day. I think Leeds will win plenty of games if they can keep that side together, they've got all the ingredients to have a very successful season and I'll be surprised if they don't.
All that said I'm sure we'll be a little disappointed at the goals we conceded. The 2nd and 3rd are far too easy, both down their left / our right, cutting inside with far too much time and space to get the cross and shot away. The keeping on both left a little to be desired as well, especially the 3rd.
Hopefully a couple of additions to come in this week to add some quality at both ends of the pitch. We certainly need a forward to compete with Hirst, Ladapo certainly isn't that guy. I don't fear for us without additions, I think we can compete at this level, but I think we're a few short if we want a realistic shot of the playoffs. [Post edited 29 Aug 2023 14:10]
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| Leeds on 15:19 - Aug 29 with 1660 views | Illinoisblue |
As you say, different levels. Their front 4 probably cost more than we’ve spent on all transfers in the history of our club.
(Don’t know if that’s actually true, but let’s run with it!) |  |
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| Leeds on 15:29 - Aug 29 with 1608 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Leeds on 15:19 - Aug 29 by Illinoisblue |
As you say, different levels. Their front 4 probably cost more than we’ve spent on all transfers in the history of our club.
(Don’t know if that’s actually true, but let’s run with it!) |
Yep, and you'll always have outliers by way of sides that over achieve relative to budgets and sides that under achieve, but there's certainly a strong correlation between spend and league finish. We were one of the 'have' sides in L1, probably the most have in the division. Now we're one of the have nots, relatively speaking.
What I find particularly encouraging is we seem to be squeezing every drop of juice from what we've got available to us. Our performances really are excellent and some of our patterns of play are frighteningly good compared to previous years. That's testament to KM and his team, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and that should give us a lot of confidence that we're very sound structurally, I guess we just need to upgrade some parts. Hladky, Donacien, Jackson, Ladapo, Burgess and others probably don't really have a right to be components of a side going toe-to-toe with that Leeds group, with the greatest respect to them, but they can and did. It's going to be a case of progress, add in additional quality over the next couple of windows in place of those that have maybe hit their ceiling and we can keep raising that bar. | | | |
| Leeds on 15:41 - Aug 29 with 1545 views | Herbivore |
That ten minute spell aside, I thought we were really good, especially considering we had Hirst out. As you say, we could easily have scored five ourselves on another day and it took some poor defensive lapses and world class forwards for Leeds to eek out a win. The first and fourth goals especially probably wouldn't be scored by the vast majority of sides at this level, whilst the second and third were really ropey defending and goalkeeping.
I think even without additions, the way we play gives us a very good chance of troubling the top 6. The Leeds game has, if anything, reinforced that view for me. The players we have will have learnt from that match and some of the errors won't be repeated, at least not all within a ten minute spell. With a couple of quality additions I'd be even more confident that we can challenge at the top end this season. |  |
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| Leeds on 15:56 - Aug 29 with 1484 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Leeds on 15:41 - Aug 29 by Herbivore |
That ten minute spell aside, I thought we were really good, especially considering we had Hirst out. As you say, we could easily have scored five ourselves on another day and it took some poor defensive lapses and world class forwards for Leeds to eek out a win. The first and fourth goals especially probably wouldn't be scored by the vast majority of sides at this level, whilst the second and third were really ropey defending and goalkeeping.
I think even without additions, the way we play gives us a very good chance of troubling the top 6. The Leeds game has, if anything, reinforced that view for me. The players we have will have learnt from that match and some of the errors won't be repeated, at least not all within a ten minute spell. With a couple of quality additions I'd be even more confident that we can challenge at the top end this season. |
I agree, I don't think we're a million miles off, just a touch short in certain areas. I've never been Jackson's biggest fan but hats off to him for that performance, he really troubled them and obviously played a big role in both of those 1st half goals. But we're still short up front and too reliant on Hirst for me, that has to be priority #1 over the next few days.
As you say though, certainly no need to overreact to a defeat and if anything it was encouraging to come through such a stern test with a lot of positives, albeit no points. I think there's probably a handful of sides at this level that are a cut above, not least the 3 that came down, and I expect all of them to be in the top 6 come May. Beyond that though I don't look at the best of the rest, the likes of Boro, West Brom, Sunderland, Preston, Stoke, Blackburn etc etc as any better than us from the evidence I've seen. I'm not saying we're demonstrably better than them either, but there seems to be a whole load of clubs with little between them. I think as it stands we would finish somewhere between 5th and 12th, perhaps challenging the upper end of that range with a couple of additions. | | | |
| Leeds on 16:12 - Aug 29 with 1355 views | itfcsuth |
We should take belief from our display on Saturday - absolutely.
10 minutes of madness, but in truth for the bulk of that game we were very good - but that doesn't surprise me, we are very well oiled machine.
I think it was a little nudge though to remind the players, at this level, you will be punished for errors &/or lapse in concentration. |  | | |
| Leeds on 16:23 - Aug 29 with 1293 views | Herbivore |
| Leeds on 15:56 - Aug 29 by _clive_baker_ |
I agree, I don't think we're a million miles off, just a touch short in certain areas. I've never been Jackson's biggest fan but hats off to him for that performance, he really troubled them and obviously played a big role in both of those 1st half goals. But we're still short up front and too reliant on Hirst for me, that has to be priority #1 over the next few days.
As you say though, certainly no need to overreact to a defeat and if anything it was encouraging to come through such a stern test with a lot of positives, albeit no points. I think there's probably a handful of sides at this level that are a cut above, not least the 3 that came down, and I expect all of them to be in the top 6 come May. Beyond that though I don't look at the best of the rest, the likes of Boro, West Brom, Sunderland, Preston, Stoke, Blackburn etc etc as any better than us from the evidence I've seen. I'm not saying we're demonstrably better than them either, but there seems to be a whole load of clubs with little between them. I think as it stands we would finish somewhere between 5th and 12th, perhaps challenging the upper end of that range with a couple of additions. |
Jackson was superb, I've always tended to stick up for him but even I wasn't convinced he could be that effective as a number 9 for us at this level. His work off the ball was top notch, didn't let them settle and was always making good runs when we turned over possession. Agree though that despite that performance we do need another option up top. Ideally I'd like a CB and another number ten/wide forward as well to give us more quality in depth. With those additions, I don't see too much to fear and I'd be surprised if we don't upset at least one of the sides who, on paper, look a level above us. [Post edited 29 Aug 2023 16:33]
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| Leeds on 16:25 - Aug 29 with 1278 views | N2_Blue |
Great reasoned review. (they have been missed!)
I thought there was somewhat of an overreaction to a defeat to a side packed full of players who were paying in the Premier league a few months ago whilst ours were up against the likes of Burton Albion in L1.
If we'd defended a little more solidly as we know we are capable of we could quite easily have won the game.
Plenty of promise and reasons to be optimistic rather than doom and gloom after a defeat. Think its a case of many of our fans have been spoilt over the last 21 games and had forgotten what defeat tastes like. Football clubs do lose games whoever they are, some would be better off remembering that.
As Mckenna said himself i saw more positive than good, despite coming away empty-handed. |  |
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| Leeds on 16:31 - Aug 29 with 1255 views | NthQldITFC |
Your third paragraph: In a way the fact that we're disappointed with the goals we conceded, the fact that the defence made some uncharacteristic errors or were uncharacteristically indecisive, and yet we still only lost by one goal against an £80m front line, is rather encouraging.
That experience under the belt, those defenders know they can do better than they did in those situations - it builds confidence that the overall structure is very sound, and puts a little edge on their next few performances, I would say. |  |
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| Leeds on 16:54 - Aug 29 with 1169 views | Miaow |
I agree with all of that.
After the game I was reflecting on just how ridiculous a frontline it was that we were up against, and also how we were unfortunate in that Piroe had just joined them in time to play us and Gnonto and Sinisterra were both conveniently back in their side. The goals we conceded were very frustrating, particularly the second and third - no way should the diminutive Gnonto (or Gnometo?) have been allowed to get onto that one and the less said about the spill from Hladký the better... The news that Walton is making good progress is welcome but Hladký has performed well so far this season and he played a significant part in the result at Loftus Road. I have few worries about us in the goalkeeping department, especially seeing as we have three who could all arguably play in the Championship.
We really could have scored more than the three we did, and we will cause teams some real problems this season. We will get goals - we just definitely need to get another Hirst-style striker in to add depth as Ladapo is not the answer, even if he did a good job for us last season - his goal return was excellent. Jackson was good again and he will get more assists throughout the season. I was pleased for him to get the start as it showed McKenna has faith in him and it must be great for him to feel that from his manager.
It was just frustrating to lose the game (particularly as it was against Leeds...) as I feel we gave them a proper match and we didn't wilt after letting in those three quick goals. Having been so close to going 2-0 up inside 10 minutes and then suddenly being 1-3 down was a bit of a sickener. I'm glad we at least got the one back right at the end as it made the scoreline something of a fairer reflection on the game as a whole, but if we'd got a result I don't think right-minded Leeds fans could have argued.
We will be more than alright this season and I'm completely with you on that we can take heart from the game on Saturday. We may have lost and our run has ended but I think a few will have taken notice of the fact we scored three against a team that was two divisions above us last season.
A victory at Reading to take us into the third round of the League Cup and a win over Cardiff at the weekend would both be excellent results and would make our first month of the season very impressive indeed. |  |
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| Leeds on 17:16 - Aug 29 with 1098 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Leeds on 16:25 - Aug 29 by N2_Blue |
Great reasoned review. (they have been missed!)
I thought there was somewhat of an overreaction to a defeat to a side packed full of players who were paying in the Premier league a few months ago whilst ours were up against the likes of Burton Albion in L1.
If we'd defended a little more solidly as we know we are capable of we could quite easily have won the game.
Plenty of promise and reasons to be optimistic rather than doom and gloom after a defeat. Think its a case of many of our fans have been spoilt over the last 21 games and had forgotten what defeat tastes like. Football clubs do lose games whoever they are, some would be better off remembering that.
As Mckenna said himself i saw more positive than good, despite coming away empty-handed. |
Was there much of an overreaction? On twitter perhaps, but most post-match posts on here seemed fairly reasoned. |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Leeds on 18:04 - Aug 29 with 990 views | billlm |
| Leeds on 17:16 - Aug 29 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Was there much of an overreaction? On twitter perhaps, but most post-match posts on here seemed fairly reasoned. |
I agree,
I use to beat myself up whenever we lost,
Saturday was like,
Do you no what town are back and competing we did well were aggressive their back four had a torrid time,
Unlucky not to score more,
Walton in goal we don't lose that,
Hladky has done bloody well but had a mare, |  | | |
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