BFTG - Leeds

[melonhead]

As Focher said. Last night result papers over the cracks.

i dunno.

there are cracks for sure.

but i think there were signs that some of them have had some polyfilla added, not just wallpaper put over them


defence is getting there
we were more balanced.
we created alot more than on sunday.


we obv lack a final ball, and someone to play that ball to
but then everyone, including the manager/owner/DOF knows that

[melonhead]

Getting in the car briefly heard Dellor saying that Le Fondre was screaming "I should have started" in the dressing room. He's clearly not happy playing as a sub, should the club consider selling him in January and getting someone better suited to the system in?

are you sure he wasnt saying that dellor thought he was probably screaming etc

not dellor heard him screaming

[andrew1957]

I am sure that ALF does think he should start but the fact is that he is poor 9 times out of 10 when he starts a game and yet almost always has an effect on the game if he comes on as a sub and so he will just have to accept that this is his role and I see no reason why he cannot score 20 goals this year, even if he plays just the last 30 minutes of each game. He already has 4 in 7 after all.

I think that the problem is that he does not have the strength to be a central attacking player in a front 3. If he starts, therefore, he tires and becomes ineffective. However, if he comes on against a tiring defence in the last 30 minutes, his poaching instincts take over and he scores goals (even when he does little else). HRK is a much stronger player and holds the ball up well and is, therefore, more effective than ALF, Pog or Blackman at the central role.

[melonhead]

Comments that it was a better performance might be wide of the mark, Brighton are a very difficult to break down and do not play an open game. We may have created fewer chances Saturday but that could have been down to the opposition rather than us.

it was a better performance

maybe by not alot.

but def better

[Sanguine]

Le Fondre needs an attacking foil. Cureton was at his best for Reading when Butler was on song. Forster was most effective up front when Rougier found a bit of form.

Le Fondre is as close to a goal poacher as we have had since Cureton - but like Lineker, Owen etc, these players don't create goals out of nothing. I thought Pog could be that player, but he isn't mobile/bothered enough; a fit Roberts would be just the ticket.

[leon]

I am sure that ALF does think he should start but the fact is that he is poor 9 times out of 10 when he starts a game and yet almost always has an effect on the game if he comes on as a sub and so he will just have to accept that this is his role and I see no reason why he cannot score 20 goals this year, even if he plays just the last 30 minutes of each game. He already has 4 in 7 after all.

I think that the problem is that he does not have the strength to be a central attacking player in a front 3. If he starts, therefore, he tires and becomes ineffective. However, if he comes on against a tiring defence in the last 30 minutes, his poaching instincts take over and he scores goals (even when he does little else). HRK is a much stronger player and holds the ball up well and is, therefore, more effective than ALF, Pog or Blackman at the central role.

Quite simply he needs a partner to bring him into the game. A Martin Butler , dave kitson type player ideally. Worst case a big strong centre forward. Then he'll play the whole game and score buckets.

Id like to think a rejuvenated Pog could do this, not sure though.

[melonhead]

just because Adkins wants to play a short passing game, it does not mean that every pass is restricted to a maximum distance of 10 yards.

adkins himself was pleased with us being able to go longer and have someone who actually held it up in his interview.

Surprised at the negativity about the game both last night on BBCRB and on here,

im surprised because its unwarranted. im not surprised cos theres alot of nobs around

Drenthe - one or two fantastic bits of skill. Still needs to learn to toughen up, and not go down so easily, but is improving

tbf he took quite a few knocks from some very physical attention from their players, and had two or three players on him at all times.
he always does something entertaining, and effective in a game, and has the ability to unlock defences.
agreed- hes getting there.

and very good post, fair assessment of the game

[Avon Royal]

As Focher said. Last night result papers over the cracks.

Bit unfair on Basel.

[melonhead]

Blackman 6: His best game I have seen- some nice touches-but he is just so weak, mentally and physically.

I wonder if being jeered by your own fans every game has something to do with that?

What came first I wonder, the shit performances or the jeering?

just oxf*rd off

[andrew1957]

Le Fondre needs an attacking foil. Cureton was at his best for Reading when Butler was on song. Forster was most effective up front when Rougier found a bit of form.

Le Fondre is as close to a goal poacher as we have had since Cureton - but like Lineker, Owen etc, these players don't create goals out of nothing. I thought Pog could be that player, but he isn't mobile/bothered enough; a fit Roberts would be just the ticket.

The problem is that if you are playing a dynamic interchangeable front three in a 4-3-3 you don't need a goal poacher - but they are very handy to have on the bench. Defoe has much the same problem of being a bench player at Spurs and his goal scoring record in fantastic. Football has moved on.

[Silver Fox]

Getting in the car briefly heard Dellor saying that Le Fondre was screaming "I should have started" in the dressing room. He's clearly not happy playing as a sub, should the club consider selling him in January and getting someone better suited to the system in?

Dellor's trying to manufacture that story again is he? He's the homeless man's Adrian Durham and a tit

[Brum Royal]

just because Adkins wants to play a short passing game, it does not mean that every pass is restricted to a maximum distance of 10 yards.

adkins himself was pleased with us being able to go longer and have someone who actually held it up in his interview.

Surprised at the negativity about the game both last night on BBCRB and on here,

im surprised because its unwarranted. im not surprised cos theres alot of nobs around

Drenthe - one or two fantastic bits of skill. Still needs to learn to toughen up, and not go down so easily, but is improving

tbf he took quite a few knocks from some very physical attention from their players, and had two or three players on him at all times.
he always does something entertaining, and effective in a game, and has the ability to unlock defences.
agreed- hes getting there.

and very good post, fair assessment of the game

As you've quoted from my post, I shall respond.

Just re: Drenthe, you're right, he did get doubled and tripled up at times, which is fair enough, but you can see he's still adjusting to the physicality of this league. You probably don't get too many 6 foot 5 meat heads in the second tier of e.g. Spanish football who are quite happy to kick you, shove you or generally just "get into you" as you do over here.

[AirRaidSiren]

Comments that it was a better performance might be wide of the mark, Brighton are a very difficult to break down and do not play an open game. We may have created fewer chances Saturday but that could have been down to the opposition rather than us.

I totally agree with this. Brighton did exactly the same with QPR last night, not allowing them to play, the teams cancelling each other out.......hence the bore draw.

[sandman]

Getting in the car briefly heard Dellor saying that Le Fondre was screaming "I should have started" in the dressing room. He's clearly not happy playing as a sub, should the club consider selling him in January and getting someone better suited to the system in?

Dellor's trying to manufacture that story again is he? He's the homeless man's Adrian Durham and a tit

Not exactly a story you have to manufacture. Perfectly believable that he would be upset about a winger starting up front instead of him.

[TBM]

Getting in the car briefly heard Dellor saying that Le Fondre was screaming "I should have started" in the dressing room. He's clearly not happy playing as a sub, should the club consider selling him in January and getting someone better suited to the system in?

Personally i would have started him up front against Brighton - not sure why he didn't play

[melonhead]

because he cant hold the ball up on his own and pog couldnt play on the wing/right

(although nor could ALF)

[Forever Reading]

Le Fondre needs an attacking foil. Cureton was at his best for Reading when Butler was on song. Forster was most effective up front when Rougier found a bit of form.

Le Fondre is as close to a goal poacher as we have had since Cureton - but like Lineker, Owen etc, these players don't create goals out of nothing. I thought Pog could be that player, but he isn't mobile/bothered enough; a fit Roberts would be just the ticket.

Maybe Robson Kanu can do this job and support Le Fondre, was strong and holding the ball up well when playing up front yesterday.

[Royalee]

I am sure that ALF does think he should start but the fact is that he is poor 9 times out of 10 when he starts a game and yet almost always has an effect on the game if he comes on as a sub and so he will just have to accept that this is his role and I see no reason why he cannot score 20 goals this year, even if he plays just the last 30 minutes of each game. He already has 4 in 7 after all.

I think that the problem is that he does not have the strength to be a central attacking player in a front 3. If he starts, therefore, he tires and becomes ineffective. However, if he comes on against a tiring defence in the last 30 minutes, his poaching instincts take over and he scores goals (even when he does little else). HRK is a much stronger player and holds the ball up well and is, therefore, more effective than ALF, Pog or Blackman at the central role.

Quite simply he needs a partner to bring him into the game. A Martin Butler , dave kitson type player ideally. Worst case a big strong centre forward. Then he'll play the whole game and score buckets.

Id like to think a rejuvenated Pog could do this, not sure though.

Agreed

[Irvinchangeyaname]

We've enjoyed a lot of late goals in recent years but that has to be my favourite.

3000 Leeds fans singing 'time to go' just one minute earlier followed by 300 singing it right back at them as they resorted to the standard outside / throat-cutting gestures!

[RoyalBlue]

Amazed that ALF and his fans are still suggesting that he should start games up front on his own as the sole striker. He is so unsuited to that type of role and I can't remember any games when he has performed that role effectively from the start of the game.

In comparison to ALF's performances in that role, HRK did really well last night and deserves further starts in that position, at least until Hammond pulls his finger out and finds us the loan striker that we so clearly need to give this squad a really decent chance of competing effectively at the top of the table.