WBA - v - Leeds United *** Matchday Thread ***

[BelfastAndy]

5.30PM KO.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2ponuhz.jpg

West Brom, without a win in four, could welcome back defender Kieran Gibbs (hip), midfielder Gareth Barry and striker Dwight Gayle (both calf).

Defender Kyle Bartley is available again after missing the 1-0 defeat by Hull City because of suspension.

Leeds United are likely to go with the same XI that started Sunday's 2-1 win at Wigan.

Defenders Gaetano Berardi (hamstring) and Luke Ayling (knee) remain sidelined.

Match facts

This is the first meeting between West Brom and Leeds since January 2007 - the Baggies won 3-2 at Elland Road in a Championship match.

Leeds have lost four of their last five matches against West Brom at the Hawthorns, winning the other in the Premier League in August 2002.

Leeds have kept one clean sheet in their last 24 away league matches at West Brom - a 1-0 win in April 1972.

After a seven game unbeaten run that saw them scored 18 goals (2.6 per game), West Brom are winless in their last four (D1 L3), scoring just twice in that run (0.5 per game).

Leeds are the only team yet to lose a single point from a winning position in the Championship this season.

Leeds' Kemar Roofe has scored in each of his last three league games - he has never previously scored in four consecutive league appearances.

1 - 1.

MOT.

[Rev72]

Take a draw..but would love a win.

[galwaywhite]

huge game.. 3 points would be great, 2-1 to us I hope. think it'll be a close game.

[UbiqueLUFC33]

We really need to start on the front foot and get the first goal. If they need to chase the game it will open up which will suit us. We must avoid giving away silly free kicks in dangerous places and be better at defending from set pieces. Hopefully Forshaw and Phillips will control the midfield to provide a platform for our potentially lethal attacking force (apart from the actual finishing obviously which will also need to be better today).

MOT

[joellufcprice]

huge game.. 3 points would be great, 2-1 to us I hope. think it'll be a close game.

See I think the opposite, someone is going to get pumped 3 or 4-1 today just hope its not us on the receiving end! Should be lots of goals thats for sure

[CLIVETHELEEDSFAN]

no chance of a 0-0, both teams play open with attacking intent, I've gone for 3-1 to leeds united

any links for todays game?

[BelfastAndy]

https://tinyurl.com/yc328ngr

[BelfastAndy]

Feckn Norwich game......

[norfolk white]

Norwich are the luckiest team going at the moment, at some point their luck is going to run out.

[alfinyalcabo]

JRod to score a hat trick.

[ColombianWhite]

Norwich are the luckiest team going at the moment, at some point their luck is going to run out.
feckin hate the budgies
Come on Leeds lets win
MOT

[Billyni]

Cooper is quite worrying.

[BelfastAndy]

Cooper is quite worrying.

True ffs

[BelfastAndy]

My ticker won't take this...

[Billyni]

Certainly under the cosh.

[CalverleyBoy]

My ticker won't take this...

Just thinking the same thing - hopefully we will settle

[BelfastAndy]

They're panicking big time

[Billyni]

Stupid free kicks and misplaced passes.

[magnificowhite]

Pablo needs to wake up.

[magnificowhite]

That was close.They all need to wake up.

[Blackspaven]

Know it's on sky, anyone got a link with a bit of commentary? bit wierd just listening to the crowd.

[Billyni]

If we make 0-0 to half time will be good work.

[CalverleyBoy]

If we make 0-0 to half time will be good work.

We were better towards the end of the first half, hopefully we have the measure of them no ad can produce something in the second hald

[Billyni]

Only just getting away with it. Wee bit sharper in the second half please.

[ColombianWhite]

WBA sitting back waiting for us to make a mistake or hit a long ball ,then hitting us on the counter , need to cut out the sloppy balls
Pablo struggling to get in the game , dont know of WBA can keep up the intensity the rest of the match
Come on Leeds
MOT

[magnificowhite]

What a **** up that was.roofes dive started that off.

[Billyni]

What a **** up that was.roofes dive started that off.

Yep. Box to box and goal.

[BelfastAndy]

Lazy, tired passes.

[CalverleyBoy]

Jansson not looking good

[magnificowhite]

Please sub alioski

[WTF11]

70% possession and yet we are only half as productive in creating scoring chances. Wish we would stop trying to walk everything in, need some long range strike capability to keep the barstewards guessing.

[Billyni]

We have blinked first with the subs.

[CalverleyBoy]

Good reffing then, some other stupid git would have given them a pen

[Billyni]

I think we are now officially fu ck ed.

[magnificowhite]

Oh dear that is awful from the keeper.

[BelfastAndy]

Terrible

[magnificowhite]

Got to be careful here we don’t get a proper dicking.

[Billyni]

Not Douglas off surely?

[magnificowhite]

Did they just take the wrong player off. The only player with real quality.

[norfolk white]

Keeper should have done better for both goals

[BelfastAndy]

They're physically bigger, stronger and more hungry.

[Rev72]

Created our own downfall but it has been coming.

Our keeper tho..ffs!

[magnificowhite]

I really don’t understand why alioski wasn’t subbed instead of Douglas. His crossing and decision making are terrible.

[Billyni]

FFS. When we get a free kick we should put the ball into ****in box.

[Rev72]

3-0 and that will be that..Don Goodman will have a stiffy on back in the studio.

[magnificowhite]

That ****er always scores against us.

[Rev72]

4-0 and proof that we ain't promotion contenders.

What a collapse.

[CalverleyBoy]

Oh dear

[Billyni]

Well that puts thing's into perspective.
Chequebook time in January.

[BelfastAndy]

Fkn el

[Rev72]

Embarrassing.

[magnificowhite]

To be fair wba have been excellent but I really can’t understand bielsas changes. How have alioski and pablo finished the game when they clearly weren’t on it today.

[ColombianWhite]

Hopefully Bielsa realizes that we need to strength the team in January , we need a goalscorer , right winger and another CB , I think Blackman may get his chance after BPF display
Fecked off
MOT

[Billyni]

I'm switching over to Strictly come dancing. Thats how bad it is.

[alfinyalcabo]

3-0 and that will be that..Don Goodman will have a stiffy on back in the studio.

so have I ..lol

[magnificowhite]

Can’t even blame the ref this week.

[Rev72]

Well the way we played 1st half I expected us to lose 1/2 nil but this is a real wake up call.

[Billyni]

so have I ..lol

Thought you had to have a co ck to get one.

[norfolk white]

Awful game, our worst performance obviously this season, was like last season all over again, stood up for alioski many times but he was woeful tonight, how he stayed on I just don't know, bpf was poor too.

[magnificowhite]

Ha a pablo header. Still been poor.

[CalverleyBoy]

Pity we couldn't have played them a couple of weeks back, they have re-found their form today - it was always going to be a difficult fixture, we need to bounce back - there you go nice goal all a bit late but we don't give up

[Billyni]

Awful game, our worst performance obviously this season, was like last season all over again, stood up for alioski many times but he was woeful tonight, how he stayed on I just don't know, bpf was poor too.

Have to agree. Allioski brought nothing to the table and our best player was subbed.

[norfolk white]

That's also our excellent goal difference up the spout

[magnificowhite]

Rubbish rubbish rubbish thank god that’s over. Going to hammer the gin bar.

[Rev72]

Fell apart completely and made them look far far better than they actually were..bit shell shocked to be honest.

BPF was very poor tonight and when your keeper is poor you are fecked!

Time for Blackman???

[norfolk white]

To put a harsh perspective on it all, I never expected us to be where we are, mind you I also didn't expect my poxy local side to be top especially as we hammered them at carrow road.

[CLIVETHELEEDSFAN]

the whole team played crap, sick of players being singled out, every player either made a mistake or lacked quality today, end of!

[norfolk white]

Agree

[Rev72]

the whole team played crap, sick of players being singled out, every player either made a mistake or lacked quality today, end of!

Agree clive..they were all sh1t tonight but for me it proved that we need a better keeper.

He was really poor.

[Rev72]

Anyway the beer will not go down too well tonight but lets hope its a blip and not the start of something more sinister.


MOT

[Billyni]

Bielsa needs another batch of turd polish. Looks like he has run out.

[Rev72]

Bielsa needs another batch of turd polish. Looks like he has run out.


Plenty to polish after that shower of sh1t tonight billy.

Best place a 'big' order.

[WTF11]

How can we have possession for three quarters of the game and yet go down 4-1?🤔

[Billyni]

How can we have possession for three quarters of the game and yet go down 4-1?��

I think you know in your own heart.

[norfolk white]

Not clinical enough in the final 3rd with no real recognised striker.

[Billyni]

Still 4/5 players not good enough. Honest and hard working, can't fault that, but not good enough quality wise.

[BelfastAndy]

How can we have possession for three quarters of the game and yet go down 4-1?🤔

The stream I was watching cut off on 89th minute. I ran to shops to get alcohol to cope. Looked at this to find Pablo scored consolation goal. Anyway, must drink.

[joellufcprice]

Im not overly disappointed as I saw that coming, either they were going to play crap and wed trounce them or wed play crap and they'd trounce us. Sadly it went the wrong way.

Entire team was dross tonight so find it odd people are singling anyone in particular out. BPF should have done better, Dallas is doing the best he can in a position he shouldn't be being made to play and the rest were abject at best.

Was surprised he took Douglas off for Harrison and not Dallas, Alioski or even Forshaw. Doubt it would have made a difference in reality but still an odd choice, Alioski regardless of how crap he plays never seems to get the hook.

[norfolk white]

Just read bielsa's after match interview, if anyone can make head or tail out of it please let me know....not knocking the guy as in all honesty that's the first team this season to really turn us over, I also expect wba to win this league.

[Ozwhites]

Not clinical enough in the final 3rd with no real recognised striker.

Probably sums it up to be honest. Every game we have lost or drawn thus far, we have still dominated posession by a long way. That's great...but the conversion rate just isn't there to match those stats that we have bullied the games. Need more potency around the penalty area, so hopefully he is looking at that. Is any of Roberts, Bamford or even Izzy really the answer??

[BelfastAndy]

No. They're mediocre at best. Need a prolific (or potentially) one.....

[norfolk white]

Not likely to find someone prepared to let us have someone like that

[LeedsFTW]

Couldn't get to pub to watch the match today and couldn't find a decent link online, so only just seen the highlights.

From those clips, our defense looked to be all over the shop today, positioning was poor, anticipation worse and we gave them far too much space and time on the ball. Definitely a very poor defensive performance compared to other weeks.

BPF has also had a few miserable games now, it is his first full season as No 1, so I suspect that he probably does need a rest for a couple of games. Let him recharge his batteries and get that sharpness back, I think it will do him the world of good.

I am also in agreement with people saying that we need a more natural centre forward to lead the line (said the same thing for last few games). At the moment the teams that are beating us are organized, compact, sitting deep and hitting us on the counter. They know they can soak up most things we throw at them, Roofe is not the most physical of forwards and I think most defences won't mind playing against him when he is in the 9 role. We don't seem to have much aerial threat and we are struggling with our set pieces at the moment.

For want of a better term, we are toothless upfront.

Next few weeks are going to be interesting to find out if we have been sussed out by the other teams or if there is more in the locker. I also wouldn't be surprised if Edmondson gets a few starts.

[WTF11]

Away kit, 3rd kit, makes.no f00king difference what we look like if the performance is sh1te

[WTF11]

Bring back Wood

[MrsORichSenior]

Assessment - as usual controlled possession but created only a handful of chances........ NO Saiz to open the channels and NO physical clout when we had opportunities to attack............

Basically three at the back,again, to compensate for Dallas resulting in poor general concentration and defensively again unbalanced - all obvious from the off as WBA were set up to pounce when we crossed the half way line and they clinically counter attacked us using pace left right and centre to pick us off and worryingly muscled us off the ball in doing so more often than not .............. Pontus looked ruffled,indecisive too which didn't help BPF,IMO.

I would think BPF on reflection will be disappointed with one goal he conceded today in honesty - not criticism but he'll know what I mean ..............

No creative outlet when we had the ball which WAS disappointing especially for Roofe but they'll be about till April for sure and we now have time to let the dust settle,regroup and somehow hopefully get Saiz up and running again,IMO.

MOT

[Flintadore]

Key players have lost some form (Saiz, Roofe, Klich etc); teams have caught up with us fitness wise; and opposition coaches have had enough games to suss us out...so we don't have the advantages that the first few months offered us. We had an off-day against a Premiership quality team and so got easily beat...but so long as our boys keep that perspective, they'll be good. We're a mid-table quality squad that is over-achieving...and can continue to do so as long as confidence levels stay high.

[WTF11]

BPF gets.stick when the whole team was below par??

75% possession and we Los 4 - 1, ffs???

Should have been the other way round and BPF getting stick is just f00king stupid

[WTF11]

Agree 100%

[WTF11]

Key players have lost some form (Saiz, Roofe, Klich etc); teams have caught up with us fitness wise; and opposition coaches have had enough games to suss us out...so we don't have the advantages that the first few months offered us. We had an off-day against a Premiership quality team and so got easily beat...but so long as our boys keep that perspective, they'll be good. We're a mid-table quality squad that is over-achieving...and can continue to do so as long as confidence levels stay high.

Agree 100%

[Rev72]

BPF gets.stick when the whole team was below par??

75% possession and we Los 4 - 1, ffs???

Should have been the other way round and BPF getting stick is just f00king stupid

Is it b0ll0cks stupid..his errors are now costing us points.

Kid is out of his depth im afraid..and has started to 'gift' goals and his decision making is very very suspect..Blackburn away..Wigan away..go figure.

Let Blackman have a go..Sheff United fans can't believe he is on our bench.!!!!!!

As for the possession..you can play ***** ball for 75 minutes..your opponents play hard ball for 15 minutes..only one winner.

Sorry..we bottled that fecker today.

Wondered if heckyanus was back in charge for that 2nd half to be honest!

(hic):O

[CLIVETHELEEDSFAN]

bpf made a couple of really good saves in the match, those wont get mentioned coz he was at fault for 1 of the goals, but lets face it, the defence ie all outfield players didnt show the same energy that gobbled up the wigan player did they

[Rev72]

Sometimes you have to make hard decisions..I will be amazed if BPF is in goal for the next game..and if he is then you reap what you sow!

[Billyni]

Hic

[Billyni]

Is it b0ll0cks stupid..his errors are now costing us points.

Kid is out of his depth im afraid..and has started to 'gift' goals and his decision making is very very suspect..Blackburn away..Wigan away..go figure.

Let Blackman have a go..Sheff United fans can't believe he is on our bench.!!!!!!

As for the possession..you can play ***** ball for 75 minutes..your opponents play hard ball for 15 minutes..only one winner.

Sorry..we bottled that fecker today.

Wondered if heckyanus was back in charge for that 2nd half to be honest!

(hic):O

As a fellow countryman I'd like to stand up for BPF but I'm afraid you are correct.

[OldWhiteTaff]

I don't think Bielsa's well documented problems in previous roles are down to 'burn out' because of his supposed high intensity style, I think it's because he genuinely will only play one way, and once other decent teams in the same league suss it out then there is no plan B that Bielsa is willing to consider. This stubbornness also extends to his team selections and in game decisions, which will start to p1ss off those squad members who, on merit, should be playing but aren't, and also start to cause unrest because of perceived favouritism. I get the feeling that on a deep level he does believe he is a football genius, and that his way is the best, and only, way. I hope I'm wrong but the signs that this is starting to happen are there

[Rev72]

As a fellow countryman I'd like to stand up for BPF but I'm afraid you are correct.

It's a shame for the lad billy cos we all want him to succeed but he simply is not good enough.He has to be dropped and replaced with Blackman for the next game.

[UbiqueLUFC33]

Ooooops.

That wasn't part of the plan :-(