Thoughts from Wembley

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Think I only used the phrase must be played only once but hey ho

[spaldy]

Forgot to mention earlier in the thread.

don't forget Ramanazi. He's coming good at Valencia.

[whitestomper45]

How many of our squad would make the Chelsea team?
We have an honest but mostly limited squad, expected as a newly promoted team.
He gets stick but Gruev would have been better than AO in that match. AO is too erratic, his waste of kicking a non moving ball at set plays is ridiculous.
Hopefully we get over the line and continue the work in progress.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Not sure AO is erratic but first half we were so static that some players could have been sold as ice pops. He had zero options to pass to.

Second half when Farke changed it up he was miles more effective.

When Gruev plays we tend to play deeper which is not always a good thing for us.

The one player besides Tanaka I am amazed doesn?t play more and certainly ahead of Gruev is Longstaff who is possibly the most versatile midfielder we have.

All opinions though.

[ozleeds]

What are you on about Willis!

In short I'm saying same poo diffrent years. Rinse and repeat. I just feel the bielsa days are bacl thats all Burke.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

The Bielsa years were terrific until the final season when he wasn?t supported because they were already going to replace him.

Farke had been supported both in his role but with additions to the squad over the period he has been in charge. If we stay up there is no suggestion that further improvements will not be made on top of which the ground redevelopment actually looks like happening.

Don?t see the comparison at all myself.

[whitestomper45]

Not sure AO is erratic but first half we were so static that some players could have been sold as ice pops. He had zero options to pass to.

Second half when Farke changed it up he was miles more effective.

When Gruev plays we tend to play deeper which is not always a good thing for us.

The one player besides Tanaka I am amazed doesn?t play more and certainly ahead of Gruev is Longstaff who is possibly the most versatile midfielder we have.

All opinions though.

Gruev puts in the miles and helps prevent the better teams play through us, it’s not his fault he’s usually in when we set up more defensively, but I get why folk prefer AO. I just see too many poor corners and can never understand why he’s anywhere near free kicks, his passing isnt always great. Farke like Bielsa prefers reliability, but as you say it’s opinions, we all have our faves. Sunday just highlighted what 500 odd million plus massive wages gets you compared to where we are at moment.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Yup

[Billyni]

I always thought that a well organised determined team would beat a team of individuals, no matter what their pay was.

[ozleeds]

The Bielsa years were terrific until the final season when he wasn?t supported because they were already going to replace him.

Farke had been supported both in his role but with additions to the squad over the period he has been in charge. If we stay up there is no suggestion that further improvements will not be made on top of which the ground redevelopment actually looks like happening.

Don?t see the comparison at all myself.

Time will tell I suppose.

[whitestomper45]

I always thought that a well organised determined team would beat a team of individuals, no matter what their pay was.

Unfortunately I thought Chelsea were more than a team of individuals on Sunday. A well organised lesser team can beat a so called superior side. The weather, the expanse of Wembley, Stack not fully fit (Gruev injured 🤕 others carrying knocks) stacked against us, pun intended. It does tho illustrate how well we’ve generally competed, if we can stay up this time for at least 3 seasons…..we might realise again the potential this club has

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

For all that we had the better chances and their goal came from an error. Where they were better was they had a tactical plan that worked first half and they know how to cynically close out games.

Not sure I want is to develop that skill though.

[ozleeds]

For all that we had the better chances and their goal came from an error. Where they were better was they had a tactical plan that worked first half and they know how to cynically close out games.

Not sure I want is to develop that skill though.

what about this skill? https://www.facebook.com/reel/1339579598218731

[MrsORichSenior_]

All the conjecture and navel gazing in the world is just stuff and nonesense unless one thing changes. The manager/coach.

I'd not disagree with most of what HO has written, but if he mentioned "must be played" once he did so several times. I agree, but.....

Farke cannot/will not change. A few bright sparks after the first half against Schitty and the more recent flash in the pan that gave us victory over Scum show that the CURRENT squad can give ANY PL team a run for their money, if the strategy, tactics are right and the coaching allows.

Wembley was a further illustration, if one were needed, of Farkes "can't do" mindset. Even if ALL the changes in personnel GO mentions came to pass (I do think James should be kept, his mere pace scares defences), it will make no difference if favourites continue to be played when better players are available.

There are much better managers out there, we need one.

in retrospect looking back at past threads and events with the advantage of knowledge gained one year on could you now re-evaluate what your now wanting from a Leeds manager as the present one is contracted until June 2027 and considering all circumstances has steaded our ship through some choppy waters.
my termology of manager is deliberately used as DF is not in the mould of a modern Head coach remit of having little say in signings etc and is someone who in my opinion also actually gets the gist of the vast and diverse perspectives involved in connecting the vast Leeds United omnispective on and off the pitch, he connects within the city and further fields with the added scenario duty of standing up in front of the media alone as our club spokesman whilst our chairman often remained mute.

i will agree that change can be necessary for growth but it can quickly becomes destructive if poorly funded by any knee jerk hierarchy impulses to satisfy share holders wallets leading to the chaos often seen at other clubs and broader institutions nowadays.
personally i am relieved that Paraag Marathe along with Gene Schneur also a Leeds director both stood down at Rangers after discussions with European football's governing body Uefa about multi club ownership rules.

so maybe a moment for you to reflect and record what we have done and accomplished this season albeit in our usual eventual manner into reminding ourselves of what mattered at seasons 25/26 start.
such a moment allowed myself and many others to look back and conclude that we have come a long way, which feels so good and where we are going herein will be another emotional ride for sure?.. but that?s the buzz of following the game is it not ?

MOT

[WTF11]

in retrospect looking back at past threads and events with the advantage of knowledge gained one year on could you now re-evaluate what your now wanting from a Leeds manager as the present one is contracted until June 2027 and considering all circumstances has steaded our ship through some choppy waters.
my termology of manager is deliberately used as DF is not in the mould of a modern Head coach remit of having little say in signings etc and is someone who in my opinion also actually gets the gist of the vast and diverse perspectives involved in connecting the vast Leeds United omnispective on and off the pitch, he connects within the city and further fields with the added scenario duty of standing up in front of the media alone as our club spokesman whilst our chairman often remained mute.

i will agree that change can be necessary for growth but it can quickly becomes destructive if poorly funded by any knee jerk hierarchy impulses to satisfy share holders wallets leading to the chaos often seen at other clubs and broader institutions nowadays.
personally i am relieved that Paraag Marathe along with Gene Schneur also a Leeds director both stood down at Rangers after discussions with European football's governing body Uefa about multi club ownership rules.

so maybe a moment for you to reflect and record what we have done and accomplished this season albeit in our usual eventual manner into reminding ourselves of what mattered at seasons 25/26 start.
such a moment allowed myself and many others to look back and conclude that we have come a long way, which feels so good and where we are going herein will be another emotional ride for sure?.. but that?s the buzz of following the game is it not ?

MOT

“A moment for (me) to reflect etc etc”….
We will survive (I think) by the skin of our teeth (even WS has acknowledged its going to be that close), Farke having been supported in both summer and winter transfer windows and (if you are correct in his role) having played a part in selecting those players brought in.

Why then, do we have players sitting on the bench who are significantly better than those who get fielded at the start of every match?

It’s also your suggestion that he is in charge (and makes it quite clear that is the case) of the strategy, tactics and “approach” that players must adopt on matchdays.

If that is so, he is largely responsible for the hesitant, tippy-tappy, cautious and largely toothless style of play that typified the season up to those few weeks at the end of 25 and the beginning of 26 when there was a sea change in our play. Why then, after the half time break against Sch1tty, when we were aggressive, surging forward, playing attacking, attractive football and putting sides supposedly senior to the sword and the wonderful but somewhat solitary win against Scum, did we regress to that timid shadow of what could be? Farke? Who else?

Achievements? Survival in the PL, little else. Had it not been for those few weeks when we scared the pants of Chelski, Liverpool, Palace, we wouldn’t be doing that either.