Leeds United - v - Chelsea ***Matchday Thread***

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Our record against the big 6 is more than creditable for a newly promoted side with a squad made up largely of the players who got us promoted. Chuffed that we got a point and relieved that the pitch didnt claim any more breakage.

Somehow the pitch was firm but it looks like a pub team rugby pitch

[UbiqueLUFC33]

Defence was mostly very good - with the exception of that mentalist Alioski who either got skinned or gave away free kicks with nothing in between.

Phillips looked back to his best.

None of the subs made much difference; baffling that Rodrigo was subbed as a sub (again). He is clearly nowehere as fit (or willing to chase and press) as Barndoor - noting that is coming back from injury.

I have defended Klich most of the season but today all he did was give away fouls. Harrison largely annonymous apart from a couple of good crosses. Raphinha keeps trying hard but he can't do it alone. No idea why Costa came on surely give Poveda or Shackleton (or a tree) a go instead; utter waste of oxygen.

Roberts MOTM? - I think not; for me probably Phillips. To be fair, Roberts did play MUCH better than he usually does. Poor control let him down twice late on when he could have been through on goal. Also a weak shot when he had better options, I hope he's not starting to believe his own publicity?

[CalverleyBoy]

Agree MOM was probably their keeper, not sure if was good luck or judgment to keep s out with his left hand having dived to his right. Meslier was better in some respects, caught more balls than normal but his kicking was a bit wry at times.

No one predicted a nil nil draw and I suspect most of us would have accepted it pre kick off

[norfolk white]

Would have taken a draw from the off, having Bamford as our only striker was always going to be iffy, now he's injured we have no other striker, Roberts and rodrigo don't count, need a quality's tricker urgently and a creative midfielder.

[LeedsFTW]

Think we struggled a bit today as Chelsea have the quality technical players that allow them to surpass the high press thst we favour.

LB is definitely not Alioski's position, he is a liability there and we have been worked out, with teams overloading their right wing. He is all heart and endeavor but not just not good enough in that position.

Our CB's looked very good, calm, composed with a great range of passing.

Without Bamford we did look very limited in the final 3rd, that really needs to be addressed.

Overall we gave Chelsea a good game and very pleased that we stood toe to toe with them.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Think he will be back - was a bang to the hip - hot cold treatment and the physio should see him right

[norfolk white]

Anyone know the circumstances of Bamford injury, a big loss, apart from raphina no one else looks like scoring.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Anyone know the circumstances of Bamford injury, a big loss, apart from raphina no one else looks like scoring.

Went up for a ball with Rudiger and clash with his hip. looked sore but he had a go at running it off. Looked like severe bruising to the joint. He walked off so fingers crossed.

[joellufcprice]

If anything that game just made me happy that we didn't look out of place playing a very inform team who've spent like half a billion in past few seasons on their squad.

Defenders are starting to look good, Llorente and Struijk looked strong. Alioski was a constant source of danger but that isn't his fault, he just isn't good enough defending top quality players 1v1.

Should have grabbed a goal but to be fair they should have made better headaway with some of their openings, a draw was fair even if their keeper did pull off two ridiculous saves.

Onwards and upwards, hope Bamford isn't struggling too much we rely on him quite heavily for how we play and even though Roberts looked better today I still don't rate him, think he needs a year on loan to really hone his game and get those minutes he needs.

10 games to go, lets get to 50 points and for me that would exceed anything I expected this year.

Be very interested to see who comes and who goes next year could be quite a bit of turnover

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Me too Joel’ could be an exciting summer.

Think as many as 12 (including those out on loan could leave)

Hope Pablo gets to say goodbye to the fans face to face too as sure he will be one who goes