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

[WTF11]

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

Just hope we make a better fist of it than the last time we went through a major acquisition phase. Need quality, not quantity (Orta take note, as if!), and would like to see some of the U23s brought on as well.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Just hope we make a better fist of it than the last time we went through a major acquisition phase. Need quality, not quantity (Orta take note, as if!), and would like to see some of the U23s brought on as well.

Heard us linked with three players (albeit some will inevitably be paper talk tosh) in midfield - de Paul, Camavinga and Gravenbirch - any of those would improve the squad enormously.

Will be interesting who else comes in and if we sign Harrison

[LeedsFTW]

Watched a good chunk of the BT sports after match analysis and just viewed MOTD analysis. All they did was praise Chelsea up and down. Felt it was disrespectful to us.

We weren't fantastic today, but definitely gave a healthy contribution to a decent game, for all the right reasons.

[WTF11]

Watched a good chunk of the BT sports after match analysis and just viewed MOTD analysis. All they did was praise Chelsea up and down. Felt it was disrespectful to us.

We weren't fantastic today, but definitely gave a healthy contribution to a decent game, for all the right reasons.

Dont have BT Sports, but did see the MOTD stuff. Not sure they were disrespectful, more a case of taking 80% of the available time to critique Chelsea, thought they were as positive about Leeds but for a much shorter time.

Either way, we've held our own against all the top teams we have played (and I include the Scum game in that comment).

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Dont have BT Sports, but did see the MOTD stuff. Not sure they were disrespectful, more a case of taking 80% of the available time to critique Chelsea, thought they were as positive about Leeds but for a much shorter time.

Either way, we've held our own against all the top teams we have played (and I include the Scum game in that comment).

Yup that’s how I saw it too. We defended well but the gap in quality was clear to see - they have some wonderfully gifted quick and athletic players - they pressed us and kept the ball well. Despite that we stuck at it and carved out the games better chances.

Roberts generally did okay and was unlucky not to score. As others have said Alioski tried but he was up against top class players.

A couple of times Rapha did what he does and ghosted past people but it was a day where he needed more quality around him.

Bielsa pretty much in his own way said as much. Rodrigo subbed as not March fit.

[Ozwhites]

Yup that’s how I saw it too. We defended well but the gap in quality was clear to see - they have some wonderfully gifted quick and athletic players - they pressed us and kept the ball well. Despite that we stuck at it and carved out the games better chances.

Roberts generally did okay and was unlucky not to score. As others have said Alioski tried but he was up against top class players.

A couple of times Rapha did what he does and ghosted past people but it was a day where he needed more quality around him.

Bielsa pretty much in his own way said as much. Rodrigo subbed as not March fit.

Can someone explain to me why he was even put on then if he wasnt match fit? Like, didn't they know that beforehand?....or could they only tell that after seeing him on there?...for the brief 30 minutes he was!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Not sure but he had come through an u23 and one other subs appearance - maybe it had something to do with the pitch too - I guess you take a chance with the quality Rodrigo has and he almost scored with a header

[cherrypie7]

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.

Absolutely agree about Alioski. He is not a left back. Its unfair to criticize him too much as he plays every week out of position. The guy has tried his heart out for the club.
On a lighter note, I noticed some of the lads without buns had real short hair cuts: Barndoor, Meslier, Alioski. Not sure about Dallas, who incidentally turned in another good game.
Saw meslier talking to a chelsea player after the game. Pretty sure they were talking about the state of the pitch.

[WTF11]

Absolutely agree about Alioski. He is not a left back. Its unfair to criticize him too much as he plays every week out of position. The guy has tried his heart out for the club.
On a lighter note, I noticed some of the lads without buns had real short hair cuts: Barndoor, Meslier, Alioski. Not sure about Dallas, who incidentally turned in another good game.
Saw meslier talking to a chelsea player after the game. Pretty sure they were talking about the state of the pitch.

Also agree with the above comments regarding Alioski.

Seen other comments about backing all players who wear the shirt (wrt the likes of stellar "performers" like Roberts and Costa amingst others), and from the same sources comments about selling Alioski (and "glad he's off elsewhere"). Slightly inconsistent, and completely ignoring that for just about every game he has played (and he has played a hell of a lot!) he has been played out of position.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Feel for Alioski as he always tries and gives 100% effort - remember the last minute goal v Reading?

Shame he is seen as a LB as not really had much opportunity at LM.

If we want to progress we need someone better at LB but I sure hope they have his attitude.