Leeds United - v - Newcastle United ***Matchday Thread***

[Orgoner]

Even in the joy of our excellent performance I was still utterly baffled when he brought that Donkey Roberts on - was that just for some sideline spreadbet? He was, is and always will be a weak link. Pleased that Costa was nowhere to be seen; hopefully he has used up his chances.

Pablo produced a useful cameo and the 5 attackers in their box at the end was a great example of what Leeds are about. I thought Harrison was back to his best today; things go so much better for him (and the team) when he crosses or even shoots without overthinking things.

Harrison did exceptionally well to bring down and cross for Rodrigo - he certainly had no time to overthink that!

Still surprised Struijk wasn’t used as a sub to help close out the game, but I suppose scoring a couple more goals worked?!

Neutrals must love our games!

[asturianblanco]

had to work last night so i missed the game and just catching up! always amusing to read a matchday thread and see the opinions go back and forth with the wind depending on the state of play.the standout points for me being thus:

Cant believe so many on here banging on about Struijk like hes the messiah! cant just stick a lad in because hes tall and has physical presence! think we can all see CB and DM are problem areas due to injuries, but from what ive seen of the boy, hes not very good, and if hes the answer im f***ed if i know what the question is!

Orgs comment. Alioski the macedonian Pele! i hear hes in the running to play Malcolm X in a new movie!

[Ozwhites]

had to work last night so i missed the game and just catching up! always amusing to read a matchday thread and see the opinions go back and forth with the wind depending on the state of play.the standout points for me being thus:

Cant believe so many on here banging on about Struijk like hes the messiah! cant just stick a lad in because hes tall and has physical presence! think we can all see CB and DM are problem areas due to injuries, but from what ive seen of the boy, hes not very good, and if hes the answer im f***ed if i know what the question is!

Orgs comment. Alioski the macedonian Pele! i hear hes in the running to play Malcolm X in a new movie!

Nobody knows if he will do better...but there is only one way to find out. Surely we won't be able to continue conceding like that against the better teams??

[joellufcprice]

had to work last night so i missed the game and just catching up! always amusing to read a matchday thread and see the opinions go back and forth with the wind depending on the state of play.the standout points for me being thus:

Cant believe so many on here banging on about Struijk like hes the messiah! cant just stick a lad in because hes tall and has physical presence! think we can all see CB and DM are problem areas due to injuries, but from what ive seen of the boy, hes not very good, and if hes the answer im f***ed if i know what the question is!

Orgs comment. Alioski the macedonian Pele! i hear hes in the running to play Malcolm X in a new movie!

I thought it was going to be more of the same when they scored their first after having nothing before that but we absolutley dominated them, we should have scored more than 5 to be fair.

Only worry I have is how rarely we win the first header from a corner, everytime it goes in the box they've got a chance.

Good thing is I have no fear of us going down, we will do that to plenty of teams this season and win quite a lot of games think we will get battered a few times again but frig it, I'd rather lose 4-0/4-1 few times a season but also batter teams and play like we do than snore myself to sleep playing like West Brom, Burnley etc and grind out a 1-0 or lose 1-0 because we've got no goal threat

[klix]

Nobody can argue about last night we just out played Newcastle.
Yes ok the penalty could have been given so the result may have been 5-3....
3 points against west ham and newcastle is still not the best as now going to Man Utd we really now need a point for a acceptable return.
After a point against Arsenal beating Everton I was not concerned against Chelsea as it was a free hit,although I dont like using that term.
I would have the same feeling Sunday going to Old Trafford 4 points from WH and New anything is a bonus Sunday.

[WTF11]

had to work last night so i missed the game and just catching up! always amusing to read a matchday thread and see the opinions go back and forth with the wind depending on the state of play.the standout points for me being thus:

Cant believe so many on here banging on about Struijk like hes the messiah! cant just stick a lad in because hes tall and has physical presence! think we can all see CB and DM are problem areas due to injuries, but from what ive seen of the boy, hes not very good, and if hes the answer im f***ed if i know what the question is!

Orgs comment. Alioski the macedonian Pele! i hear hes in the running to play Malcolm X in a new movie!

Don't think anyone is saying Struijk is the panacea to our ills, just that on the few occasions he has played he has shown worth (not just my opinion), and when you think that Bielsa continues to play wastes of space like Roberts, one wonders why potential like Struijk is left not only out of the 1st team but not even available as a sub.

[Ozwhites]

I thought it was going to be more of the same when they scored their first after having nothing before that but we absolutley dominated them, we should have scored more than 5 to be fair.

Only worry I have is how rarely we win the first header from a corner, everytime it goes in the box they've got a chance.

Good thing is I have no fear of us going down, we will do that to plenty of teams this season and win quite a lot of games think we will get battered a few times again but frig it, I'd rather lose 4-0/4-1 few times a season but also batter teams and play like we do than snore myself to sleep playing like West Brom, Burnley etc and grind out a 1-0 or lose 1-0 because we've got no goal threat

Agree with this on the performance. But what are your thoughts on who can win those headers, Joel? Anyone you can suggest that may be an option other than what we are currently using?

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Amazing what confidence can do - first half thought Harrison was average and looked short of confidence.

Second half he looked transformed and the cross for the goal and other neat work obviously let him flourish.

Struijk is an odd one in that he has physical presence and is probably the best header of a ball (bar Rodrigoadonnaaldo) so given the frailties there seems odd.

Bielsa is a god, ai know nothing, roll on Christmas and can we find the political equivalent who can turn our politicians from being bang average at best to world beaters.

Keep safe and have a good one.

[joellufcprice]

Agree with this on the performance. But what are your thoughts on who can win those headers, Joel? Anyone you can suggest that may be an option other than what we are currently using?

I've no idea, Koch looked better in the air than Cooper and Ayling to be fair and we've not seen Llorente either, plus when we are playing with Alioski at full back that immediately takes away a defensive presence at corners.


I think with Llorente fit and playing with Cooper with Ayling and Dallas at full back it will at least give us another option. Struijk is good in the air, but I'm not convinced hes good enough at reading the game and intercepting like Cooper/Koch do so well which is pivotal to how we play.

I'd almost be tempted to teach Bamford how to mark at a corner as he usually at least gets to the ball, last few times we've conceeded its been because of a practical free header with their marker either losing them or them being under the ball so unable to jump to get to it or at least put the attacker off.

Not sure what the answer is, what I do want to see is us at least making it harder, if we aren't going to win the header at least be in a position to jump with the attacker and make it difficult for them to connect how they want, don't let them run onto the ball etc.

[joellufcprice]

Nobody can argue about last night we just out played Newcastle.
Yes ok the penalty could have been given so the result may have been 5-3....
3 points against west ham and newcastle is still not the best as now going to Man Utd we really now need a point for a acceptable return.
After a point against Arsenal beating Everton I was not concerned against Chelsea as it was a free hit,although I dont like using that term.
I would have the same feeling Sunday going to Old Trafford 4 points from WH and New anything is a bonus Sunday.

Must agree, a point against the scummers is good for us, they're a bit of a basket case at the moment but have exactly what we struggle against in the likes of Rashford, Martial, James etc. They can't defend for toffee though and hopefully they play Pogba who will laze around doing nothing.

Its one of those that could literally go any way I do fancy us though if we can keep it tight at the back