The Championship .... What a big bag of shite it is at times. This was two poor teams doing their best to pass a ball and create chances. Most of the time they failed however we just had enough quality to fashion and convert 2 good chances, both times by the 2 best (only ?) players on the pitch. Apart from that I thought there wasn't too much between the teams and whilst Yeovil didn't seem capable of winning this game they did have lots of possession and at times they looked the more comfortable on the ball.
The problem for us is that we were playing a system which didn't suit. Without Byram on the right you're asking Lee Peltier to play as a wing back! He's not a very good right back but as a right winger he's just not at the races. On the other side Warnock looks like an old war horse. I find it draining to watch him, every tackle he's in he ends up in a crumpled mess. He finally recovers only to repeat the charade 10 minutes later. Today it was one too many and he was subbed in the first half. BMD didn't change it but instead went with Jason Pearce as a left wing back ! Come on Brian !? Peltier and Pearce as our two wing backs, that's pretty funny when you think about it. Is it any wonder we struggled all day today ? One positive, about Warnock going off was that the new Lithuanian signing got his debut and for me he immediately showed promise. Big with ability... Maybe too much for this league. I thought we started pretty lively with young Mowatt looking sharp and also looking to try and play some football. He obviously doesn't realise yet that you can't play little one- twos and pass and move football in this division, it won't be long before we train this out of him although he'll probably be at Norwich before then. Mowatt had one good chance when he toe poked a chance goal ward. It was a good save. At the other end Yeovil also caused us problems. Wooton , on 3 occasions got the wrong side of his man and it was only an off side and a good save from Kenny that saved us. I've not really had a good look at Wooton until today and there is a general opinion that he is solid and has done good job. Well I was horrified in that opening half an hour. He was flat footed and niave. I think he thinks he's Rio , scrolling around doing the easy bits whilst Pearce and Lees have to do the proper defending, not impressed. We did create some half decent chances in the first half but we squandered them all including a Mart Smith miss which he failed to connect when it seemed easier to score. It was a really poor half from a Leeds perspective. We showed no quality in midfield, were shaky at the back and a very ineffective front 2, mainly due to Smith, who really had an off day today ( and that's being kind to him). At half-time we were treated to a sort of this is your life for Norman Hunter's 70th. It was the highlight oft he day for me especially when Franny Lee came on the screen to wish big norm a happy birthday. Second half started with a bang. Austin, who had been our most combative and best player, won the ball again and played a nice, simple ball into Macca who was through on goal but from an angle. He made the finish look easy as he fired into the roof of the net. Not sure whether the keeper went to ground too quickly but it was a good finish. Matt Smith was then dragged off to be replaced by Blackstock. It had to happen, Smith was diabolical. Blackstock made an immediate difference in that he's quick and good in the air (Smith isn't despite his height). We started to look lively and put Yeovil under pressure. We then got a second which was very similar to the first. Our captain fantastic won the ball again in midfield and played a nice, simple ball to the progressing Macca who drew the keeper and slotted home with ease. He really did make both goals look routine but they were both excellent finishes. We could have had more and Blackstock had a really good chance which he poked wide from an angle. It wasn't all plain sailing though. We continued to look shaky at the back, Yeovil kept putting in the crosses and we, more by luck than anything else, managed to scramble the ball clear. A team with anything about them would have stuck at least a couple away. Fortunately for us, Yeovil will be relegated this season and that showed. So, overall I'd say I was extremely disappointed in this performance. I'd say to BMD that you can't play this system without at least one player who has the ability to get up and down the pitch and create chances ( Byram), but maybe my expectation levels are too high? This is a shit league and you don't have to be much better than shit to get into the playoffs. So maybe I should just accept that we're only slightly better than shit but that might just be enough with a bit of luck. Scores: Kenny - 7. Not helped at times by a shaky defence but did his best to control things at the back. Peltier- 5. Thought he was pretty poor especially second half when he seemed to go to sleep on more than one occasion. Warnock - 4. Knackered. Wooton - 6. Shocking first 30 mins but he did improve and did put some good tackles and headers in. Overall though I'd say the jury is out. Pearce - 6. He's messy, scrappy and out of control but he can defend and got some good tackles in. Was asked to play at wing back which is just funny. Lees - 6. Basic but at times solid defending. Murphy - 6. Again I thought he looked more comfortable on the ball than when he was playing on the left. He looked lively and in control on the ball and used it simply and effectively at times in a decent first half. I do think the lad has promise but he faded badly second half and if you asked anyone to describe a major contribution to the game you would be struggling to name one. A bit part. Mowatt -6. Started lively and brightly. He's a good player but he got lost today and at times he is trying too hard and as a result loses his balance and loses the ball. He ended up on the left wing being completely ineffective. Austin - 8. A real captain's performance. I've slagged him off this season for not being good enough, especially his passing. Well the last 2 home games have definitely showed that he most certainly does have the game and is good enough at this level. Today, at times, he was a one man team. he was just too powerful for Yeovil today. He also played just behind the front 2 in an advanced position which suited. Very impressed. Smith -2. Oh dear, this was a Performance to rival many of Becchio's. He looked like he'd never kicked a ball before at times. A big lump that's at best average in the air would be the conclusion based on this game but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say this was just an off day. I don't think he will start the next game though. Subs : Lithuanian bloke ( don't know his name and can't be arsed to look it up) - I thought he looked really promising. Tried to play football on the edge of his own box and nearly got caught out but I liked his confidence. Blackstock - very lively, could be good with Macca. Crowd- excellent 25k. Deserved better. 8th position , 3 points of playoffs, most games we've been shit, surely this is good ? So why do I feel a bit depressed at the general lack of ability of our current crop of players? _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
