I think your comments are refreshing. I do feel that I am moaning all the time about the complete lack of ability of some players but even at this level I don't think there's any excuse for some of the stuff served up. I'm not expecting box to box brilliance but I am expecting defenders to get tackles in, midfielders to pass to a white shirt and attackers to get their head and foot on the ball in the box. I notice that you're even starting to make excuses. 'If he was in a stronger midfield he'd be ok' which really means if there were some decent players to carry him he might not look so shit. We paid 1 million for Luke Murphy. the lower league Steven Gerrard apparently. Jeez ! Yes, Smith's performance must go down as one of the worse we've ever witnessed. A real donkey performance. Bloody awful. Maybe the wind disorientated him ? or maybe he's just shite ?
On Monday, 4 November 2013, 11:52, John Lee <[email protected]> wrote: I made a point of watching, in particular, 3 players in this game - Smith (that was easy, he didn't move), Murphy and Lees (from Knaresborough). Smith was the dollop's dollop - made Big John Pearson look like Pele! Murphy - I think in a stronger midfield he'd look a lot better, but he's just not good enough to stamp his authority on the pitch. And he's always falling over! The passing, definitely in the first half, was abyssmal, as was the ability to trap a ball - Mowatt and Murphy in particular constantly over-ran things! Agree that Macca is no Shutty, but there's a similarity of role - play out wide, pull defenders out of position, cut into the central channel etc. McCormack is maybe a 2 trick pony, but it seems to be enough at this level, and he's effective enough against the quality of defence he's up against. Austin's 2 passes for the goals were excellent. Blackstock was also unlucky not to score after a similar move - good save. I read your comments re Wooton, and there was a certain amount of getting the wrong side going on, with Lees making some good last minute challenges. I thought Yeovil did a good job on us in the first half - if you hustle players who arn't comfortable on the ball and don't pass well then you completely disrupt the game - they did that well, and had a couple of half-breaks which on a different day might have produced more. McCormack's early second half goal changed everything. Anyway, we'll be back - £20/£10 tickets weren't bad value. One random thought - it was wierd being half way up the front of the East Stand, but with the back of my head getting wet when it rained as it swirled under the stand and then back out again! SInging - pitiful. Any notion of fortress Elland Rd is but a distant dream! On Monday, 4 November 2013, 11:07, Richard Walker <[email protected]> wrote: Interesting thoughts and probably emphasises what we have become and what us fans have grown to expect as the norm. Interesting also about Murphy - I was being kind to him. He is looking better but that's only against some very woeful performances earlier on. So you can see that the expectation level is so low at the moment. He managed to control a couple of balls and pass a few 5 yard passes. That gets you a 6 these days. I like the Macca v Carl Shutt comparison. I don't think Macca is as good. On Sunday, 3 November 2013, 22:12, John Lee <[email protected]> wrote: DRB wisely advised 'don't compare what you're seeing with what you saw last time you were here!'. Wise words. *East Stand seemed pretty full (a good thing), but has zero atmosphere - one 50% bellow of Come On Leeds from me made the family in front jump! Put me off trying again! *Defence - thought Lees had a solid game, and in fact rest of defence did enough/were ok. The Lithuanian who came on looked OK too, although needs to sort out his rushing in tendency. Jockey for position my boy. *Midfield - Murphy - after giving him some positive comments before Yeovil, he looked sh*te to me, and spent half the game on his arse! I wanted him to be good, but... Austin - positive drives forward resulted in 2 goals and some awful shots. Can't Murphy do that?? *Up front - Smith - despite watching every hoofed ball like a hawk, moving to meet it, he always seemed to be 2 feet away from where he needed to be - is there something wrong with his eye-sight? His comedy gold moment in front of goal was genius. Taking him off seemed a very fair decision, albeit 35 minutes too late. McCormack - like a poor man's Carl Shutt, but good goals and link-up with Austin Tactics - if this was football that wasn't route 1, what does route 1 look like?? Kind of enjoyed the experience though, and my lad Danny (9) saw them win on his first game there, so we'll be back again this season. Good to see DRB, Wiggy, Sarge, Niggy, Dave D and co in the Cross Keys. Could have done without the bloody thunderstorm and cloudburst on the walk back! Quite what happened to the Elland Rd I knew and loved I don't know? Given the League position it's easy to see how we could make the play-offs - Yeovil were rubbish but pressed very hard. Maybe the bulk of the Championship is rubbish if we're 8th best??? _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
