Thoroughly chuffing depressing. Still at least it finished early enough for a quick pop into town for those "last minute" things. Glass half full - clean sheet (which of course means that M Bridges didn't score - but he looked 3 passes ahead of everyone else out there) - we're not bottom yet - Howson's first start Glass half empty - didn't score (again) - only once really looked like we might (Kandol's header) - Hull were woeful and we needed the 3 points desperately - once you get above Barnsley, the rest are pulling away, we do not want to be in a 4-way dogfight for those 3 relegation places but I can't see us avoiding it...we've had all the other bottom 4 clubs to ER and only won once - whichever way you carve it, it don't look good. not much to add to what's been reported already but to be honest I don't hold out much hope of things getting better after the January window (like that's some magic formula) judging Wise's "talent spotting" on the basis of Kandol and Heath (although Ehiogu and Stack can still do a job) - I can see a long hard winter ahead. Other funny bit not mentioned thus far was when a Hull attack broke down and Warner threw the ball to Frazer, Bridges went after him flat out for 60 yards into the Hull half - Ricahrdson lost the ball, the play swung back down to our end - and where was Bridges? Hand on hips bent over "doing a Viduka" on the half way...still he got a nice round of applause when he went off. WARNER - almost nothing to do - a few routine shots - a god-awful attempt to catch/punch a corner away and a mix up with Heath on the edge of the box RICHARDSON - miles better than Foxe - but not a Kelly - some decent tackles - couple of great last ditch blocks and at least a willingness to get forward which resulted in some very hit and miss crossing LEWIS - MOTM by a distance - good defending and our only really genuine threat going forward - slung in some pretty decent crosses. HEATH - lump EHIOGU - did well in the air but looked pretty shaky at times on the deck DOUGLAS - shite - attacks broke down around him - passes went astray - control woeful DERRY - again, good in the things he's good at - that is covering back, getting tackles in, breaking attacks up, feeding the ball short and easy - but pretty ordinary when called upon to do anything else WESTLAKE - slower than Wright? HOWSON - not sure if he was a forward, a midfielder or in the "hole" somewhere - but has decent control, passing and vision - always looked to make something happen (usually linking with Blake or Lewis) - v unlucky with Blake's great crossfield ball - didn't quite drop to allow him to get around the last defender...well worth a start vs Sunderland BLAKE - as in previous weeks, made the links that made us tick - couple of shots from the edge of the box - but in truth not much penetration KANDOL - unlucky with the header - stepping back to get on the end of (yet another) Lewis cross - good power and made the keeper make a finger tip save over the bar - otherwise mainly anonymous and not all that bothered by the looks. ---------------------- Healy - came on for an injured Blake and contributed nothing ----------------------- A note to the lister earlier in the week who was giving it to the "Blackwell-outers" saying is Wise any better? The only real reply to this would appear to be "apparently not" but then I don't recall anyone, Blackwell "outer" or "inner" saying they wanted Wise "in". Because Bates made the right decision in elbowing Blackwell (what has happened to his "unfair dismissal case"?) although the reasons given in public may have been dubious, doesn't mean the appointment of Wise was the right one for Leeds - time will tell I guess.
_______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist 'I am in shock,' said Ferguson.
