Good start to the New Year. I really enjoyed myself today (didnt even have a hangover which was a bonus). I thought as a team we were magnificent today and although we seemed to run out of steam yet again I think on this occasion there was every reason for it cos the effort that was put in today was exceptional. Ive kept pretty quiet about Wise cos he wasnt my choice but I was prepared to give him a chance. I think everything he has done in terms of pinpointing our weaknesses has been spot on fitness, pace, the keeper, Crainey, Gregan and Butler have all been addressed. Unfortunately the replacements to date (Ill write about todays later) have been lacking but theres not that much out there at the moment and his attempts to get decent loan players have largely failed to date. Hes definitely heading in the right direction in my opinion despite the lack of results recently. Back to todays game. Did we deserve the 3 points. Maybe ? Second half we made some substitutions that in my opinion weakened us significantly. I dont know whether these were forced substitutions but when coupled with an injury to Fraser our whole team balance was affected and we were struggling from then on. Coventry made some decent subs and Adebola caused makeshift centre half Robbie Elliot all sorts of problems. It was desperation and some good strong goalkeepers that won us the game. For the effort Id say we just edged it over 90 minutes but when you consider that Coventry have been struggling recently maybe it wasnt that great a performance. Who cares ? 3 points. The first half today was in my opinion the best we have played all season. Not only was the work rate excellent we actually played some good pass and move football with some excellent interplay from Nichols , Blake, Healy, Elliot and Lewis. We started with a diamond shape 4-4-2 with Nichols sitting in front of the back 4 and Blake playing behind the front two. It worked. Nichols, the captain did much more than just sit in front of the back four. He was everywhere. In wasnt a great footballing performance from him but he really made the difference in the middle annoying the fck out of Coventry. He broke up attacks, fouled their players and started our own attacks with some good, clever play. He looks and plays like a captain and I bet hes a nightmare to play against. A bit like his manager. Other players that impressed in that opening spell included David Healy who had is best game of the season and did everything I want from Healy. He looked lively and looked like he wanted to shoot on every occasion. He also linked up well, chased everything down (for 90 minutes !!!) and scored a really good goal from nothing. Im a Healy fan and have been as disappointed as anybody about some of his performances this season however I feel this could be the start of a new era for Healy. I still worry about his lack of pace but as more and more pace and fitness is injected into this Leeds team I feel he will come into his own. Lets hope Wise has patience with him cos at this level he can make a big difference. Robbie Blake continued his good form. He still on occasions doesnt have the legs to do the things he wants to do and he occasionally gets caught in possession but the fact is he has the skill and ability to take teams apart. Eddie Lewis also continued his good form. He also looks fitter and sharper which allows him to get that extra yard on the defender to get the cross in or make the run. Some of his runs today were excellent and he showed the sort of attacking ability that was lacking under Blackwell. He also benefited from Elliot who provided him with some great balls over the top of the Coventry defence. We havent seen that for a while. Both Moore and Lewis made some great runs. When he had to revert to left back in the second half we really missed his ability to run the ball out from midfield. We lost our outlet. The defence was interesting today 3 changes and yet again another central defensive Foxe and Marquis. They did well although their goal was yet again a case of the attacker getting between the left back Elliot and Foxe. It was a lucky goal in my opinion as the cross was hammered across the defensive line and turned out to be pinpoint in landing right on the toe of the Coventry man. Apart from that they both did well especially Marquis who looked composed and confident. He has pace to burn , can tackle and also win headers. Why hasnt he had the chance before now ? The new Lucas Radebe on this performance. It again was a shame when he had to go to right back cos we missed him the centre but even at right back he looked our best player. He cant have played too much football in the last 2 years so that makes the performance today even more impressive. Foxe can defend but hes a bit flat footed at times and doesnt tend to be alert enough in the box in crucial moments. With Foxe and Elliot as a pairing in the second half we looked really vulnerable and the defending in those last 20 minutes was pretty desperate. Our second goal was the result of some great play. I cant remember who out the ball through to Healy (Lewis ?) but he ran on well and was denied by a good save. Fortunately for us the ball came out to the advancing Douglas who did his best to miss it with a scuffed shot but it managed to go in the back of the net. Healy was off side but who cares ! It was good to hear the PA man announce the goal as a screamer v funny. As I said earlier Blake came off for Westlake and Moore came off for the hapless Kandol. I can only assume that Wise thought that Kandol would hold the ball up for us and take a bit of pressure off the midfield and defence. He didnt and only demonstrated what a poor footballer he is. I know its only early days for him but you really cant see what his strengths are ? I can only see him getting goals from headers in the six yard box.. He doesnt have the balance and control to take the ball on and score goals. Bambi on ice. Not good enough.
Sullivan 8. Bloody hell, how much weight as he lost. I hardly recognised him tall, slim and agile. You have to ask questions about the fitness regime under Blackwell. He spilled a couple of shots and his kicking in the second half was poor but he made 3 or 4 match saving saves and what he lacks in agility he makes up in presence. I was never a big fan but Ive got to hand it to him today he looked the best keeper weve had this season. Richardson 7. Some good forward play in the first half and also worked his socks off. Struggled second half and was taken off for an injury probably due to over exertion. Elliot 7. Confident and composed. Maybe could have got across for the goal (if it had been Crainey Id be going mad). Some great balls over the top and also simply in field. I thought he really struggled at centre half though I wouldnt try that one again Denis. Mind you his only other option would have been to see Marquis stay at centre half and make do with a makeshift right back Douglas. That could have been disastrous. The risks of not having a defender on the subs bench ! Foxe 6. Some good defending then at other times he looked a yard short. Needs more games. I wouldnt rule him out as a regular at centre half though. Marquis 9. My man of the match. Not only did he defend well at centre half and right back but he showed good pace and good ability on the ball. Surely a regular now. Douglas 6. Lots of effort as usual and one or two good moments however he is still the weak link in my opinion and although he does lots of running he rarely affects the game. He was therefor the goal today though and you cant fault him for that. Nichols 9. All over the place captains performance. Got his booking although Wise and Poyet were going mental on the touchline. Looked like a booking to me. The ref was good today I thought he let a lot of things go today for both sides. I like to see that. He also wasnt fooled by the playacting of players like Healy. Blake 7. In and out of the game. Involved in most of our good play. Hit the bar with a free kick. Lewis 8. Good performance. Some great runs especially one which he put on a plate for Moore. Also hit the bar with a freekick. Healy 8. Good goal and excellent running for 90 mins. Moore 6. Low on quality high on effort. Usual performance for Moore. Subs :- Westlake 5. Doesnt have the legs. Kandol 2. Rubbish. Howson 7. Busy. Wise and Poyet 7. I thought the subs were dodgy. Moore still had lots of running in him and Blake has the ability to hold up the ball. Was he injured ? Crowd pretty hungover and quiet. Coventry brought 36 fans and sang that God awful song that I have nightmares about ever since the Hillsborough semi final. Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ 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.
