This is why the Pozzo’s need to get out of football ASAP, before it bankrupts them. They had a method once, but that’s long gone. They are just hanging on in there hoping fortunes change, just like a losing gambler. It never will. Their time has come and gone. Look at Udinese. Their squad is vastly bloated but how much quality do they actually have? They’ve not won a game yet. They need to cash in and get out. I’m hoping this is what their plan is.
Might explain a lot ! Scared of a hostile atmosphere apparently. https://motleedsnews.com/news/danie...d-of-atmosphere-in-3-0-defeat-at-elland-road/ Maybe the captain could help out ..?
Result was pretty much as expected, they were better than us all over the pitch. Annoyingly once we started to get a foothold in the game in the second half we fall apart after the 1st goes in Rajovic doesn't work as a lone striker (possibly full stop) in games such as yesterday where we don't expect to have a lot of the ball and attack. His inability to be an outlet piled even more pressure on a powder puff, non-existent midfield. Was disappointing to hear a group of fans resort to singling out a Leeds fan for personal abuse over his weight. Really poor form. We got schooled, get over it.
I disagree I spent sometime many years ago working out our average league position, I can assure you now it would be from 8th - 14th in the Championship.
Very true. I wonder if we’ve broken some sort of record for the least points won by the promoted teams at this stage of the season? I’d be surprised if not. Helped of course by the matchweek 2 postponement involving two of them (and they now meet a week Tuesday) but still....
That can’t possibly we true from the data starting 1881. Maybe from 1980 onwards it could be correct but definitely not over our entire history.
@EB Hornet I’m having a day off! But yes, not surprisingly it is the lowest! 3 points from a combined 16 matches.
That was my first time at Elland Road and thought the atmosphere was very underwhelming. I thought it was going to be very intimidating but it really wasn't. A few outbreaks of singing when they went 3 nil up but apart from that very flat.
Time to go 352. Bachmann Porteous Sierralta Hoedt Andrews Asprilla Louza Chakvetadze Lewis Bayo/Rajovic Healey
I'd agree with this. We don't have a suitable lone striker in our team who can balance both hold up and runs in behind the defence. Getting the ball up the pitch and making chances, Leeds aside, has been a consistent strength of our side and one of our goals v Coventry came from having two strikers to press the defence and force an error and Vi is slowly using that option in his substitutions now. Only problem is we sacrifice Martins' strongest role which is a blow as he's been in good form and Ince has impressed me with his work rate and decent end product. Could try Martins as ST partner but I don't think that ends well. ---------------Bachmann--------------- -----Porteous-Sierralta-Hoedt----- -Andrews-----------------------Lewis- --------------------Louza------------------ -----Dele-Bashiru--------Asprilla----- -------Bayo--------Rajovic/Healey----- Or 442: ------------------------Bachmann---------------------- -----Andrews---Porteous---Hoedt---Lewis----- ----Martins---Louza---Dele-Bashiru---Ince---- ---------------Bayo--------Rajovic/Healey---------
But that risks even fewer crosses for Raj to attack, which is basically the only thing he can do. He would be useless as a partner in a two as he wins so few heading duels and can’t trap, control, and retain a football. He’s no Deeney. He’s not going to be winning the ball and laying it on a plate for a striking partner.
The formation isn't the problem, we've been in every game up until Saturday, and we were battered with a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 against Leeds
Mid table Championship club in a period of significant change goes to a team fresh out of the Premier League and loses 3-0. It was always likely and no big deal, though some will see it as an opportunity to be as negative as possible. In a week we have won one, lost one, drawn one. This season we have won two, drawn three, lost three. That will be the story of our season - our W, D, L columns will all be about similar to each other come the end of the season as we finish mid table.
Think the worry is that's with a 'fully fit' squad vs mid-table teams. Add injuries, suspensions and our away form and mid table might be optimistic.
Not an apologist for either but Sierralta only played DM for the first half we switched to a proper back 3 in the 2nd and he was right of the 3. When Porteus was galloping into the midfield only to get rolled and leave massive holes behind. Our other world class DM, Kayembe was the missing man not Sierralta.
Exactly this. If we'd have fluked a win vs Leeds we'd currently be 1 point off top 6. Instead, we lose a game we'd sadly expect to lose, and it's relegation discussions and everything is a tragedy and a disgrace. The sooner people adjust to what we are now, the less upset and angry they'll be.
This is correct. There will always be those who will deny what is blatantly obvious and make out because you have concerns, you are negative. Base case scenario, we have no injuries all season. If that happens then I can see us finishing around 16th place. But once injuries kick in, which they always do, we’ll be significantly below this. Just look at our form so far. With a fully fit squad, we’ve only won once since the opening fixture. We are sleepwalking into a relegation fight but only a few can see it.
I think you are right, but there should be serious questions to answer. After all we are 2 seasons fresh out of the premier league, and yet due to the financial mismanagement we are left with such a threadbare, low budget poor squad. Pozzo, Giaretta and Duxbury have wasted tens of millions and seemingly can just declare “reset” and all questions go away for some fans. (not aimed at you that comment).
For all its faults last season squad had vastly superior depth. 3 long term injures would be catastrophic for this team in terms of who would start getting lots of minutes.
I don't disagree, but the previous was a high budget poor squad. Same meat, different gravy. The only similarity between last seasons squad and this seasons squad is they are both absolutely nailed on cast iron mid table. In terms of approach and how they get there they couldn't be more different. This season is about lesser quality mixed with hard work and unity, last season was about having more talent but no effort, desire or passion.
