Middlesbrough game, members views

Middlesbrough 0, Leeds United 0

Leeds travelled to the Riverside stadium following defeat to Brighton and a win in a bizarre wind affected game at Yeovil. It was a fairly uneventful game with neither team troubling the scoreboard and the points were shared.

Did you see this as poor performance and signs that McDermott's time at Elland Road may be numbered with the impending arrival of Massimo Cellino as the new owner? Or was it a decent point from an average game between two average sides? Here are the thoughts of some of our form members.

The views of lufc1304…

Anyone clinging to the ridiculous notion that we can make the play-offs really needs to get a check-up from the neck up! Middlesbrough are a terrible side, and we couldn't even put them under any pressure apart from 10 minutes at the end when the bore draw was already inevitable. We start with two wingers and Ross and Hunt up front?? I like BMD, but I'm starting to think he's out of his depth. This squad is distinctly average, no doubt, but McDermott should be getting more out of them. He might get until the end of the season but I suspect that'll be his lot.

Butland man of the match by a country mile, really like the look of him. Warnock and Ross both put a shift in, let down by the under-performing remainder. This season can't finish quick enough for me


The views of ldsutd…

We gave them far too much respect to say they hadn't scored in 9 hours. So much for us going for it (McDermott's words) we didn't go for it! For me Brian is on borrowed time and all this balls about the take over putting the players off it's funny how he only mentions it when we lose and he's kissing the fans ass all the time. 2 wins in 10 games isn't the form to get us in the play offs. Man of match for me was Warnock or Butland.


The views of 1964white…

Nice to have a keeper who commands his area, man of the match without any shadow of doubt. Warnock & Murphy did well, no others can take any credit for yet another poor show

McDermott's days are numbered....Cellino's patience will run out with the inept Brian who talks a good game & is a nice man, sadly he is not the man to take our club forward as he is an average/ordinary manager at best. Neanderthal tactics. Players lacking basic skills. Most dangerous moments a couple of long throws. No progress on the field this season. That was equivalent to League 2 football, some of our play is embarrassing so much so I actually laugh out loud at the comedy moments such as those sliced clearances.

Butland must wonder what he has let himself in for as our defenders did their best to break Middlesbrough's hoodoo of not scoring a goal in nine hours of football by over-hitting the ball back to him! I don't understand why we persist in having the ball in the air so much, long balls hoofed up from the back, ping pong headers, balls lobbed up more in hope that our not so fast forwards will get on the end of them....makes you wonder what they do under the guidance of McDermott at Thorp Arch.


The views of gessa…

Regardless of what the reason was that Cellino sacked McDermott, since then he must have thought why were these fans so vocal in his support, they must be easily pleased if this is the football they want.

He's had 12 months now and regardless of the off field activities he should have the team playing better than that each week, we have not improved at all under him, no more excuses, he's a nice guy, so what, I'd rather have a horrible ****** that can get a team playing, if I were in Cellino's position as soon as Football League approval came through the first thing I'd do is sack him.


The views of weasel…

A standard game in a poor division between 2 average teams.

I feel Brian McDermott's approach was correct. Keep things tight rather than having an open game and giving Middlesbrough confidence by letting them get a lot of shots in. Last 15 minutes all Leeds and unlucky not to get the win. Middlesbrough didn't really create much. 1 well struck shot from long range and 1 punt into the box which fell kindly to their striker.

We took on a Middlesbrough side with a great defensive record of late but also a poor scoring record. If we went gung ho from the off it is likely Middlesbrough would have contained us and ripped us apart as we overcommitted men forward. As such they'd have been getting shots in, getting confidence up and likely to score. We'd then have the problem off trying to equalise against a very good defence and excellent keeper which would have led to us probably conceding more on the break.

In the last 15 minutes we came close twice. Firstly when the ball went across the 6 yard box with McCormack unfortunately unable to get to it - if he'd have been the right side of the ball a simple tap in for a goal. Secondly McCormack's shot which Given turned onto the post. Yes the ref had given a free kick but there was nothing wrong with Smith's role in he build up - just once more poor refereeing in that cos Smith is big he isn't allowed to compete.

Yes we weren't great. We don't have great players, we don't even have many good players. Middlesbrough though are not just some poor team, they are defensively solid and all-round a decent side. Again, similar to the match v Brighton, how many Leeds players picked today would get into a combined starting 11 if using both team's players. Reality check time.

A good point. Yes 3 would have been nice but we have to be realistic in our expectations.


Read more of our members views on the Boro game in the forums

Middlesbrough Team
Given, Friend, Chalobah. Varga, Main (Adomah 72), Graham, Woodgate, Butterfield (Ledesma 77), Kamara (Tomlin 67), Omeruo, Leadbitter
Unused Subs: Konstantopoulos, Whitehead, Morris, Atkinson

Leeds United Team
Butland, Peltier, Pearce, Wootton, Warnock, Murphy, Austin, Stewart, Kebe, Hunt (Smith 82), McCormack
Unused Subs: Cairns, Zaliukas, Brown, Tonge, Mowatt, Poleon, Smith