Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[1964white]

Geo has yet to be a liability…. We’re probably in the chasing group with Preston and Norwich without him

He was a liability last night, constantly putting our defence under pressure, sometimes when a team start to dominate us as Stoke did in the second-half, our players need to learn to play the simple passes & retain possession of the ball, not needlessly give it away.

Farke tends to keep Rutter on the pitch for the majority of the games, not the case last night, hence the reason Piroe came on for Georginio to retain the ball much better!

[Cjay]

Farke's here - team news?
I expect more or less the same squad as available as last night. There were a few knocks and hits, but apart from this everyone came throughout without bigger problems.


Rutter strength to hits?
My offensive players have to handle physicality and some fouls. Once you are in the spotlight as an attacker, the opponents are more focused, double the players, play more aggressively and to impress with physicality. Sometimes over the line. The referee needs to protect the players more.

Same 30 years ago and in the next 30 years. Special players have to handle this aggression and physicality against them. Not easy for young players, but we have to learn it. I like how Cree, Georgi and Willy have handled it so far


Anyone knocking on the door in the youth ranks that has impressed you?
We believe in our youth and it's a cornerstone of our philosophy. We rely on that. When I think how we finished the next game we had Willy, Archie and Mateo on the pitch. Summerville and Rutter before, both young. Cannot overdo this philosophy and bring them in when they are ready. We do not want too watch fluctuation at this time of the season. Need a core group who are working well and know our processes.

Don't want to name names and put weight on their shoulders. One of those who has caught our eye is currently injured, perhaps you can guess who it is.


Poveda missing?
Yes.

[Rohl talks about mentors like Flick. Who are yours?]

Danny is in his first steps as a head coach, as a manager. They had a major boost in results. Five wins in six, four on the spin. Impressive. Important you have managers you can speak to. After several years, you still have colleagues and contacts, but it's not a mentor anymore or an idol. It's more like that when you are younger.

Flick, we had a good exchange when he was with Germany and I had several of his players at Gladbach. Good to be connected with experts with knowledge. Good for Danny to listen to these coaches.


Crazy game?
Never know. Two sides in very good form in different positions, but if they can win four in a row they are in a very good place. Still in place where they have to fight for survival. One of the most in-form teams at the moment, but so are we.

I don't see any reason why we travel in fear. We know their pitch is not that great. They will play pretty aggressively. Do not travel in fear



Will it take a record total to finish second?
I was quite good in maths at school, but as a manager I am not interested in maths anymore. I would not sign for 96 points now because I want to win all 10 games. May not be realistic to end this season with 22 wins in a row. Will not happen in this season. I am sure if you have around 96 you will finish in a good position. The record for us, Leeds, is 93?

[No, the record for second place overall is 93].

Teams at the other end will make it hard for is. We don't too much math. Just concentrating on game after game. Hopefully success in he next one. Good for the fans to speculate. We love to do that, but it's not about math.



Joseph ready to start?
We are happy with this development after a long-term injury at the start of the season. Excited about him in pre-season and his development. That's why we rewarded him with a new contract.

We cannot say he is the go-to guy in the run-in at the moment. We have lots of competition there. Mateo has shown what he is capable of, in the cup, like the last 25 minutes last night. Keeps going like this his minutes will increase. Perhaps he can have this big impact down the home stretch.



Struijk back on the other side of the break?
It feels crazy in the last two months we never spoke about him and thank God we didn't because our defence was spot on. He has worn the armband often this season. A cornerstone for our future. It's not like he will be back in his best shape on day one. Not far from team training, back in that at the latest towards the end of the break. Hopefully ASAP in his best possible shape.

[1964white]

Farke's here - team news?
I expect more or less the same squad as available as last night. There were a few knocks and hits, but apart from this everyone came throughout without bigger problems.


Rutter strength to hits?
My offensive players have to handle physicality and some fouls. Once you are in the spotlight as an attacker, the opponents are more focused, double the players, play more aggressively and to impress with physicality. Sometimes over the line. The referee needs to protect the players more.

Same 30 years ago and in the next 30 years. Special players have to handle this aggression and physicality against them. Not easy for young players, but we have to learn it. I like how Cree, Georgi and Willy have handled it so far


Anyone knocking on the door in the youth ranks that has impressed you?
We believe in our youth and it's a cornerstone of our philosophy. We rely on that. When I think how we finished the next game we had Willy, Archie and Mateo on the pitch. Summerville and Rutter before, both young. Cannot overdo this philosophy and bring them in when they are ready. We do not want too watch fluctuation at this time of the season. Need a core group who are working well and know our processes.

Don't want to name names and put weight on their shoulders. One of those who has caught our eye is currently injured, perhaps you can guess who it is.


Poveda missing?
Yes.

[Rohl talks about mentors like Flick. Who are yours?]

Danny is in his first steps as a head coach, as a manager. They had a major boost in results. Five wins in six, four on the spin. Impressive. Important you have managers you can speak to. After several years, you still have colleagues and contacts, but it's not a mentor anymore or an idol. It's more like that when you are younger.

Flick, we had a good exchange when he was with Germany and I had several of his players at Gladbach. Good to be connected with experts with knowledge. Good for Danny to listen to these coaches.


Crazy game?
Never know. Two sides in very good form in different positions, but if they can win four in a row they are in a very good place. Still in place where they have to fight for survival. One of the most in-form teams at the moment, but so are we.

I don't see any reason why we travel in fear. We know their pitch is not that great. They will play pretty aggressively. Do not travel in fear



Will it take a record total to finish second?
I was quite good in maths at school, but as a manager I am not interested in maths anymore. I would not sign for 96 points now because I want to win all 10 games. May not be realistic to end this season with 22 wins in a row. Will not happen in this season. I am sure if you have around 96 you will finish in a good position. The record for us, Leeds, is 93?

[No, the record for second place overall is 93].

Teams at the other end will make it hard for is. We don't too much math. Just concentrating on game after game. Hopefully success in he next one. Good for the fans to speculate. We love to do that, but it's not about math.



Joseph ready to start?
We are happy with this development after a long-term injury at the start of the season. Excited about him in pre-season and his development. That's why we rewarded him with a new contract.

We cannot say he is the go-to guy in the run-in at the moment. We have lots of competition there. Mateo has shown what he is capable of, in the cup, like the last 25 minutes last night. Keeps going like this his minutes will increase. Perhaps he can have this big impact down the home stretch.



Struijk back on the other side of the break?
It feels crazy in the last two months we never spoke about him and thank God we didn't because our defence was spot on. He has worn the armband often this season. A cornerstone for our future. It's not like he will be back in his best shape on day one. Not far from team training, back in that at the latest towards the end of the break. Hopefully ASAP in his best possible shape.

Thanks, Cjay.

[DDB220]

He was a liability last night, constantly putting our defence under pressure, sometimes when a team start to dominate us as Stoke did in the second-half, our players need to learn to play the simple passes & retain possession of the ball, not needlessly give it away.

Farke tends to keep Rutter on the pitch for the majority of the games, not the case last night, hence the reason Piroe came on for Georginio to retain the ball much better!

I think liability is a strong term. I understand your thinking but Geo’s tendencies in possession are very much risk and reward based. The risk is heightened when he is dropping deep and losing possession.
This is why he wasn’t used in the 10 role earlier in the season. He has for the most part developed a stronger sense of responsibility.
However, when things are not coming off for him, and there have been a few games of late, he does not temper his natural instincts in possession. If anything he tries even harder, which can exacerbate the issue. He will learn and he needs to because if we go up he will struggle on a far more regular basis if he cannot compromise in possession. By this I mean recognising in certain situations that playing it simple is the better choice. Effectively - game management.
DF has a real balancing act to manage with Geo.

[1964white]

I think liability is a strong term. I understand your thinking but Geo’s tendencies in possession are very much risk and reward based. The risk is heightened when he is dropping deep and losing possession.
This is why he wasn’t used in the 10 role earlier in the season. He has for the most part developed a stronger sense of responsibility.
However, when things are not coming off for him, and there have been a few games of late, he does not temper his natural instincts in possession. If anything he tries even harder, which can exacerbate the issue. He will learn and he needs to because if we go up he will struggle on a far more regular basis if he cannot compromise in possession. By this I mean recognising in certain situations that playing it simple is the better choice. Effectively - game management.
DF has a real balancing act to manage with Geo.

Totally agree

When Georginio is on it, he is pleasure to watch, not so great when things are not going right for him, especially when we trying to get a foothold of a game.

[GreennWhite]

I think this game against SW is going to be as hard a game as we will have played all season. Their tails are up and they wont go into this game fearing us.
3 points will be extremely hard to come by, but oh so important.

[The Subhuman]

He's been brilliant, love Georgie

But when you are the most dispossessed player on the pitch with the worst pass accuracy which he has been at times this season then you are putting your team under pressure.

Not to mention he is officially the worst finisher in the league.

Risk vs reward player.

Been brilliant a ton, but has been a weakness as well.

Wouldn't change him, the finishing will come. His brand of chaos football will always keep us in games and it's down to those behind him to cover for his expected errors ... He's an improviser supreme and that will often go awry.

[Irish Ian]

If we can work put how to get Rutter recieving the ball facing the right way round I think we have a chance of dominating this one.

Summerville looks to have been booted once to many and surely woukd benefit from being rotated with Gnonto.

And Amps back in MF please alongside either Gray or Kamara.

[1964white]

Wouldn't change him, the finishing will come. His brand of chaos football will always keep us in games and it's down to those behind him to cover for his expected errors ... He's an improviser supreme and that will often go awry.

For that reason, I think Georginio has to start.

[Sean_Nile]

Sheffield Wednesday is a stupid name for a football team. Sheffield Saturday would have been more sensible, since games are played at the weekend. With a name like that they just can't be taken seriously. And I ask what have owls got to do with Wednesday. It just does not make any sense.

If there is as much logic going into managing of the team as there was choosing names and crests then they deserve to be thrashed within an inch of their lives for engaging in such mind boggling stupidity.

[Carrick Dave]

I think liability is a strong term. I understand your thinking but Geo’s tendencies in possession are very much risk and reward based. The risk is heightened when he is dropping deep and losing possession.
This is why he wasn’t used in the 10 role earlier in the season. He has for the most part developed a stronger sense of responsibility.
However, when things are not coming off for him, and there have been a few games of late, he does not temper his natural instincts in possession. If anything he tries even harder, which can exacerbate the issue. He will learn and he needs to because if we go up he will struggle on a far more regular basis if he cannot compromise in possession. By this I mean recognising in certain situations that playing it simple is the better choice. Effectively - game management.
DF has a real balancing act to manage with Geo.

Good balanced view DDB. I agree about the balancing act too.

[Jaydog]

Sheffield Wednesday is a stupid name for a football team. Sheffield Saturday would have been more sensible, since games are played at the weekend. With a name like that they just can't be taken seriously. And I ask what have owls got to do with Wednesday. It just does not make any sense.

If there is as much logic going into managing of the team as there was choosing names and crests then they deserve to be thrashed within an inch of their lives for engaging in such mind boggling stupidity.

Seems they were ahead of their time as games are now played any day of the week. Maybe Sheffield Anyday or Sheffield Weekday would’ve been more apt.

[The Subhuman]

We're re-naming ourselves Leeds Friday

[Carrick Dave]

Apropos of nothing, has anyone else noticed that we tend to start a lot of games with a move that makes us look like vintage Barca, don't score and then go flat?

We did it against both Stoke and the DBs.

[Sean_Nile]

We're re-naming ourselves Leeds Friday

Perhaps it is a secret deal with Sky TV that Sheffield get paid for playing on Wednesday nights

[andrewjohnsmith]

We're re-naming ourselves Leeds Friday

Like the Red Bull Clubs. We can be Sky TV Leeds

[whiteswan]

I think this game against SW is going to be as hard a game as we will have played all season. Their tails are up and they wont go into this game fearing us.
3 points will be extremely hard to come by, but oh so important.

Totally agree GW

[whiteswan]

Sheffield Wednesday is a stupid name for a football team. Sheffield Saturday would have been more sensible, since games are played at the weekend. With a name like that they just can't be taken seriously. And I ask what have owls got to do with Wednesday. It just does not make any sense.

If there is as much logic going into managing of the team as there was choosing names and crests then they deserve to be thrashed within an inch of their lives for engaging in such mind boggling stupidity.

Originally played games on a Wed afternoon when the players had Wednesday afternoons off work

[Sean_Nile]

Seems they were ahead of their time as games are now played any day of the week. Maybe Sheffield Anyday or Sheffield Weekday would’ve been more apt.

Those whom the gods would destroy, they make fun of first.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Originally played games on a Wed afternoon when the players had Wednesday afternoons off work

I could see that been scrapped after everyone went back to work on Thursday hungover