Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United - Post Match Chat

[1964white]

Again. The consensus of you and a couple of typists. Most did not think Bamford was poor first half.

Enjoy my Bamford review, Andrew

[LUFC_BOS]

Unbeaten and we're chuffed to bits, but your avatar dosen't look too happy.

thank you Mental, I lost my old avatar. But on your advice will look for another one although I always liked this shirt. I still have mine from those time, but alas it has seen better days.

[DDB220]

Paddy did nothing of note in the first-half until his goal

Well, I took the time to watch the first-half again. Strangely enough, I wrote a full page on A4 paper on Paddy's contribution.

Bear in mind, Wednesday played with a back five, with their two centre-backs both marking Bamford.

1m Chased down three defenders & then pressed the keeper.

2m Bamford fouled from the back as he attempted to hold the ball up.

3m Gray crosses the ball & Paddy delivers a delightful pass to Rutter, who shoots wildly past the near post.

5m Paddy runs into the six yard box to no avail as the cross is cut out.

8m Bamford wins a header straight to Gnonto's feet & passes to Gray who runs into the box but loses control of the ball.

13m Presses the keeper who is rushed into kicking the ball up field & we win possession.

21m Defensive headed clearance from an Owls corner.

23m Runs into the box holding the ball up with nowhere to go as both centre-backs block him off the ball.

25m Bamford's movement drew two defenders to the right, unfortunately Ampadu's pass to Firpo came to nothing.

27m Bamford races into a ball over the top from Ampadu, controls the ball & runs into box with three defenders around him to block his shot.

27m As a consequence the ball rebounds out of the box, Paddy chases back & makes a perfectly fair sliding tackle, only for the referee to rule the challenge as foul, & award Wednesday a free-kick.

35m From an Owls corner-kick the ball is cleared, Bamford chases the defender who passes back to the keeper who in turn boots the ball up field & we regain possession again.

37m Bamford hold his run to stay onside & recovers the ball, only to misplace his pass.

43m Bamford wins a tackle & plays a neat pass to Rutter, & then Paddy follows up & loops a pass over a defender to Summerville, only for Cree to lose possession.

45+4m Paddy gets his just reward as he races into the box at back post latching onto Firpo's sublime cross to score a lovely tap in right on the half-time whistle.

64 - I admire your work, but the reality is people see football through different lenses depending on what the person finds appealing watching a game. So whatever your perception on what Bamford did well others may interpret that differently.

I am no great fan of Bamford’s as a player, but our turnaround in form when he returned to the starting line up is not concidental. There is absolutely zero chance of him getting replaced in the starting line up if he is fit. To suggest a kid comes in who had a great cameo against Chelsea is just ludicrous considering the position we are in.
Bamford is not setting the world on fire for me but he is doing what he is best at and the fact he has scored 8 in the 11 games or something like that, means he is on top of his game. His timing has in this sense has been superb for us.

Joseph might be the next big thing, and some will stick their neck out that he is with feverish certainty on the basis of one game against a very unpredictable Chelsea team, who are poor as often as they are good this season.

For me at this stage of the season you need experience in the team. As you say Joseph’s time will come and I think he will have his part to play in the run in, as will Piroe, Dan James et al. A lot can happen in 90 minutes, never mind 9 games.

[Cjay]

Paddy did nothing of note in the first-half until his goal

Well, I took the time to watch the first-half again. Strangely enough, I wrote a full page on A4 paper on Paddy's contribution.

Bear in mind, Wednesday played with a back five, with their two centre-backs both marking Bamford.

1m Chased down three defenders & then pressed the keeper.

2m Bamford fouled from the back as he attempted to hold the ball up.

3m Gray crosses the ball & Paddy delivers a delightful pass to Rutter, who shoots wildly past the near post.

5m Paddy runs into the six yard box to no avail as the cross is cut out.

8m Bamford wins a header straight to Gnonto's feet & passes to Gray who runs into the box but loses control of the ball.

13m Presses the keeper who is rushed into kicking the ball up field & we win possession.

21m Defensive headed clearance from an Owls corner.

23m Runs into the box holding the ball up with nowhere to go as both centre-backs block him off the ball.

25m Bamford's movement drew two defenders to the right, unfortunately Ampadu's pass to Firpo came to nothing.

27m Bamford races into a ball over the top from Ampadu, controls the ball & runs into box with three defenders around him to block his shot.

27m As a consequence the ball rebounds out of the box, Paddy chases back & makes a perfectly fair sliding tackle, only for the referee to rule the challenge as foul, & award Wednesday a free-kick.

35m From an Owls corner-kick the ball is cleared, Bamford chases the defender who passes back to the keeper who in turn boots the ball up field & we regain possession again.

37m Bamford hold his run to stay onside & recovers the ball, only to misplace his pass.

43m Bamford wins a tackle & plays a neat pass to Rutter, & then Paddy follows up & loops a pass over a defender to Summerville, only for Cree to lose possession.

45+4m Paddy gets his just reward as he races into the box at back post latching onto Firpo's sublime cross to score a lovely tap in right on the half-time whistle.

Oh come on Leon.

If so inclined you could make a list like that for basically any player every game and make it sound brilliant.

And I get accused of stat manipulation . . . .

He gives away a foul but not his fault, he makes a run but never gets the ball, chases the goalie who kicks long and we win the ball back 50 yards away, holds ball up but then gets tackled

Things like that.

If you watched any player you could do this and absolve them of any bad play.

But ok he was great 1st and 2nd half.

[weasel]

He's proven me wrong and basically everyone else.

Doesn't mean we have to pretend he's a world beater every game.

This is it perfectly. The vast majority wrote him off, most would have got rid if anyone had even offered to take him on a free transfer. I always praised his work rate and how important he was to Bielsa's team, often arguing with those who preferred Nketiah or even Tyler Roberts up front. I felt/hoped that there might still be something left in him if he could get over the injuries but his goal scoring run of late has have surprised me even though he has always been a streaky player. That said he has his limitations, and like you say he is no world beater. If he didn't score last night I'm sure a lot more would have been said about how poorly he controlled it when sent clear added to his lack of pace which ruined a superb chance. He appears to have lost some of his pace, whilst he was never lightning quick he seemed to have decent enough speed. He will always work hard and when he backs it up with goals, as he is doing now, then the misses and miscontrols can be forgiven.

[weasel]

I was shocked too - why red?

[weasel]

Paddy did nothing of note in the first-half until his goal

Well, I took the time to watch the first-half again. Strangely enough, I wrote a full page on A4 paper on Paddy's contribution.

Bear in mind, Wednesday played with a back five, with their two centre-backs both marking Bamford.

1m Chased down three defenders & then pressed the keeper.

2m Bamford fouled from the back as he attempted to hold the ball up.

3m Gray crosses the ball & Paddy delivers a delightful pass to Rutter, who shoots wildly past the near post.

5m Paddy runs into the six yard box to no avail as the cross is cut out.

8m Bamford wins a header straight to Gnonto's feet & passes to Gray who runs into the box but loses control of the ball.

13m Presses the keeper who is rushed into kicking the ball up field & we win possession.

21m Defensive headed clearance from an Owls corner.

23m Runs into the box holding the ball up with nowhere to go as both centre-backs block him off the ball.

25m Bamford's movement drew two defenders to the right, unfortunately Ampadu's pass to Firpo came to nothing.

27m Bamford races onto a ball over the top from Ampadu, controls the ball & runs into box with three defenders around him to block his shot.

27m As a consequence the ball rebounds out of the box, Paddy chases back & makes a perfectly fair sliding tackle, only for the referee to rule the challenge as foul, & award Wednesday a free-kick.

35m From an Owls corner-kick the ball is cleared, Bamford chases the defender who passes back to the keeper who in turn boots the ball up field & we regain possession again.

37m Bamford hold his run to stay onside & recovers the ball, only to misplace his pass.

43m Bamford wins a tackle & plays a neat pass to Rutter, & then Paddy follows up & loops a pass over a defender to Summerville, only for Cree to lose possession.

45+4m Paddy gets his just reward as he races into the box at back post latching onto Firpo's sublime cross to score a lovely tap in right on the half-time whistle.

Miscontrols the ball and this combined with his lack of pace ruins a great chance. Apart from that he did well.

[The Subhuman]

We can agree to disagree.

Not going to watch the first half again with the aim of proving a point, that would be childish.

Wednesday are a play forward direct team anyway, don't forget Danny Rohl is a Red Bull lad, so them booting forward and losing the ball is likely as much a byproduct of them and the style as it is anything to do with us (remember how we were under Marsch).

The pass percentage stats tell us the amount of misplaced passes wasn't unusual, 73% is the same as they got vs Plymouth and more than they had vs Rotherham (67%) who I doubt pressed much at all.

It's just a consequence of the Red Bull philosophy with lesser players.

Whether the running around element played a part who knows, we didn't create chances in transition from it first half.

But this is a needless argument after a 2-0 win so just agree that we are both right or something.

[BlackHillsPaul]

Hope you enjoy my comprehensive review on Bamford's first-half contribution, Paul

Just saw it 64. Thank you for taking the time to do some analysis. Cheers!!

[andrewjohnsmith]

Enjoy my Bamford review, Andrew

I did. It was great work. Really commend you for that

[Kennyb41]

Aye, and what total bollocks that is anorl about playing at 'top level'

Tell that to the Gerrards, Lampards, Bryan Robsons, Rooneys and a million other 'top level' players that totally fail in management, and yet a whole load of lesser footballers exceed.

Yet another fckin child wanting to play, go an fck yourself anorl, thy knows feckin naff along wi them.

[Jaydog]

I was shocked too - why red?

Wife’s favourite colour?
I hope you’re not imagining Ash in a mini & heels?

[weasel]

Wife’s favourite colour?
I hope you’re not imagining Ash in a mini & heels?

I am now!

[1964white]

Oh come on Leon.

If so inclined you could make a list like that for basically any player every game and make it sound brilliant.

And I get accused of stat manipulation . . . .

He gives away a foul but not his fault, he makes a run but never gets the ball, chases the goalie who kicks long and we win the ball back 50 yards away, holds ball up but then gets tackled

Things like that.

If you watched any player you could do this and absolve them of any bad play.

But ok he was great 1st and 2nd half.

Bamford made a great effort to recover the ball with a great tackle you don't often see from a No.9, it was a fair tackle, the referee called it wrong.

He pressed their back four & the keeper, not allowing them to play out from the back in an effort to win back possession. In other words, he defends from the front, occupying centre-backs by working his socks off, unlike other No.9's who amble around waiting for things to happen.

It's no coincidence why we have witnessed such an upturn in our form since Paddy returned. We now have a solid spine in Meslier, Rodon/Ampadu, Kamara/Gruev & Bamford in our team, something we have lacked for many years.

[1964white]

I did. It was great work. Really commend you for that

Thank you!

[1964white]

Bamford is not setting the world on fire for me but he is doing what he is best at and the fact he has scored 8 in the 11 games or something like that, means he is on top of his game. His timing has in this sense has been superb for us.

Is scoring 8 goals in 11 games not setting the world on fire?

Probably in the goalscoring form of his career & the most prolific scorer in the championship in 2024.

He is now achieving what Summerville & Rutter are struggling to do of late, let's hope our dynamic duo get their shooting boots on again.

[Kennyb41]

Bamford made a great effort to recover the ball with a great tackle you don't often see from a No.9, it was a fair tackle, the referee called it wrong.

He pressed their back four & the keeper, not allowing them to play out from the back in an effort to win back possession. In other words, he defends from the front, occupying centre-backs by working his socks off, unlike other No.9's who amble around waiting for things to happen.

It's no coincidence why we have witnessed such an upturn in our form since Paddy returned. We now have a solid spine in Meslier, Rodon/Ampadu, Kamara/Gruev & Bamford in our team, something we have lacked for many years.

Thas only reet again Sid.

I'm getting worried.

[Kennyb41]

Is scoring 8 goals in 11 games not setting the world on fire?

Probably in the goalscoring form of his career & the most prolific scorer in the championship in 2024.

He is now doing what Summerville & Rutter are struggling to do of late, let's hope our dynamic duo get their shooting boots on again.

Like Bert, DF would still have a fit PB in his side even if he wasn't scoring, coz he's a team player, and i have no doubt if PB wasn't the one banging them in, then one of the other 3 would be, we are NOT dependent on any single one of them, and throughout this season goals have come from all, and now even after just some brief cameos and 1 full game, he seems to have worked on Joseph to be able to step in as well if needed.

[Kennyb41]

Bamford made a great effort to recover the ball with a great tackle you don't often see from a No.9, it was a fair tackle, the referee called it wrong.

He pressed their back four & the keeper, not allowing them to play out from the back in an effort to win back possession. In other words, he defends from the front, occupying centre-backs by working his socks off, unlike other No.9's who amble around waiting for things to happen.

It's no coincidence why we have witnessed such an upturn in our form since Paddy returned. We now have a solid spine in Meslier, Rodon/Ampadu, Kamara/Gruev & Bamford in our team, something we have lacked for many years.

Les Mes
White/Cooper
KP
PB

How many years ? About 3 ?

Jeez God i do miss him.

It's probably 4.

[weasel]

Les Mes
White/Cooper
KP
PB

How many years ? About 3 ?

Jeez God i do miss him.

It's probably 4.

It is interesting that you continually praise Bamford, who Bielsa turned into the striker he is, yet continually want Cooper back in defence whereas throughout his managerial career Bielsa has often converted central midfielders into centrebacks (and wingers into fullbacks) and continually gone for players who were more comfortable with the ball at the feet rather than prioritising tackling. I think Bielsa would have loved to have had Ampadu in his defence although he would probably have also encouraged Gruev to play more of those long raking passes too.