Man of the Match vs Middlesbro' - RESULT

[andrewjohnsmith]

James
Ampadu
Rodon
Soloman
Bogle
Bamford

I think we have a match

Except I inadvertently added Darlow as a 7th

[Jammy 07]

He's really struggling recently and probably needs a rest.

But he does things that go completely unnoticed, clever things.

Like the James goal.

At the start Piroe and Solomon are basically side by side with a defender in front of JP racing back.

If JP keeps sprinting that defender tracks him he is exactly where Solomon plays the ball and likely clears it.

But Piroe slows down, so the defender slows down, and that space for the cross is free.

He does this a lot, he makes space for passes and teammates with intelligence and movement that often goes completely unnoticed because its so subtle.

Weasel I think has mentioned this as well.

He's certainly struggling though and it may do him good a break.

But not sure Paddy has the fitness for 90 minute battles vs fresh defenders.

Clutching at straws a bit there mate on the goal last night.

Piroe was a yard offside when Firpo played the through ball so the only good thing he did was not chasing it and getting flagged offside.

[1964white]

3 is multiple... plus wasted other good positions, which happens of course but you don't mark a player up for that..

James (5) Soloman (6) errors, not much between them

James, one fantastic run that led to Piroe's chance saved, three delightful passes & his goal. His exceptional pace gets him into some great positions, yes Dan messes up, but don't they all.

Soloman, two wonderful crosses.

[1964white]

I think we have a match

Except I inadvertently added Darlow as a 7th

I didn't realise that, Andrew.

For me, it was a close run contest for the MOTM between James, Ampadu & Rodon.

Once again, Ampadu was superb in the centre-back role, just as Howson was for Boro'

[andrewjohnsmith]

I didn't realise that, Andrew.

For me, it was a close run contest for the MOTM between James, Ampadu & Rodon.

Once again, Ampadu was superb in the centre-back role, just as Howson was for Boro'

I haven't heard anyone mention Howson. But I thought he was fantastic last night. He was certainly doing his best to not get us promoted.

[1964white]

I haven't heard anyone mention Howson. But I thought he was fantastic last night. He was certainly doing his best to not get us promoted.

Jonny was a fine player for us, captain of course!

[Cjay]

Clutching at straws a bit there mate on the goal last night.

Piroe was a yard offside when Firpo played the through ball so the only good thing he did was not chasing it and getting flagged offside.

Not really.

Point still stands, watch the goal back.

Soon as Piroe slowed the defender slows, Piroe doesn't slow defender doesn't slow and the space for that cross is gone.

I realise many of our fans would have preferred he didn't slow and rugby tackled the goalie

[mentalcase]

I haven't heard anyone mention Howson. But I thought he was fantastic last night. He was certainly doing his best to not get us promoted.

He had a great game because he was marking Piroe, a player unable to make aerial challenges, Howson won them all, also a tough tackler, again howson won them all.
Not knocking Johnny, he's 100%, always has been, I also knew him when he was coming through the ranks as I know his father.
Btw, bamford isn't much of an improvement in the aerial or physical department either, lets get delap in the summer for a strong robust CF.

[Jammy 07]

Not really.

Point still stands, watch the goal back.

Soon as Piroe slowed the defender slows, Piroe doesn't slow defender doesn't slow and the space for that cross is gone.

I realise many of our fans would have preferred he didn't slow and rugby tackled the goalie

Yes he did slow down to allow room in front of him for Solomon to either drive into and/or cross the ball. You do realise you're giving him credit for actually just keeping out of the way of a teammate, which is kinda what you're supposed to do rather than killing his space.

Plus if he'd made a move towards the ball there's a very good chance that the flag would have gone up. Should we praise him for that as also rather than actually potentially ruining the match winning move by being offside ?

[1964white]

Yes he did slow down to allow room in front of him for Solomon to either drive into and/or cross the ball. You do realise you're giving him credit for actually just keeping out of the way of a teammate, which is kinda what you're supposed to do rather than killing his space.

Plus if he'd made a move towards the ball there's a very good chance that the flag would have gone up. Should we praise him for that as also rather than actually potentially ruining the match winning move by being offside ?

I wonder which championship club Piroe will be strolling for next season if we are promoted.

I can't see Piroe, Bamford or Joseph remaining at Leeds unless we are still in the championship.

[Cjay]

Yes he did slow down to allow room in front of him for Solomon to either drive into and/or cross the ball. You do realise you're giving him credit for actually just keeping out of the way of a teammate, which is kinda what you're supposed to do rather than killing his space.

Plus if he'd made a move towards the ball there's a very good chance that the flag would have gone up. Should we praise him for that as also rather than actually potentially ruining the match winning move by being offside ?

The pass wasn't for him why would he move for the ball?

And yeah I think having the awareness to not just charge into the 6 yard box and actually slowing down to allow the space for the cross is praise worthy.

He isn't keeping out of the way of Solomon he's keeping the defender out of the way of the only place he can cross to.

[1964white]

He had a great game because he was marking Piroe, a player unable to make aerial challenges, Howson won them all, also a tough tackler, again howson won them all.
Not knocking Johnny, he's 100%, always has been, I also knew him when he was coming through the ranks as I know his father.
Btw, bamford isn't much of an improvement in the aerial or physical department either, lets get delap in the summer for a strong robust CF.

I loved Jonny Howson, scored the opening goal in the memorable Bristol Rovers match that saw us promoted from League One to the Championship.

Remember Howson getting a winning goal at Carlisle & a hat trick at Scunthorpe, the years when I used to follow Leeds home & away when we were

[malcolmw]

I'm still waiting for Leeds United to upload the Full Match Replay on LUTV.

I can't judge certain aspects of our game last night, as I was blowing a fuse with the officials & so tensed up, I almost hid behind the sofa, I was that wound up.

Furthermore, I need to be calm & concentrated to make a reasonable assessment.

Well I blew a fuse just watching the 3 minutes highlights. Both our disallowed goals seemed clearly onside - especially Tanaka's. Heidi's blog seems to confirm that from the touchline perspective.

Terrible officiating. Only blessing is it didn't affect the outcome for us. But could quite easily have.

There should be some recourse for that sort of thing for clubs. It seems there is no accountability for the officials - reviews should be held and a corrective and improvement process put in place - just like managing any organization.

How does this situation improve if there is no remediation and improvement process? I don't buy this - 'the ref saw what he saw in the moment' BS!!
Shocking.

[andrewjohnsmith]

The pass wasn't for him why would he move for the ball?

And yeah I think having the awareness to not just charge into the 6 yard box and actually slowing down to allow the space for the cross is praise worthy.

He isn't keeping out of the way of Solomon he's keeping the defender out of the way of the only place he can cross to.

Anything you say regarding Piroe or Bamford is clouded in prejudice, therefore null and void, and immediately ignored.

[Cjay]

Anything you say regarding Piroe or Bamford is clouded in prejudice, therefore null and void, and immediately ignored.

One of the original Bamford defenders on here actually

[1964white]

We've forced Piroe into the striker position but he's a player that is best as a second forward. He's had a very good season for the most part.

You could say that Piroe should have 25 goals, could also say Farke should have us on nearly 100 points this season

The Preston game proved my point.

Six shots, not one on target.

[1964white]

Middlesbrough

87 James
57 Ampadu
49 Rodon
44 Soloman
36 Firpo
27 Bamford
21 Gruev
16 Bogle
09 Tanaka
06 Darlow
04 Schmidt
01 Byram

Man Of The Match

Ampadu (Portsmouth)
Gnonto (Middlesbro' C.Cup)
Struijk (West Brom)
Aaronson (Sheff Wed)
Firpo (Hull City)
Ampadu (Burnley)
Gnonto (Cardiff City)
Gnonto (Coventry City
Gnonto (Norwich City)
Gnonto (Sunderland)
Tanaka (Sheffield United)
Tanaka (Watford)
Tanaka (Bristol City)
Tanaka (Plymouth Argyle)
Rodon (Millwall)
Tanaka/Rothwell (QPR)
Tanaka (Swansea City)
Struijk (Luton Town)
Rodon (Blackburn Rovers)
Rodon (Derby County)
James (Middlesbrough)
James (Preston North End)
Solomon (Oxford United)
Piroe (Stoke City)
Aaronson (Derby County)
Solomon (Blackburn Rovers)
Tanaka (Hull City)
Solomon (Harrogate Town)
Ampadu (Sheffield Wednesday)
Bogle (Norwich City)
Bogle= (Burnley)
Rodon= (Burnley)
James (Cardiff City)
Meslier (Coentry City)
Rothwell (Millwall. FA Cup)
James (Watford)
Struijk (Sunderland)
Firpo (Sheffield United)
Rodon (West Bromwich Albion)
Rodon (Portsmouth)
Tanaka (Millwall)
Bogle (QPR)
Struijk (Swansea City)
James (Luton Town)
James (Middlesbrough)

Combined Total After Game 44

1398 Tanaka
1245 Aaronson
1195 James
1162 Rodon
1142 Soloman
933 Gnonto
889 Struijk
854 Bogle
822 Rothwell
813 Ampadu
706 Firpo
528 Piroe
344 Ramazani
265 Joseph
252 Meslier
228 Byram
125 Gruev
075 Wober
074 Darlow
070 Schmidt
052 Rutter
038 Chambers
009 Guilavogui
031 Bamford
001 Gelhardt

[1964white]

Sixth MOTM award for Dan James.