Leeds v Toon, team news, reports, ratings,etc

[Dr.Leeds]

So who was Emsley's sister dancing with at the Christmas Party?

It was a policeman, and she wasn't dancing, she was resisting arrest.

[Drs.Dad]

So who was Emsley's sister dancing with at the Christmas Party?

Dunno, perhaps that was her fighting with a Pierce sister in Leeds City Centre t'other night?
:mrgreen:

[1964white]

I can only endorse Drs Dad's anaylsis/report of today's game, well the majority of it

The Toon didn't close us down or go in like wild animals as Sheffield Wed did which allowed both teams to play football

On this evidence Newcastle could struggle this season as their defense looks very vunerable gifting us the first two goals, infact all five goals were poor goals to concede ! We went to sleep on the Toon's first allowing a man running from the back into a wide open space to score where you'd expect Parker to defend
Fraser Forster (remember the keeper who gifted us Beckford last minute winner v Norwich) well he was at his old tricks again misjudging a cross as he flapped like a bird only to watch Kisnorbo to tap in from close range. Our second goal came from a defender fannying about allowing Sam to score a deflected goal. Sam did well for our third goal beating his man & crossing straight onto Paynter's head who bundled the ball in off the keeper & the post i think. I could of scored that one !

Lonergan 8 - made two fine saves
Connolly 7 - solid steady performance
O'Brien 9 - his only 45 minutes of the pre-season & our defence looked totally different than it did last week
Kisnorbo 9 - his best pre-season performance, more comfortable palying alongside OB, tackles & bravery from Kis
Parker 4 - very poor, out of position far too often & some wayward passing
Snoddy 7 - steady performance from Snod
Brown 8 - gives us more bite in midfield
Clayton 8 - very impressed with young Adam today after a solid game last week
Howson 9 - probably my MOTM, made some terrific runs, another captain's performance
Gradel 9 - a constant threat, this fella never gives up chasing down or a ball that looks a lost cause
McCormack 6 - disappointed with Ross today, made some good runs down the channels though

Bromby - 5
Lees - 6
Numez - 6
Sam - 7
Paynter - 5
Mendy-Wanchope - 6
Hungarian Goulash - 5

Lonergan, Connolly, Brown & Howson played 90 minutes today

Plenty of Toon fans there. Don't the profess to be the best fans in the land "can you hear the Toon fans sing NO NO"

Leeds fans outsung the Geordies

An enjoyable day was had by all

[Emsley]

How did my sis get dragged into this!

[Drs.Dad]

I can only endorse Drs Dad's anaylsis/report of today's game, well the majority of it

Doc's Family Confusion Pod strikes again!!!!!

T'was younger offspring's report, not mine......... he uses much longer words than me
:mrgreen:

[Silky]

I was only half-listening to the game while watching the Grand Prix, but It sounded to me that everyone whom we wanted to play well, did play well... Heart was in my mouth when they said Gradel was rolling around on the ground in agony..

As i've been saying.. Lonergan, Kisnorbo & O'Brien, Brown & Clayton..... it instantly gives us more bite and more determination, and it frees up Jonny Howson to play further up the field instead of constantly tracking back...

I know it's only a friendly, and i'm not suggesting for a second that we'll romp the division, but we have a more than competitive team that will do just fine, and with a few more additions, we'll be one of the teams to beat.

Keith Andrews, Michael Brown, Patrick Kisnorbo, and Andy O'Brien.... now there is some mongrel in that lot.... Play Snoddy, Max, & Howson in front of them and hey presto! we have a perfectly balanced side!

[matttempest]

wasn't too impressed with snoddy today? i know he's been on the sidelines for a while, but he didn't look sharp, slightly more overweight than he usally does and generally failed to beat his man when dribbling. Dead ball stuff was good though.

Lonners.. 8 good saves
Parker....5 looked very suspect
O'brien....8 looked solid
Kis........9 very solid didn't miss a header great saving tackle
Collony...8 didn't seem to do anything wrong solid game
Brown....8 gave the defence some much needed support, some great tackles
Clayton...8 was very impressed, seems to have great vision and ran his heart out
Howson...10 was fantastic, so composed these days on the ball, turns so tightly and skipps passed people with ease
Gradel... 9 Had their defenders on toast, don't think when he was running at defenders he got tackled once
Snoddy..6 not as sharp as he can be (i know he's been injured) did ok though, good deliveries just lacking that bit of magic we love him for, but game time should do it
McCormack...7 looked extremly sharp to start off with faded slightly. Made some good runs but didn't always recieve the ball

[Genghers]

I would agree with most of the comments above... Snoddy did look a bit off pace, but hopefully he's just getting back to fitness still. I thought Parker was ok, but far from what we need. Bodor did a solid job when he came on and I think I'd prefer him as first choice over Parker, but it's the one position which is still a worry.
Sam looked in good shape and showed a lot of drive, if he can get to the level he was at last season start then he'll be good cover. Mendy didn't get much of the ball, but seems to have decent skill and pace for a lanky lad!
The Howson, Clayton, Brown midfield was solid and Jonny was pretty much everywhere and getting stuck in with defensive as well as attacking duties.
Kis and OB looked good at the back, though I don't think OB is 100% yet. Bromby and Lees did a decent enough job too, though I'd say only 1 should be on at once as Kis commanded the back line much better.
Lonergan made some great saves and had very little chance with the 2 goals (the first of which came about because Brown got flattened before he could jump for it!)

[Drs.Dad]

Can't argue too much with all the above, LB was the only glaring weak spot, until Bodor came on anyway, that needs addressing asap. Up front was also a concern...... playing solo up front is not Macca's forte, imho he needs to play off or behind a target man, and Billy just isn't good enough to do it either, although I pray he proves me wrong! Becchio would have been a thorn in the Barcodes paws, with the threat we pose from our wing men as one hell of a backup!
So, we desperately need to get Luci back into the frame, fighting fit, and possibly identify and sign another big man early doors, even if it's a short term loan (did I just say that?????)

[yorkshiremackem]

howson man of match for me, he was everywhere and made barton look rubbish and put him out of a job .
parker was crap and some of browns passing was dire. played well and it was a good game(was drunk so it could have been poor). need left back sorted and another center midfielder for next week