Leeds v Brighton - Team/Reports/Ratings....

[YorkshireSquare]

Ordinary performance. Defending poor down the left. Pelts tons better down the right. First 15 we were shocking. We got better but Kenny saved us 3 times. Arguably motm but that accolade for me goes to Murphy. Everything a signing should be (the antithesis of Diouf). Young, loads of potential, energy, imaginative and will sell for more than he cost. Bowyer, Howson, Murphy - the priceless ability to get ahead of the ball. 10k stay aways returned. Had they stayed we may have had a 2 million pound striker. Sorry to be sanctimonious GW but that's the reality. Staying away costs. Fact.

Had we not wasted £600,000 a year on a radio station, £500,000 on private jets and several million on ground redevelopments (The upper east corporate seats being the only visible empty seats today apart from the unsold visitors allocation) we may have had several £2 million pound players. Sorry to be sanctimonious WR but that's the reality. Spending on vanity projects costs. Fact.

[Crude]

Radio Leeds was raving about Pelts most of the match from what I remember. Will be glad to get Byram back on the right. Heard Drury got some decent tackles in late, and hope he gets a chance to prove himself since he seemed frozen out last season. Could probably use a experienced CB yet. Don't think Lees can carry it all on his shoulders, yet.

[Twiggster]

Had we not wasted £600,000 a year on a radio station, £500,000 on private jets and several million on ground redevelopments (The upper east corporate seats being the only visible empty seats today apart from the unsold visitors allocation) we may have had several £2 million pound players. Sorry to be sanctimonious WR but that's the reality. Spending on vanity projects costs. Fact.

Not at all sanctimonious, Adam - REALITY!

[YorkshireSquare]

Anyway, several of you seem to have watched different game to me.

I flt Warnock was more solid in defence than Peltier. Peltier offered much more going forward but a lot of that was poor. He played several of our players into trouble, his final ball was terrible and he often looked languid and tired.

On the other hand Ross McComack covered every bade of grass. He was our most creative player, took the ball out wide well, played some nice balls in, linked up well and also tracked back well. He was often the last man back. Took his goal well too. Man of the match performance for me.

Paddy made three good saves, the best was the double save. One of the latter ones he should really have kept hold of and was lucky the defender came to his rescue. His kicking and playing of the ball on the ground however was terrible.

[YorkshireSquare]

Radio Leeds was raving about Pelts most of the match from what I remember. Will be glad to get Byram back on the right. Heard Drury got some decent tackles in late, and hope he gets a chance to prove himself since he seemed frozen out last season. Could probably use a experienced CB yet. Don't think Lees can carry it all on his shoulders, yet.

Raving go way or a bad way?

We need an experienced CB. First 10/15 minutes we were very poor, we just stood off them an et them come on to us. Lees was at fault for the goal I felt.

[becchio bear]

Raving go way or a bad way?

We need an experienced CB. First 10/15 minutes we were very poor, we just stood off them an et them come on to us. Lees was at fault for the goal I felt.

Raving in a good way.

[YorkshireSquare]

Raving in a good way.

Not near me in the Kop they weren't. Too many bad balls for me. Looked tired as well, one moment at the end when he looked in no real hurry to get up and support his teammate who had just won the ball.

[Gino 1959]

Have I wandered into an MOT staging of Tartuffe?

Anyway - the hype/occasion/3 points seems to have obscured some flaws - namely - we are still sort of a few players. Austin and Sam will plug 2 glaring gaps when fit, but we need a commanding CB as Pearce currently does not inspire.

Sounded as if the crowd did their bit today, but they can't always drag the team across the finish line.

Icing on the cake was that Bates can claim no part of today.

[YorkshireSquare]

Sounded as if the crowd did their bit today, but they can't always drag the team across the finish line.

Despite the numbers and pre-match buzz felt it was a bit flat to be honest. Particularly after they scored. Last 10 minutes was a bit frenzied and manic and perhaps the crowd helped then.

[LUFCRACE]

Another noticeable change folks we have changed dugouts, the Leeds one is nearest the kop this season

I heard them talk about this in commentary, what's the deal?

[YorkshireSquare]

I heard them talk about this in commentary, what's the deal?

I can only assume, given we play that way in the second half, McDermott wants to be that end of the pitch to be able to get his directions to the players easier and affect tactics.

[1964white]

I can only assume, given we play that way in the second half, McDermott wants to be that end of the pitch to be able to get his directions to the players easier and affect tactics.

As you say has to be a tactical move

Why have none of our previous managers thought of this ploy

[Twiggster]

As you say has to be a tactical move

Why have none of our previous managers thought of this ploy

Correct me if I'm wrong Leon, but the Don's dugout was Kop End???

[white.riot]

Had we not wasted £600,000 a year on a radio station, £500,000 on private jets and several million on ground redevelopments (The upper east corporate seats being the only visible empty seats today apart from the unsold visitors allocation) we may have had several £2 million pound players. Sorry to be sanctimonious WR but that's the reality. Spending on vanity projects costs. Fact.

So staying away doesn't damage LUFC? Interesting perspective. Given that Bates recruited GFH, BM and was in charge when we signed every one on the pitch you're gonna need to do better. Remember we still had stewards on turnstiles when Bates moved us into the 21st century. Bates also bought our previous £1 million pound payer. Real support is unconditional - agreed?

[white.riot]

As you say has to be a tactical move

Why have none of our previous managers thought of this ploy

Surely it's about being close to the Kop (not tactics) or because subs warming up used to warm up at t'other end until last season so Larry etc were better at t'other end? No genius involved.

[YorkshireSquare]

So staying away doesn't damage LUFC? Interesting perspective. Given that Bates recruited GFH, BM and was in charge when we signed every one on the pitch you're gonna need to do better. Remember we still had stewards on turnstiles when Bates moved us into the 21st century. Bates also bought our previous £1 million pound payer. Real support is unconditional - agreed?

Ask yourself why people stayed away?

Because they were disenfranchised, because they had been offended and insulted by the Chairman, because they had been priced out of the game so he could waste money on pointless loss making, non football enterprises. In the short term staying away probably does damage LUFC in the short term, but it is nothing compared to the damage that Bates has done to this club and the relationship between fans. If staying away forced his hand into selling up then it can only be judged as a positive.

And what do you mean we still had stewards on the turnstiles when Bates took over? My first electronic season ticket card was 2003-2004 season I think. It was the back card with the x-ray, LUFC bones on it. Bates didn't take over until 2005.

[white.riot]

Ask yourself why people stayed away?

Because they were disenfranchised, because they had been offended and insulted by the Chairman, because they had been priced out of the game so he could waste money on pointless loss making, non football enterprises. In the short term staying away probably does damage LUFC in the short term, but it is nothing compared to the damage that Bates has done to this club and the relationship between fans. If staying away forced his hand into selling up then it can only be judged as a positive.

And what do you mean we still had stewards on the turnstiles when Bates took over? My first electronic season ticket card was 2003-2004 season I think. It was the back card with the x-ray, LUFC bones on it. Bates didn't take over until 2005.

I regularly ask myself why supporters stayed away. However many times I ask myself I can't come up with a sensible answer. Support is unconditional. Staying away damages the club. All around me on the Kop are supporters who stuck with the club when the club needed us. Fans who can't afford to watch - fine. Fans who find the football boring - fine. Fans who put their families first - fine. But martyrs. A total joke and destructive. You wanna worship these guys. So be it but quite frankly it's pathetic and they cost us big time. Thought Bates introduced electronics. Apologies if wrong. He certainly introduced the million pound player to LUFC in the Champs. Within a whisker of promo to the Prem anall. Never once called me a moron. Better manners than some on here.

[Twiggster]

Love this photo!!

[HarryofOz]

Fantastic to start the season with a win, especially at home in front of such a huge crowd.

[leedsmad]

Fantastic win , very proud. Just an observation.... noticed Matt Mills was left out of the Bolton team , Could he be on his way to Elland rd , as that is BC wish