Leeds v Sheff Wed - Team/Reports/Ratings

[1964white]

Hopefully the new signings will freshen things up

Key question is......has McDermott got the balls to drop his captain Austin ?

Kenny

Byram Zaliukas (capt) Pearce Pugh

Stewart Murphy Mowatt Kebe

McCormack Smith

[El Es Six]

Hopefully the new signings will freshen things up

Key question is......has McDermott got the balls to drop his captain Austin ?

I understand your reasoning but that midfield looks a bit lacking in a ball winner/tackler of any sort, Murphy to a degree but he's not the toughest. I'd be very surprised therefore if Austin was dropped. Not saying it won't happen though.

On another topic I hope Stewart and Byram can get a good understanding with one another and that Stewart is willing to drop and cover for Byram if needs be.

Looking forward to this game now.

[1964white]

I understand your reasoning but that midfield looks a bit lacking in a ball winner/tackler of any sort, Murphy to a degree but he's not the toughest. I'd be very surprised therefore if Austin was dropped. Not saying it won't happen though.

On another topic I hope Stewart and Byram can get a good understanding with one another and that Stewart is willing to drop and cover for Byram if needs be.

Looking forward to this game now.

Austin is a liabilty as he roams around the pitch like a headless chicken often caught out of position leaving our midfield exposed as wide as the Red Sea. Murphy & Mowatt will relish the opportunity of finding the likes of Stewart & Kebe on the flanks with their astute passing.

1000's of Leeds fans wanted him off at Spotland, how he stayed on god only knows installing this average footballer as captain has been one of McDermott's major errors....... i've been calling for his head for head for months now, believe me i'm not in a minority amongst our travelling support !

[El Es Six]

Murphy & Mowatt will relish the opportunity of finding the likes of Stewart & Kebe on the flanks with their astute passing.

But will they relish, or be capable of, having to get stuck in to win the ball in midfield? I'm not the biggest fan of Austin but he has attributes that are useful - he makes a nuisance of himself whilst running around if nothing else.

But I'd be happy to see your formation turn out to see if Murphy and Mowatt could handle the defensive stuff - because if they could it would be nice!

[leedsmad]

This will be a tough game, especially when we are low on confidence, but a Derby should get the players up for it, one would think.

[Twiggster]

IF we get Kebe as well and we go 4-4-2 with wingers, our CM is going to be severely attacked by the opposition. Mowatt and Murphy together would collapse, as they are both lightweights in the tackle . Both decent at distribution yes, but lacking any CRUNCH.
Mowatt and Austin, or Murphy and Austin might work. We don't have any other tough tackers in CM (Brown?), so Rodi has to stay.

[El Es Six]

IF we get Kebe as well and we go 4-4-2 with wingers, our CM is going to be severely attacked by the opposition. Mowatt and Murphy together would collapse, as they are both lightweights in the tackle . Both decent at distribution yes, but lacking any CRUNCH.
Mowatt and Austin, or Murphy and Austin might work. We don't have any other tough tackers in CM (Brown?), so Rodi has to stay.

This is exactly my thinking.

[1964white]

Mowatt and Austin, or Murphy and Austin might work. We don't have any other tough tackers in CM (Brown?), so Rodi has to stay.

You wouldn't want Austin anywhere near the team if you had witnessed his shambolic performances as I have done throughout the season.......I don't give Austin ratings of 5 or under on a regular basis without good reason, he doesn't justify his place in the first eleven just because we apparently haven't got a replacement for what he can only be described as a lump in my opinion & 1000's of our away fans who watch him every week particularly from the comfort of his adulating fans at ER
The likes of Byram, Mowatt, Murphy, Warnock, Lees, Peltier, Green, Tonge, Brown, Varney, Poleon & Hunt haven't had the same leniency when their form has been poor. It seems there is one rule for Austin & one rule for the others !
If this is how McDermott intends to continue to manage he will get his comuppance in the long run as he needs to grow some bollocks if he wishes to becozme a successful manager particularly at a higher level

[Gurj]

Leon, you go game in and game out so we have little reason to doubt you mate but from what I have seen and heard from the last few games, Austin has just been one of many who have been awful.

In my humble opinion, we cant even contemplate playing the 2 new wingers without a ball winner in the centre.....no way can you class Mowatt/Murphy as that and I wouldnt pick Brown over Austin however poor he has been recently.

[Martyn]

Captain Z is well capable of playing in midfield, he did so for Hearts on many occasion.

I am not saying he should do that for this game, but if we don't manage to get a ball-winning midfielder in this window then longer term he could play DM in a 4-4-2. With Pearce, Wootton and Lees (and Peltier if needed) we have enough centre back cover

[1964white]

Captain Z is well capable of playing in midfield, he did so for Hearts on many occasion.

I am not saying he should do that for this game, but if we don't manage to get a ball-winning midfielder in this window then longer term he could play DM in a 4-4-2. With Pearce, Wootton and Lees (and Peltier if needed) we have enough centre back cover

Hopefully a road we won't have to go down GW but as you say Z gives us an alternative option in that department.

I really hope McDermott is looking for an experienced central midfidelder, someone in the mould of Derry/Kavanagh/etc

[El Es Six]

I'm certainly not an ER adulating fan of Austin (I take your points I really do) but I also really worry that we have nothing of substance in midfield without him - and, like Gurj, Brown over Austin wouldn't be my choice either. Perhaps drop Austin to the bench at home, but away, in a derby?

Forget being pleased at Austin's absence from it for a moment and truly consider that midfield. Is that really how you'd like us to set up? Does it have what's required in all departments?

Even a blind chicken occasionally pecks some corn and to that effect even a midfielder running round like a headless one make the correct attack stopping tackle (more so than if someone doing that wasn't there). Agreed, it is not the best solution by a long shot.

(And earlier when I said I'd be happy to see that midfield turn out I suppose I meant I'd be interested and hopeful. It would be a bold move for sure, but possibly suicidal.)

Z in midfield leaves us light at the back for me but It could be worth a shot - he has that "tackle/intercept and then distribute simply" mentality that's required.

[Dr.Leeds]

Austin has been poor of late. While he can make driving runs at the opposition for me his best role is breaking up the opposition play. Certainly my thought when Blackburn were dominating in midfield was that Austin was playing too far forward and as a result we were allowing their midfield too much time to play.

Murphy can put a foot in but that's not his natural game either. Same goes for Mowatt. We open ourselves up to being bullied in midfield with Austin playing in an advanced position.

Playing wing backs has given us width but it does limit our ability to actually drive at defences from out wide. Byram can do it but this leaves our flanks exposed if we lose the ball.

Add a couple of pacy wingers to the squad and you have options. We can run at defences from wide positions and the onus on Austin to make those runs forward is taken away.

The addition of Stewart and (probably) Kebe gives McDermott the option to play two central midfielders at times. Austin can play his more natural game and hopefully improve his form. Murphy and Mowatt don't have to play 90 minutes of every game and the balls aimed at Smith's head are more likely to come to him in the six yard box from the by line rather than outside the box with his back to goal.

[Genghers]

Add a couple of pacy wingers to the squad and you have options. We can run at defences from wide positions and the onus on Austin to make those runs forward is taken away.

The addition of Stewart and (probably) Kebe gives McDermott the option to play two central midfielders at times. Austin can play his more natural game and hopefully improve his form. Murphy and Mowatt don't have to play 90 minutes of every game and the balls aimed at Smith's head are more likely to come to him in the six yard box from the by line rather than outside the box with his back to goal.

Lets hope so! Will be nice for Brian to have selection dilemmas for once! Depending on how he sees it (with Kebe coming in so late), we could play a back four of Pugh/Warnock-Lees/Pearce-Zalukias-Peltier and the midfield of Stewart-Mowatt/Murphy-Austin-Byram.

Add to that Ariyibi, Kebe, Wooten (and White when he's fit?) and we've got decent competition/cover for the midfield and defence. McCormack, Smith, Hunt and Poleon up front are fine, but it looks like we might see another striker come in during this window too which I don't think is a bad thing...

[Genghers]

BUT I think we could line up like this tomorrow:

------------------Kenny-------------------
Byram-----Lees------Zalukias-----Pugh
-----------------Austin--------------------
Stewart---Murphy--Mowatt---McCormack
------------------Smith--------------------

Mowatt or Murphy would have licence to get forward in support of Smith, whilst Austin sits further back to break up counter attacks. McCormack is best as a striker, but on the wing he can provide a decent cross as well as cutting inside to shoot. Pugh could potentially overlap (with Austin covering LB) for McCormack to move into the box.

[El Es Six]

All good thoughts Dr., especially this one:

Austin can play his more natural game and hopefully improve his form.

I'm hoping that this is the case and that, as happened last time 64 had a go at a player (also somewhat justifiably), Austin will improve massively!

[El Es Six]

BUT I think we could line up like this tomorrow:

------------------Kenny-------------------
Byram-----Lees------Zalukias-----Pugh
-----------------Austin--------------------
Stewart---Murphy--Mowatt---McCormack
------------------Smith--------------------

Mowatt or Murphy would have licence to get forward in support of Smith, whilst Austin sits further back to break up counter attacks. McCormack is best as a striker, but on the wing he can provide a decent cross as well as cutting inside to shoot. Pugh could potentially overlap (with Austin covering LB) for McCormack to move into the box.

I like the look of that! Only downside, as you mention, is not playing Ross in his best position. Overall though a pretty strong formation for me (so long as Stewart gets crosses in for Smith).

[1964white]

BUT I think we could line up like this tomorrow:

------------------Kenny-------------------
Byram-----Lees------Zalukias-----Pugh
-----------------Austin--------------------
Stewart---Murphy--Mowatt---McCormack
------------------Smith--------------------

Mowatt or Murphy would have licence to get forward in support of Smith, whilst Austin sits further back to break up counter attacks. McCormack is best as a striker, but on the wing he can provide a decent cross as well as cutting inside to shoot. Pugh could potentially overlap (with Austin covering LB) for McCormack to move into the box.

A similar line-up as mine with the exception of Pearce for Lees

I hope BM doesn't make the same mistake he did earlier in the season playing McCormack in midfield, Ross is less effective in that position as has already been proven. He is a striker !

[El Es Six]

Or what about

------------------Kenny-------------------
Byram-----Lees------Zalukias-----Pugh
-----------------Austin--------------------
--Stewart---Murphy or Mowatt---Kebe-
--------------McCormack------------------
------------------Smith--------------------

- allowing Ross to be more up-front?

[Genghers]

Or what about

------------------Kenny-------------------
Byram-----Lees------Zalukias-----Pugh
-----------------Austin--------------------
--Stewart---Murphy or Mowatt---Kebe-
--------------McCormack------------------
------------------Smith--------------------

- allowing Ross to be more up-front?

Wasn't reading properly and thought you wanted to try 12 players!

That could work, though I'd worry about getting a bit overrun in midfield with everyone bar Austin being more attacking minded... I wouldn't have thought Kebe would start, given he'll only have had one or two days training with the rest of the squad. Though that's the same for Stewart I suppose.

Ariyibi could have the other wing if not I guess.