Bellusci

[Martyn]

Very interesting article about Bellusci's performance against Birmingham, which has divided opinion on here.

I don't think this gives ammunition to the "you can prove anything with statistics" argument, more that statistics only tell a part of the story.

Bellusci was best performing player

[hibbi86]

Best performing player... what a joke that is i personally feel he was a massive liability.

Mis-timed 3 or 4 tackles went through the back of their striker a couple of times to try and win the ball when tanding the man up was clearly the best option.
misjudged the flight of the ball on 2 occasions one nearly lead to an own goal, completely switched off for their goal, literally broke the golden rule for defending turned his back on play and didnt get goal side of his man if hes goal side that goal never happens.

He also likes pumping it long and on a number of occasions straight out of play

From what ive seen of him so far i personally think Tom Lee's was better defensively speaking.

[1964white]

From what ive seen of him so far i personally think Tom Lee's was better defensively speaking.

Sorry Hibbi we don't often disagree but i do on this one, he is a much better defender than Tom Lees, apart from him losing his marker for the Brum goal & yes there were a couple of loose passes & unnecessary fouls but there was a alot to like about his defending such as several blocks, interceptions & winning headers in our penalty area. I really think he will turn out to be a solid defender & a good signing as long as we have a coach to guide him & calm him down somewhat. Until their sub Gray started running at us i thought we looked a comfortable unit at the back. Two clean sheets in our ER games plus conceding only one goal in our last two games suggest our defence is improving. I'm certainly not as nervous when the opposition attacks us as i use to be. Bournemouth will be a test though !

[hibbi86]

Sorry Hibbi we don't often disagree but i do on this one, he is a much better defender than Tom Lees, apart from him losing his marker for the Brum goal & yes there were a couple of loose passes & unnecessary fouls but there was a alot to like about his defending such as several blocks, interceptions & winning headers in our penalty area.

Ive not seen enough of him to be honest first game ive seen bellusci play and i was very unimpressed i was actually worried when the ball was aimed in his direction, he did make a couple good tackles and blocks but to me he looks suspect for a mistake and definatly suspect for a couple reds this season.

Althought i think maybe im being abit unfair judging him on one game, time will tell on this one.

[CptCrash]

Watford....... It is early days in the formation of a partnership but I must say I am worried by him

[theleedsmango]

As someone who rated Bellusci's performance at Brum quite poorly, I admit that these stats go some way in making my opinion look weak. Thing is when a defender makes a mistake or two, it overrides all the other performances where no mistake was made and no goal was scored by the opposition. (See Gerrard's slip against Chelsea). So credit to Bellusci; say what you want about stats, but they show his input was more than what people gave credit for.

I tried using stats to show how Austin wasn't as bad as people thought last season but got ripped to shreds. When McCormack didn't score he was ineffective and ruining the formation. When Austin misplaced a few passes it overshadowed his other contributions. As a big gambler, and indeed someone who uses stats often in work, I place quite a bit of value on them on a factual basis. As you rightly said GW, it only paints half the picture but red is red, blue is blue etc. You have to watch the game to find out the whole picture, but the stats are the facts.

[1964white]

As someone who rated Bellusci's performance at Brum quite poorly, I admit that these stats go some way in making my opinion look weak. Thing is when a defender makes a mistake or two, it overrides all the other performances where no mistake was made and no goal was scored by the opposition. (See Gerrard's slip against Chelsea). So credit to Bellusci; say what you want about stats, but they show his input was more than what people gave credit for.

I tried using stats to show how Austin wasn't as bad as people thought last season but got ripped to shreds. When McCormack didn't score he was ineffective and ruining the formation. When Austin misplaced a few passes it overshadowed his other contributions. As a big gambler, and indeed someone who uses stats often in work, I place quite a bit of value on them on a factual basis. As you rightly said GW, it only paints half the picture but red is red, blue is blue etc. You have to watch the game to find out the whole picture, but the stats are the facts.

As i said from where i was standing amongst the magnificent atmosphere of the 3000 Leeds fans at Brum i didn't think Bellusci was that bad

Big gambler eh ??

[Drs.Dad]

The stats on Belusci can be read another way of course..... that Brum considered him the weak link in our defence, and made most of their attacks down that wing. Brek Shea and Gray were a real handful, perhaps an alternative reason was that their two best players just happen to play in the same position?
More has also been said about Antenucci, but I think he is just not accustomed to the pace and strength of the Championship game yet. The Brum defence were well drilled in stepping up leaving Antenucci stranded. He will learn, and once he starts beating the offside trap, he will score goals. I do think Redders is mistaken in subbing Sharp instead of Antenucci, Sharp has the experience of the Championship game, and is more likely to punish that game.

[Martyn]

Antenucci has been playing against Italian defences, and at the age of 30 you would have expected him to understand the offside law by now

[The Subhuman]

As someone who rated Bellusci's performance at Brum quite poorly, I admit that these stats go some way in making my opinion look weak. Thing is when a defender makes a mistake or two, it overrides all the other performances where no mistake was made and no goal was scored by the opposition. (See Gerrard's slip against Chelsea). So credit to Bellusci; say what you want about stats, but they show his input was more than what people gave credit for.

I tried using stats to show how Austin wasn't as bad as people thought last season but got ripped to shreds. When McCormack didn't score he was ineffective and ruining the formation. When Austin misplaced a few passes it overshadowed his other contributions. As a big gambler, and indeed someone who uses stats often in work, I place quite a bit of value on them on a factual basis. As you rightly said GW, it only paints half the picture but red is red, blue is blue etc. You have to watch the game to find out the whole picture, but the stats are the facts.

Stats are stats, facts are facts. I'm one of those who saw past the errors, I think he's trying a little to hard and we should see a more composed player once he settles..That said I'm not saying he should start over Cooper...or even over Pearce

[Brader]

Cant comment on the brum game but thought he was outstanding at the bolton game.

[Crude]

Hell of a free kick tonight by him. Why hasn't he been taking them all season?

[Brader]

Just seen that free kick. Absolute peach.

Who was taking them before tonight?

[Drs.Dad]

Just seen that free kick. Absolute peach.

Who was taking them before tonight?

I think Blaster Austin took the last one.

[1964white]

I think Blaster Austin took the last one.

That should shut Bellusci's knockers up. Defended well & scored a stunner !

Thank god Austin was hobbling around after winning the free-kick

[Martyn]

That should shut Bellusci's knockers up. Defended well & scored a stunner !

Thank god Austin was hobbling around after winning the free-kick

So nobody is allowed to mention his appalling defending against Birmingham just because he can hit a free kick? His fundamental job is defending, something he did very naively on Saturday by turning his back on the play.

I note that you want to stop any criticism of Saint Massimo's regime, I reserve the right to hold my own opinions

[1964white]

So nobody is allowed to mention his appalling defending against Birmingham just because he can hit a free kick? His fundamental job is defending, something he did very naively on Saturday by turning his back on the play.

I note that you want to stop any criticism of Saint Massimo's regime, I reserve the right to hold my own opinions

He made one error & got crucified !

You have every right to your opinions but i trust mine above yours at last our club is progressing in the right direction

[Twiggster]

So nobody is allowed to mention his appalling defending against Birmingham just because he can hit a free kick? His fundamental job is defending, something he did very naively on Saturday by turning his back on the play.

I note that you want to stop any criticism of Saint Massimo's regime, I reserve the right to hold my own opinions

He was rubbish first ½ if you didn't get the stream - but so were most of our players.
Dunno waht Reders said to them at ½ time, but they came out all fired up. Bellusci included.
TBH - his FK was one of the best I've seen for us since Harte ironically...

Just enjoy the fekkin win eh?

[becchio bear]

He made one error & got crucified !

You have every right to your opinions but i trust mine above yours at last our club is progressing in the right direction

I would also say that Gradel made that one error with his red card and got crucified, but not by me. I applauded his passion and we were rewarded. People do make mistakes, we move on......

[1964white]

He was rubbish first ½ if you didn't get the stream - but so were most of our players.
Dunno waht Reders said to them at ½ time, but they came out all fired up. Bellusci included.
TBH - his FK was one of the best I've seen for us since Harte ironically...

Just enjoy the fekkin win eh?

Once again i didn't think we were too bad after the awful first five minutes in the first half as we steadied the ship, yes we lacked creativity but didn't we make up for it in the 2nd half. We flowed like the Queen Elizabeth as the Cherries struggled to cope with our attacking movement. Three cracking goals, to score a beauty from a free-kick & then for us to score on the break with great movement & pace are rare treats for us Leeds fans. Antenucci has a touch of class !

Great to see us play in the all white kit away from home