Leeds v Blackburn.

[eastyorkshirewhite]

He is so calm & cool, plays the game comfortably with so much ease. The delight on his face was a joy to behold as he shaked his arms with clenched fists towards the South Stand at the end of the game.

He's my hero already and I've only seen him once, at last a proper commanding centre-back who wins every header that comes into the box & is equally adept on the floor

Definitely a cult-hero in the making

Thats him to downhill now then

[Norm]

A little ray of sunshine perhaps - the first home win of the season, even if we weren't totally in control.

[1964white]

Thats him to downhill now then

Yes i thought that as i posted Pontus will become a jibbering wreck in a few games time, I've put the mockers on his LUFC career

[Kyle_5351]

A little ray of sunshine perhaps - the first home win of the season, even if we weren't totally in control.

This is why I don't tend to comment on games unless I see them on TV. I have had people telling me we were completely dominant and others saying we weren't great.

Depends what you value most I guess.

[Brader]

Pontus Jannson on Twitter last night

When you give f**king everything, sooner or later you will get the result! #MOT


I'd say at the rate he's going he will be the closest thing to a cult player we've had for a long time

[Brader]

Oh. And just so you guys are aware: the new sky sports centre football app uploads the games highlights the moment the game finishes on the dashboard aslomg as you set your team preference to Leeds.

[lufc1304]

Relied on Twitter for game details last night, but Phil Hay said that, whilst the game was niggly and devoid of much coherent play (rain maybe a factor?), we were the only team looking to be positive and actually win the game. Nervy at 1-1 and even at 2-1 but, with Jansson mopping up everything at the back, we held on. Was never going to be pretty, but it's a first home win. And, notably, Monk's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, which he told Hay he'd compromised in recent weeks for reasons unexplained. Hopefully something to build on, even if it was Blackburn who, by all accounts, already look a side doomed.

[1964white]

Not a great game if truth be told, too many stoppages & lack of quality/composure disrupted the flow of the match. No doubting though Leeds were the better team v a poor outfit who were fortunate to get back into the game at 1-1, all down to not closing down Ennis on the edge of the box. As i said Rovers were poor so I won't allow myself to get carried away with this win although you can only beat what is put in front of you.

Plus points

Jansson - oustanding performance, cool, calm & collected, won every ball thay came into the box, just a adept on the floor. Pontus will become a cult-hero at ER :luv:

Sacko - scares the living daylights out of defenders with his pace & trickery although half the time i don't think knows what he is doing however when he gets it right as he did for the Wood goal he looks special

Wood - he made an immediate impact on the game when replacing Antonsson, we looked so much better as a team, pleased for him after a couple of horrible performances

Green - best game for Leeds so far

Concern for me

Ayling - two stinkers v Forest/Huddersfield & looked vunerable last night even though he didn't have a decent winger running at him, his positional sense was poor

Green 8
Ayling 4
Bartley 7
Jansson 9 (MOTM)
Taylor 6
Sacko 8
Bridcutt 6
O'Kane 6
Hernadez 6
Dallas 6
Antonsson 5

Wood 7
Phillips 6
Mowatt 6

[rich_leeds64]

I also had to follow the game on Twitter as I'm in Cornwall for a week. I felt more nervous than actually being at the game. It sounded as if Dallas had a decent match and just when we've all had enough of him, up pops Wood with a goal. With regard to Pontus I gave him MOTM v Huddersfield and I think he's a real prospect, reminded me of a Woodgate style of player very calm with the ball and can play it out without panicking, maybe we finally have a decent CB pairing with Bartley.

[rab_rant]

Jansson - oustanding performance, cool, calm & collected, won every ball thay came into the box, just a adept on the floor. Pontus will become a cult-hero at ER :luv:

Sacko - scares the living daylights out of defenders with his pace & trickery although half the time i don't think knows what he is doing however when he gets it right as he did for the Wood goal he looks special

I listened on the radio and in extra time there were 4 corners and Jannsson was
instrumental in dealing with all of them. We usually concede from set pieces late
on so it was really praiseworthy that he was able to deal with all the threats.

If Sacko is totally confused by the things he does you can only begin to fathom
the consternation that it creates in defenders, if he is so unpredictable.

It also seemed to me that Hernandez has a different footballing brain from
other players, playing sublime passes that no one had enough understanding
to get on to the end of them... they need to get on his wavelength.

[1964white]

I also had to follow the game on Twitter as I'm in Cornwall for a week. I felt more nervous than actually being at the game. It sounded as if Dallas had a decent match and just when we've all had enough of him, up pops Wood with a goal. With regard to Pontus I gave him MOTM v Huddersfield and I think he's a real prospect, reminded me of a Woodgate style of player very calm with the ball and can play it out without panicking, maybe we finally have a decent CB pairing with Bartley.

Pontus reminds me of Rio Ferdinand on the ball, wins loads of headers just like Woodgate use to Rich

Where are you staying in Cornwall you lucky man ?

[1964white]

I listened on the radio and in extra time there were 4 corners and Jannsson was
instrumental in dealing with all of them. We usually concede from set pieces late
on so it was really praiseworthy that he was able to deal with all the threats.

If Sacko is totally confused by the things he does you can only begin to fathom
the consternation that it creates in defenders, if he is so unpredictable.

It also seemed to me that Hernandez has a different footballing brain from
other players, playing sublime passes that no one had enough understanding
to get on to the end of them... they need to get on his wavelength.

Was in the South Stand for the first time since our Champions League games, lively in there so i had a great view watching Pontus winning those four headers. I said to my mate at the time "without him Rovers would probably have scored under that type of pressure"
Good point on Hernandez who has a touch of class, i hope he can cement his place in the team

[1964white]

[Gurj]

Leon thanks for the ratings, always enjoy reading those reports on the match.

I listened to the match commentary from BBC Radio Leeds and it was, as you say, not great, although a significant improvement on Hudds match.

As I said on another thread yesterday, surprise surprise Dallas was straight back into the team and it sounded that he had a decent game.

Sacko seemed to be the difference between the two sides. We have lacked that injection of pace for so many years and it just shows you what it can do, even when the player himself is unsure what he's next move will be lol

Pontus was a colossal for sure at the back. Those clearances for the 4 or 5 corners on the trot were all down to him.

Ayling's decline is really strange. He started brilliantly in he's first few games, I was on the verge of thinking Berardi may not get he's place back but it looks like the Swiss players return is going to be well timed.

Really hope we can go to Cardiff now and turn them over. Bogey side for us over the years so about time we did.

[The Subhuman]

I see the ball rebounded off Woods foot...

[1964white]

I see the ball rebounded off Woods foot...

A fan behind me said "did it hit him"

[1964white]

Leon thanks for the ratings, always enjoy reading those reports on the match.

I listened to the match commentary from BBC Radio Leeds and it was, as you say, not great, although a significant improvement on Hudds match.

As I said on another thread yesterday, surprise surprise Dallas was straight back into the team and it sounded that he had a decent game.

Sacko seemed to be the difference between the two sides. We have lacked that injection of pace for so many years and it just shows you what it can do, even when the player himself is unsure what he's next move will be lol

Pontus was a colossal for sure at the back. Those clearances for the 4 or 5 corners on the trot were all down to him.

Ayling's decline is really strange. He started brilliantly in he's first few games, I was on the verge of thinking Berardi may not get he's place back but it looks like the Swiss players return is going to be well timed.

Really hope we can go to Cardiff now and turn them over. Bogey side for us over the years so about time we did.

Berardi has to return when match-fit then we'll really look solid at the back

[Oscar]

Berardi has to return when match-fit then we'll really look solid at the back

Berardi, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor best back four we have had since being in the Premier League in my opinion.

[Crude]

From the extended highlights, seems like Sacko runs out of ideas once he get past his man in the final third of the pitch. But WOW, does he ever have some speed and moves to even get down the pitch that far by himself. Seems like GM and staff are really trying to help him develop, which I don't know if his time at Sporting was given as much. Glad he is at Leeds.

The viking has arrived. Pontus be our pilot!

[Oscar]

Wasn't actually at the game last night, however, spoke to someone who was and from what he and Phil Hay's commentary said this is my analysis:
Both teams were poor first half, we had a lot of possesion, however, did very little with it.
Second half much better we weren't at our very best, however, we deserved the win overall.
Interesting that the much criticised Mowatt and Wood changed the game , Wood scored the 1st and Mowatt created the 2nd. Both HAVE to start against Cardiff. In Monk's system the number 10 is going to be key as we can have all this possesion but you need your number 10 and to an extent your wingers to turn possession into chances.
Player Ratings:
Green 6- Could have done better with goal 2 good saves after that.
Ayling 5- Did ok first half by the sounds of it, poor second half at fault for their goal.
Bartley 7- Defended well good header for his goal, missed a good chance earlier in the second half.
Jansson 8- Man Of The Match So comfortable throughout the game one slight error, however, recovered very quickly. Picked out some great passes crucial at the end of the game. Pontus is already a hero :scarf1:
Taylor 7- Did well defensively didn't get forward very often.
Bridcutt 7- Won the ball back quickly excellent again.
O'Kane 6- Similar to Bridcutt, however, at fault for the goal as well.
Sacko 8- Superb game created so many chances, missed a great chance at the end.
Hernandez 6- Didn't really create enough in the number 10 role.
Dallas 6- Made some poor decisions, however, better second half.
Antonsson 5- Can't play upfront on his own and is clearly not our best striker at the moment.
Substitutions:
Phillips 6- Did well for most of the second half, didn't protect the back 4 as well as Bridcutt.
Wood 7- Took his goal well and positioned himself well and managed to bring Hernandez more into the game.
Mowatt - Not on pitch long enough to rate created the winning goal within minutes of coming on.

After all the criticism of Monk we are now only 5 points off Birmingham in 5th.