Leeds v Norwich - Team/News/Reports/Ratings

[The Subhuman]

You missed the Monk/Jansson falling out which is about where it all started to go wrong. We were never not starting Wood so I don't think a proven striker to replace him or to spell him is valid. Forwards need a string of games to be effective.

[lufc1304]

Reasons why we blew it

1) Didn't strengthen in the areas required in January
2) Played the new signings who were no better/productive than what we had already in the squad
3) Players suffered fatigue due to the slim squad especially Wood & Jansson who played with slight knocks after travelling around the world on international duties
4) Many of our players are incapable of putting two passes together, retention of the ball is key to relieving pressure off the defence
5) Monk was far too cautious in so many games
6) Managers had sussed our game out
7) In the end we were simply not good enough

Point 7 is the clincher, Leon. Some of us saw this, others were, perhaps, blinded by optimism and our knack, up until the last month, of nicking points when not playing well. Add to that our paper-thin squad, bulked out by quantity but little quality, and it's not hard to see why we couldn't maintain a challenge to the end. I agree that Monk was overly cautious, but I suspect that was partly due to the players he had at his disposal, think he felt it better to absorb pressure and play on the counter rather than going for the jugular. Maybe a lesson learnt for him, he'll certainly be wiser to the requirements of the championship after this season.

[The Subhuman]

A number of not good enough teams have success, Reading on that run springs to mind. Average team on a part lucky high confidence streak. TBH I wouldn't have expected to win the playoffs but the lottery ticket that they are should have been grabbed. Cup matches are a whole other ball game.

We now get to start from scratch again with at least half the division with more money than us. Lose Monk and a couple of key players and we'll have a lot to do to get back to that "not good enough" level

[1964white]

You missed the Monk/Jansson falling out which is about where it all started to go wrong. We were never not starting Wood so I don't think a proven striker to replace him or to spell him is valid. Forwards need a string of games to be effective.

No the fall out didn't help but the bubble had burst before the bust-up

None of the other top six clubs have just one main striker in their ranks, they all have decent options or game-changers on the bench. We were unable to play the same system when Wood was struggling, how many times was Wood rested or subbed to keep him fresh ? not enough imo !

Playing 46 games in the championship with one main striker & three CB's is crazy & was always a recipe for a disaster, the blame rests firmly with our tight-arse board

[1964white]

Point 7 is the clincher, Leon. Some of us saw this, others were, perhaps, blinded by optimism and our knack, up until the last month, of nicking points when not playing well. Add to that our paper-thin squad, bulked out by quantity but little quality, and it's not hard to see why we couldn't maintain a challenge to the end. I agree that Monk was overly cautious, but I suspect that was partly due to the players he had at his disposal, think he felt it better to absorb pressure and play on the counter rather than going for the jugular Maybe a lesson learnt for him, he'll certainly be wiser to the requirements of the championship after this season.

We have agreed on this point since the turn of the year Nick Monk was left in limbo because of the short-sightedness of our board who thought they could achieve a play-off place on the cheap. Watching us struggle to nick results was painful & always a major concern for me as not for the want of repeating myself you can't keep winning games playing badly.

I've always believe we look a better side when we took the game to the opposition as we did on a few occasions, we actually won those games when we played that way.
Yesterday we went gung-ho & threw almost everything but the kitchen sink at Norwich after we went 0-3 down & look what happened, we scored goals, had near misses & created excitement & entertainment for our bumper support. You couldn't ask for much more, far better than being negative as viewing Leeds for much of 2017 has been like watching paint dry !

[paddy parrott]

Sums this season up I suppose '64 poor start after only 3-4 games. Then a pattern emerges with some very good play and yes we started taking game to the opposition and yes! We found a game plan that I thin for all of us was mostly on the front foot and then all of a sudden we were hard to beat what with a set of defenders that knew the game plan .. though we were resolute the luck was at times there for us all to see. In fact earlier into the season I believe Huddersfield home we were and according to a pal abysmal and staring the drop by Xmas. So unto a run and we are very hard to beat particualary at home, even away from Elland road we earned respect and found the heady heights that looked and felt terrific ... But Alas ! Wheels were grinding and looking to come to some kind of a halt. Some of us believe this was a shuddering stop though I want to say not so we did well and held our own and Ok .. didn't make the most of it though this league is what it is .

[MissSurreyWhite]

North Bay Scarborough every time and the little train ride up to Scalby ( if it's still there)

I hope Scalby is still there my dad lives there. I think you mean Scalby Mills. And yes it's still there - an aquarium now.

[1964white]

I hope Scalby is still there my dad lives there. I think you mean Scalby Mills. And yes it's still there - an aquarium now.

Much wiser choice motoring on a couple of miles to Scalby & staying/eating at The Plough

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A7x9Un8g ... xR7vmilLI-

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A7x9Un8g ... FlNLB4AKQ-