Stoke City v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[The Subhuman]

Is that the origin of knock on wood?...

[Azkal]

Is that the origin of knock on wood?...

I believe that knock on wood was an early form of impotence rehabilitation

[weasel]

Not sure spending money on a 5th quality starting RWB would have made too much sense. Disagree we haven't learned lessons from last season..maybe the fans haven't learned the lessons from last season. Appears not judging by the slagging off of Pablo this week...

I'd bet no other team has 4 quality starting right backs, wing or otherwise

That's the point of what Bielsa does, he trains people so they can adapt and play well in other positions so you don't need to spend loads of money to have a 3rd, 4th, 5th choice player as back up. If you have a squad of 30 players then 19 are unhappy every match. Bielsa himself said that he was happy with the size of the squad and that he had 3 players for every position but didn't need 33 players to do that.

Having a small but versatile squad is key to everything he does. Every player feels like they are part of the team, every player feels like they are valued rather than just making up numbers and waiting for 2 or 3 players, in their position, to be injured. Many mention the example of Madeley being versatile and the thing is that if he wasn't then he might have not started any games in a season and despite managers now having much larger squads it would be the same issue as a player could spend the whole season waiting for the first choice player in their position to get injured or sent off (a bit like how the back up keeper usually won't play all season).

Even if Ayling, Berardi, Dallas and Shackleton were all out Bielsa could play Alioski there and Davis at left back. If Alioski was out too then there are probably 1 or 2 more in the U23s or U18s that could slot in for a game or two. So we probably have at least 7 players at the club who can play right back and know how to play right back the Bielsa way.

Strange how people moan because we have Eddie and Costa who can't get into the starting line-up and don't want them to be unhappy yet at the same time would have us sign a right back to be 4th or 5th choice.

[rich_leeds64]

This is a real test for us today, playing a team at the bottom of the league and after watching the EFL highlights in midweek they look an absolute shambles but last season these were the sort of teams who troubled us.
A couple of enforced changes for us but on paper we should take Stoke to the cleaners. Early signs this season are we have learned to stick at it and rewards will come as they did against a surprisingly good Brentford side. So today if we stay focused we will totally outplay them and hopefully stick a few past a very poor side

[hector]

On the other hand they could choose today to play their game of the season, and totally frustrate us..... and then nick a winner

[BGwhite]

Butland will play out of his skin today after his cockups midweek and his manager having a pop at him. Ive said a leeds win 2-1 but wouldn't be surprised if it was 0-0.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[mothbanquet]

To be fair I wouldn't want to see Klich out of the side but I see the likelihood of Forshaw getting dropped diminish with every game. So who makes way for Eddie? Or Costa for that matter?

[mothbanquet]

Butland will play out of his skin today after his cockups midweek and his manager having a pop at him. Ive said a leeds win 2-1 but wouldn't be surprised if it was 0-0.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

Those weren't bad luck cockups however, they were severe reaction errors and speak of something being very wrong with his mentality. I don't see him getting better in time for 3 o'clock.

[Irish Ian]

So far the only player who hasn't enthused me is Ailiosi, but we all know he will improve.

Stoke are in a similar place to where they were last time, when they changed to an unfamiliar system to thwart us.

I hope the players are not paying too much attention to the media stories surrounding Stoke, they may be struggling but have some quality players and have scored in every game they have played.

[gessa]

Stoke away was a blow last season but the Wigan game at the end of the season was a much bigger one,last week we overcame the same situation of being 1 up at half time with a Bamford goal against 10 men , we've overcome what some folk call the Brentford hoodoo, don't think the players will be freting about past results today either, head down, game on and hopefully 3 points.

[Irish Ian]

, we've overcome what some folk call the brentford hoodoo

Now all we need is to overcome the
London hoodoo
Brum hoodoo
Penalty winning and taking hoodoo

And if we do we will then hopefully avoid the playoff hoodoo

[rab_rant]

Is that the origin of knock on wood?...

Well that was the very rare Golden boot Knock
That Golden boot Knock helped Chris Wood get 28 goals in that season

[The Subhuman]

Thought he must have had help

[whiteswan]

No Ducky a "knock" is not another name for a large dram......

calm down

'Knock'ando.......lovely 12 year old speyside Malt

[Irish Ian]

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/116524 ... 488?s=19

I never imbed those properly...

Berardi in for Coop

[Irish Ian]

6 new starts for Stoke

[rab_rant]

[rab_rant]

[beer belly bert]

Where have you been stranger ?

Indeed we are under-staffed, lessons not learned from last season

back in the country till November so will be hanging about for a bit Leon

[Ellandback1]

hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZaNGTZSCFw&feature=youtu.be