Leeds Utd v Blackburn Rovers Match Thread - Bielsa names unchanged starting XI

[The Subhuman]

It's funny how different players can catch your attention in different games. I didn't really notice Klich today, but others are saying he played well. I noticed Roberts today when I haven't always noticed him before.

Think I said quiet but effective. Just looked commanding on the ball but did nothing that stood out...making a mess explaining my thought process but he caught my eye throughout the match making the difficult look supremely easy

[rab_rant]

Slow the YT video down and watch the artistry of Harrison's goal
A delightful ball from KP who is well inside his own half when he
pings the ball towards Bamford who lets it drop over his shoulder
and brings the ball gently down and under control... such a difficult
maneuver... most players would have turned and chested it down.
Then the soft cushioned lay off into the on rushing Harrison who knocks
it in off the post. It was such a delicate move by Bamford it would
not have been out of place on the stage of the Royal ballet. Such grace
and finesse under pressure. Scoring the penalty must have done wonders
for his confidence. Good on the lad he did us proud.

[1964white]

In a scrappy first-half for the first time we managed to create a 2-0 cushion in the first 35 minutes only to concede soon after making it a uncomfortable lead even though Rovers created nothing of note in the 2nd half.

Positives

Wonderful 2nd goal
Three points
First time we've led by two goals in first 35 minutes
We scored from a penalty
At last a goal for Bamford after being so unlucky in our last two games
Tyler Roberts improving with every game
Phillips pass for our 2nd goal
Bamford touch bringing the ball down to lay off to Harrison
Nice finish from Jack
White & Phillips as consistent as ever
Five games unbeaten

Negatives

Conceding from a corner with no one picking-up their tall left-back Williams
Woeful passing especially in the first-half
Harrison squandered at least five good opportunities choosing the wrong option time & time again
Why does Jack have to beat the same defender two or three times. I don't get the Jack Harrison love-in
Our best attacking player Pablo on the bench for much of the game
Apart from a couple of nice runs what does our new signing give us, more like Mr Frothy than Costa
Klich still nowhere near his best
Our shooting woeful as ever, at least three shots flew over the bar
Should have won by much more
Cooper injury

Ratings

7 Casilla
6 Ayling
8 White
7 Cooper
7 Dallas
8 Phillips
6 Costa
6 Klich
8 Roberts
6 Harrison
8 Bamford
Subs
7 Berardi
n/a Davis

[weasel]

Bamford showed tremendous courage to take the penalty. He would have been absolutely slated if he'd missed and if memory serves he missed his last one last season (after scoring one previously for us). The control was sublime for the goal, if Messi had done it they'd have been showing it on Sky Sports in every news clip. The weight of the pass excellent too as Harrison was able to stroke it into the net without breaking stride, very easy to overhit or underhit the pass.

Tony Pulis, former manager of Bamford, full of praise for Bamford's ability on Quest. Also made mention, as I have done several times, that he is a streaky player in terms of scoring goals and may well hit 5 in the next 5 matches (let's hope).

[The Subhuman]

No denying Bamford is a decent footballer but he lacks a strikers instinct...I think we'll wait a long time for 5 in 5 type scoring...

[The Subhuman]

Slow the YT video down and watch the artistry of Harrison's goal
A delightful ball from KP who is well inside his own half when he
pings the ball towards Bamford who lets it drop over his shoulder
and brings the ball gently down and under control... such a difficult
maneuver... most players would have turned and chested it down.
Then the soft cushioned lay off into the on rushing Harrison who knocks
it in off the post. It was such a delicate move by Bamford it would
not have been out of place on the stage of the Royal ballet. Such grace
and finesse under pressure. Scoring the penalty must have done wonders
for his confidence. Good on the lad he did us proud.

Actually the player who comes off best on second viewing is Jack. That's a really intelligent run and good finish...Maybe I did Jack an injustice with my rankings...plus as Dan said elsewhere he was up against their MOTM

[BGwhite]

Scoring five in five is brilliant...but not scoring in the following 10 IS NOT ! He's got a long way to go before he's considered to be a natural striker.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[leic white 63]

Scoring five in five is brilliant...but not scoring in the following 10 IS NOT ! He's got a long way to go before he's considered to be a natural striker.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

tbf to him he could have easily had three out of three if it wasn't for a brilliant save and a linesman gaff.
i think we're all agreed that paddy isn't the second coming of dennis bergkamp However he's the best what we've got at this moment in time. unfortunately apart from probably one or two our squad as limitations .
like it or not i feel paddy is going to be vital to us if we going to reach our goal this season. january is notoriously hard to bring in the right players also it will take time to blend in and up to speed.
unfortunately we made our bed in the summer , now , like it or not we've got to lay in it !!
remains to be seen if he and the rest are going to be good enough or not.

[The Subhuman]

Must say I thought him slightly offside and he's had a lot of chances to hit around 12 goals already this season, miss the easy ones and you can't really complain about a good goalkeeping save when you do finally hit the target ..I don't really credit anyone from scoring from the penalty spot. It's just step and kick it

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Bamford brings a whole lot more to the table than goals. In fact the style of play basically relies on his hold up play and closing down. Pressing starts with him to be fair. Harrison for all his faults., closing down and defensive qualities are his forte oh and assists when it hits his arse or trips over the bloody ball How many has he scored 3?
As everyone says though opinions.

[1964white]

[1964white]

[1964white]

[Irish Ian]

Just a few comments from yesterday.

Harrisons goal. What I enjoyed about it so much was that Blackburn, even though they had just went a goal down just felt they could back off against us like do many teams do. KP had all the time in the world to pick his pass and they were superbly punished.

But the question struck me yesterday during the game, why does Harrison get more of the ball on the left than Costa on the right? Seems to be two parts to this answer.
One is that we have been purposely overloading on the right to draw the defence away from Jack, which is working well. But we dont see the opposite happening on the left of the pitch, which if it could be mastered allow bring Helder into the game. I think the reason for that is well illustrated in the pass from KP for the goal.
Both him and Ayling, who enjoy the lions share of the deep playmaker role at the minute, are right footed, and use the natural striking angle to send the ball out to the left which puts a natural curl to the pass.

Once Alioski reappears I think we may see the opposite occur and Costa might find more joy as a result.
Have these guys played played much together? I would live to see some long cross field passes for Costa to run on to and use his pace to get into the box.


Overall there was nothing new in the game apart from the fact that a penalty decision went our way, and when Harrison hit the post, even though it was full on, this time it went in so we yielded two goalsinstesd of the usual none.

Fine margins.

It was a great experience at the game. Pub wise was a bit of a wash out, we didnt make it to EL until late so there was just time for a swift pint before finding our seats just in time for the minutes silence.
The view from the East stand was terrific. We were pretty far back but we right on the halfway line.
When we realised that it would be Bamford taking the pen a few got up and went out as they couldn't watch. Such was their anxiety. And it wa since to be at a match where we were in the lead for so long and hold on for the win. Nerves wise I didnt sense a 'Derby' until Berra came on. Surely If White goes back we cant rely on that clampit to save us.

The main anxiety was felt by two lads in the seats in from of us.

Leeds to win 2-1 with Bamford to score first.
£40 at 35/1. And sitting with that score for over an hour.

They were happy when the ref blew for full time.

In the end we did enjoy a few pints in a dive called the White Horse in Pudsey, then off to the local Italian for some nice grub.

[weasel]

But the question struck me yesterday during the game, why does Harrison get more of the ball on the left than Costa on the right? Seems to be two parts to this answer.

Probably the simple reason is that Jack is completely in tune with Bielsaball and knows where he is meant to be on the pitch at all times so he sees more of the ball as there is so often an easy pass on to him. Costa isn't quite up to speed on the nuances of Bielsaball and as such isn't quite in the right position a lot of the time so our players are denied the easy pass to him and instead the pass is intercepted or we simply don't try the pass that isn't on and instead keep moving the ball around and it ends up with Jack instead.

[Irish Ian]

Probably the simple reason is that Jack is completely in tune with Bielsaball and knows where he is meant to be on the pitch at all times so he sees more of the ball as there is so often an easy pass on to him. Costa isn't quite up to speed on the nuances of Bielsaball and as such isn't quite in the right position a lot of the time so our players are denied the easy pass to him and instead the pass is intercepted or we simply don't try the pass that isn't on and instead keep moving the ball around and it ends up with Jack instead.

I think that is part of it, Costa isnt up to speed yet. Yesterday I was able to see what was going on without having to rely on what the TV camera was showing me. The things you miss.

Many times you could see Costa, Bamford, Klich and Ayling ( or three if them) overloading the right hand side to draw defenders across the pitch to give Jack the room.
But I didnt see the opposite happen... Maybe in time we will see it....

At the minute it means we are a bit one dimensional.

But Pablo is back and hopefully his slide rule accuracy will give us more options, he played well yesterday when he came on,

[The Subhuman]

Bamford brings a whole lot more to the table than goals. In fact the style of play basically relies on his hold up play and closing down. Pressing starts with him to be fair. Harrison for all his faults., closing down and defensive qualities are his forte oh and assists when it hits his arse or trips over the bloody ball How many has he scored 3?
As everyone says though opinions.

Bamford bringing more to the table than goals would be fine if he scored goals..Harrison 5 assists and 3 goals, headed for 15 assists and 9 goals on the season.

[leic white 63]

Must say I thought him slightly offside and he's had a lot of chances to hit around 12 goals already this season, miss the easy ones and you can't really complain about a good goalkeeping save when you do finally hit the target ..I don't really credit anyone from scoring from the penalty spot. It's just step and kick it

slightly onside for me , level at worse.
small margins tho .
maybe you should go and get get your hair cut more frequently faaip , its completely messing with your vision .... lol

[1964white]

I think that is part of it, Costa isnt up to speed yet. Yesterday I was able to see what was going on without having to rely on what the TV camera was showing me. The things you miss

Many times you could see Costa, Bamford, Klich and Ayling ( or three if them) overloading the right hand side to draw defenders across the pitch to give Jack the room.
But I didnt see the opposite happen... Maybe in time we will see it....

At the minute it means we are a bit one dimensional.

But Pablo is back and hopefully his slide rule accuracy will give us more options, he played well yesterday when he came on,

Three great points Ian

Pablo is twice the player that Harrison & Costa are no way he should be stuck on the bench

Glad you enjoyed the game mate

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Bamford bringing more to the table than goals would be fine if he scored goals..Harrison 5 assists and 3 goals, headed for 15 assists and 9 goals on the season.

Nostradamus
One hopes your correct.