Birmingham City v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Nketiah Starts, Bamford Out!

[1964white]

It is certainly a tricky one and for me our strength defensively this season has I think been down to more how we defend as a team, all the pressing etc, rather than our defenders and keeper. Kiko has been a big improvement on BPF (despite the wobbles of late), his reading of the game allowing us to push higher up the pitch as a team which means less space for the opposition and easier for us to close down. White has been a great addition although I think the way we have played most of the season has meant he hasn't been forced to be a defender in a lot of the matches, maybe he is a better ball playing defender than an actual defender. In recent weeks have we seen teams play differently against us and test our defence more?

I think the biggest factor that made us so tight defensively was that we weren't conceding many corners or free kicks - we were stronger at preventing danger than dealing with danger. Take yesterday and Ayling was great going forward but if he loses the ball at any point then he was way out of position, maybe we have lost our discipline a bit. The goal against Preston and Klich lost the ball on the edge of their area and they ran straight through us - that hasn't happened before this season but it did a lot last season. The third goal yesterday and Kiko comes for the corner and gets nowhere near the ball, but did he do that because of the 2nd goal where he had nobody protecting him when he made the initial save and was then clattered into (admittedly I don't think he was catching that but he probably would if he didn't have one eye on the player about to clatter him). All little things that we are starting to do wrong or not do properly.

At this stage, if I was in Bielsa's shoes, I wouldn't be panicking although certainly concerned. Having Bamford back for set pieces certainly helps as he tends to adopt a near post position and is good at clearing from that area which makes the opposition have to aim wider or higher with their delivery from corners. This simple factor makes it harder for the opposition to put a quality delivery into a more dangerous area. Some fans would look at a corner come in and it goes nowhere near Bamford and not realise that it is because of Bamford's position that the opposition haven't played it there. They just count stats and in that instance Bamford hasn't made a defensive clearance. So stats wise he has has done nothing but the fact he has stood where he has has made the opposition's corner far less dangerous. That is just one instance of how stats can be irrelevant. It is also one of the reasons why Bielsa is reluctant to make changes as all the players have duties that we as fans probably don't see. We probably see someone having a poor game but he could be Bielsa's man of the match because he has done what Bielsa has asked him to do and it has affected the way the opposition has had to play and in some ways it has made the game bypass that player so we see a player who has hardly been involved yet because of that the opposition has been far less effective.

Not sure I answered the question but hopefully conveyed the point that I don't think it is just as easy as saying the defence/keeper are to blame. Also worth noting that a few players have had iffy games so hopefully that is just a temporary thing and once they get back to their normal selves then hopefully a lot of problems disappear.

My solution would be to move Dallas back into the defence when Roberts or Shackleton are fit to start, unsure what other changes Marcelo can make that would improve our defence.

[BGwhite]

My solution would be to move Dallas back into the defence when Roberts or Shacckleton are fit to start, unsure what other changes Marcelo can make that would improve our defence.

yes ditto that 64, initially I said in place of Ayling who is not an exceptional defender but after yesterday he deserves his place so Dallas would go left back and rotate JH and Ali on the left wing. Harrison btw is having an exceptional season and a big improvement on last.

[weasel]

My solution would be to move Dallas back into the defence when Roberts or Shacckleton are fit to start, unsure what other changes Marcelo can make that would improve our defence.

I would too with Alioski as a supersub - what great pace and energy to have on the bench.

[1964white]

I would too with Alioski as a supersub - what great pace and energy to have on the bench.

I believe Ali has been more effective when he's come off the bench against tiring legs

[1964white]

Well said 64. Wouldn't mind 6-5 on Wednesday though

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I really can't understand how our fans find that type of scoreline acceptable especially as not one of our back five played well defensively.

To be giving 3, 4 & 5's in my ratings when we have won away from home seems crazy, truth is we were woeful at the back.

It was like after you after me, had the game gone on another glut of goals would have occurred, thankfully we just happen to be leading when the ref blew the final whistle in the 96th minute

[rab_rant]

I really can't understand how our fans find that type of scoreline acceptable especially as not one of our back five played well defensively.

To be giving 3, 4 & 5's in my ratings when we have won away from home seems crazy, truth is we were woeful at the back.

It was like after you after me, had the game gone on another glut of goals would have occurred, thankfully we just happen to be leading when the ref blew the final whistle in the 96th minute

yes but no but yes but we're you entertained?

From the way you talk you would think parking the bus in front of the goal is the solution... wrapping up warm in your parka and scarf... a Leeds bobble hat on your head... sniffling and snivelling in the cold, whilst stamping your feet to keep warm, and admiring the rock solid defence that pings the ball up field like a flipper on a pinball machine only to have it returned once again ad nauseum and ad infinitum.

no excitement just glazed eyes and the occasional yawn in an attempt to stay awake... why not just stay home and watch the fish swim around in the aquarium, or get a deck chair out and count how many waves crash on the shore in one and a half hours, with a quarter hour break for half an orange.

I have watched the passion of the fans in the stands during the Birmingham game. it was wild... just like the game. A positive energy that was flooding on to the pitch, consuming Luke Ayling to surge forward from DEFENCE to score a goal and provide two assists. The Luke Ayling who was labeled the worst player on the field the previous week now turns out to be a hero and a saviour. ( What the he'll is a defender doing in the opponent's 18 yard box... he should be back in your back four DEFENDING)

It seems that you can't even savour a sweet victory. instead to maintain your negative stance you have to attack our defence. You are unremitting and relentless in your criticism. I don't know how those sour grapes can taste so good.

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[BGwhite]

C'mon guys it's only a game of football. I for one couldn't care less how the game pans out as long as we win or draw. I'd take a 1-0 or a 5-4 every game between now and the end of the season but at least we'd be back in the PL ! Sometimes we can delve to deeply into the game however it's nice to hear other people's opinions but that's all they are and they will not effect what happens on match day one little jott. Let's all enjoy this moment while it lasts because it'll be over before we can say 'Happy New Year ' !

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[1964white]

yes but no but yes but we're you entertained?

From the way you talk you would think parking the bus in front of the goal is the solution... wrapping up warm in your parka and scarf... a Leeds bobble hat on your head... sniffling and snivelling in the cold, whilst stamping your feet to keep warm, and admiring the rock solid defence that pings the ball up field like a flipper on a pinball machine only to have it returned once again ad nauseum and ad infinitum.

no excitement just glazed eyes and the occasional yawn in an attempt to stay awake... why not just stay home and watch the fish swim around in the aquarium, or get a deck chair out and count how many waves crash on the shore in one and a half hours, with a quarter hour break for half an orange.

I have watched the passion of the fans in the stands during the Birmingham game. it was wild... just like the game. A positive energy that was flooding on to the pitch, consuming Luke Ayling to surge forward from DEFENCE to score a goal and provide two assists. The Luke Ayling who was labeled the worst player on the field the previous week now turns out to be a hero and a saviour. ( What the he'll is a defender doing in the opponent's 18 yard box... he should be back in your back four DEFENDING)

It seems that you can't even savour a sweet victory. instead to maintain your negative stance you o attack our defence. You are unremitting and relentless in your criticism. I don't know how those sour grapes can taste so good.

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Yes I was entertained

No parka on yesterday

Don't possess a Leeds bobble hat

Quite mild so no sniffling whatsoever

I wear the appropriate footwear for football so my feat are never cold

I admire a solid defence that plays the ball out from the back as Bielsa insists from his team

Plenty of excitement watching Bielsa's Leeds all season, nerve-wracking but edge of the seat stuff

Rarely stay at home when Leeds are playing

Never sat in a deckchair in my life

Don't own an aquarium

Oranges are one of two fruits I can't eat

I was one of those estatic fans jumping around like a lunatic

Ayling had a stinker v PNE but was sensational yesterday driving us onwards to a victory

I was happy with the with the result in fact i was over the moon with the three points.

Our defence was a shambles yesterday

I'm not negative as I believe we are the best team in the league & we'll achieve promotion

Unlike you I predict us to win in every game in our Leeds Correct Score competition

[whiteswan]

Just watched the highlights again....team huddle at the end.....but where was Kiko? Or did I miss him

[mothbanquet]

Just watched the highlights again....team huddle at the end.....but where was Kiko? Or did I miss him

He was still jogging back from one of his excursions.

Seriously though, he might have off games but I love Kiko.

[rab_rant]

He was still jogging back from one of his excursions.

Seriously though, he might have off games but I love Kiko.

Talking about jogging back... I just looked at the Zwodde highlights again
and for the first Brum goal Nketiah was tracking back trying to stop their
No 12 Harlie Dean 1:37 but just gave up the chase as he crossed the half way line
and slowed down to a jog... Bamford I think would have stuck a leg in there
and committed a professional foul and the complexion of the game might
have changed. Perhaps Nketiah does not have the same work ethic as Bamford.

[mothbanquet]

Talking about jogging back... I just looked at the Zwodde highlights again
and for the first Brum goal Nketiah was tracking back trying to stop their
No 12 Harlie Dean 1:37 but just gave up the chase as he crossed the half way line
and slowed down to a jog... Bamford I think would have stuck a leg in there
and committed a professional foul and the complexion of the game might
have changed. Perhaps Nketiah does not have the same work ethic as Bamford.

Or perhaps it's a case of Bamford being more experienced? I don't know, maybe it's work ethic. I know I didn't have the same work ethic in my early 20's as I do now. Bamford's also had more time training with Bielsa and I think being a Bielsaball no9 is far more difficult than we think - especially learning to become one, unlearning all the staid and static conventions we take for granted like 'recognised goalscorer' and 'square pegs'. Not that those conventions haven't become such for a reason, they're seen as best practice which must make defying them very hard to get used to for a lifelong striker. Nketiah is young and hasn't been with us all that long really, he probably needs to be reminded to run when his Arsenal training says to stay back and wait for a clearance to latch onto.

[The Subhuman]

Assuming the professional foul didn't draw a red of course which probably would have changed the outcome of the game..plus if Nketiah couldn't catch him then Bamford certainly couldn't, plus I've seen Bamford give up chasing down once a player has gotten clear, plus Nketiah being a different kind of striker may have orders not to track back too far as he'd prevent others moving up because they have to account for the pace and movement.

Watching the game live some of Nketiah's subtle movement in the box to lose markers was sublime...

[1964white]

Just watched the highlights again....team huddle at the end.....but where was Kiko? Or did I miss him

Pretty sure Kiko was in the huddle Swannie,
Costa may have been missing though

[1964white]

Talking about jogging back... I just looked at the Zwodde highlights again
and for the first Brum goal Nketiah was tracking back trying to stop their
No 12 Harlie Dean 1:37 but just gave up the chase as he crossed the half way line
and slowed down to a jog... Bamford I think would have stuck a leg in there
and committed a professional foul and the complexion of the game might
have changed. Perhaps Nketiah does not have the same work ethic as Bamford.

Eddie did the same when he came on at Huddersfield

[weasel]

I think it is great that us fans are beginning to understand Bielsa's methods more and see a bigger picture when it comes to watching games and judging players.