Spurs v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[Aussieleeds]

We've 7 points out of 27 against the top half.
Bottom half = 16 out of 24

At the start of the season most of us would have taken this as to be expected:
Liverpool - L
Man U - L
Leicester - L
Spurs - L
Wolves - L
Man C - L
Arsenal - L
Everton - L

So we’ve picked up 5 unexpected points there. Also picked up a win over Villa who were riding high at the time.

Only games we might have expected to pick up points where we haven’t are West Ham and Palace.

We have a perfect record against the bottom 6 so far - 5 wins from 5.

I’m amazed that some fans can be so negative about our performance to date, and be demanding we dump current players.

[Aussieleeds]

Not sure if you've ever stood on the terraces at Elland Rd, but when I used to stand in the kop there was a constant fluctuation of elation and despair going on around me as the game unfolded. Some fans shouted rude comments towards certain players if they weren't happy with their play for some reason. If a goal was conceded a great groan went up with plenty of foul langauage to be heard, or people would be jumping around if we scored. That's the nature of being a football fan, and pretty much part and parcel of the game. You get a similar kind of thing going on during a match with football fans on any forum I'm quite sure. If a group of any football fans were to meet in a pub to discuss straight after a match I'm sure you would hear lots of conflicting views about players and tactics etc - particularly if their team had just lost 3-0. When I used to watch matches in pubs up to quite recently, exactly the same kind of thing used to happen - lots of elation and despair. Again, that's part of football - it's nothing to get upset about, as the only way to avoid it is to watch a match alone in a sitting room.

It’s not the disappointment and the immediate sense of frustration that gets to me. It’s the “game over” attitude, it’s the immediate turning in the players ... the ‘championship quality’ ones who are well on the way to securing a mid-table finish in the PL. The best fans get teams home with their own ‘never say die’ support - they don’t turn on their team as soon as things don’t go well.

[BobHirst]

Sorry mate have to disagree... the penalty was a direct result of his weak pass...shouldnt even be making a pass like that...and he was way off his line for the corner, when he saw the set up they had he should have been on his post or a lot closer left a major gap for that near post corner ...

You know how I hate to critisise any player and especially Meslier, but has to take his share of the responsibility

I agree about the first goal. He has obviously had it drilled into him to not just boot the ball downfield. But in that circumstance, being pressed and everyone being covered, he should have just launched it and taken the bollocking from Bielsa.
Totally disagree for the second. He was well positioned. The corner was an excellent delivery and the powerful near post header from very close in gave him little chance. Even then he almost kept it out. The goal line technology replay showed it was only over the line by the tiniest of margins.
He's young and will make mistakes but I don't think that was one of them.
BTW WTF use is VAR? if you watch the replay of the foul that caused the penalty, Alioski is clearly outside the box when he makes contact with the Spurs player.

[HarryofOz]

This.
As someone pretty new to this site, it can be the most depressing place to be on game day .... unless we are up by at least two goals.
As soon as we go a goal down, the same people that claim this is a ‘throw away game’ that we’ll never win, start moaning. The same people that say they’d hate to be a club that parks the bus, start blaming the tactics, and the same people that ridicule Chelsea and Man City for their open cheque books want us to sack the players that got us here and ‘buy’ ourselves a spot in Europe.
I too am loving this season... watching the players that got us here live their dreams. I love that Ayling has developed into a versatile defender that can hold his own as a CB in a PL defence. I love it that Ali has 2 goals already this season and Dallas and Jack have 3.
I loved being able to watch us outplay a top 4 side for the first half an hour, rather than spend the entire game grinding out an inevitable 1-0 loss.
How much better to be on 23 pts with 30 goals for, than Wolves with 22 pts and only 18 goals.
But that’s just me.

Well said

[Overman]

This.
As someone pretty new to this site, it can be the most depressing place to be on game day .... unless we are up by at least two goals.
As soon as we go a goal down, the same people that claim this is a ‘throw away game’ that we’ll never win, start moaning. The same people that say they’d hate to be a club that parks the bus, start blaming the tactics, and the same people that ridicule Chelsea and Man City for their open cheque books want us to sack the players that got us here and ‘buy’ ourselves a spot in Europe.
I too am loving this season... watching the players that got us here live their dreams. I love that Ayling has developed into a versatile defender that can hold his own as a CB in a PL defence. I love it that Ali has 2 goals already this season and Dallas and Jack have 3.
I loved being able to watch us outplay a top 4 side for the first half an hour, rather than spend the entire game grinding out an inevitable 1-0 loss.
How much better to be on 23 pts with 30 goals for, than Wolves with 22 pts and only 18 goals.
But that’s just me.

You just have to take the rough with the smooth, emotions fluctuate, that's our fallible human nature. Take it for what it is, I personally find it entertaining, irrespective, if I don't always agree. If it was purely a happy clappy forum, then that would be dull indeed. I appreciate the range of emotions, thoughts and opinions, it's what makes this such a fascinating forum.

[Overman]

Not sure if you've ever stood on the terraces at Elland Rd, but when I used to stand in the kop there was a constant fluctuation of elation and despair going on around me as the game unfolded. Some fans shouted rude comments towards certain players if they weren't happy with their play for some reason. If a goal was conceded a great groan went up with plenty of foul langauage to be heard, or people would be jumping around if we scored. That's the nature of being a football fan, and pretty much part and parcel of the game. You get a similar kind of thing going on during a match with football fans on any forum I'm quite sure. If a group of any football fans were to meet in a pub to discuss straight after a match I'm sure you would hear lots of conflicting views about players and tactics etc - particularly if their team had just lost 3-0. When I used to watch matches in pubs up to quite recently, exactly the same kind of thing used to happen - lots of elation and despair. Again, that's part of football - it's nothing to get upset about, as the only way to avoid it is to watch a match alone in a sitting room.

Indeed,

[andrewjohnsmith]

I'd certainly look to pull the No 10 back and play two in the middle of midfield.

It's a tweak in formation though, don't think we will ever change our 'style'.

I think Bielsa likes that formation because he's used it a few times. He's added Dallas to the midfield and was obviously looking at that with the Cuisance deal. But over the last month with our injuries at the back I think he feels he doesn't have the players for it. It's a choice between Shackleton or Rodrigo. Personally, I'd give Shackleton a go. But Bielsa feels better with Rodrigo even if it does leave us too open against the better teams. With our defenders back fully fit, or Forshaw, or a new signing, we might see a 3 man midfield more often in the new year.

[Leeds1000]

Its our first season back and we have done ok, haven't we? Smashed Villa, took the game to MC once we had settled in and got a draw, run the reigning Champions Liverpool close, beat mega bucks Everton and played Arsenal off the park. Beat Newcastle & WB up so badly they will never forget it. Grinded out results against SU & Burnley. Scored 30 goals in the process and been involved in games totaling 63 goals.

What more do you want?

[White Riot]

Not sure if you've ever stood on the terraces at Elland Rd, but when I used to stand in the kop there was a constant fluctuation of elation and despair going on around me as the game unfolded. Some fans shouted rude comments towards certain players if they weren't happy with their play for some reason. If a goal was conceded a great groan went up with plenty of foul langauage to be heard, or people would be jumping around if we scored. That's the nature of being a football fan, and pretty much part and parcel of the game. You get a similar kind of thing going on during a match with football fans on any forum I'm quite sure. If a group of any football fans were to meet in a pub to discuss straight after a match I'm sure you would hear lots of conflicting views about players and tactics etc - particularly if their team had just lost 3-0. When I used to watch matches in pubs up to quite recently, exactly the same kind of thing used to happen - lots of elation and despair. Again, that's part of football - it's nothing to get upset about, as the only way to avoid it is to watch a match alone in a sitting room.

Dead right mate, we're passionate supporters and feel every kick

[White Riot]

You just have to take the rough with the smooth, emotions fluctuate, that's our fallible human nature. Take it for what it is, I personally find it entertaining, irrespective, if I don't always agree. If it was purely a happy clappy forum, then that would be dull indeed. I appreciate the range of emotions, thoughts and opinions, it's what makes this such a fascinating forum.

Exactly mate, I'm not into towing the party line

[White Riot]

I think Bielsa likes that formation because he's used it a few times. He's added Dallas to the midfield and was obviously looking at that with the Cuisance deal. But over the last month with our injuries at the back I think he feels he doesn't have the players for it. It's a choice between Shackleton or Rodrigo. Personally, I'd give Shackleton a go. But Bielsa feels better with Rodrigo even if it does leave us too open against the better teams. With our defenders back fully fit, or Forshaw, or a new signing, we might see a 3 man midfield more often in the new year.

If you're hoping Forshaw comes back then we can expect miracles. More chance of Santa coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve

[White Riot]

Its our first season back and we have done ok, haven't we? Smashed Villa, took the game to MC once we had settled in and got a draw, run the reigning Champions Liverpool close, beat mega bucks Everton and played Arsenal off the park. Beat Newcastle & WB up so badly they will never forget it. Grinded out results against SU & Burnley. Scored 30 goals in the process and been involved in games totaling 63 goals.

What more do you want?

All good positive achievements mate

But what I want our players to do is stop making stupid errors and gifting victories to LFC, Scum, West Ham, Chelsea, Leicester, Palace, Spurs, the list goes on and the mistakes continue. We've shown we're capable already, but still not consistent.

[1964white]

If you're hoping Forshaw comes back then we can expect miracles. More chance of Santa coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve

How much has that bed warmer in the treatment room cost us....£££££££'s?

Should he make it to the chimney he'd injured himself on the way down

[1964white]

You just have to take the rough with the smooth, emotions fluctuate, that's our fallible human nature. Take it for what it is, I personally find it entertaining, irrespective, if I don't always agree. If it was purely a happy clappy forum, then that would be dull indeed. I appreciate the range of emotions, thoughts and opinions, it's what makes this such a fascinating forum.

It certainly would be.

I appreciate a wide range of views whether they are positive or negative

Some prefer all that happy clappy stuff, their opinion respected though

[Chilli D]

I think Bielsa likes that formation because he's used it a few times. He's added Dallas to the midfield and was obviously looking at that with the Cuisance deal. But over the last month with our injuries at the back I think he feels he doesn't have the players for it. It's a choice between Shackleton or Rodrigo. Personally, I'd give Shackleton a go. But Bielsa feels better with Rodrigo even if it does leave us too open against the better teams. With our defenders back fully fit, or Forshaw, or a new signing, we might see a 3 man midfield more often in the new year.

Shackleton should be playing now. He has bags of energy and I can't ever recall him having a bad game.
He's a bit like Dallas in that he can play in a number of positions.

[White Riot]

How much has that bed warmer in the treatment room cost us....£££££££'s?

Should he make it to the chimney he'd injured himself on the way down

Thought you were talking about Mendy's party take out order for a minute there mate

I like him as a fella, but yeah thousands down the pan , along with Izzy Brown, Roberts, Douglas and all of that crew. They make Sicknote look like the fittest fella on the planet

Forshaw would get injured wrapping up the Chrimbo presents, his Mrs has to do that for him

[White Riot]

Shackleton should be playing now. He has bags of energy and I can't ever recall him having a bad game.
He's a bit like Dallas in that he can play in a number of positions.

True mate, he needs match time or might as well get sent on loan.

[1964white]

Thought you were talking about Mendy's party take out order for a minute there mate

I like him as a fella, but yeah thousands down the pan , along with Izzy Brown, Roberts, Douglas and all of that crew. They make Sicknote look like the fittest fella on the planet

Forshaw would get injured wrapping up the Chrimbo presents, his Mrs has to do that for him

We've developed a habit of signing crocks over the years

I do wonder whether other clubs see us coming

[White Riot]

We've developed a habit of signing crocks over the years

I do wonder whether other clubs see us coming

Maybe, we spotted Cuisance though

It's magnified when you have a small squad of senior players and then sign crocks

[Leeds1000]

All good positive achievements mate

But what I want our players to do is stop making stupid errors and gifting victories to LFC, Scum, West Ham, Chelsea, Leicester, Palace, Spurs, the list goes on and the mistakes continue. We've shown we're capable already, but still not consistent.

I think you could be waiting awhile WR in the big games. I can't think of many clubs coming up from the Championship and without any recognized CB'S in the team, managing to keep players like Son & Kane quite. Even at full CB strength they are handful for the any team.... especially MU.

We play high risk possession football starting with our goalie. When teams press high and go MTM mistakes will happen, penalties will be conceded and we can't head a ball for toffee, but if we took our fair share of chances we would still have a chance of winning some of these games.

I don't think there is balance with this team. Burnley we showed a bit of resilience but it wasn't a Bielsa performance. For me and i have said it for a few weeks, find me a proper defender in this team and i will give you a gold star. If i give you Ayling & Dallas, then we play with 9 naturally attack minded players and its difficult to curb that mentality, but then i wouldn't want to watch Newcastle & WB every week who's sole intention is to stop teams scoring.