Crawley Town v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Cooper returns as Bielsa makes seven changes

[BillyBremner]

Welcome Billy on a very bad day

Thanks - yes quite sad although I still believe the main objective this season is staying up. I know it is not very ambitious...

[CHAPELALLMAN]

No it's great what we've achieved in PL.
But that "performance" today, and the one in the EFL Cup, is not good enough for this club end of.
To progress in the PL we need to improve the quality of the squad, which as I've said is dependent on time, money and no sentimentality.
I'm realistic enough to know that's not gonna happen immediately, but the sooner it happens the better.
What we have as cover ain't anywhere near good enough and that was amply shown today.
As we improve the first eleven the cover should by default get better as long as it's managed correctly.

let's see if we are talking mid table by the end of the season - where we are now is irrelevant. People talk as though the season is over. Lat season the Blades were 6th in the table at Xmas time in their first season back. That's why I just don't get this complacent ' relax, we are mid table ' attitude after just 17 games in, as though we have somehow made it. This time last year Blades fans must have thought that Wilder walks on water, and to be honest at this time last year he had achieved a lot more for the Blades than Bielsa has to date done for us - and on a much lower wage ( 650K a year plus bonus ) Bielsa has done well , but it's good to keep a sense of proportion surely ?

[White Riot]

let's see if we are talking mid table by the end of the season - where we are now is irrelevant. People talk as though the season is over. Lat season the Blades were 6th in the table at Xmas time in their first season back. That's why I just don't get this complacent ' we are mid table ' attitude after just 17 games in.

True mate, minus a few bumps, our return to the PL has been better than expected considering our current squad.

You're right it's not a given that we'll stay up, but on the evidence of what I've seen so far we'll finish around 10th, and if we have a really good run we might finish eighth.

Only time will tell where we actually finish at the end of the season.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

True mate, minus a few bumps, our return to the PL has been better than expected considering our current squad.

You're right it's not a given that we'll stay up, but on the evidence of what I've seen so far we'll finish around 10th, and if we have a really good run we might finish eighth.

Only time will tell where we actually finish at the end of the season.

[White Riot]

Thanks - yes quite sad although I still believe the main objective this season is staying up. I know it is not very ambitious...

Welcome Billy.

To stay up, after 16 years out of the PL will be a great achievement, particularly when you consider the shape of our current squad and the fact that apart from Fulham, Baggies and Blunts our competitors are all established PL teams, with PL squads.

Yesterday, for me was an illustration of how weak that squad is. We need to improve the first team and from there improve the squad, and as I've said that will take time, money, good decisions and a lack of sentimentality.

[White Riot]

Firstly, well played Crawley Town, they played a solid game and even without the goalkeeping errors they deserved their win.

It is really hard to take such a defeat.

It seems to me that it was all about the Brighton game as it seemed pre-planned to fully or half rest our starting XI (whatever the scoreline) besides Phillips who is out anyway. Phillips was played as CB to give Pascal time as DM in preparation for Brighton.

What puzzles me is playing first game or starting debutants out of position. As was said earlier, confidence is everything. I do know though that with Bielsa there will be a reason, unknown to mere mortals.

I hope Casilla is going to donate this week's £40,000 to a suitable cause.

Welcome mate and thanks for your great analysis

I also don't mind if Casilla tears up his contract and uses some of his last 40,000 quid to book himself onto the next available flight to Spain

Adios amigo

[White Riot]

Not what you would call pc, but I love his attitude, bet he was buzzing underneath the cool exterior....well played to Crawley, we were crap to say the least

Says it how it is, not crowing about the victory

Sure he was over the moon and deserves to feel that way

Another schooling for MB

[Clacton White]

I would say so, remember it well CW

Mind you , big difference in that Review's side showed spirit in trying to get back into the game and pulled 2 back . This lot showed no spirit , nothing . There was nothing of a Bielsa type game . The fringe players showed they are nowhere near good enough , no pressing or pressure from the team . This was as complete a shambles as I have seen from any Leeds side , even the many shite performances from the Bates era under many managers . It goes down among those many shockers in Leeds history, Colchester , Histon , Sutton etc and is at least as bad as the worst of those . Some of those were close games . This wasn't . Crawley made Leeds look the lower league side .

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Mind you , big difference in that Review's side showed spirit in trying to get back into the game and pulled 2 back . This lot showed no spirit , nothing . There was nothing of a Bielsa type game . The fringe players showed they are nowhere near good enough , no pressing or pressure from the team . This was as complete a shambles as I have seen from any Leeds side , even the many shite performances from the Bates era under many managers . It goes down among those many shockers in Leeds history, Colchester , Histon , Sutton etc and is at least as bad as the worst of those . Some of those were close games . This wasn't . Crawley made Leeds look the lower league side .

' Don Review ' reminds me a bit of Eric Morecambe calling Andre Previn ' Mr Preview...'

[1964white]

Mind you , big difference in that Review's side showed spirit in trying to get back into the game and pulled 2 back . This lot showed no spirit , nothing . There was nothing of a Bielsa type game . The fringe players showed they are nowhere near good enough , no pressing or pressure from the team . This was as complete a shambles as I have seen from any Leeds side , even the many shite performances from the Bates era under many managers . It goes down among those many shockers in Leeds history, Colchester , Histon , Sutton etc and is at least as bad as the worst of those . Some of those were close games . This wasn't . Crawley made Leeds look the lower league side .

Even my Mrs (not a big football fan) commented this is not the Leeds team I've watched this season.

Totally agree with your post CW

[Clacton White]

' Don Review ' reminds me a bit of Eric Morecambe calling Andre Previn ' Mr Preview...'

Bloody tablet spellcheck . Missed it had decided Revie was review .

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Bloody tablet spellcheck . Missed it had decided Revie was review .

It's the kind of thing that happens to me when texting on my phone Clacton

[Clacton White]

It's the kind of thing that happens to me when texting on my phone Clacton

Luckily I don't get that as I don't have a mobile .

[Metro1962]

Match/Result embarrassing?

No to both I think this was Leeds turning up cos they were contractually obliged to and nothing more,Well before the game we were never going to win this EVEN with a FULL strengh side because we did not want to,You could see the proof on the team sheet.

Credit to Crawley and hope they go further imo.