Leeds Utd v West Ham Utd Match Thread

[danhirons]

I always hate it when a manager takes a club from nothing to success they haven't seen for decades, and the fans say it's amazing, and are nearly building the statue...and one or two poor months later they question everything, his temperament, signings, tactics...everything.

Fickle

[Cjay]

I reckon another month of this and they will be drawing up a shortlist.

Not suggesting that is desirable from my perspective but they have to protect the project.

Of course in a month we could be mid table

We could, next few games will tell us a lot.

I just hope if they do draw up a shortlist people like Eddie Howe, Carlos Corberan and Lee Bowyer will be miles off it, we have tried domestic before and we got Heckingbottom, small managers managing small clubs isnt what this club needs (look at Bielsa and his level) that is what we need.

[Mountain]

I reckon another month of this and they will be drawing up a shortlist.

It could be a very very short list.

I don't think any half decent manager would consider joining a club that spent 3 years on an incredible upward trend, culminating in a remarkable first season back in the top flight where many considered Bielsa manager of the season. And then sacks him after a few more...well, perhaps "normal" results.

Who could possibly be on the list. Even Hockaday has a job now.

[whiteswan]

small managers managing small clubs isnt what this club needs (look at Bielsa and his level) that is what we need.

Isn't that what we've got...

[Cjay]

Isn't that what we've got...

And its what we need again if and when Bielsa goes. . .Tiz all i was saying

[rondownunder]

I understand this is a results business, but tactically we looked a lot better against West Ham than we have all year. Klich and Rodrigo need a goal, but the latter worked hard yesterday. Given our injry list I doubt Radz is even thinking about replacing Bielsa. Cresswell in front of a packed home crowd on his debut looked incredible and shone a poor light on the passing game of Cooper relative. Feels like on that perfromance you could play Cresswell as cover for Kalvin, such was his passing game. Incredibly frustrating not to hold on for a point, but we will never forget the debut by Cresswell. I'd like to see us loan out Roberts in the next window and look to our academy players to fill the very small void he will leave. Runs around like a headless chicken at times and seems surprised when he is in the clear or has a sight on goal. Never the difference in this league. We will collect points in the next run of games and breathe a sigh of relief I feel. With better finishing, we will be 4 nil up at HT in a game shortly.

[1964white]

Thats extremely bad and highlights that the style that has got us where we are is now actively hindering us, those sort of numbers end in relegation, that must not be allowed to continue.

Meslier is far too much overworked with little protection from our dreadful defence.

Even so, some of our fans don't think we have problems & these figures are all a sudden will be resolved

At this time last season we had won 3 games & drawn one with ten points on the board. Yes, we were conceding goals, nine in all, but we had also scored twelve goals by the stage. We did concede eight goals in our following two games, so our defensive woes were there for all to see!

Bamford had scored six goals by this time.

This season we've scored six, conceding fourteen goals.

We seem to be totally reliant on our three goal hero Raphinha who is carrying an injury himself. Bamford one goal in five games & only one goal from our powderpuff midfield this season is not good enough.

[Boo Radley]

I am very worried about the situation we find ourselves, but I feel we are nowhere near a situation where we even contemplate replacing Bielsa. I just want him to do what he did half way through the season last year where he adjusted the team because of glaring weaknesses that had been exposed before Christmas. He addressed our defensive frailties, like conceding in so many set piece situations and our abandoning of most defensive positions with every attack. He has also shown that he can, and does, move on players that are not adding to our performances even though they appear fixtures in the squad, e.g. Costa.

What is bewildering and disappointing is that we seem to be back to a similar situation again this season. Our transfer strategy over the summer is a mystery and we may never hear where the responsibility lies for that debacle, but it may not have been Bielsa’s fault. He is the kind of man that would not take to the airwaves to point a finger at who messed up if it wasn’t him. But it was a mess and it has left us very vulnerable.

What is in his control is the current squad. We need to reduce the high level of exposure our defence is currently facing urgently. We could be far worse off if it wasn’t for Meslier’s brilliance. But the fact the that we have faced by far the most number of shots in the league is a massive red flag. We are not scoring but we have a youngster who is in outstanding scoring form and we need to at least give him some time to see what he can do. The obsession with Roberts and looking to him as first sub, no matter what midfield or forward position is to be replaced has to stop. There has been no return from him whatsoever and no noticeable improvement in his general performance. Farm him out and see if he can prove us all wrong - we can’t afford to wait on him in the PL.

Our overall performances are improving but the key issues remain. I just want Bielsa to show again that he can adapt where required to improve our results. He’s done it before and we can kick on to at least survive. If not, and we stay in the relegation zone over the coming months, then economics alone will bring change, whether any of us like it or not.

[1964white]

Laughing boy on MOTD highlighted that Leeds should see out a game rather than be so gun-ho leaving ourselves totally exposed at the back & he was also critical of Firpo who continually finds himself caught out of position.

A point would have been a deserved point, unfortunately our naivety style of play needlessly chucked it away.

[Irish Ian]

I'd be happy if the squad was given a few days off.

Hell I need it and I only watch.

[john1931]

Look at it this way....at least it won't be a boring mid table snooze fest.

[1964white]

I'd be happy if the squad was given a few days off.

Hell I need it and I only watch.

Six more games before the international break, Ian.

[1964white]

Look at it this way....at least it won't be a boring mid table snooze fest.

Give me mid-table safety any day, John

[VinnysTattoo]

There is an undeniable truth that no other manger would have got that squad out of the Championship and into mid table Premiership last season.
This also doesn’t mean he is beyond criticism.
It seems in his mind that the players he had will be forever foremost in his plans. Noble but ultimately doomed to failure.

Bamford, Ayling, Cooper,Dallas etc all played out of their skins last season and if that level is not maintained then we cannot expect the same results this season. Be in no doubt Costa would still be getting a game if he was still here.

This is where the manager has to criticised. There are youngsters who could improve the situation and definitely wouldn’t make it worse, but the usual suspects get the nods.

If in a team of mainly maximum performing Championship players don’t perform at maximum we lose. Last year was an exception and this what names this season a challenge.

[billysboots]

Our shortcomings have been highlighted here by many of you so no need for me to repeat them.
I feel the need to mention the Roberts conundrum though, why does Bielsa persist with him when he is so ineffective?
We are all united in our bafflement.

[Byebyegeegee]

Well I enjoyed my day and enjoyed the 1st half. One or 2 close calls but Meslier stood firm and we could have been more than 1 goal up at half time with Raphinha looking back to his best.

Unfortunately in the 2nd half, with Roberts on for Raphinha, we carried no threat at all and it seemed inevitable that West Ham were going to equalise and whilst it was extremely disappointing it was no surprise to me that they went on to win in the end. No doubting they were the better team.

Too many of our players are not playing to the same standard as they did last season, for example Dallas looks a shadow of his former self, as does Harrison and yesterday even Phillips didn’t seem his usual self. Rodrigo doesn’t defend from the front half as well as Bamford, which wouldn’t matter so much if he was scoring some goals but he’s not even doing that. Unfortunately no comparison between him and their centre forward Antonio, who had a fantastic game and looks an absolute beast. And don’t get me started on Roberts who ran around a lot but, as usual, to absolutely zero effect.

Apart from Raphinha, only 2 other players came out of yesterday’s game with any credit imo and that was Meslier and Cresswell.

I’ve said so before but on yesterday’s evidence it could be a long old season for Leeds United!

[SG90]

Klich said himself that he was tired and couldn't reach those levels anymore, yet the club ignored it and just assumed he would improve even after getting a year older. Time to give Lewis Bate a chance. How can we not even have a midfielder on the bench yet 3 full backs?

[SG90]

There is an undeniable truth that no other manger would have got that squad out of the Championship and into mid table Premiership last season.
This also doesn’t mean he is beyond criticism.
It seems in his mind that the players he had will be forever foremost in his plans. Noble but ultimately doomed to failure.

Bamford, Ayling, Cooper,Dallas etc all played out of their skins last season and if that level is not maintained then we cannot expect the same results this season. Be in no doubt Costa would still be getting a game if he was still here.

This is where the manager has to criticised. There are youngsters who could improve the situation and definitely wouldn’t make it worse, but the usual suspects get the nods.

If in a team of mainly maximum performing Championship players don’t perform at maximum we lose. Last year was an exception and this what names this season a challenge.

Pretty much agree.

The problem is we picked the same players every week in different positions, rather than give young players a chance in their natural position. Shackleton barely has any real game time despite all his appearances for example. No doubt if not for injury, Ayling would've started over Cresswell both yesterday and on Tuesday. Ignoring talents like Bogusz and Gelhardt to pick Dallas and Roberts, Rodrigo etc out of position.

Now we have no options outside of the Championship players who peaked last season.

[whiteswan]

And its what we need again if and when Bielsa goes. . .Tiz all i was saying

Ahhhhhh

[1964white]

Well I enjoyed my day and enjoyed the 1st half. One or 2 close calls but Meslier stood firm and we could have been more than 1 goal up at half time with Raphinha looking back to his best.

Unfortunately in the 2nd half, with Roberts on for Raphinha, we carried no threat at all and it seemed inevitable that West Ham were going to equalise and whilst it was extremely disappointing it was no surprise to me that they went on to win in the end. No doubting they were the better team.

Too many of our players are not playing to the same standard as they did last season, for example Dallas looks a shadow of his former self, as does Harrison and yesterday even Phillips didn’t seem his usual self. Rodrigo doesn’t defend from the front half as well as Bamford, which wouldn’t matter so much if he was scoring some goals but he’s not even doing that. Unfortunately no comparison between him and their centre forward Antonio, who had a fantastic game and looks an absolute beast. And don’t get me started on Roberts who ran around a lot but, as usual, to absolutely zero effect.

Apart from Raphinha, only 2 other players came out of yesterday’s game with any credit imo and that was Meslier and Cresswell.

I’ve said so before but on yesterday’s evidence it could be a long old season for Leeds United!

Glad you enjoyed yourself Byebye despite the result.

Only Leeds could blow that type of game when clearly on top at half-time