1 - 0
Sunderland
Sunderland
Leeds United
Leeds United
Stadium of Light
40,531
Dean Whitestone

Leeds seven game unbeaten run came to an end after a miserably disappointing performance at the Stadium of Light last night. Gone was the free flowing football, and spontaneous licence to bomb forward in numbers, scaring the life out of opposition defenders in the process. Instead, we witnessed a far more controlled approach (perhaps even cautious), but in doing so, lost their cutting edge, especially in the final third.

Leeds were right to be cautious. Former Academy star Jack Clarke was a constant threat down the left channel (just ask Gray), and had the acceleration to get beyond the Leeds defence whilst Bellingham shows a lot of the attributes of his older brother.

The Mackems had two guilt edged opportunities in the first half which went begging. Struijk was forced to make a goal line clearance when it looked like Pritchard was going to poke the ball over the line from close distance, followed moments later by an acrobatic save by Meslier from the resultant corner.

In-truth, clear cut chances were few and far between, but just when it looked like the game was heading for a goalless draw, disaster struck for the Whites when Bellingham was in the right place at the right time to head past Meslier from close range following a fortunate ricochet.

Line Up
Nat
Match Events
1
 Meslier, Illan
Goalkeeper
France
22
 Gray, Archie
Midfielder
England
14
 Rodon, Joe
Defender
Wales
21
 Struijk, Pascal
Defender
Netherlands
39
 Spence, Djed
Defender
England
4
 Ampadu, Ethan
Midfielder
Wales
8
 Kamara, Glen
Midfielder
Finland
20
 James, Daniel
Midfielder
Wales
7
 Piroe, Joel
Forward
Netherlands
10
 Summerville, Crysencio
Midfielder
Netherlands
24
 Rutter, Georginio
Forward
France
Subs
Nat
Match Events
12
 Anthony, Jaidon
Midfielder
England
29
 Gnonto, Wilfried
Midfielder
Italy
9
 Bamford, Patrick
Forward
England
49
 Joseph, Mateo
Forward
Spain
2
 Ayling, Luke
Defender
England
 Unused Sub
6
 Cooper, Liam
Defender
Scotland
 Unused Sub
26
 Darlow, Karl
Goalkeeper
England
 Unused Sub
30
 Gelhardt, Joe
Forward
England
 Unused Sub
44
 Gruev, Ilia
Midfielder
Bulgaria
 Unused Sub
References
LEEDSTATS: Leeds United Season 2023/2024
Sheridan Dictates: Season Statistics 2023-24
Leeds United Programme Guide: Season 2023/24
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Leeds United (9th Dec 2023)

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Overman wrote on 14 Dec 2023 06:32 pm

JoeDenver wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:13 pm I agree Overman. We need an LB which would allow us to not rely on Byram as much (and be done with Firpo). But I think Gruev should’ve been a substitute in this one. He has to be more bedded into this squad by now…and his last few cameos have been encouraging. And Gruev has a unique, if tricky, way of passing that no one in our squad has. That could’ve been the key to unlock them. And Ampadu looked tired shortly after the break, which is understandable.

Truly thought Gruev and Gnonto needed to come on in the 60th minute and Gray and Spence needed to switch sides shortly after the break. That would’ve minimized the concern with Clarke and Gray’s yellow card, while also mitigating some of the clashing with Spence and Summerville. And if that didn’t work, then you throw the Hail Mary with Paddy and Joseph.

Farke might not have his ideal weapons on the bench. But he has certain useful tools and the ability to use subs. He’s just been reluctant, if not stubbornly opposed, to using them. And that’s the main gripe. The result was avoidable, irrespective of the weather and the shoddy ref. Here’s hoping Farke learns from this one.
Absolutely, well said. 👍

1964white wrote on 14 Dec 2023 05:19 pm

JoeDenver wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 1:48 pm You could fill in the spaces/gaps with “lots of backpassing by Leeds” :lol: :roflmao: :lol:
So frustrating when we are chasing a game.

We seem to have only one way of playing, even the top PL clubs play more direct when necessary.

JoeDenver wrote on 14 Dec 2023 02:13 pm

Overman wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 8:55 am I would agree, but Farke needs a better squad to be able to rotate effectively. Looking at our bench there's only really Gononto and limited options. It's a case at present, that bringing on subs has very little impact. Our CM's look tired and need rotating, but who do we replace them with, Gruev? The Archie experiment needs a line drawing under it, and play him where he belongs. I've got a feeling January will be crucial for us.
I agree Overman. We need an LB which would allow us to not rely on Byram as much (and be done with Firpo). But I think Gruev should’ve been a substitute in this one. He has to be more bedded into this squad by now…and his last few cameos have been encouraging. And Gruev has a unique, if tricky, way of passing that no one in our squad has. That could’ve been the key to unlock them. And Ampadu looked tired shortly after the break, which is understandable.

Truly thought Gruev and Gnonto needed to come on in the 60th minute and Gray and Spence needed to switch sides shortly after the break. That would’ve minimized the concern with Clarke and Gray’s yellow card, while also mitigating some of the clashing with Spence and Summerville. And if that didn’t work, then you throw the Hail Mary with Paddy and Joseph.

Farke might not have his ideal weapons on the bench. But he has certain useful tools and the ability to use subs. He’s just been reluctant, if not stubbornly opposed, to using them. And that’s the main gripe. The result was avoidable, irrespective of the weather and the shoddy ref. Here’s hoping Farke learns from this one.

Cjay wrote on 14 Dec 2023 01:53 pm

weasel wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 10:20 pm I think he has made a huge difference. It would have been very easy to have had a complete hangover season and do nothing. A lot of players were on their knees confidence wise, Messlier, Struyjk and Rutter to name 3. He has got Dan James and Summerville playing well consistently and having end product. From a man-management point of view he has gelled the team. Transfers wise he has done pretty well. Signing Rodon, Spence, Ampadu, Piroe, Byram, Kamara, Gurev and Darlow has been pretty successful, 5 of them I would describe as good signings and the other 3 we havent really seen enough of yet to judge, Performance wise we have played some excellent football and yes we have some exciting players but he has also been brave enough to play 4 attacking players as well as having attack minded fullbacks. I think barring the Bielsa football the style of football is better than anything in the last 20+ years.

I think he has a calmness that could be a crucial factor if we get to the end of the season in a pressurised situation. I would contrast his demeanour to Arteta's which I felt contributed hugely to Arsenal imploding last season.
I think his man management is very decent I agree on that.

He seems to have given confidence to people like Rutter and James and helped Summerville grow as a player.

I think he has done OK with people like Struijk and Meslier, all be it they are still a bit iffy.

I have no issue with his man management.

I find his squad use poor, I think his failure to rotate directly lead to performances like Sunderland. I think as I've mentioned before his style away from home is a problem collectively at times and individually.

I think his unwillingness or inability to adapt in game is a problem, he is often very slow to react to games and his subs seem pre planned

I don't think it gets the best out of Piroe and in fact I think the slow build up and lack of passing lanes as a consequence is part of the issue and that is his fault.

May be in the minority but whilst occasionally some decent passing moves occur I think its largely dictated by Summerville or Rutter doing something brilliant hence why when they are marked out and struggling he doesn't seem to have an alternative.

I find the style very boring quite a bit, very slow and plodding which given our biggest strength is our attack and quick transition very strange.

I think as a man manager he is fine but I personally think you can see more and more why he has struggled as a top level coach.

JoeDenver wrote on 14 Dec 2023 01:48 pm

1964white wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:42 am If you omit the highlighted fouls & the substitutions, from the 40th to 95th minutes, nothing happened for long periods of the game, apart from their goal & Summerville/Piroe's shots.
You could fill in the spaces/gaps with “lots of backpassing by Leeds” :lol: :roflmao: :lol:
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