Leeds Banter Archive August 17 2014

17 Aug 2014 23:51:23
All the best to Sam. I'm sorry to see him go, but he's been a good servant to the club, and the time is right for him to move. I'm sure he'll have a great future

If he has made his mnd up that he want to leave, and the £8m figure reported is correct, then he should go. But not before we have signed a suitable replacement! The Swiss lad who is suspended is not in the same league as Sam.

The swiss lad isn't in the same league, its probably why he didn't cost £8 mill.

You get what you pay for ;)

Andy
I'm not sure about Swiss Lad - think he might be more versatile than Sam because he can play in our Kung Fu XI also

Speedy lol
Wasn't cantona in the Kung fu academy at some stage!

Yes Andy, he was the founder lol!

17 Aug 2014 19:29:35
Cagliari appear to have given the all-clear for Adryan to join Leeds United.

If you look around our acadamy Luke Booker is a consistent performer at u21 level and is looking like a good prospect. don't be suprised if he makes the squad if Byram decides to leave.

17 Aug 2014 14:53:27
It's still early days, but I think the hock has conviction and determination, and considering his wage compared to McDermott, he could be a coup. We do still need 1 more midfield and at least 1 more winger, plus we need to offload hunt but this could be a positive season, if we start playing the right kind of attractive football we could reap the rewards for years to come, aiming for a top 12th finish then push on season after for promotion. MOT

If we can win a majority of our home games, which was a disaster last season, there is an outside chance getting near the play off places.

17 Aug 2014 14:31:11
Just seen some contradicting stats from yesterday, Austin attempted over 100 passes with nearly 80% successful, higher pass attempts and percentage of any other player on the team. Think there may be a bandwagon thing going on.

Funnily enough I agree with you Harte of leeds. I thought he got some good tackles in yesterday and didn't notice that many bad passes. Anyway in the current bun was 'star man' yesterday, that is a joke as warnock was fantastic

I think austin in front of back four can do job. also think more to come from murphy, also think tounge is in form. that said I am not sure they all compliment each other and think they would all play better if with other players, but who do you bring in and who do you drop?

Thought he played well myself. Could only really fault byram

Harte
I don't think your right I KNOW your right about the band-wagon thingy magingy.

I thought Austin broke Boros play up down the middle very well on sat, after the first 20mins none of Boros players wanted to know when Austin was in front of them.
Murphy kept giving the ball away this week but nothing said!

PS Harte your 2-0 prediction and Sharpe to score wasnt too far away, just can't believe youve NOT mentioned it yet?

17 Aug 2014 13:20:18
Despite only 25,000 at ER yesterday, the place was rocking & I believe that the atmosphere could give the boys a big lift this season.
Cooper looked nervous to start with, but I believe he's a good player. Sharp looked a real menace & working hard tracking back. Can't wait for Brighton! MOT

17 Aug 2014 11:17:00
I only watched the game on TV but credit to the fans who went. Elland Road looks to be the fortress it once was and it definitely had the 12th man effect!

For some reason I thought we would nick the 3 points rather than Middlesbrough, I think the fans got more confident as the game progressed and I felt positive for the season after the match.

Nice to see us nick a win rather than out play team and lose to defensive or keeper error. how many times over last two years have we said we should of won that but got robbed. don't mind griding out a few wins with a bit of luck on our side. if any team in the world deserves luck it is leeds

17 Aug 2014 08:44:56
The thing I am most pleased with yesterday is not conceding (I know we technically did but a freak goal that rarely comes off) so much better defensively and very happy with Liam cooper stepped up a league (or 2? Not sure) and really looked the part for me, plenty to learn but still a great performance. Hopefully we will use that as a building block and bellusci can only be a positive for competition. What do you guys all think of the debutees?

Cooper is class, shows anticipation and gets in front of the attacker, stamina, pace, born leader. He will play for England.

Pretty much spot on - work in progress but looking much better

Silvestri - not a great deal to do yesterday but looks pretty competent

Cooper - a few wobbles but looks like he can make the step up from league 2 better to come I think

Bianchi - needs time to adjust to the championship but looks the real deal to me - comfortable on the ball and will be a key recruit

Doukara - mmm! Looked a bit jaded at times and then shows some real quality - jury's out but maybe the new competition will boost his performances

Sharp - passion and endeavour with some quality touches - with better service he will get 20+ this season - deserved his goal, hope the fans
reaction spur him on to better things - loved his passionate goal celebration

As a foot note to the new players performance, it's worth pointing out a great effort yesterday from Warnock (showed glimpses of why he once played for England)

Yeah I'm unsure of doukara aswell looke to spend a lot of time on the floor and panicky but looks to try, going to reserve judgement until I have seen him regularly. Sharp will be awesome, funny how much in shape he is and McCormack not starting because he's out of shape, think we got the better deal, oh and we're above Fulham

Forgot Ajose - pretty much says it all - Think he can make it but is going to need a bit of time - over to the Hock

Ed was my synical laughter removed from my last post? ;)

{Ed003's Note - No idea what you're on about Harte.}

17 Aug 2014 00:25:27
ok would like fans opinons please. as most of you may know I have been very harsh on the hock (very very harsh) kebabman had a dig at me saying I was uninformed and my opinons where basicly rubbish and if we was good under hock I shouldn't post again. he stated after todays win bye bye bermondsey white. I would like to know. anyone who went millwall out of ten how bad where we. and anyone who went today how good were we. yes we were much better yes we got a win. but didn't create much, goal was through error and they did score a goal that should of stood (for which we was so poor). much better and really pleased today but if kebabman right has hock proved himself after millwall shambles and todays win (or draw) not saying it wasnt better, not saying not please but does kebabman have a point?

Bit of both Bermondsey. There were times we were just dull at best. However if we are looking at the hock you have to give him some credit for the win yesterday and here is why.

we try to play passing football.
the players worked hard
the players worked as a team
his substitutions were good based on a plan.
his team selection was good

now I am not saying we can't improve on yesterday but as a coach he got it right yesterday. When most would have thrown Smith on and played hoofball in the last 20 he stuck to his plan and we scored.

most criticisms of hock are on the lines of the players won't respect him won't play for him. doesn't know what he is doing. Well yesterday the team tried to play good football this will get better in time. The players without doubt played and worked hard for him. What else must the guy do?

I also think it is too soon for anyone to state he is great or carp I think he needs 10 games and then judge but there were green shoots to see today of a team that could actually play a bit.

Also to think about Bermondsey

we had Ajose and Doukara making only their third competitive starts for us, Silvestri and Bianchi their second, and two debutants signed a couple of days ago!

to get any kind of result from Boro was a good result and the hock has to have some of the credit.

Bermondsey
Stay where you are mate, this site is about TRUE fans and your one of them.
You've let the Hock rule your head and your judgement, you've got a B in your bonnet about him and it's clouding your judgement mate. I wanted a big name coach but we got the Hock, he deserves a chance is job is hard enough mate.
Millwall 1-10 one for turning up GARBAGE.
Boro 5-10 all over the place at the start, diss allowed goal woke us up and we tried to play a bit of football. We need a STRONG midfielder who puts his foot on the ball and a decent winger.

B 3 points ;)

Way too early to judge.

People on here get carried away with every result. It's a long season and yesterday, whilst it was a great result and a great feeling when Billy nicked the winner, it was not exactly a ringing endorsement of the Hock.

When they scored we'd hardly touched the ball for 30 minutes and if it had stood, as it should have done, I reckon we might have gone under and lost by a few.

I don't want to p1ss on anyone's bonfire but anyone who thinks yesterday means we'll finish top 6 is being just as silly as those telling us we were already relegated after the Millwall game.

I thought appointing Hockaday was an insult to Leeds fans and I stand by that but he's there now so we should support him. I'll judge him nearer to Christmas.

BW, firstly I want to apologise, I was a bit of an @rse yesterday with my responses and I do want you to carry on your posts as there is no doubting you are as bigger fan as anyone else on here.
I also think you have been a big man admitting that Hock did a job yesterday but your judgement is reserved until we are further into the season, which is fair enough. I am the same and we don't know whether he is the right man yet. I do think he has the coaching experience to do a great job for us, but if not after a good run of games, then I will want a change like anyone else, but for now, let's enjoy the moment and hope we can build on it.

17 Aug 2014 11:35:29
The fact is its a work in progress, the team we had yesterday will not be the team at the end of the year. We had two new players who were ineligible. We are still signing players. Now is not the time to make judgments on anyone. Boro were a bit unlucky with their goal but that's football. The main thing is we took advantage of it. With players like Sharp and Doukara we will always have a chance. An attacking team will win this league and we seem to be signing players to do just that. And the fact is if we get players who can adapt to the Hocks style of play he will be a genius and if not he will be gone. He got it right yesterday, no we did nothing for 40 minutes but stuck to it and woke up a bit after half time so his teamtalk must have been positive. Serious matter is I got my money back from my Millwall bet, downside is I have to shell out for Sharp to be top scorer. MOT

Kebabman

Well done ;)

Cheers all. spain very good point made about subsitutions. smith would of been easy call to make and fair play to hock for being brave and belieiving in the game plan and himself. I have always thought MC was good and liked him but think he wants to run the show and believed/believe he signed hock as fall guy so he could later get in an Italian (went for english 1st it didn't work) also as Hock was small enough to be bullied into to doing as told and being yes man. This might be the case, I also feel maybe a few players won't sign for leeds due to hock however yesterday the men on the pitch tried and played with passion and kept going, so hock must be given credit for that (or at least some credit) many have said he is a good coach so maybe I was harsh and have suffered from clouded judgement. Hock may be the man and maybe MC signed a good coach like he has clearly signed good players. early days but just in case I have resverved the website www.hockisgreatiwaswrong.co.uk hope it will be going live by christmas

LOL Bermondsey great post buddy. Another thing I thought of if MC was picking the team Benedicic would have been playing the fact he wasnt even on the bench suggests Hock is picking his strongest team on the day.

If that's how it is, how refreshing.

B
I copied n pasted your website and i'm back, so I did it again and guess what?

Im back again, try it mate its like having 6 pints of john smiths without the hangover lol

16 Aug 2014 22:45:19
Great team effort today, Warnock immense. Not getting carried away though, lot of work to do in all areas. Austin is pants, get rid. Two lefties in defence looked awkward at times, Not enough bottle from midfielders to come get the ball off defence, Bianchi looked uncomfortable at times today, Ajose tries hard but lightweight & cuts inside constantly. Byram bloody awful today. Sharp worked his nuts off & deserved that goal. Murphy poor 1st half but got into game by helping to tackle back in 2nd half. Doukara tried hard too but only when Tonge & Cook came on did we show some courage going forward.
This sounds worse than it should but I think we were lucky at times & they scored a good goal imo. They played controlled football but their centre forward ain't all that.
We get to edge of box and it breaks down because we don't have that one player to unlock defences or pass a player. No width at all which causes congestion with our players getting in each others way or leaving responsability to someone else.Sharp needs a partner, maybe Morisson or Smith for now.
That's it from me and as I said sounds bad but it's a work in progress to quote Hock & we will improve the longer we play this way & when we find a settled side. Great win to get us off the mak though MOT

Think byram wants out 1st two games hart has not been in it because he hasn't become a bad player so must not want it enough. if there is a bid I think get rid get good fee and bring few more in. hope we don't wait until final transfer day as try or not he is decent and more importantly is first choice also I am really rooting for austin I think something is there (although not seen it much) still hoping he will come good. it is hope more than expectation. also brough goal was schoolboy bounce from throw in. come on lads. thank god for bad ref. that said sometimes difference between good and bad teams is luck. how many times we smashed the other team them have one shot and us lose. nice to be the other way round and get a goal when not much looked on all game. sign of good team that is ain't it?

Great analysis. Was worried what The Boro winger would do to Warnock but Warnock used all his experience and spatial awareness . Was definately man of the match today.
With the team from Salford losing the day got better!

17 Aug 2014 05:29:13
Definitely time for Austin to go. That's what Viviani was for. I think Murphy or Tonge could share that role and you give Cook more game time to develop a partnership with Bianchi. Then Dawson and Benedicic can move up pecking order.

Agree entirely with 'slough'.

George
Was I watching the same match as you?
Murphy gave possession away more than any other player on the pitch, his passing was atrocious unless you put a red shirt on him that is!

Like Murphy but today was not his best.

Bianchi went quiet at time but he has a lot of class. Some really good passing. Needs time. Thought the team played well, still a long way to go but that's something to build on.

17 Aug 2014 14:13:34
I hear you Andy. Murphy not at his best. Talking more for the future. Austin worries me more than Murphy. We finally need to find ourselves our no. 4. Austin not the answer.