Leeds Banter Archive March 12 2017

12 Mar 2017 15:19:32
I keep reading we have a better squad than last season, but is it that much better? I think it's mainly three players that have made the the difference. Put it this way if our central defenders were still Cooper and Bellusci and Wood was playing like he was last season I honestly think we would be mid table.

12 Mar 2017 15:46:46
Would say team is a lot better, if only for defence. Do not think we are playing our best to be honest, Phillips, Vierra not natural defensive midfield so doing ok with results. My team for playoffs would be same defence if all available. One DM in O, Kane, Alf and Sacko out wide, Wood up front with any two from Roofe, Pablo, Vierra and Phillips filling two attacking midfield roles. Fear if we go into play off games with same attitude as now we will not do well.

12 Mar 2017 16:08:39
i can see what you are saying but still improvement is improvement, 3 players is over 25% of the team so we are a quarter better which is massive, we have dipped but all teams do, on form we look a match for anyone and off form we can still sneak a win. in my head i don't think we will go up, but fact we still can and have a good chance at this point of the season is great and huge improvement table don't lie also monk is massive plus vieria and ped things are looking lot better this year. I think we are just a bit glum due to slight slump it is understandable but win against brighton will lighten the mood and if we lose, then so be it they always stuff us so least we ain't going backwards.

12 Mar 2017 16:31:18
Win against Brighton would be a great lift for lads. Wish some one would crock Knockheart.

12 Mar 2017 17:12:23
If then we do have a better squad, which it think we really do, then the problem has to be formation and tactics! If viera and okane are. It dmf, then don't play them as dmf. This has to come back to monkey man! I'm a huge fan of his, he's a great coach and I really hope that we keep him, but if it doesn't work anymore and people know how to nullify us then it's up to the coach to work that out and change it, that is where the line between good, bad and world class coaches are! If the formation and tactics doesn't fit the players we have then change them to reflect the players we do have, otherwise it's a square peg - round hole job

12 Mar 2017 18:56:05
Well if Monk goes there's a few lads on here who could step in. If it's just our tactics where things aren't quite right then I'm sure they could easily recity!

12 Mar 2017 22:39:18
Am up for it Corky, just tell me who to drop.

13 Mar 2017 09:17:30
Bige,
Wouldn't have sacko. Ok with your back 6 and wood. But i'd have vierra, phillips, Ped, Hern.

12 Mar 2017 12:33:57
great views and posts on this site positive and negative, certainly all have good points and can see where they are coming from. bad is we are not playing well at all at the moment, picking up points yes but not showing form or performances that have a chance in hell of winning playoffs pluses are this is a far better season than we hoped and even 7th is better than we could of hoped for.

I fear Fulham should they make playoffs, Huddersfield or Brighton what ever one don't go up will stuff up over two legs and would be confident should we meet at Wembley however saying that i knew we would not lose to Watford, Millwall or Doncaster in play offs and we did so anything can happen. now is the time for monk to prove his class.

i think clearly the team is set up wrong. it is too deep and set up to defend, people mention players but it is team setup and patterns of play not the players themselves, bridcut is good so if behind both cbs monk has told him to play there or he would get substituted.

I think with Sheffield and reading both falling to pieces monk has set team up to scrap for points to ensure we make playoffs as he don't want us to miss out. once this is secure he will get team back to how we were playing November and December when we looked like we could beat anyone. i think this is monks game plan and annoying to watch but class if it gets the job done as we will make playoffs unlike Sheffield or reading as one will drop out.

12 Mar 2017 12:58:37
I disagree totally bw
No manager sets team up this way. It could have seriously backfired cause we could have and prob should have lost last 5. Dangerous game monk is playing if that's true. I agree with the fact we have done better than expected and am happy out squad has greatly improved. It is the fault of monk and bridcutt we are so defensive. There is no link between defence and attack. No ball players. We will make play offs but from what I've seen. Both fulham. Hudds are better. let's hope hudds take brighton.

12 Mar 2017 13:35:07
We can't draw our way to the playoffs. 9 draws is only 9 points, we could reach that with 3 wins. We need to come out firing, we've had so many slow starts recently. I know we got an early goal Tuesday, but we went back into our shell and tried to cling on for 90 mins, rather than piling on the pressure.

12 Mar 2017 15:04:47
i agree Aus and Sg and I'm not enjoying it to watch and personally would be be more offensive if i was manager but i do trust monk. Last three have not been good but we beat brum drew with a fulham team on fire when a draw was better for us than them then yesterday was a disappointment but that one only one result that was bad the first two results were good even if performances where bad add that with sheff and reading results we have in fact had three great results in theroy.

I do wonder if monky just wants to get us over the line, he is not thick and can see that playing this way will not be great in playoffs, that said hudds, brighton and newcastle beat us when we were playing other way. had he set us up this way with playoffs in mind knowing we will be playing far better teams?

will we try and counter and snatch wins which if we do will be amazing as nothing against leeds or monk or how we are doing but hudds brighton and newcastle are all better than us at this point in time maybe add fulham to that list, but then way things have been there should be about 10 teams better than us at least so being 4/5 best in league is still an achievement.

my worry is we don't go up lose jansson, wood, vieria. bartley goes back then we have to start again maybe without monk. this is very pessimistic but then as a leeds fan i have been conditioned to be this way

12 Mar 2017 16:44:34
Totally agree BW if playing this way gets us into play offs all well and good. Thing is we will only be playing one of the first 3 teams you mentioned and we may not even play that one if they draw some one else first and get beat. We are capable of beating the Wendies, Reading or Fulham. But we do need a plan B to mix it up a bit. Sure when we get to that stage players will be fired up anyway. My bet still looks safe, every confidence in team. What dates the final will have to book it off.

13 Mar 2017 13:41:38
Bank holiday Monday, 29th May . already booked it off :)

12 Mar 2017 10:30:14
The main problem is the lack of goals from midfield. Vieira, Phillips, O'Kane and Bridcutt have 2 between them. Sacko, Dallas and Roofe have 2 each, Hernandez 4. Pedraza has 1 but he's not played much. Why are our midfielders so afraid of shooting? Pedraza looks like the only one who's not afraid to shoot when in front of goal. This was an issue last season but wasn't addressed.

12 Mar 2017 12:56:09
Agreed, they all have goals in them and most of them seem to want to take an extra touch, feel a need to pass or simply try and walk the ball in🙄 How many times have they been in a great position only to allow it to come to nought 😡 Maybe if we were more attacking minded, set up, then we could at least get something from a parry or rebound, unfortunately we just don't have enough white shirts in the box to pick up scraps! Our set piece and corner opportunities have also been scuppered - we need a plan 'B' and whilst I know GM has done an awesome job, I just hope he can pull something out of the bag - we have the players - we just need the right mix to re ignite the spark. Same old each week is too transparent - come on Gary - let's keep em guessing and make em work.

11 Mar 2017 22:36:37
Drop Bridcutt straight away. He's ok in a struggling team but no good otherwise. I haven't seen him play well one game this season and I've seen most matches. Also Pablo needs a kick up the arse. Let's just hope as Monk said start of season we will be ripe for the run in.

12 Mar 2017 08:43:14
I agree regarding Bridcutt. It's as if he can't be dropped because he's the captain. We played better when he was out. Make Bartley the captain, he's the one barking out orders all the time.

12 Mar 2017 09:26:52
Got to admit we are not getting forward quick enough. Think part of it is tactics but players have to take responsibility as well. We have players to put teams under pressure but not doing it. No good being solid at back if getting outplayed in midfield.

12 Mar 2017 10:55:57
Phillips is the only one who breaks forward from midfield. He changed the game against Birmingham when he came on.

12 Mar 2017 10:59:35
Have to agree, a lot of the time yesterday Mr Bridcutt was BEHIND the centre halves ! ! Personally, I prefer O'Kane and Viera as the midfield pairing.

12 Mar 2017 11:02:04
Maybe it's time to bring the messiah Grimes back? Just kidding!

12 Mar 2017 12:19:40
Well done corky. I didn't want to say it but he is far too negative Worried monkey can't see he is reason for down turn in form and Our form is rubbish. Its ok when we are in a battle but teams we should be mulling. He is a waste of space. Sorry to single him out but i reckon monk needs a word with him. And class. Your post below is worrying. We are living a charmed life at the moment. Could of easily lost last 5 games. Need to improve now! We are reasonably safe for plsyoffs but not certain. Drop bridcutt now.

12 Mar 2017 14:01:44
Bang on about OKane. He much more positive than Bridcutt, who is also ponderous on the ball taking too long to start attacks. Will Monk drop him? Next game I'd say.