Leeds Banter Archive January 17 2021

17 Jan 2021 20:21:52
I believe we have the best manager we have had for years. The points tally we have has been gained by playing the way we did last season and trying to change it now is not working. We have an honest bunch of lads who have over achieved and shouldn't be blamed for what is happening. The premier league is probably the hardest in the world and if we had fans in the grounds we would definitely have gained more points at home. Recruitment is currently unproven . Centre backs injured Raphina looks promising but Rodrigo disappointing. We need dominant CB LB AM Instinctive striker in summer. Next season Meslier Luke ANO ANO ANO Raph KP ANO JH ANO ANO Bench ANO SD PB MK LC ANO ANO Koch and Llorente could get places but not seen enough to know for sure. Your thoughts guys?

17 Jan 2021 20:41:34
define best manager

style best manager

coach best manager

game management worst manager (as bad as hockaday)

plan b worst manager (as bad as hockaday)

subs and tactics worst manager (as bad as hockaday)

people keep saying bunch of players overachieving we spent 100 million

this is the same bunch of fans who laughed at Norwich getting relegated when they spent a tenner

be consistent if Norwich was a laughing matter how bad are we at the moment?

17 Jan 2021 21:03:46
Very negative. me thinks.

Hockaday used to manage my loal team Forest Green and he did a reasonable job at that level.

Costa gone backwards
Cassila poor
Raphinia Looks OK
Rodrigo disappointing
2 CB not played enough to tell
Rest mainly for future

Bielsa many tried and failed but he took a team and improved them all to take us to PL

Get the right players in summer and trust manager and we will be in Europe year after.

17 Jan 2021 21:05:52
Berm you seem like a good bloke, BUT calm down mate, it almost feels like you are about to self -combust

You do seem to lose it big time at times when you get a bee in your bonnet : first your KP agenda, now your Bielsa agenda

sorry mate but your Bielsa Hockaday comparisons are ludicrous and frankly insulting ( to Bielsa)

for me you are are close to losing all remaining (little) credibility with these 'Gobby style Talk Radio ridiculous OTT shock jock type posts'

17 Jan 2021 22:30:56
Berm we get that you want Bielsa out, you’re pretty much on your own I imagine with that opinion. But it is your opinion and you have your reasons for that.
I’m curious as to which coach/ manager you think would steer Leeds Utd into being a top six team in the Premiership? You can’t have big Sam because he’s already taken and be realistic.!
I was thinking Eddie Howe but he’s too possession based attractive football, my guess is you’d prefer maybe, no nonsense Nigel Pearson?

17 Jan 2021 22:49:18
Shock jock maybe but as always those who have there own (pro beslia) opinions/ agenda always jump on my shock comments and ignore my logical points

If the players pitch and whatever else ain’t good enough belisa must adapt. We are prem now and if our players are championship the manager must adjust to get results or else he is flawed . what’s wring in that statement

Belisa is tactically flawed for three years we have played great football when the game suits and been useless when the team doesn’t play belisa way. again what is flawed in that statement

I am furious because when it is good it is great but when we play the lesser teams like Brighton Crawley Ipswich Wigan ect we alway fail for the same bloody reasons . what is shock jock about that? Nothing is

My ravings are just that of a passionate fan who can see what is as clear as day and has had enough

Plan a is great I love it like you all but failure to do something else when needed (Brighton Wigan ect) is laughable and not good enough

It is ok when you are the Barcelona of the championship championship you will beat enough that you can lose to the relegation fodder but when you are an average team you will lose to the better teams like Liverpool and still struggle against the releagation teams like Brighton you are bang in trouble

So get off high horse stop jumping on your own sound bites of calling me a shock jock (which is just as bad by the way)

And tell me where the logic in any of my posts for last five days have been

You find one flaw in my logic and I will retire from page or never comment on kp or bubs again

I say this not as villa Dave and a last goodbye but as someone who knows football and knows my logic is 100% sound even if the rose tinted bubs lovers can’t bring themselves to admit it.

18 Jan 2021 00:32:01
I get your passion Berm no doubt about it

I empathise with some of your points, some have logic

but your points are often very over exaggerated considerably ie the Hockaday comparisons hence the Shock Jock reference ( nothing personal)

Also earlier today you said that ( newly promoted ) Leeds are better ( presumably you refer to squad quality) than 12 EPL clubs!

and should be doing better than those 12 clubs.

Which clubs are those Berm? because you haven't said who despite being asked and really only Baggies, West Brom, Sheff Utd and maybe another club or so comes to mind : certainly not 12 clubs

By the way Berm, just to be clear Bielsa for me is far from perfect he annoys me with his stubbornness for a small squad not having like for like quality replacements for Bamford number 9, Klich number 8, KP number 6, Meslier number 1

playing Raphinia on the wrong wingin tbe left where he is nor effective he is superb on the right,

playing players in their wrong positions Alioski isn't a left back, Struik is not a CDM, Rodrigo is not a midfielder etc

However Bielsa's strengths still far outweigh his weaknesses.

18 Jan 2021 11:51:28
Interesting to read both set of comments guys and can feel the passion from both.
Most of what Berm says though is not too far from true.
For a coach as good as he is some flaws are huge
His insistence on playing out of form and tired players
His inability to fill gaps in the team, main points KP and PB backups
Why he sticks with round pegs in square holes

I personally don't think its as bad as you say though Berm We have some good players that would get in most teams around and below us but IMO only one that could get into many above

IM
LA, DL, RK SD
R, RM, MK/ JS KP JH
PB.

17 Jan 2021 16:54:23
Haven't posted in awhile but feel compelled to now in light of Richie post about going long. First, was disgusted at performance at Crawley. Worst result in our history. Clear to me what's going on. Further to several drubbings, we've changed our style of play. I believe management has requested Bielsa to ensure we don't get any more of these 4-1 type defeats and he's caved in. The media furore surrounding that woman distracted and interrupted us also. The combination of these things have tricked us into defensive adaptation. Bielsa has noticeably adjusted our style of play for this purpose. It's a mistake because it isn't working. We're simply going to lose by the odd goal now. Where was this pragmatism at Old Trafford? We're playing the wrong style against certain opponents. By doing so, we help the opposition. We all know our personnel need upgrades but for right now management has lost the plot. Sacking Bub not the answer. We should simply revert to our former swashbuckling style. It has limitations and we'll get turned over a fair amount of times but we'd generate enough points to stay up. Going into our shell like a tortoise is not the solution. One of the proofs I'm right about what's going on is Cooper. He's looking a better defender right now because he's less exposed but at the cost of us playing awfully. Ironic since as captain he vowed we wouldn't change the way we play.

17 Jan 2021 17:33:13
Yes GIW but there is also the injuries that have made Bub try and be less exposed at the back and has made us look like we have changed.
One thing I thought as there are no easy games, away from home against top half teams he should have a different set up and try and play on the break.

17 Jan 2021 17:47:43
Good point Leeds1970 on the different set up needed away from home against the better teams.

17 Jan 2021 18:07:27
Not sure I agree George. Can't see Bielsa changing his philosophy for anyone and pray to God that he doesn't. Ever. I love his way of playing ans if that means we have to endure the occasional 4-1 loss then so be it.

17 Jan 2021 19:21:49
1970 I accept your point about injuries so far as it goes. Losing Koch, Llo and even Bera doesn't help but you don't cut your nose. We play a system but it's been modified negatively too negatively to accommodate various issues.

Alf Your right to disagree but I see things differently and if what you write is true, care to explain our lack of goals and scoring opportunities created in the last few games? I have noticed a change in style as have other posters and it's a big mistake. Before that woman interfered, I'd have agreed with you. Bielsa stubbornness ain't for changing but things have changed. I believe the pressure has got to management as a unit and we've gone the wrong way on things. I'm not a full advocate of our swashbuckling approach but between that and what I'm seeing right now, I take Bielsaball every time.

17 Jan 2021 19:23:14
Tbh we are better playing our regular style away from home because the state of the pitch at ER is abysmal. I think it has been contributing to our poorer play because it is so difficult to pass on the surface. It was very heavy yesterday and that meant pass after pass went astray, was overshot or went behind our players.

17 Jan 2021 20:28:59
Alf In the round are right about pitch but believe abysmal too harsh a description. I've seen it worse. That's another factor in all of this though. Worrying times.

17 Jan 2021 20:45:23
sorry pitch is no excuse

1stly it didn't affect brighton

2ndly we know the pitch is what it is to not plan for it is proper f"""ing stupid

also George I am lost at your post

you think belisa has changed style? how

you think it is to stop us getting beat yet we lost 3-0 spurs, 3-0 crawley and 1-0 relegation fodder

truth is nothing has changed hence we are still losing to the Wigans and the Ipswiches, Millwalls and Cardiffs

when the pattern of play changes, when the results against this type of team changes I will shut up until that point maybe we have to realise the problem is nothing at leeds has changed since day one of bubs in charge

game suits us we win in style the game don't suit us we play like a bunch of mugs. same old same old. how you think anything has changed is beyond me.

17 Jan 2021 21:06:48
Nothing has changed? What, apart from getting promoted! All we need to do is stay in the league this season then build from there. We're 12th, we might finish higher, we might finish lower. So what! Why should we hope or expect to be any better than we are?

17 Jan 2021 22:51:23
No danum nothing has changed we spent 100 million to still struggle against every team who sit back with two banks of four

Different leauge same problems

Yes we have gone up but the board have backed belisa so why the same problems?

18 Jan 2021 04:04:58
Berm Would your understanding of my post be facilitated if I'd mentioned John Lukic or criticized KP? I'm observing we've gone into a defensive shell. In games gone by, we'd concede a few yes but also score one and create chances which went begging. We're not even doing that anymore. We seem scared and intent on anticipating and sniffing out counterattacks. We're not as adventurous with our passing. We seem like we've lost some self-belief and self-esteem. Looks like we're trying something new and foreign. These are my observations.

17 Jan 2021 12:24:57
The problem we have is that we play a high octane high risk type of game. Other teams don't play that type of game and they're lack of quality doesn't show itself in the same way. With our lack quality we suffer when we misplace passes or get caught in possession. Pushing forward in numbers leaves lots of space for other teams to exploit when we give the ball away. Add to that a lack of quality at set pieces and converting chances means we suffer at times. Even teams like Brighton have learnt how to turn us over. Tone downv the style or bring in better players.

17 Jan 2021 12:52:27
Great post and agree 100%

People jump on Bamford but every game like yesterday gives Bamford no chance

They sit back so Bamford has three defenders on him as we have no one breaking the line or our wingers cutting in

I knew Bamford would do better this year and Bamford would have more space and we could break more teams who don’t sit back but when a wolves or Brighton sit back we are still in trouble as belisa game plan doesn’t account for players sitting back so only way we score is a mistake or a worldwide we never get the simple goal. It also leaves us having lots or crossing lumps forward and corners which are useless

The game plan has to change belisa has to accept he is wrong and limited and find another way. Also our plan b will force teams out meaning we can play plan a more and with more success.

17 Jan 2021 14:48:18
So what is the 'plan B' Bermo? How would you play against those teams?

17 Jan 2021 16:13:16
For some reason, yesterday we were trying to go long, normally the front 3 come short to receive the ball,

17 Jan 2021 17:11:20
For me, Pascal did not offer the immediate outlet that Kalvin always does, plus he doesn’t carry the same range of passing to mix the game up as Kal does. Really wish we’d broken the bank for Ben White! And I don’t normally endorse that approach!

17 Jan 2021 18:42:01
I think the state of the pitch was one reason we changed our approach a little yesterday . But also bright is right that KP is obviously a lot more comfortable and forward orientated in his passing than Pascal has been. It’s been a challenging jump for him, but I don’t think many would have thought that he would have made the number of starts he has in the prem so far. KP makes annenourmius difference to this side as does the absence of Ben White and a stable CB pairing.

17 Jan 2021 20:50:50
kp played against spurs and crawley so can be no excuse

and alf my plan b would be 4-4-2

costa and rap on wings for pace and penetration, Joe guidehiet number 9 Bamford number 10. put balls in the box, hopefully score from corners.

it may not be pretty it may not work but at the moment plan a doesn't work against at least 50% of teams so trying the same thing and expecting different results is madness at least trying something. anything is better than what we are doing at the moment

plan a lovely against the evertons when brighton next roll into town try something anything different if not we might as well stay at home and have a rest.

18 Jan 2021 06:41:51
If we went 442 we would lose the game in midfield as we do not have a strong enough pairing at CM. Uou lose Philips who cannot play there with any success plus the creativeness. Gelhert not good enough or ready to start in that role. We do not have the height in the team to whip crosses in either so plan b would fail. We would still have the same issues in defence due to being injury ravaged and lacking height. We don't have anyone who can cross a ball.

17 Jan 2021 06:39:29
Loosing this game wasn’t disappointing as much as not creating enough goal scoring chances as we normally do. Won’t take anything away from Brighton’s defending as they were very good against us.

It was very clear to see that Rodrigo is still very much in his learning curve as a number 10, the wayward passing is not helping him either. I think once he does master his role our fortunes will change for the better. But it doesn’t need me to say that he needs to adapt quickly! .

I also hope Llorente gets his fitness soon as I feel his distribution of the ball is far superior to that of Struijk.

At worst there are still enough teams that are worse than us to keep us in the Premiership.

Onwards and Upwards, keep the faith and keep your heads up.
MOT.

17 Jan 2021 09:04:49
There are 12 teams worse than us but they play football that is better suited to relegation scrap and can do the basics I’m not confident of staying up at the moment

When Brighton can’t hold on to three points but beat us with relative ease we all have to worry.

17 Jan 2021 09:15:11
Berm, that’s what you call being a pessimist.

17 Jan 2021 10:57:53
Agree berm.
Opt. Celebrating worst teams than us is indeed pessimistic.
We will not go down.
But.
To think everything is rosy is foolhardy.

17 Jan 2021 11:10:29
What gets me you can't hear anyone shouting to Ayling man behind you it's simple mistakes that's costing us and final third passing ball watching is shocking tho you can't do anough talking it's 90% of football for me but we move dig in n MOT to everyone.

17 Jan 2021 12:20:18
Given the success of Bermos predictions, KP will never play for England, Bielsa will be gone by Christmas, never going to get promoted with KP playing defensive midfield!, I’d be more worried if he told us we were going to finish in the top six!

I’m so confident I’ll go as far as to say, if we’re relegated I’ll personally pay to get Bermos KP tattoo removed!

Keep the faith guys, had these blips before under Bielsa, obviously not firing on all cylinders at the moment but better to come!

17 Jan 2021 12:55:05
Very true Spanish I’m never right so don’t worry

Who knows c.v. might hit again and belisa can get lucky a second time, let’s hope belisa don't male the female commentator and Bermo right.

17 Jan 2021 13:35:53
That’s right Spanish, if Berm predicts something we can be pretty confident it won’t happen!
I could have sworn a little while ago he was predicting top 10 finish for us!
Also believe we will come through this period and there is still much to look forward to!
Brighton was never going to be easy! I’ve seen quite a bit of them this season and their performances have always been decent! Early goal changed it because they are very well organised defensively!
I said before the transfer window opened that we wouldn’t recruit and got shot down by one of the ed’s! I still think no incoming till the summer!

17 Jan 2021 16:02:55
Who are the 12 teams worse than Leeds Berm? Give over

Also stats Leeds gain more points with KP playing than when he is not playing.

17 Jan 2021 17:14:47
Berm swore he would dedicate his butt cheeks to Kalvin, but hasn’t the nuts to follow through. Also wants Bielsa out. On this basis, I just don’t bother with any of his posts anymore. Simple.

17 Jan 2021 20:56:56
my top ten prediction I stand by that I think our team is top 12 on talent and belisa is top three in world so that should be top ten shouldn't it anything else is a under achievement

and 12 worst teams on starting 11s

palace (zaha and eeze not many others)
West Ham (rice maybe over phillips, who else? )
Fulham, West Brom, sheff Utd (none of there players)
brighton (none of there players)
Newcastle (callum Wilson but then bubs wouldn't play him who else? )
burnley (Taylor and woods maybe but again MB ain't playing woods)
saints (ings but again MB won't play him who else? )
villa (MINGS and grealsih (who ain't as good as KP apparently) who else?

so as you can see we don't have a bad squad on paper and our gaffer is the best so why are we talking relegation. oh yeah because the tactics are just wrong.