Every round of matches is a nail biter now and after last two performances I've gone from feeling really confident to feeling really unconfident.
Early kick off for Ipswich couldn't have gone any better for us, but we get off to an awful start.
A couple of of matches ago our draw was all Cooper's fault, next match also flat, must be Gruev's absence, Gruev's back now we lose.
It's not though, it's something else. I felt Rutter was a shadow of himself last couple of matches but the bigger picture seemed to be a lack of plan and slow/ponderous attacks.
Yes, we can have some injuries from internationals, but those were minimal in scheme of things, we have just lost our way at exactly the wrong time...hearing Farke talk about expected goals is really lame. We had more possession but no cutting edge.
As with last week things are still out of our hands BUT, we have a great opportunity to at least overhaul Ipswich, we've just got to workout what has changed.
Is it opponents changing tactics against us? Is it nerves? Is it just results for us evening out?
Farke has been here and done it before, so I have confidence in him.
Thoughts from today
posted on 7/4/24
Their second goal was executed superbly and at speed.
posted on 7/4/24
Key moments in the game
Gray early chance - took one touch too many
Coventry goal -
Gray could have been stronger and put the corner out for another corner. Was he cooper-claiming offside? Meslier should never have come for the ball. If he doesnt then he is able to collect the lopped cross back into the box. Rodon fails to win the looped cross header.
Bamford for second game in succession uses his left foot when he should have used his right, failing to make contact with Firpo's low cross.
Coventry 2nd goal. Summerville should be stronger on the initial clearance. Either win the ball or foul the man. Rodons let his man drift off him but its a brilliant ball in and very good finish. Credit a good counter attacking move. Best way of preventing these things is to foul early.
The "handball". Its not stonewall which is term used lazily. There is no var. Only one Leeds player appeals for it, so on this basis how can we expect a referee to see what many others didnt? The players hands were not in the air and it looks to hit his arm which is in a pretty natural position to his body. If that was given against us we would be fuming.
Piroe chance. Should be hitting that left footed across the goal. Plenty of players in the box would be waiting for any keeper seconds.
Leeds 70% posession
Leeds 19-11 shots
Leeds 8-5 shots on target
Leeds corners 9-2
Leeds xg 2.03-1.88
Accurate passes 573-210
I think its fair to say that the performance yesterday warranted 1 point. Coventry have scored a scrappy set-piece goal and a very good counter attacking goal. Beyond that Meslier has made two token near post saves only. Coventry were one of the better teams to visit Elland Road this season. We were not clinical enough with our chances and our crossing was particularly poor.
Rutter criticism - I would think Farke gives Rutter license to hold the ball, run with the ball, try and beat players. This style of play would have been halted long ago should Farke not be sending him out there to damage opponents in this way. Its the sort of football from Rutter than has seen him gain 17 assists. Carry on i say.
Criticism of Bamford - 7 goals in 9 starts. The run of 15 games undefeated commenced with his inclusion in the starting line-up. 3 games without a goal and it starts again. I have to agree that his general performance has dropped a little this past few games and the two big chances he has missed are frustrating.
The call for Joesph - no doubt about it he has impressed from the bench. However, one must consider that in these cameo performances we have had all the ball, we have had 5-6 attackers on the pitch with loads of players around him. Players to make easier passes to. Players to take the attention of defenders in the box. Remember Bamford plays isolated for the majority of the game. Wingers to stay out wide, and a 10 who roams wherever he generally wants to. When we cross to Bamford he is usually outnumbered 4-1. When we play it to Bamford around the box he is usually outnumbers 2/3-1. Can Mateo Joseph play this role?
I'll let Farke make the decision. Got to trust the man who has got us this far. We would all have taken this position at the start of the season. 5 cup finals to go. 5 potential dead rubbers if score-lines go our way in the next couple of games.
posted on 7/4/24
comment by LIW We’re Going Up As f@ck@ing Champion... (U8453)
posted 3 hours, 14 minutes ago
Now lets talk about rutter
Constantly either holding on the ball far too long or taking the wrong option on, when the easy is option is so obvious.
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Yep👍
posted on 7/4/24
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 4 hours, 50 minutes ago
“ … we have just lost our way at exactly the wrong time...hearing Farke talk about expected goals is really lame … ”
“Farke has been here and done it before, so I have confidence in him.”
👍
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I do have confidence in him, just don't like this expected goals nonsense....I dont always agree with the timings of his substitutions, but I do have confidence in him.
He's done this twice before, gotten the most out of these players this season and handled tough situations,
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Indeed. I thought those two points you made summed up our current plight well. DF is far, far from perfect, but I do think he’ll get us over the line👍
posted on 7/4/24
I'm a big believer in Bamford. I think he has all the tools we need to be a better team but something doesn't seem right the last few games.
I agree with rev, maybe at least give Joseph more minutes.
posted on 8/4/24
'The "handball". Its not stonewall which is term used lazily. There is no var. Only one Leeds player appeals for it, so on this basis how can we expect a referee to see what many others didnt? The players hands were not in the air and it looks to hit his arm which is in a pretty natural position to his body. If that was given against us we would be fuming.' - Kebab
Kebab, the Leeds players were behind the Coventry defender, so they would not have seen his action. He dived to deflect the ball away from the penalty area and it hit his extended hand.
The referee had an excellent view of it and should have awarded the penalty straight away.
posted on 8/4/24
There were 5 leeds players in the penalty box all with different viewing angles. 4 of them appear to have a better viewing angle than the referee (side on). The referee was only just inside the penalty area and the Coventry player had his back to him. No Leeds player rushed to to the referee requesting a penalty. The arm in the air from Firpo could have been simply claiming the corner ball. I have watched the replay 20 times and still cant tell which arm it hit first. The Coventry defender was sliding at high pace to try and prevent the cross. His arms were not up above him nor was there any movement from his arms to the ball.
I think its fair to say it wasnt a "stonewall" penalty. VAR may have had a look at it. It would need freeze frame slow motion to clarify. I am still not convinced with VAR they would view it as a clear and obvious error. Without VAR it is 100% impossible to give that as a penalty kick.
posted on 8/4/24
comment by LIW We’re Going Up As f@ck@ing Champions (U8453)
posted 1 day, 12 hours ago
First goal came from a corner, which had come directly from our own corner 🤦
Second goal directly from our own set peice 🤦
Its just so poor.
Now lets talk about rutter
Constantly either holding on the ball far too long or taking the wrong option on, when the easy is option is so obvious.
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I know Rutter has created some amazing assists but he loses the ball far too much. It’s almost as though he intentionally holds on to the ball until he loses it. In this sense he’s a loose cannon and, I believe, is possibly cost us more goals than he’s creating. Have a word, Farke…
posted on 8/4/24
comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 1 day, 8 hours ago
I'm a big believer in Bamford. I think he has all the tools we need to be a better team but something doesn't seem right the last few games.
I agree with rev, maybe at least give Joseph more minutes.
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How many times have we been here? An unproductive Bamford being given chance after chance by a manager beguiled by this charming man.
posted on 9/4/24
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 10 hours, 35 minutes ago
There were 5 leeds players in the penalty box all with different viewing angles. 4 of them appear to have a better viewing angle than the referee (side on). The referee was only just inside the penalty area and the Coventry player had his back to him. No Leeds player rushed to to the referee requesting a penalty. The arm in the air from Firpo could have been simply claiming the corner ball. I have watched the replay 20 times and still cant tell which arm it hit first. The Coventry defender was sliding at high pace to try and prevent the cross. His arms were not up above him nor was there any movement from his arms to the ball.
I think its fair to say it wasnt a "stonewall" penalty. VAR may have had a look at it. It would need freeze frame slow motion to clarify. I am still not convinced with VAR they would view it as a clear and obvious error. Without VAR it is 100% impossible to give that as a penalty kick.
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Twenty times, Kebab? I am sure there are pills you can take for that
All you need to do is to watch it once at half speed and you will see it straight away. As for the Leeds players not calling it, it's the ref's job to do that. I thought at the time it was a clear pen and nothing I have seen or heard since has made me change my mind.