Back from Vancouver, off for teh summer, looking forward to today.
You just know when comments taters come up with a stat that Leeds will prove them wrong and so what do we get? Leeds normally win when opening game is at home....
We started really well and I felt teh football at times was better than last season.
Firpo very progressive, better going forwards than defending, Bogle seemed ok and distributing well, Rutter heavily involved to start.
3 hits of the bar and you're hoping it's not going to not be our day and then James pace gets him in front of defender who brings him down, penalty.
I must say, seeing Struck take the ball for a penalty, didnt gfuive the me the greatest of confidence, but no problems at all 3-0, could have been 4 with those woodwork chances and playing very well.
Joseph very lively, Gnotno a little out of sync with Firpo and a little selfish at times but we were definitely on top and then not retaining the ball we give away a goal with Portsmouth;s first meaningful chance.
We've switched off and it doesnt take that long before a second chance provides Portsmouth with a second goal.
Our defence looked very porous, Bogle looked ok, but nothing special, Rodon seems da bit off teh pace, Struck I've never been a big fan of.
Meslier really had nothing to do except pull ball out of net.
Amanda looked his normal decent self, but we really miss a creative midfielder, someone who really can create.
Rutter runs his socks off, but no real end product/
Second half starts and Gnonto's selfishness was what was needed at that point and he nicks a goal.
And from then on match was very disjointed and we seemed really flat.
I thought female co commentator was brilliant, got everything spot on and on 66 minutes was talking about when subs would happen.
As we know Farke tends to do subs late, when we got them, Piroe, Aaronson and Rothwell hopefully can change things.
Aaronson was anonymous, Rothwell ran like a Sunday league player and Piroe playing deep was also anonymous.
Struijck gets fouled with a studs up challenge from Haydee and gets a yellow card, dont know why as it was him that had been fouled, but apart from that, I thought ref had excellent game.
Then on a rare Portsmouth attack, Haydee tugging on Bogle's shirt sees Bogle have his arm around his neck and penalty, suddenly we're 2-3 down in stoppage time, no coming back from that...
Then suddenly, Piroe not anonymous any more sets up Aaaronson, who is also not annonymous anymore with some lovely footwork and its 3-3 and that might just be Aaronson's salvation for Leeds in his first match back.
Phew.
But there is still time left for one more chance, an even easier one from set up from Bogle, Aaronson drag his shot wide from middle of penalty area under no pressure at all, his head in his hands instantly, Farke's face says it all, golden, golden opportunity wasted.
So it ends 3 all.
Feels like 1 point salvaged rather than 2 points dropped.
Some really good football at times, thought Bogle was ok and feel he will get better, Joseph lively but no real chances came his way and wonder what we'll get out of Rothwell, didnt see anything really in his short appearance.
Not the start I wanted or hoped for, as I said elsewhere, no guarantee what we get this season, and I really feel we still need a creative midfielder.
Final note on female co commentator, thought she was really good, hope we have more of her covering Leeds matches.
Thoughts from today
posted on 11/8/24
… oh, and I do accept we were unlucky with the 3 strikes against the woodwork before our pen … any one of those goes in and we win the game methinks …
posted on 11/8/24
The question is, is Rodon and Struiyk a better fit than Rodon and Ampedu?
Yesterday would suggest not but Farke has made Struiyk captain so this partnership will be for the forceeable and Meslier is vice captain so we just have to hope our forwards can score at least 3 or 4 goals per game to cover the potential mishaps at the other end.
I do have serious concerns about Farke's judgement and if things don't improve before the international break would like the owners to try their absolute hardest to get Graham Potter in but things can change quickly and 3 points against WBA and all will be well with the world
again. Fickle, football supporters? You bet we are!!!
posted on 11/8/24
I was shocked with how many homeless there were in Vancouver when i went there. The surrounding areas are nice though.
posted on 11/8/24
I can’t see Farke being here beyond November, for me, it has an air of inevitability about it. Finished poorly last season, weird subs on Saturday, not changed until 70th minute again. At the moment we have a weaker squad, I hope I am wrong, as I want him to do well, which means the team is doing well, but I feel that, he will be gone come November.
posted on 11/8/24
But Darlow shows exactly why we have problem, we’re not really investing in quality backup.
^^^
There is the problem. We don't need to invest in
a back-up. We need to invest in an upgrade starter.
Farke weirdly rates Meslier as the best keeper in
the Championship. If you take just his keeper stats
from last season (and not the defensive unit's stats),
he ranked 18th of 24 keepers.
Then add in the eye ball test, it's clear he's not
good enough. Nor are his baguette wrists.
posted on 11/8/24
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 35 minutes ago
But Darlow shows exactly why we have problem, we’re not really investing in quality backup.
^^^
There is the problem. We don't need to invest in
a back-up. We need to invest in an upgrade starter.
Farke weirdly rates Meslier as the best keeper in
the Championship. If you take just his keeper stats
from last season (and not the defensive unit's stats),
he ranked 18th of 24 keepers.
Then add in the eye ball test, it's clear he's not
good enough. Nor are his baguette wrists.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I kind of question the rationale behind why he is one the captaincy group, Ampadu I get, he comes across as a leader, but you watch the videos from LUTV and there's nothing that you see in Meslier that stands out.
posted on 11/8/24
comment by Dennis - Hope not Hate (U23086)
posted 44 seconds ago
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 35 minutes ago
But Darlow shows exactly why we have problem, we’re not really investing in quality backup.
^^^
There is the problem. We don't need to invest in
a back-up. We need to invest in an upgrade starter.
Farke weirdly rates Meslier as the best keeper in
the Championship. If you take just his keeper stats
from last season (and not the defensive unit's stats),
he ranked 18th of 24 keepers.
Then add in the eye ball test, it's clear he's not
good enough. Nor are his baguette wrists.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I kind of question the rationale behind why he is one the captaincy group, Ampadu I get, he comes across as a leader, but you watch the videos from LUTV and there's nothing that you see in Meslier that stands out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Apart from his nose … sorry just couldn’t resist 😁
posted on 11/8/24
And his giant head.
posted on 11/8/24
I kind of question the rationale behind why he is one the captaincy group, Ampadu I get, he comes across as a leader, but you watch the videos from LUTV and there's nothing that you see in Meslier that stands out.
^^^
I question it too. To me, it feels like Farke's digging
his heels in on how highly he rates Meslier. Painting
himself in a corner for no reason.
I'm with Shaun in that why didn't we try to sign
Viktor Johansson? Solid keeper. And better than
Meslier. Went to Stoke City for under a mill.
posted on 11/8/24
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 5 hours, 4 minutes ago
I kind of question the rationale behind why he is one the captaincy group, Ampadu I get, he comes across as a leader, but you watch the videos from LUTV and there's nothing that you see in Meslier that stands out.
^^^
I question it too. To me, it feels like Farke's digging
his heels in on how highly he rates Meslier. Painting
himself in a corner for no reason.
I'm with Shaun in that why didn't we try to sign
Viktor Johansson? Solid keeper. And better than
Meslier. Went to Stoke City for under a mill.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
But the stats don't back up Farke's claim that Meslier is a top keeper, they indicate the opposite. The stats team at the club must be looking at what's going on.