Highlandwhite Matchday Thread ================================================
Kick off Tuesday 8pm. Live on Sky Sports & Talksport 2
Welcome to matchday 20 as the matches come thick and fast and a game to look forward to against decent opposition.
Team News
Leeds
Firpo out for 4-6 weeks, Bogle might not be fit, Byram Ampadu and Schmidt available.
Middlesbrough
Boosted by the returns of Rav van den Berg and Lukas Engel after injuries.
Middlesbrough are the league's joint top scorers and are in good form with 4 wins and a draw from their last 6 games, 1 point more than us. We are the league's joint top scorers but have conceded 9 less than our opponents.
Would be amazed if this ended scoreless and will predict a high scoring 3.2 win. Be nice to see our strikers in the scoresheet.
Over to you lovely people with your score predictions and line ups
Can we go Live once again please Admin
Leeds Utd 3 Middlesbrough 1
posted on 11/12/24
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 27 seconds ago
comment by LIW 100 Points, champions, Lose two games only (U8453)
posted 9 minutes ago
Genuine question, have they had more shots than us, because according to transfermarket we have had more ?
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What do you mean?
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https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/chancenverwertung/wettbewerb/GB2
posted on 11/12/24
My bad, LIW, i thought i saw that stat on sky last night. We have had more shots, they've had more shots on target and a higher xg. They are well clear of any other side (other than us) in terms of attacking stats. As we don't play ourselves, it was understandable to see them as a threat.
They have scored lots of goals recently you're right, but in the first part of the season they were dominating games and missing chance after chance. They've also been really unlucky with offside goals against, deflections, worldies against. They are suspect defensively and a bit inconsistent but deserve more points than they have. (so do we in my opinion). That's not just stats that's from watching them... and Daniel Farke seems to agree.
It's why i was worried about last night. And if we're honest for 20 minutes on the second half the game was in the balance. We deserved to win. It was a good win against the best footballing side we'll play this season.
posted on 11/12/24
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 11 minutes ago
My bad, LIW, i thought i saw that stat on sky last night. We have had more shots, they've had more shots on target and a higher xg. They are well clear of any other side (other than us) in terms of attacking stats. As we don't play ourselves, it was understandable to see them as a threat.
They have scored lots of goals recently you're right, but in the first part of the season they were dominating games and missing chance after chance. They've also been really unlucky with offside goals against, deflections, worldies against. They are suspect defensively and a bit inconsistent but deserve more points than they have. (so do we in my opinion). That's not just stats that's from watching them... and Daniel Farke seems to agree.
It's why i was worried about last night. And if we're honest for 20 minutes on the second half the game was in the balance. We deserved to win. It was a good win against the best footballing side we'll play this season.
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Milky, great reply, and agree with alot of this.
I think am frustrated, not you btw, because people seem to hold The team and our players to a higher level then rest of the league.
Its constant, players arent good enough while other teams players are world beaters.
I think in some cases its like a self protection thing, so they dont get too upset if they dont go right.
posted on 11/12/24
Although Joseph wasn't particularly good yesterday. I think it showed why you start with him especially in difficult games.
Pressed well when we didn't have the ball hurrying their defenders and more of a presence up top. Attacked the near post to be part of the 1st goal as well. Subbing when they did was the right decision and Piroe did well for the 2nd goal but the game had opened up for him by that point and there was more space.
I'd like to Joseph have a run of starts to see if he can kick start his season. I think he is needed especially away. 2 of our 3 away wins have been when he has started. Not saying Piroe has been bad I just prefer a Joseph style striker that let's defenders know they are in a game. Does need to pick up his goal output though.
posted on 11/12/24
comment by LIW 100 Points, champions, Lose two games only (U8453)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 11 minutes ago
My bad, LIW, i thought i saw that stat on sky last night. We have had more shots, they've had more shots on target and a higher xg. They are well clear of any other side (other than us) in terms of attacking stats. As we don't play ourselves, it was understandable to see them as a threat.
They have scored lots of goals recently you're right, but in the first part of the season they were dominating games and missing chance after chance. They've also been really unlucky with offside goals against, deflections, worldies against. They are suspect defensively and a bit inconsistent but deserve more points than they have. (so do we in my opinion). That's not just stats that's from watching them... and Daniel Farke seems to agree.
It's why i was worried about last night. And if we're honest for 20 minutes on the second half the game was in the balance. We deserved to win. It was a good win against the best footballing side we'll play this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Milky, great reply, and agree with alot of this.
I think am frustrated, not you btw, because people seem to hold The team and our players to a higher level then rest of the league.
Its constant, players arent good enough while other teams players are world beaters.
I think in some cases its like a self protection thing, so they dont get too upset if they dont go right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think you're right Wakey. All forums are the same, people are emotional. Win we're world-beaters, lose we're muppets.
Personally, I think we're the most complete team in the league and certainly the most complete squad. It's hard to break down sides with little ambition and people get frustrated with what they see as our bland keepball when we play sides like that. Truth is every side struggles against well organised sides with 10 men behind the ball - and there's a lot of sides like that in the championship. As you keep saying (rightly) goals change games. Our problem this year has been a few two many soft goals away from home, that gave the opposition something to hang on to. Otherwise we'd be well clear of the league.
I think everyone remember's the highs of Bielsa as a comparison, which came after years of dross... rather then remembering the dross. I'm happy as hell that we're looking favourites for promotion, and i don't take it for granted.
posted on 11/12/24
We are the best team in the league.
We will win the league.
Middlesbrough are one of the best sides we will face at Elland Rd this season.
Was a tough game and we won deservedly 3-1.
We were clearly less likely to win than we were against the likes of Plymouth, QPR and Derby though. Took a lot more than beating those sides did.
posted on 11/12/24
comment by EnfieldLeeds88 (U10248)
posted 51 minutes ago
Although Joseph wasn't particularly good yesterday. I think it showed why you start with him especially in difficult games.
Pressed well when we didn't have the ball hurrying their defenders and more of a presence up top. Attacked the near post to be part of the 1st goal as well. Subbing when they did was the right decision and Piroe did well for the 2nd goal but the game had opened up for him by that point and there was more space.
I'd like to Joseph have a run of starts to see if he can kick start his season. I think he is needed especially away. 2 of our 3 away wins have been when he has started. Not saying Piroe has been bad I just prefer a Joseph style striker that let's defenders know they are in a game. Does need to pick up his goal output though.
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I would give him a good run too. I like a lot about him and Piroe does look better off the bench. Joseph should be working with the other 2 strikers at knowing where to be in the box. Bamford & Piroe have far better instinct for where the space is and where the ball will be.
posted on 11/12/24
We were clearly less likely to win than we were against the likes of Plymouth, QPR and Derby though. Took a lot more than beating those sides did.
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yeah has been a common theme for a while.. having to break down teams and its frustrating on the rare (ish) occasion its worked this season for the opposition against us.
whilst its frustrating, games like the Blackburn game - I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing - I read a lot of gloom and doom (naturally).. but a comment on here summed it up for me.. (think it may have been LIW) "we didn't play well, but we deserved at least a draw"
that seems to say it all for me.. maybe 1 in 6 or 7 we might struggle to break a team down.. but its extremely doubtful we'll ever be pinged this season
posted on 11/12/24
We play 16, 17, 18th and 24th in next 6 matches, but many of those away. Will those teams be less likely to park the bus as they're at home? There's a chance we could get far more than 2 points per game average over the next 6.
posted on 11/12/24
comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 4 minutes ago
We play 16, 17, 18th and 24th in next 6 matches, but many of those away. Will those teams be less likely to park the bus as they're at home? There's a chance we could get far more than 2 points per game average over the next 6.
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Should win all 4.
Might slip up in 1 but can’t see us winning less than 3