Cant disagree with most of that.

Thought it, understandably, took us a bit to get up to speed with Premiership quality in the first half but thought the team adapted quickly and largely bossed the second half.

Remember watching Gray dwell on the ball early on and got caught. Remember saying you cant do that at this level Archie, it didn't happen again.......

Really didn't want extra time before kick off but then disappointed when they scored, thought we looked stronger.

Overall great performance, good minutes for certain players, rest for others and certainly no disgrace in result.

Onwards to Uddersfailed and keep the league momentum going...

Hope Rutter is ok

We all loved Bielsa but greatest compliment to Farke is Bielsa is rarely mentioned these days, other than fondly reminiscing his time with the club.

I read that Piroe works hard off the ball, it's a side we don't see, I suppose that's the unglamorous side to playing where he does, creating the spaces so that Joseph (last night) can pop up and score his brace.
I need to stop being so down on him but it's hard given how little how brings to the table.

comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 10 minutes ago
I read that Piroe works hard off the ball, it's a side we don't see, I suppose that's the unglamorous side to playing where he does, creating the spaces so that Joseph (last night) can pop up and score his brace.
I need to stop being so down on him but it's hard given how little how brings to the table.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wasn't that impressed at all yesterday, I think Joseph made his own space and luck, way he drifted in for second goal was brilliant, you cant teach that.

Given his record at Swansea, I was expecting Piroe to really make a big impact when he came to us.

He's shown glimpses of the player he could be, but not often enough. His passing doesn't seem to be up to the standard of his teammates either. So many go astray - even when it's a relatively short one.

I know it's unfair to only spot the mistakes players make, but after a while they have to show some good bits!

Agree with the OP.

Piroe's an odd one. Scored 11 valuable goals.
Technically sound. Bit slow. But, he does pop up
in spaces that enables him to link others. He's
as polarizing as Bamford.

Both do unsung work. Both seem to eff up in
glaring situations. Both are lightning rods. Both
are obviously highly rated by Farke. That's all
that matters really. He plays/starts them both
week in week out for good reason.

I watched the game again. Firpo cannot
defend. He's done better this season. However,
for me at least, last night showed that if we do
go up, I'll be spending the summer screaming
at the top of my lungs "Buy a Prem level LB."

On Joseph, I do think we have a really good player.
He's the most athletic striker we've had in a while.

For the longest time people would bang on about
how a modern striker doesn't need to score. Which
is a daft as it gets. Modern strikers need to do a
lot more than score, yes. I think Joseph can be that.

The way he moves with purpose and speed. He's
agile (yes he's young and those lucky sods tend to
be agile anyway). But, he looks to have learned quite
a lot while watching Bamford and the rest. He did
just about everything you need of a striker last night.

And he did it against a billion dollar Prem team.
Not Barnsley. He needs more starts. I have no doubt
Farke is thinking the same after that performance.

Interesting stuff on Joseph. Only one game but if replicated we could have a nice scenario where we can stretch teams for 90 minutes using both Bamford or Joseph in that 9 role. Takes some pressure off Bamford playing that role and to help manage his workload. Obviously impressed by Joseph's finishing (which has always been impressive in the under 21s) but his link up play on and around the box was good too. Has a bit of confidence and attitude about him too (Beckfordesque?)that probably helps as a striker too

Looking very strong in the striking department, wingers, centre halfs, central midfield.

best squad in League for me 💪💪

comment by LIW We’re Going Up As f@ck@ing Champions (U8453)
posted 16 minutes ago

Looking very strong in the striking department, wingers, centre halfs, central midfield.

best squad in League for me 💪💪


^^^

If we avoid major injuries between now and May
(which we have so far), I reckon I'll end up agreeing
with you. Left back is still our achilles heel though.
If we had one that could defend and doesn't get
injured, we'd be the best squad bar none.

Agree with LIW, we have a very strong squad, I was very impressed with the overall performance. If we can keep that going we will secure automatic promotion.
Archie is the most exciting prospect in many years,he was brilliant again last night.

Many of us mourn for the Bielsa years and style of play, but I think we have something just as good right now.

We have manager who has brought what he said he will, unity and who is getting something out of the players.

Spot on

Think I liked about Joseph too was some post match interview somewhere, absolutely full of confidence for th future.

Strikers need a certain swagger, he has it.

Think Firpo is fine in this league where he doesn't need to defend much. Definitely need an upgrade if we go up but he is a positive going forward and has made us more dangerous on the left.

Really enjoyed last night, nowhere near as stressful as a loss isn't the end of the world but we really played well, especially in the 2nd half.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 48 minutes ago
comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 10 minutes ago
I read that Piroe works hard off the ball, it's a side we don't see, I suppose that's the unglamorous side to playing where he does, creating the spaces so that Joseph (last night) can pop up and score his brace.
I need to stop being so down on him but it's hard given how little how brings to the table.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wasn't that impressed at all yesterday, I think Joseph made his own space and luck, way he drifted in for second goal was brilliant, you cant teach that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously different type of strikers but if you were to ask me who has a long term future at the club Joseph or Piroe, it's Joseph all day long. I just don't see Piroe as a Premier League striker, an issue seeing as he is contracted until 2027.

If Batty is right and Farke tries to get him more minutes, it will interesting to see how that pans out.

Feeling really positive after last night's game.
We more than matched Chelsea and have rightly received the plaudits from the more knowledgeable media folk.

There is a lot of pace in this team but my only concern if we go get promoted is the lack of pace across the back four.
They're certainly not the slowest but to succeed we will need at least one defender who has the pace of our forward line. Premier league is unforgiving week on week.

Agree on Firpo - fine for this league but if we are promoted we will need a new LB

I like to think that Farke knows what he see's and he'll know that if we do go up not all this team would make the mark!..

All we have to do is hope he can keep the players he see's fit and he gets the right backing to hold our ground in the top flight!..

I don't think we'll be able to carry piroe if we get promoted. Absolutely no eye for a pass and it costs us often.

Although I thought we matched Chelsea, particularly in the second half, it was against a stuttering Chelsea side. I still feel we need to strengthen if we go up.

They're winning goal showed our defensive frailties. One piece of quality from Fernandez and a top class finish from Gallagher carved us open. We will face that every week in the PL

Having said the above I'm sure the incumbents will be fully aware what's needed and who needs to move on.

Should have said, I've got confidence in present leaders and had very little in Radz regime.

comment by The Very Rev Wilko (U21072)
posted 2 hours, 10 minutes ago
Although I thought we matched Chelsea, particularly in the second half, it was against a stuttering Chelsea side. I still feel we need to strengthen if we go up.

They're winning goal showed our defensive frailties. One piece of quality from Fernandez and a top class finish from Gallagher carved us open. We will face that every week in the PL

Having said the above I'm sure the incumbents will be fully aware what's needed and who needs to move on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes Rev my thoughts too but I think had Ampadu and Rodon been paired together at the back we wouldn't have conceded 3 goals last night but after a so so start in midfield I thought Gray and Ampedu looked a good combination in midfield even against a less than full strength Chelsea side but you'd like to think with at least 4 or 5 quality additions last night's performance gave us all enough encouragement to think we will be okay next season and will hold our own comfortably above the bottom 3 dare I tempt fate by saying when we are promoted this season.

One major positive from the game last night is that a performance like that should give the team confidence despite the result.

I was really afraid that a punishing defeat might have burst our bubble, but we stood toe-to-toe with one of the most expensive teams ever assembled and did it while playing a second-string team for much of the game.

Add to that Leicester have their eyes on Chelsea next and it might just affect their league focus.

I think Piroe and Firpo good for Championship, but Firpo just can’t defend well enough to be Prem quality, positioning is poor when really up against quick teams.

Piroe been deadly early on in season and great in front of goal, but been a bit hit and miss for me, built a bit like Becchio and has similar sort of movement, not prem standard.

Getting back to the commentary.

An certain Dixon just rocks, without any research, and just talk utter garbage, how he has made a living is beyond me.


Clive, like to think he knows more than anyone ( He actually does, very knowledgeable) but its so cliche and all about him. He kills it.

I think we can proud of our performance. I rather harshly criticised Coops but he always gives his best - but then, so did the rest of the team last night. Now let's go on and wrest that top spot from Leicester...