There is an interesting question here, why is there such discontent when so many data points show we're doing se well?

Why?

Well, the football is boring.
We make things far harder than we should.
We've had so many generational talents that just havent been.
We overhype players coming in.
We seem have had more than our fair share of players who spend so much of career with us injured
We seem to have had lots of players who just don't make the grade
We've seen our team fall at final hurdle so many times.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 13 minutes ago

There is an interesting question here, why is there such discontent when so many data points show we're doing se well?

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doubt this specific to Leeds fans only... but we do have a history of absolute carve ups... whilst I don't agree with all the negativity (mainly because we are top of the league)... I can understand it.

not much we do tho, lets just 'try' to enjoy the ride... tis a bumpy one - lets be honest, we wouldn;t have it any other way

ALAW

I understand about it been boring.

I dont fully agree, in the sense, we always try to go for the wins.

Its just every team, parks the bus, and so its same every week. It does end up been boring.

But I also got bored watched Man city and Barca. You virtually know how the game will pan out.

Did you miss off perhaps other reasons why there is so much discontent?

Many teams don't taste success. Success is shared among a low percentage of teams. For us, do the legacy memories of our successful years, be it Revie, Wilkinson, San Siro or Bielsa, amplify the demands and expectations of fans today?

Do these tastes of success in the past clash/couple with the 'want it now' culture/expectancy of today?

And those expectations are forever growing ...

....we're top of the league. "Not good enough. We should have more points"
... we're 6 point clear... "we should be confirmed by now" (March!)
...we get promoted, we'll want mid table, 1st season
...we're mid-table, next year it's top 6, then Europe and champions league within a year or two.


Fans of teams who haven't tasted the success that we have just don't think like us.

Our expectations crush us, and each of us to different levels. You can see it with the range of posters on here, from the Lowfield/Donns.... right through to the 'happy clappers (love that expression 😊). And both ends of that spectrum are probably wrong - there's only a few who say 'enjoy the ride, wherever it may take us. Maybe we should all be like that, but we know we can't be...cos we are Leeds .. the emotional, the loyal and steadfast, the demanding, the expectant..... but not, perhaps, the most patient!

But I also got bored watched Man city and Barca. You virtually know how the game will pan out.

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thats true tbf that... you sit down expecting it everytime, some great football on show, great players... its actually 90 mins of of them short passing it to each other,

or so it seems, I'm sure there's a lot more going on behind the scenes tbf

comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 31 minutes ago
Did you miss off perhaps other reasons why there is so much discontent?

Many teams don't taste success. Success is shared among a low percentage of teams. For us, do the legacy memories of our successful years, be it Revie, Wilkinson, San Siro or Bielsa, amplify the demands and expectations of fans today?

Do these tastes of success in the past clash/couple with the 'want it now' culture/expectancy of today?

And those expectations are forever growing ...

....we're top of the league. "Not good enough. We should have more points"
... we're 6 point clear... "we should be confirmed by now" (March!)
...we get promoted, we'll want mid table, 1st season
...we're mid-table, next year it's top 6, then Europe and champions league within a year or two.


Fans of teams who haven't tasted the success that we have just don't think like us.

Our expectations crush us, and each of us to different levels. You can see it with the range of posters on here, from the Lowfield/Donns.... right through to the 'happy clappers (love that expression 😊). And both ends of that spectrum are probably wrong - there's only a few who say 'enjoy the ride, wherever it may take us. Maybe we should all be like that, but we know we can't be...cos we are Leeds .. the emotional, the loyal and steadfast, the demanding, the expectant..... but not, perhaps, the most patient!

Best comment I have read for a long time.


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Interesting debate. I agree with Wakey, I find Man City boring too. And i agree that it's the other teams parking the bus that are largely responsible for making our games boring.

There are people who can appreciate the quality of possession based football, but most want excitement.

Ironically most leeds fans hated marsh's red bull methods, but most fans of other clubs I spoke to enjoyed watching the basketball, high energy, forced-error type games it often led to.

As said, we're one of a number of clubs who've experienced the highs of football but don't have them at the moment - and expectations will always be higher.
We also had years in the doldrums lifted by Bielsa. I think the Bielsa dream has changed expectations (exciting football and successful). We could only dream of being top of the league 10 years ago. Now we have to be top by 10 points playing electric football or half the fans are fed up.

I'm happy with where we are, and with the football we try to play, and think Farke's done well. I don't agree with him re Meslier (if what he said is what he really thinks, rather than PR exercise) but it's his choice to make and he'll live or die by it.

Expectations from fans are not too high, we're the best team in a mostly poor league.
Of course most teams park the bus.
The key for us is to score earlier and force them to come out of their defensive shell.
Not that easy when our strengths are our wingers not our 9 and 10.
Imo Mes has declined in the last couple of years and I wonder why.
Let's see what our Welsh international can do in the cup game but I would back meslier to return the game after.
We talk about square pegs a lot on here and I think that's what we've settled for in attack.
I like Piroe a lot but in my view he's a great impact sub Joseph is not filling anyone with confidence and Aaronson is our fifth choice winger that plays every game as our ten.
Of course we make hard work of it.
Look at man City and their boring style of play, with de Byrne out or not as effective they're getting opened up by the bus parkers counter attack.
Anyway imo we need a number 9 and 10 more than a keeper.

So … back to the OP but also bridging the gap to where this thread seems to be now … I’m discontented because I thought Meslier should be dropped based on his performances - and not dropped just for the Harrogate game, but dropped in favour of a more reliable keeper who doesn’t make so many howlers. I don't know whether that keeper is Darlow as I haven’t seen enough of him to decide - that’s Farke’s job - but the fact that Farke has indicated Meslier will return to the starting 11 after Harrogate is a mistake imho.

but the fact that Farke has indicated Meslier will return to the starting 11 after Harrogate is a mistake imho.

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Depends Light... I would really like to see a show solidarity here, could really speak volumes.. the manager and the whole team get him, the fans too...

I sometimes don't think we do anyone or ourselves any favours by the treatment of some players sometimes.. Chris Wood springs to mind. Gary McAllister in 1994 too.. was a period of time when he got a lot of stick.. I don;t think it was too long after that he had a superb season, (a hattrick vs PSV rings a bell?)...

Yep, fair points Spanish and I can’t stand it when players get abuse. If money was no object (which of course it always is), I would have liked to see Meslier benched for a while and replaced by either Darlow (as I said above, not sure if he’s good enough/ready) or if not, a new signing. I also accept any of these options is hugely risky and I do genuinely applaud DF for making a firm decision and communicating it publicly. I hope he’s made the right one👍

Big mistake in my opinion, potentially catastrophic.

Interesting take on madness from Farke. I'd say the one attributed to Einstein about doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome is closer to our situation.

Hopefully it's a smokescreen & we're quietly looking for a new keeper.

If money was no object (which of course it always is), I would have liked to see Meslier benched for a while and replaced by either Darlow (as I said above, not sure if he’s good enough/ready) or if not, a new signing.

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yeah agree Light, I think tbh we're just going to have to make do, which is why I really do hope we show solidarity.. its really important we don't worsen a clearly touchy situation any further. We really do have to be promoted this year.

""Interesting take on madness from Farke. I'd say the one attributed to Einstein about doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome is closer to our situation.""

thats a good point Snow tho

Hopefully it's a smokescreen & we're quietly looking for a new keeper.
———————————————————————-
Now that really would surprise me, given what DF has said publicly👍

Yep, solidarity r us😁 … MOT … ALAW 💙🤍💛👍

comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 22 minutes ago
Hopefully it's a smokescreen & we're quietly looking for a new keeper.
———————————————————————-
Now that really would surprise me, given what DF has said publicly👍
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Correct, i say it in hope more than anticipation.

Of course we'll be looking for a goalkeeper.
All behind closed doors. They're looking for a manager too. And a striker and a 10.
Throw in a couple of cb's for cover and a new left back. All this in the summer.
Right now we're gambling we get promoted without buying anyone besides a championship level striker.

comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 29 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 22 minutes ago
Hopefully it's a smokescreen & we're quietly looking for a new keeper.
———————————————————————-
Now that really would surprise me, given what DF has said publicly👍
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Correct, i say it in hope more than anticipation.
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Yep👍

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 16 minutes ago
Of course we'll be looking for a goalkeeper.
All behind closed doors. They're looking for a manager too. And a striker and a 10.
Throw in a couple of cb's for cover and a new left back. All this in the summer.
Right now we're gambling we get promoted without buying anyone besides a championship level striker.

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Defo a big summer coming up … probably either way we do/don’t achieve promotion👍

Farke couldn’t just come out and say Mesliers awful and we’re replacing him. He has to back him, he was clear that he’s made mistakes.

Hopefully they bring a keeper in but if they don’t, we have to rely on Meslier, as Darlow might not be any better

I can’t decide if I’d give Carlow a few games to be honest..

Could be the making of him.. things we’ve got a promotion to win

Darlow..

Farke couldn’t just come out and say Mesliers awful and we’re replacing him. He has to back him, he was clear that he’s made mistakes.

^^^

100% true Best.

By same token, Farke didn't have to come out and
say pre Harrogate that basically Meslier is #1 and
back in net next league game.

Why not see what Darlow has. Granted it's only
Harrogate. But, we have a habit of falling flat on
our FA cup faces. Sure, back Meslier as manager.
Also allow Darlow a chance to see if he's worth
the next league start in place of Meslier.

Pinning his colors to the Meslier mast seems
a bit counter meritocracy once again.