Leeds Utd v Everton Match Thread

[White Lotus]

So Leeds are 7th.

Probably our highest position of the season

Enjoy it while it lasts

You've just brought me back down to earth lol.

[Cjay]

Poor tonight... finished last in my rankings as far as outfielders go. Didn't have a great pre season either

He didn't.

Tbh I don't think he or Gnonto really covered themselves in glory tonight.

Given they were both against players out of position.

Gnonto more involved positively than James but not massively impactful.

[White Lotus]

Yeah James was the only one that seemed off the boil/not at the races type of thing today, not on all cylinders, playing with a niggle, 80%ish.
Wasn't terrible, just wasn't right for whatever reason, same pre season and why i thought Aaronson would start, but it's the manager that sees them everyday, so who's to know.

[SG90]

Forgot Kinnear is at Everton now. Yeah he could definitely take them down.

[malcolmw]

Talking of which running is all DJ really did.

Biggest disappointment imo.

Had no real impact with the ball to speak of, didn't create anything, wasn't particularly impactful at all.

Thought he may grow into the game 2nd half when Everton came out a bit but no.

Not a great start.

I agree on that. James was the only real weakness on the night - he looked flat footed and out of touch from the whistle.
Frankly if not for the circumstances - first game after promotion loan spell and the personal history, I wonder if Harrison wouldn't have started on the right wing?
For me, until we bring in a new winger he's the better starter.

[malcolmw]

Anyone see Moyes' post match interview?
Borderline unprofessional imo.

A losing manager has every right to feel disappointed, but the whining about the penalty decision and the ref went a bit over the top.

It likely was a touch and go (excuse the pun) decision, but reading the view of ex-players who were in various commentary roles, it was the right one.
But then I've always felt he was a bit of a moaner.

And BTW - Nmecha's penalty .... outfrikkinstanding!!!
He hit it so hard and wide it didn't matter which way the keeper went.
He beat England's best keeper with a rocket. None of this prancy...prancy, tip-toeing, ballerina type run up. Just fookin hit it.

[weasel]

There’s me thinking that the point of VAR was to ensure all decisions were actually correct with the benefit of technology and time, which the on-field officials don’t have.

What a tit.

The trouble is when it comes to something subjective like the penalty decision tonight. Pundits (supposedly experts) seemed fairly split. As such if it black and white overturn and make the correct decision. If it is open to debate then stick with the on field decision. Personally I would have a panel of 5 in the VAR box including ex professional footballers and then have it that at least 4 (possibly all 5) have to agree for a decision to be made.

[whiteswan]

Had his arm behind his back FFS

But he leaned towards the ball, it his his upper arm which is why it was given. Had he not leaned towards it then no pen.

[whiteswan]

Gonna enjoy a wee swally for Mentalcase with them 3 points

On it now....much later than you me old mate OB, but yes....here's to our pal mc

[andrewjohnsmith]

Think Rama maybe gets more opportunities if we're behind. If we're down against Arsenal and it's still Jack then it's likely Farke doesn't want him.

If we'd been trailing today, I'm pretty sure he'd have sent Ramazani on ahead of Harrison and ahead of Aaronson.

That would be the ideal scenario. Send Harrison and Aaronson as safe options. Send Rama on when we need a goal.

But It is unlikely that Farke will keep all of them on the bench, especially given his talk today of wanting more attacking players. Almost sounds certain that Ramazani is going out on loan.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Although I expected VAR to overturn the penalty decision as a defender it was definitely deliberate. Moving towards the ball you wouldn't put your arms behind your back as that movement would twist your torso and make you a smaller obstacle. You should actually raise your arm (the left arm in this instance), which gets the arm out of the way and also pushes your chest to the side and makes it a much bigger area. Raising the arm though is dangerous because obviously if the ball then hits it you have no real defence as it is seen as you moving the arm unaturally. As such for me Tarkowski moved his body to the left and left his arm at his side deliberately thinking he would get away with it.

Well done to the ref and well done to the VAR ref too.

VAR was never going to overrule it. Except under the "it's Leeds so we'll change the interpretation and rules" law. And I honestly thought given past examples against us that we would get screwed.

Would have been interesting to see what VAR would have decided had the ref not given it. I think it was definitely a penalty. But hard to know if they'd have seen conclusive evidence to overturn a no-penalty decision

[andrewjohnsmith]

2nd highest distance covered as a team behind Man City.

James top for sprints and ranks top 85 percentile of wingers in the Prem for it.

Both Tanaka and Piroe rank top 90% percentile for distance running in the league compared to players of the same position

Gudmondsson for distance covered top 90% percentile

Were those stats just for today's game?

I thought Dan James had a below average game. But clearly he got about a lot.

I was realy impressed with the amount of ground Piroe covered tonight. He was heavily involved in the early parts of the game. Couldn't get involved much in the second half - except when he dropped deep. But his work rate was excellent. I'm not surprised he got subbed off given the work he put in. He must have been nackered.

[andrewjohnsmith]

The cynic in me would suggest it was all a club orchestrated pr exercise. Give the kid the sing and make sure Jack goes over and gives the kid the shirt. Doubt there were two kids with the same sign so Jack spotting the 1 kid in the crowd with that sign is quite a coincidence.

Hmmm ... makes you wonder

[andrewjohnsmith]

No doubt Stach will be a key player this season. He had a decent game today. But I thought our two promoted championship midfielders were even better.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Yeah James was the only one that seemed off the boil/not at the races type of thing today, not on all cylinders, playing with a niggle, 80%ish.
Wasn't terrible, just wasn't right for whatever reason, same pre season and why i thought Aaronson would start, but it's the manager that sees them everyday, so who's to know.

Yeah. Worth noting, as you said, that James is only recently back from injury and didn't start preseason until very late. I'll give him a pass on today's game.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Forgot Kinnear is at Everton now. Yeah he could definitely take them down.

Would be interesting to know the specifics on that - Whether he ditched us for Everton or whether the 49ers told him they wouldn't need him any more

Will probably never know unless he writes an autobiography

[andrewjohnsmith]

Anyone see Moyes' post match interview?
Borderline unprofessional imo.

A losing manager has every right to feel disappointed, but the whining about the penalty decision and the ref went a bit over the top.

It likely was a touch and go (excuse the pun) decision, but reading the view of ex-players who were in various commentary roles, it was the right one.
But then I've always felt he was a bit of a moaner.

And BTW - Nmecha's penalty .... outfrikkinstanding!!!
He hit it so hard and wide it didn't matter which way the keeper went.
He beat England's best keeper with a rocket. None of this prancy...prancy, tip-toeing, ballerina type run up. Just fookin hit it.

Pickford is a top penalty stopper and he's been the scourge of Leeds (in games we deserved to win) on a few occasions

I agree on Moyes. Should have held the line of "regardless of whether it was a penalty we weren't good enough"

[1964white]

Late home by about an hour due to motorway closure/diversion.

What a night
Good to see many of my pals again.
Great atmosphere.
Solid, controlled performance.
Nmecha's superb penalty & a debut goal.
Three points.
Clean sheet.
6th in the league.

Well done to our lads

[malcolmw]

Late home by about an hour due to motorway closure/diversion.

What a night
Good to see many of my pals again.
Great atmosphere.
Solid, controlled performance.
Nmecha's superb penalty & a debut goal.
Three points.
Clean sheet.
6th in the league.

Well done to our lads

[malcolmw]

Pickford is a top penalty stopper and he's been the scourge of Leeds (in games we deserved to win) on a few occasions

I agree on Moyes. Should have held the line of "regardless of whether it was a penalty we weren't good enough"

Agree on what the right answers should have been Andrew. And dare I say ... if the shoe hadve been on the other foot , that's exactly what our manager would have said.

I watched some of Moyes pre-match press conference, and although he said some nice things about us being back in the top flight, there is just a bit of a pompous edge to him.

Good manager no doubt, but I'm sort of happy we have a guy who's media image isn't bigger than the team's!