Preston North End v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[Irish Ian]

Gray should have been subbed at half-time after his inability to defend Miller, who did him seven or eight times.

Did Archie do anything right today, I felt for the lad. FFS Farke protect our young boy.

In the end, it was inevitable Gray would allow Miller in again at the death.

He shouldn't be playing in defence Leon.
Again his failings there have hurt us.

[1964white]

None of us wish to see our beloved Leeds United get beat but talk about over reaction. DF is doing the best he can with the players he has, imo he is doing a decent job with the squad at his disposal, have you ever thought he would love to play tactically a different way but he simply does not have the players to do it ?

Agree John.

I did say our subs were not good enough, Gnonto & Joseph had minimal effect going forward.

Gnonto not busting a gut to help his defence gain a point.

[SG90]

None of us wish to see our beloved Leeds United get beat but talk about over reaction. DF is doing the best he can with the players he has, imo he is doing a decent job with the squad at his disposal, have you ever thought he would love to play tactically a different way but he simply does not have the players to do it ?

It's not an overreaction. It's the same as always, can't beat teams who park the bus and we offer nothing if Summerville and Rutter aren't in the game.

Rotherham, Stoke, Coventry, Birmingham, Wendies, Hull etc it's not a one off.

[JoeDenver]

I'd rather he didn't. Personally thought he looked a touch nervous coming on, but got better, certainly held the ball up well later, looks strong, his passing was ok if nothing adventurous.

What does happen when we bring on 3 subs at once is a baffling formation.. Difficult for us to see who's playing where...

Very true. But I think he needs minutes. We need a more polished product and I think that no. 9 is a legitimate target area for the January window.

[Cjay]

It is and the best teams suffer against it right around the world.
It is common because it works.


Add in the fact that home to Leeds is the game in the Championship calender and we have a massive task.on our hands.

Exactly it's common as you say but Farke never tries to counter it.

Same players, same tactics, hope for the best.

Shouldn't we expect Farke to be looking for solutions? Isn't that what he is paid for?

If he can't which he clearly can't doesn't that raise questions?

He doesn't even try, he seems completely flummoxed if his preferred starting 11 can't find a way he just looks baffled

I haven't looked this up but I bet we have the least goals by subs this season.

[The Subhuman]

He shouldn't be playing in defence Leon.
Again his failings there have hurt us.

But today we had the players the change that. Spence right, Byram left, we even have Firpo fit... So it's clear that Farke doesn't think Gray should not be playing in defence

[whiteinfrance]

I dare say there will be more strange results over the next games

We need to see where we are after the xmas period, see who we bring in and reset for the rest of the season

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Team selection was a 10
In game tactical changes a 5
Substitutions a 3 ...

I do think Farke is overly obsessed with inverted everything ..

Agreed, on the inverted cobblers it's the way apparently. Inability to deliver decent balls into the box. Play Spence at right back and utilise his asset pace. It's not difficult. A midfield player with vision and a passing game would help against the teams who sit in. We can fanny around for days trying to manipulate space it doesn't work.

[SG90]

Bring in Byram on Fri, give Archie a rest and swap James for Anthony or Gnonto. Time to start using them. I'd have Joffy on the bench too.

[JoeDenver]

Changing tactics to nullify a team with obvious advantages in quality is normal?

Its up to our manager in this case to counter this.

Farke hasn't a clue how.

This game has been seen 4,5,6 time this season and he never has any answer.

Pack the midfield, crowd our Summerville and Rutter, target Gray on the counter.

It's a common tactic

This tactic is getting old and the lack of proactivity to address it is killing us. I think the criticism of anyone criticizing Farke is unfair as they are pointing out obvious flaws that aren’t getting addressed and we are dropping unnecessary points because of it…making the possibility of promotion all the more difficult.

Frankly, the lack of criticism of Farke’s stubbornness regarding squad rotation/tactics and in-game substitutions is concerning.

[Cjay]

He's now blaming the attacking players

[Johnthewhite]

It's not an overreaction. It's the same as always, can't beat teams who park the bus and we offer nothing if Summerville and Rutter aren't in the game.

Rotherham, Stoke, Coventry, Birmingham, Wendies, Hull etc it's not a one off.

Never said it was a one off, it's a problem we have (I agree) but sacking DF is NOT going to fix it.

[DDB220]

Said already:
Rest the midfield for a game or two, who've been knackered for weeks
Bring on Gnonto and Byram at HT to change it up
Gray was struggling with Millar and go no help from James all game - both were the obvious HT change
Play Piroe up front and not in a packed midfield where he offers nothing
Bring Joffy off the bench instead of wasting spots on the likes of Aylkng, Firpo, Poveda, Cooper and Bamford
Give an u23 player a chance from the bench instead

Which u23 ?

There will be changes for the next game. The lethargy from the team was apparent from the off. PNE were up for this and imposed their physicality .

I do not disagree with CJAY that we can be rather predictable in terms of playing down the flanks and if the opposition restrict space we huff and puff. This is because we have very little offensive threat through the middle. I have no doubt Farke would prefer a Buendia type player in the middle who can dictate play. However he hasn’t got one so you use what you have.

Still a few players light for consistency, what is available in the next window is anyone’s guess.

[1964white]

He shouldn't be playing in defence Leon.
Again his failings there have hurt us.

Agree, but Archie has had some splendid games at RB of late, he was struggling & should have been protected, we had Byram on the bench.

[Tyzy]

So frustrating being a Leeds fan,thrash Ipswich then lose to Preston ! Today's result between Leicester and Ipswich doesn't really matter now.

[Overman]

This tactic is getting old and the lack of proactivity to address it is killing us. I think the criticism of anyone criticizing Farke is unfair as they are pointing out obvious flaws that aren’t getting addressed and we are dropping unnecessary points because of it…making the possibility of promotion all the more difficult.

Frankly, the lack of criticism of Farke’s stubbornness regarding squad rotation/tactics and in-game substitutions is concerning.

[SG90]

I haven't looked this up but I bet we have the least goals by subs this season.

Doesn't help when you wait so late for a change, or constantly bring on a player who hasn't scored since April. At least Joffy can run at players and seemed to offer a threat from the bench.

[DDB220]

Well with Mes enforcing his own absence we will see what Darlow is made off. There was one moment when he got closed down playing out that made me wince. Hopefully just a one off.

[1964white]

As I said the other week, whatever will be, will be.

Our away form is not good enough. We won't achieve automatic promotion, just on our excellent home form.

[Johnthewhite]

IMO our biggest problem away from home is our midfield, when put under pressure (like today) we are just too soft. I know we have issues at full back but if your midfield is letting players run through them and get at your defense then it matters not who is playing RB & LB the result will be the same.