Leeds Utd v Middlesbrough Match Thread

[ddapp]

Just got back home. Any word on why Ramazani didn’t play?

[whiteswan]

The glaring example of Joseph currently lacking something is the James cross. It’s literally right in front of him. He should be getting on the end of that if he’s an instinctive striker.

Said it earlier Jay, Joseph has to prove himself to me. I'm far from convinced. He is not our number one striker.....far from it at the moment.

[whiteswan]

One of the worse displays I've seen from a No.9

Sigh.....unfortunately I agree.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Poor marking at the corner, Wober OG

Poor marking? Who was supposed to be marking Wober?

[andrewjohnsmith]

So much for Max Wöber's redemption arc

I was praising him at half time, wasn't I.

He had a much rougher second half.

[whiteswan]

Another thoroughly good game, and fair play to the Boro fans, some good banter between us all too

Glad you had a great evening Kev.....

[andrewjohnsmith]

Well won in midfield, Piroe lovely ball to James and this time James hits it as he should have done with the earlier chance

I was trying to figure out who made that great sliding tackle to start the move

I think it was Byram. But I'm not certain.

Asking because Byram was involved in the first too. If that was him on the second, then I have him really high on my MOTM

** Update: According to reports I read it was Byram that mad the excellent sliding tackle to set up the 2nd. Seriously disappointed the commentators didn't mention it.

[whiteswan]

I think Mateo tries what probably works at youth level and he tries to use his strength and hold the defender off.

And he's a powerful young man and against less experienced players it works fine. He's not that tall so he sees using his strength on the ground as the way forward?

But he's not a big bloke really, 5ft11 maybe? Strong build but so are Championship cbs and most of them have a few inches on him and a lot more experience so more often than not they just lever him aside.

He will get better at it but will need time and maybe less pressure?

The James ball was quality and again maybe inexperience on Joseph's part?

As Ian says he did play a part in the opening goal tbf but it was his only contribution

When does inexperience become experience? How long do we wait?
I'm not sure he is good enough from what I've seen.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Ampadu at rb is such a weird sub

He played some at RB in preseason. Farke was definitely preparing him as a back up option.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Ice Man strikes again. AO is something special.

Funny. When I was watching in real time, I thought he was trying to score and made a complete mess of it. On replay, it shows him dancing through the box and clearly laying it backwards for Aaronson.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Boro by far the best we’ve seen at ER and we totally bossed ever aspect of that game. 3-1 favoured Boro.

Based on games against us, it's hard to believe the Blunts are as good as their results. Boro look like the second best team in the league on what I've seen.

That said, I think Wilder probably just got his tactics completely wrong at ER. And the Blunts are better than what we saw.

[andrewjohnsmith]

So Tanaka gets the assist.
But he passes to Aaronson but Solomon touches it on to Aaronsons foot. So Solomans assist.
Who cares anyway

Assists are a joke at times. Dan James should have got the assist for the OG against Swansea. He put in a great cross that the defender turned into the goal (because it would have been a goal anyway). But it's an OG so there's no assist.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Thought Joseph was poor today where it really mattered. Crosses came in but he was always on the other side of the defender and as such relying on the ball having to be absolutely perfect so that the defender can't get it but it would fall for him. He needed to be able to look like he was going to be on the other side but then stop and move so as to get in front of the defender. Harry Kane is a prime example of a striker who knows how to fool a defenderand get to the cross first.

Really disappointed in Joseph this season. Looked like there was going to be a really good player there that also had a striker's instinct and would get plenty of goals.

Thought Aaronsen had a great game although once again he looked like a deer in the headlights when he got time on the ball and just doesn't seem to have good instincts or is stopping himself from playing instinctively. Glad he got his goal and just hoping that in time his end product improves.

Wholly agree with you on Joseph. He hustles, great work rate, works the defenders. He was involved in a lot from wide areas. But in key areas, he's not getting into the best positions. Not just Kane, he could learn from Bamford too in terms of positioning. He also needs to snatch a couple of those half chances. Piroe, for all the complaints, often only needs one chance to make it happen. Joseph needs to develop Piroe's "no way I'm going to miss" mentality.

I've been disappointed too. After last season's Chelsea game, he looked like he was ready to kick on at this level. Joffy was in the same place after Marsch's relegation escape. But he didn't take his (limited) chances at the start of the following season. Joseph needs to grab his chance while he has it.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Didn't even jump for any of the header duels, his feet were stuck to the ground.

Without seeing the game again, how good was the James cross, it seemed from the kop end, Joseph didn't react quick enough & the ball flew across the goal begging for a striker to get on the end of it.

It seemed to me like he could have got on the end of it. A bit of a lunge or a split second anticipation.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Just got back home. Any word on why Ramazani didn’t play?

I didn't hear anything on commentary. But think it's a matter of Farke bringing him back slowly. When subs were made around 67 minutes, it was probably more time than Farke wanted to give him.

[ddapp]

I didn't hear anything on commentary. But think it's a matter of Farke bringing him back slowly. When subs were made around 67 minutes, it was probably more time than Farke wanted to give him.

Thank you for the reply!

[CUSSIE01]

Poor marking? Who was supposed to be marking Wober?

Spur of the minute post before I saw the replay AJ.

[SG90]

I was trying to figure out who made that great sliding tackle to start the move

I think it was Byram. But I'm not certain.

Asking because Byram was involved in the first too. If that was him on the second, then I have him really high on my MOTM

** Update: According to reports I read it was Byram that mad the excellent sliding tackle to set up the 2nd. Seriously disappointed the commentators didn't mention it.

Yeah it was Byram. I remember something like that happening last season too. Very underrated is Byram, whenever he plays he's always done well.

[1964white]

I was praising him at half time, wasn't I.

He had a much rougher second half.

I thought Wober played well, he defends more efficiently than Firpo & Bogle.

[1964white]

Poor marking? Who was supposed to be marking Wober?

WTF was Striujk playing at, he nearly scored a crazy own goal.

Not read the whole match thread, did anyone mention his dopey action, then he stood there with that vacant look on his face.