Leeds Utd v Middlesbrough Match Thread

[Barlow Boy]

I would really be surprised if Farke changes the midfield to allow Amps to start next match. If we can get into a winning position and are comfortable then he may bring him on and build up a bit more game fitness.
A lot will depend on what Farke see`s in training and whether or not Amps is properly ready to start a game. If he is not 100% ready he wont start him. We dont want to risk Amp`s being out again for another period of time, even though the players that came in have done a very good job.

Ampadu won’t start for a little while yet, unless injuries force it upon us.

He certainly won’t start on Saturday.

[1964white]

Ampadu won’t start for a little while yet, unless injuries force it upon us.

He certainly won’t start on Saturday.

Save him for the Harrogate game

[andrewjohnsmith]

Save him for the Harrogate game

Christmas schedule is not as bad as I remember. 5 games in 14 days. But would be nice to have all midfielders available.

[weasel]

Save him for the Harrogate game

I wouldn't be surprised if that is his first start for us and he will simply build his minutes up until that match. No point rushing him back when it isn't at present a neccessity.

[JoeDenver]

Think Doak is over rated
Piroe seems to be a super sub, does better v tiring teams

This is my conclusion, Sub. He’s superb on the counter attack which is the predicament we find ourselves in later games. Also think Joseph’s work rate to tire the CBs helps give him more space to work from. The reverse, Piroe starting over Joseph, doesn’t seem to work out as consistently well.

[Jammy 07]

Save him for the Harrogate game

Have you had chance to watch last night's game back yet ?

Just wondering because I'm interested to know if there was anything more positive to see about Joseph's performance on a second viewing.

[Jammy 07]

This is my conclusion, Sub. He’s superb on the counter attack which is the predicament we find ourselves in later games. Also think Joseph’s work rate to tire the CBs helps give him more space to work from. The reverse, Piroe starting over Joseph, doesn’t seem to work out as consistently well.

For me it was the closing down and tackling of Jospeh and Gnonto during the opening minutes last night that set the tone, which in turn led to us dominating the early exchanges and subsequently taking the lead.

[andrewjohnsmith]

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

No knock on you. Just sounded funny that you were cursing Wober for the OG and blaming the marking in the same comment.

[1964white]

Have you had chance to watch last night's game back yet ?

Just wondering because I'm interested to know if there was anything more positive to see about Joseph's performance on a second viewing.

Yes, I have, I've nothing to add to my initial thoughts as I walked out of the ground.

My 4/10 on the player ratings thread say it all.

[1964white]

I wouldn't be surprised if that is his first start for us and he will simply build his minutes up until that match. No point rushing him back when it isn't at present a neccessity.

Ampadu is nowhere near ready to start yet!

The Harrogate cup-tie would be an ideal scenario to get more minutes & his fitness back.

[Jammy 07]

Yes, I have, I've nothing to add to my initial thoughts as I walked out of the ground.

My 4/10 on the player ratings thread say it all.

Fair enough but one thing that I noticed on the highlights was how deep Boro's centre halves were when Piroe came on and I'm putting that down to Joseph pushing them back for the first 70 mins. Also Joseph had one excellent piece of play first half which resulted in Aaronson putting Dan James in on goal.

Possibly clutching at straws on my part though.

[The Subhuman]

Fair enough but one thing that I noticed on the highlights was how deep Boro's centre halves were when Piroe came on and I'm putting that down to Joseph pushing them back for the first 70 mins. Also Joseph had one excellent piece of play first half which resulted in Aaronson putting Dan James in on goal.

Possibly clutching at straws on my part though.

No very decent game from Joseph , got a 7 from me which is just under good.

[Jammy 07]

No very decent game from Joseph , got a 7 from me which is just under good.

Didn't score a couple of goals though so very disappointing to some. Created space for others to play in but guess not everyone can see or appreciate that.

[CUSSIE01]

No knock on you. Just sounded funny that you were cursing Wober for the OG and blaming the marking in the same comment.

Anyone daft enough to read what I write during a game needs their head rattled. Heat of the moment, couple of beers and a tendency to talk s***e at the best of times doesn’t lend itself to sensible posts AJ, you have been warned.

[1964white]

Fair enough but one thing that I noticed on the highlights was how deep Boro's centre halves were when Piroe came on and I'm putting that down to Joseph pushing them back for the first 70 mins. Also Joseph had one excellent piece of play first half which resulted in Aaronson putting Dan James in on goal.

Possibly clutching at straws on my part though.

One of Mateo two decent lay-off passes out of his seven good moments is not great, minuses - losing possession three times, one poor cross, never won a headed dual & not reacting quick enough in the box for crosses, imo!

Six of our players had 20 to 26 good moments, so why should Joseph's rating be anywhere near to his hard-working teammates, who put in a hell of a shift over the 90 minutes.

[Jammy 07]

One of Mateo two decent lay-off passes out of his seven good moments is not great, minuses - losing possession three times, one poor cross, never won a headed dual & not reacting quick enough in the box for crosses, imo!

Six of our players had 20 to 26 good moments, so why should Joseph's rating be anywhere near to his hard-working teammates, who put in a hell of a shift over the 90 minutes.

As said previously if you've watched the game back then fair enough because I know you try to see things objectively. However sometimes it's about the unseen things such as occupying centre halves higher up the pitch which creates space on the flanks for our runners. For example Wober was very effective last night attacking wise because the Boro centre halves had dropped off a few yards to cover the threat of pace in behind. You'll remember the Boro fans screaming for offside all the time (first half) but the flag never came because Joseph had forced them to drop.

[1964white]

As said previously if you've watched the game back then fair enough because I know you try to see things objectively. However sometimes it's about the unseen things such as occupying centre halves higher up the pitch which creates space on the flanks for our runners. For example Wober was very effective last night attacking wise because the Boro centre halves had dropped off a few yards to cover the threat of pace in behind. You'll remember the Boro fans screaming for offside all the time (first half) but the flag never came because Joseph had forced them to drop.

Good points made, Jammy.

[Cjay]

As said previously if you've watched the game back then fair enough because I know you try to see things objectively. However sometimes it's about the unseen things such as occupying centre halves higher up the pitch which creates space on the flanks for our runners. For example Wober was very effective last night attacking wise because the Boro centre halves had dropped off a few yards to cover the threat of pace in behind. You'll remember the Boro fans screaming for offside all the time (first half) but the flag never came because Joseph had forced them to drop.

Piroe drops deep dragging cbs deeper creating space in behind and gets hammered. . . . . .

[Jammy 07]

Piroe drops deep dragging cbs deeper creating space in behind and gets hammered. . . . . .

Yes Piroe does drop deep and the consequence is there's then very little space between the lines. However as you correctly point out the higher defensive line should allow more pitch for wide runners to run into. However we don't seem to be able to align the run with the pass even though it would seem an obvious route to more goals with speedsters like Dan James in the team.

Who knows maybe these young guys playing professional football for high sums of money are just too thick to work out how to stay onside. Joking aside though most teams in the PL now play a very high line, so maybe it's not as easy as it seems to get the attacking play right even with half a pitch to run into.

[Cjay]

Yes Piroe does drop deep and the consequence is there's then very little space between the lines. However as you correctly point out the higher defensive line should allow more pitch for wide runners to run into. However we don't seem to be able to align the run with the pass even though it would seem an obvious route to more goals with speedsters like Dan James in the team.

Who knows maybe these young guys playing professional football for high sums of money are just too thick to work out how to stay onside. Joking aside though most teams in the PL now play a very high line, so maybe it's not as easy as it seems to get the attacking play right even with half a pitch to run into.

Above all else, the frustration with the speed of our passing and safe focus of it I find our unwillingness to use switches of play most baffling of all.

We play narrow in attack and stuff as well which I'm not keen on.

I can see the reasoning though whether I like it or not, less likely to concede on transition, easier for in theory quick interplay with attackers closer together etc.

But why we don't use switches of play to catch opposition teams 1v1 with our wingers more baffles me.

The top teams in the Premier League for switches of play have been Man City and Liverpool for years.

Real Madrid and Barcelona been around the top in La Liga.

Bayern, Leverkusen, Dortmund.

The top teams in Europe use them all the time, it's a common weapon for basically all the best teams in Europe.

We don't use them at all, we rank last this season and last in Championship.

So it's an area I'd genuinely like to know from Farke why not?

To me it seems obvious, how much more joy would Summerville have had a quick switch 1v1 vs a full back.

I've gone off topic here

But I really would love to know what DF sees to make us not use them when the best teams in Europe do.

Not even an anti Farke thing or whatever etc etc, just something I've never understood, and it can't be coincidence two seasons in a row?

Can only assume it's part of the safety first principle