Hull City v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[andrewjohnsmith]

They were hardly tap ins tbf.

Solomon, Aaronson and James had easier chances.

Thought plenty of players were poor today but atleast James and Piroe scored.

Meslier didn't do his job well at all

I wasn't singling those two out for criticism. Just to say that they may have scored but didn't have great games. Most of our 11 were below par today.

[The Subhuman]

Agree, Wober at CB, and Amps in the midfield where we were wide open today.

It was to shoehorn in Rothwell who was poor again, if Struijk is injured or going it has to be Wober in his specialist position and Schmidt at LWB with Firpo injured and Byram no fully fit. Thought our LB play today was awful

We seem to be committed to Mes, for richer or poorer but

Meslier
Bogle
Schmidt
Ampadu
Rodon
Wober
Gnonto
Tanaka
Piroe
Aaronson
Solomon


would have been our strongest 11 today imo, it's a balanced 11..

I would like to see Darlow given a run and Meslier needs a break and re-coached

[Cjay]

We were set up badly in defence, that's on Farke

We were really open at times today.

Hull had as many chances as us if not more.

That one they hit the post with was a tap in really for a start.

Didn't even have the best attacker available Hull, he's out for the season

[Phild]

For the ones saying Meslier has pulled off some great saves I need to be reminded of them as the last one I can remember was Leicester away

[whiteswan]

Tanaka, Piroe & even James must be peeved off after scoring three goals to get us back in the game, then the idiot between the sticks totally lets his colleagues down.

It looked like Rodon wanted to punch Meslier's lights out.

He didn't need to touch the ball as it was going over the bar.

You're still fuming then....

[Sean_Nile]

A sardine appeared in the eyeline of Meslier swiftly followed by a trawler. He has what is commonly known as Cantonitis.

In the Cantona analogy:

Seagulls represent the press or media... or in Mes case the disgruntled Leeds fans, swarming around and pecking him to bits, even though he has kept countless clean sheets.

Trawler represents Cantona/Mes himself or the spectacle of his actions... and the mistakes that have led to goals.

Sardines symbolize the stories or drama the media hopes to extract from his mistakes.
Small fish discarded from the trawler and gobbled up by the hungry seagulls or fans desperate to blame.

Chill Winston!!!

[Sean_Nile]

Goalkeepers are hunan they make mistakes... even the best if them.

[1964white]

Goalkeepers are hunan they make mistakes... even the best if them.

Some make occasional mistakes.

Meslier makes serious errors on a regular basis.

Anyone who defends Meslier need to have a look at themselves on how they view the standard of a good goalkeeper.

[1964white]

You're still fuming then....

Yes I am, Swannie.

That idiot spoilt my first away day this season.

Now I have to face all my gloating Hull City friends.

They won't allow me to forget this one!

[SG90]

3 poor performances in a row, but 5 points, so not the end of the world I suppose. A couple of months ago, we'd have had 1 at best. Hopefully after a rest for a few for two weeks, we'll be firing again v the Wendies.

[SG90]

On the game

Disappointed would be the right way. The first half was not sharp, we were 2 per cent off. So many good situations but didn't finish them. It was not spot on. We conceded a cheap goal. We were not sharp enough. Second half, I have to say a great reaction. We scored three goals, had chances for four or five but it is difficult to explain the two late goals despite them not really having a chance. If you concede three goals it is difficult to win the game but after such a terrific performance in the second half to drive away with one point is disappointing.



On Meslier

I would be a poor leader to speak about the mistakes of our keeper. Overall we have to say it is a sign of what we are, we are not the end product. After a busy period we are top of the league. We are one of the younger sides in this league a bit more experience and scored a fourth it would have been better. It is tough to explain how we conceded these goals. We are not the end product because we are Leeds United. If we are not sharp enough, like in the first half, this happens. We are missing experienced players who could manage the game better. Saying this we did not give many chances away. Today we have to accept it but it is difficult to explain.



Meslier continued

The players are earning a lot of pressure and they have to accept that. It is also important that they are mature enough to know we should have done better. We can't sugarcoat it. I can't punish a player publicly for making a mistake.




The result

A point on the road keeps us at the top so there are worst things in the world. At half time I told players to move up higher. There are times where midfielders need to push higher. Tanaka was a terrific strike and he celebrated with the whole bench and it is good to see him off the mark.



Injuries

Struijk - I hope to have him on the other side of the FA Cup break. Patrick is a hamstring injury, we tried everything to get him ready for today but couldn't, it is hard to assess the timeline.



Meslier again

When the goalkeeper makes one or two mistakes it is natural to talk about changes. We don't change a goalkeeper quickly like a full-back. There is no rule that a player is not dropped. If a centre-back was to score loads of own goals he would be dropped. But straight after the game I am not going to finger point



Experience of the group in January

I hope that Struijk, Bamford and Firpo aren't far away but we have decided not to sign old players, we want a young group. In terms of experience, we have to accept that sometimes there are mistakes. This is what I was expecting, it is a long road and we have done pretty well. We are top of the league after a busy period. There are plenty of games to go. Whatever we do in January, if we do anything in January, I think it will still be a young squad.



On the remainder of the season

We have a side full of potential. It is a joy to work with them but it is not easy. I think we will have to go the long way round.

Moaning about experience again I see. Exactly why we need a couple of older heads in in January, not sitting around twiddling our thumbs.

[DDB220]

Goalkeepers are hunan they make mistakes... even the best if them.

Thanks Sean - that made me laugh.

I was pretty dumbfounded yesterday, but I avoided the forum chat as it tends to be a competition about who can be the most upset.

Hull’s second goal was truly a monstrous brain fart moment by Mes. For a keeper this was such a basic mistake (worse than the Sunderland goal for me) always tip it over the bar if you have any doubts about the flight, not sure how he lost his reach / height perspective as this should be muscle memory. But to try and catch it, I am assuming that is what he was trying to do ?.

He may struggle psychologically to get over this one. He looked erratic for the 3rd as well. Not sure if he shouted when he came to punch it - but his movement was so flustered. He looked all at sea in his positional recovery, which perhaps is somewhat understandable given the mistake he had made a couple of minutes beforehand.

My issue with the keeper situation is that Meslier has had no real competition for that Jersey since he claimed it off Casilla. This has been a huge mistake by the club, bringing in twilight of their careers journeymen to act as back up. KK is the only hungry young keeper we have had who has been anywhere near first team consideration. He was comparatively pants as well.

60% of the time in the last two seasons Meslier has not had that much to do during games. Without proper competition for the Jersey there may be a question whether he is as mentally sharp as he should be. To keep any player at the top of his game mentally there has to be a situation where the player knows if his performance level dips there is someone there with the quality, desire and ambition to take his place.

We haven’t had this situation for 5 seasons - massive mistake by the club.

Darlow will most likely be between the sticks for the FA cup, unless DF wants to use the game as a means to clear Meslier’s head. But relying on Darlow is a shot in the dark, we have no idea what he is going to be like as he hasn’t played competitively for the best part of two years.

Not sure how they can address this situation at this stage of the season. Trying to get the RIGHT keeper in during this window will be one hell of a task.

[Jaydog]

Meslier to Manure my arse. Absolutely no chance.

[Barlow Boy]

Meslier to Manure my arse. Absolutely no chance.

Not so sure JD, their recruitment strategy has not exactly been fantastic.

They have bought some right crap.

[pjm2019]

Half way thru the season
The team are top of the league ,3-1 up with 10 mins to go against a team who are 3rd from bottom
AND THAT IDIOT OF A GOALKEEPER MAKES YET ANOTHER SCHOOL BIY ERROR WITH THE 2ND GOAL

He must be dropped

[DDB220]

Half way thru the season
The team are top of the league ,3-1 up with 10 mins to go against a team who are 3rd from bottom
AND THAT IDIOT OF A GOALKEEPER MAKES YET ANOTHER SCHOOL BIY ERROR WITH THE 2ND GOAL

He must be dropped

I understand your point, but what if Darlow is miles off it as well. Do we then try Cairns ?

[Jaydog]

Not so sure JD, their recruitment strategy has not exactly been fantastic.

They have bought some right crap.

That is true Kev but I never believed it in the first place so I certainly dont now. Maybe they think their coaching staff can improve him. Ours don’t seem able to.

[DDB220]

Meslier to Manure my arse. Absolutely no chance.

Clubs assess players involving a lot of metrics in line with their footballing identity. Meslier has many very good attributes, if you look at Manure’s keeper situation with Onana as their first choice, who is not exactly a picture of consistency - he is as eccentric as keepers come. Then you can perhaps create an argument for having a relatively young but experienced back up who will provide stiff competition. To get the best out of any player, there has to be viable competition for their position.

[The Subhuman]

Teams wouldn't buy Mes for what he is now but what what he might become. I think a top coach would improve him no end, he has 2 seasons premier and a lot of championship experience and still very young for a keeper.

He's making basic GK errors which could easily be down to poor coaching. No slam on Farke that btw, he's no GK coach

[Jimstorrie]

Teams wouldn't buy Mes for what he is now but what what he might become. I think a top coach would improve him no end, he has 2 seasons premier and a lot of championship experience and still very young for a keeper.

He's making basic GK errors which could easily be down to poor coaching. No slam on Farke that btw, he's no GK coach

Who has been the goalkeeping coach since Meslier has been at the club?
I don't think he has improved one jot since he's been here.