Leeds Utd v Millwall Match Thread

[1964white]

The forward line had an average age of around 20. Not exactly filled with nous - coordinated meaningful pressing is not something that happens by accident or effort. It requires a level of understanding.

I do not think we pressed like we ordinarily do, simply because we were not going to be particularly effective at it.

Whereas Millwall played an experienced back four.

We simply played a team to lose the game, bigger fish to fry!

[1964white]

Doing well James but massive step up to Premier League.

His ability to perform in this league was already proven (goal or assist every other game when he was 21 for Swansea).

His Premier League record by comparison is worse than Jack Harrison.

1 step at a time imo before we deem players Premier League players.

James played much of his PL career as a No.9 for Bielsa's Leeds.

[Cjay]

James played much of his PL career as a No.9 for Bielsa's Leeds.

True but had his struggles as a winger for us still and Fulham and Manure.

Not trying to do him down, he's been brilliant since relegation.

Just saying we already knew he could do well at this level, the step up is questionable.

Very different being a winger for a dominant Championship team surrounded by teammates more talented than your opponents having possession most of the time getting into multiple good positions a game.

And being a winger for a newly promoted Premier League side where you may get 1 decent chance a game or even none and only get into a half decent position and have to make something of that.

Only have to look at the struggles of standout Championship wingers of the past to see the difference.

Hopefully you are correct but caution imo one step at a time

[1964white]

True but had his struggles as a winger for us still and Fulham and Manure.

Not trying to do him down, he's been brilliant since relegation.

Just saying we already knew he could do well at this level, the step up is questionable.

Very different being a winger for a dominant Championship team surrounded by teammates more talented than your opponents having possession most of the time getting into multiple good positions a game.

And being a winger for a newly promoted Premier League side where you may get 1 decent chance a game or even none and only get into a half decent position and have to make something of that.

Only have to look at the struggles of standout Championship wingers of the past to see the difference.

Hopefully you are correct but caution imo one step at a time

I think Dan will be fine as a bench player in the prem.

[Tom the Cat]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Farke sent out a team to lose, as he knows we have no chance of winning the cup. We have bigger fish to fry.

Not fair on the paying fans, however we have the choice to attend or not!

You are correct the paying fans do have a choice but they turned up knowing that they were likely to be watching a bunch of reserves - what the didn't expect was a complete lack of effort.

[The Subhuman]

You are correct the paying fans do have a choice but they turned up knowing that they were likely to be watching a bunch of reserves - what the didn't expect was a complete lack of effort.

There was no lack of effort, just a complete lack of cohesion...

[1964white]

You are correct the paying fans do have a choice but they turned up knowing that they were likely to be watching a bunch of reserves - what the didn't expect was a complete lack of effort.

From a selfish point of view, I've thoroughly enjoyed my ER experiences this season, can't say the same for the majority of our fans who attended the Boro, Harrogate & Millwall cup games.

I was expecting it to be drab, though I thought we would narrowly win the match until I read the team line-up on my phone, my expectations then lowered considerably.

We lost & move on to more important matters at Watford on Tuesday night.

[1964white]

There was no lack of effort, just a complete lack of cohesion...

Indeed, as would be expected.

[Jammy 07]

From a selfish point of view, I've thoroughly enjoyed my ER experiences this season, can't say the same for the majority of our fans who attended the Boro, Harrogate & Millwall cup games.

I was expecting it to be drab, though I thought we would narrowly win the match until I read the team line-up on my phone, my expectations then lowered considerably.

We lost & move on to more important matters at Watford on Tuesday night.

Gave my tickets away to a friend as didn't fancy the early KO combined with the inevitable changes and lacklustre performance. Very much wanted us to win though so hugely disappointed by the result.

[weasel]

I think Dan will be fine as a bench player in the prem.

If/when promoted I think we will have several players that can improve as the quality improves around them. Key is identifying the 2 or 3 key signings that would be starters. A bit like how Wilkinson brought in Lukic and McAllister, then the season after Dorigo and Wallace. It was all about identifying the biggest weaknesses and strengthening so that a good team improved. You replace too many and the teamspirit etc that got you promoted crumbles. The team that got promoted under Bielsa was better than the team that got relegated 3 seasons later with probably the only exception being Raphinha.

2,3 a maximum of 4 players coming in as starters is the right balance. Sometimes better players don't make a better team.

[The Subhuman]

If/when promoted I think we will have several players that can improve as the quality improves around them. Key is identifying the 2 or 3 key signings that would be starters. A bit like how Wilkinson brought in Lukic and McAllister, then the season after Dorigo and Wallace. It was all about identifying the biggest weaknesses and strengthening so that a good team improved. You replace too many and the teamspirit etc that got you promoted crumbles. The team that got promoted under Bielsa was better than the team that got relegated 3 seasons later with probably the only exception being Raphinha.

2,3 a maximum of 4 players coming in as starters is the right balance. Sometimes better players don't make a better team.

Koch, Rodrigo were also quality players from that first influx. Summerville was a stunning purchase, Meslier arrived and Llorente was a decent buy and leader of our MOTM ratings here until the injury. All in all an excellent use of club funds which saw us finish 9th. Raph was the cream of that crop sure and a very exciting one at the time but it was an excellent re-entry into the prem...

Not sure we'd attract that quality this time round, as I posted elsewhere, the gap has increased substantially in two years. Proven/quality players won't want to sign for Leeds unless a premium is paid and get out clauses are in place.

[GreennWhite]

We wouldnt be looking for players that are going to make us Premiership winners in the first season back.
We just need to bring in enough quality players that can help us cope with teams in the bottom half of the table. One step at a time and build from there.
Its very unlikely we get players of the quality of a Raphina for example, but that doesnt mean that those we bring in cant help us stay there, even if they are not considered big name players.
The players we have brought in lately have all done the job required in one way of another, so our recruitment team would have to up their game, which im sure they could do.

[weasel]

Koch, Rodrigo were also quality players from that first influx. Summerville was a stunning purchase, Meslier arrived and Llorente was a decent buy and leader of our MOTM ratings here until the injury. All in all an excellent use of club funds which saw us finish 9th. Raph was the cream of that crop sure and a very exciting one at the time but it was an excellent re-entry into the prem...

Not sure we'd attract that quality this time round, as I posted elsewhere, the gap has increased substantially in two years. Proven/quality players won't want to sign for Leeds unless a premium is paid and get out clauses are in place.

Koch not better than White. Rodrigo v Bamford is probably about the same given the Bamford promotion season and everything he brought to the team. Messlier was already in the promotion team but arguably was better as the promotion keeper than the shot of all confidence keeper that was dropped as we got relegated. As I say the signings, bar Raphinha didn't really improve ourpromotion side. In comparison Wilko saw Mervyn Day as a big weak link and brought Lukic who for 2 seasons was outstanding. McAllister to replace Vinnie. Then Dorigo to replace journeymen left backs, Rod Wallace to replace the likes of Shutt, Davison, Varadi etc. The Wilko signings were huge upgrades in our weakest positions (i.e. we didn't make signings to replace Starchan, Speed, Batty, Chapman, Sterland etc).

So for me the back 5 are fine, if Firpo re-signs. The 4 in midfield are fine, if we were to convert Rothwell's loan, the 4 wingers are fine, if we were toconvert Solomon's loan, up front is fine with Piroe. Now the concern would be injuries but I don't want squad fillers, I want 2 or 3 starters that are considerably better than the players they are replacing. There aren't any glaring holes, doubts maybe with striker, 10 and gk, but they are certainly okay in the team.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Koch, Rodrigo were also quality players from that first influx. Summerville was a stunning purchase, Meslier arrived and Llorente was a decent buy and leader of our MOTM ratings here until the injury. All in all an excellent use of club funds which saw us finish 9th. Raph was the cream of that crop sure and a very exciting one at the time but it was an excellent re-entry into the prem...

Not sure we'd attract that quality this time round, as I posted elsewhere, the gap has increased substantially in two years. Proven/quality players won't want to sign for Leeds unless a premium is paid and get out clauses are in place.

Point on Summerville - excellent purchase and we made a big profit on him

Koch, Rodrigo, and Raphinha were certainly good additions

But back to Summerville .... Part of the problem was that we were buying players for the future. In the PL, Summerville took a couple of years to come through and only showed brief glimpses in the relegation season. He wasn't a key player until we were back in the championship. Gelhardt, Greenwood, Drameh were brought in with high hopes. But only had very brief moments. All would have been great signings if we'd been able to kick on and avoid relegation. But we didn't. And it was down to not signing enough players who were able to make an immediate impact at PL level.

Our promotion players (Cooper, Ayling, Bamford, Klich, Dallas, Forshaw) were all only ever going to be temporary solutions at that level and needed to be improved upon much quicker than they were. In short, we need to do more than we did last time. Buying for the future is important and can make a huge difference. But we do need a bit of that Forest mentality of bringing in a lot of first team additions to make sure we stay up and consolidate.

[weasel]

Point on Summerville - excellent purchase and we made a big profit on him

Koch, Rodrigo, and Raphinha were certainly good additions

But back to Summerville .... Part of the problem was that we were buying players for the future. In the PL, Summerville took a couple of years to come through and only showed brief glimpses in the relegation season. He wasn't a key player until we were back in the championship. Gelhardt, Greenwood, Drameh were brought in with high hopes. But only had very brief moments. All would have been great signings if we'd been able to kick on and avoid relegation. But we didn't. And it was down to not signing enough players who were able to make an immediate impact at PL level.

Our promotion players (Cooper, Ayling, Bamford, Klich, Dallas, Forshaw) were all only ever going to be temporary solutions at that level and needed to be improved upon much quicker than they were. In short, we need to do more than we did last time. Buying for the future is important and can make a huge difference. But we do need a bit of that Forest mentality of bringing in a lot of first team additions to make sure we stay up and consolidate.

And Summerville appears to be a bit part player for West Ham. Not certain he is a top prem player yet and like you say at the point we bought him was nowhere near prem quality.

Cooper, Ayling, Bamford, Klich and Dallas were more than good enough for our first season back which is why I say about replacing 2 or 3 in the starting line up. You then do the same the following year. So basically by year 3 or 4 most of the starting XI has evolved. As we saw, or as I see it, we had a worse team than we had had in the championship.

[1964white]

We wouldnt be looking for players that are going to make us Premiership winners in the first season back.
We just need to bring in enough quality players that can help us cope with teams in the bottom half of the table. One step at a time and build from there.
Its very unlikely we get players of the quality of a Raphina for example, but that doesnt mean that those we bring in cant help us stay there, even if they are not considered big name players.
The players we have brought in lately have all done the job required in one way of another, so our recruitment team would have to up their game, which im sure they could do.

Do a Bournemouth, Brentford, Fulham or a Villa.

[1964white]

And Summerville appears to be a bit part player for West Ham. Not certain he is a top prem player yet and like you say at the point we bought him was nowhere near prem quality.

Cooper, Ayling, Bamford, Klich and Dallas were more than good enough for our first season back which is why I say about replacing 2 or 3 in the starting line up. You then do the same the following year. So basically by year 3 or 4 most of the starting XI has evolved. As we saw, or as I see it, we had a worse team than we had had in the championship.

True, we didn't evolve under Radz & Orta.

I trust the 49ers recruitment team to be more efficient in the summer, as they were last year with some shrewd signings to compete in the championship.

[Tyzy]

Koch not better than White. Rodrigo v Bamford is probably about the same given the Bamford promotion season and everything he brought to the team. Messlier was already in the promotion team but arguably was better as the promotion keeper than the shot of all confidence keeper that was dropped as we got relegated. As I say the signings, bar Raphinha didn't really improve ourpromotion side. In comparison Wilko saw Mervyn Day as a big weak link and brought Lukic who for 2 seasons was outstanding. McAllister to replace Vinnie. Then Dorigo to replace journeymen left backs, Rod Wallace to replace the likes of Shutt, Davison, Varadi etc. The Wilko signings were huge upgrades in our weakest positions (i.e. we didn't make signings to replace Starchan, Speed, Batty, Chapman, Sterland etc).

So for me the back 5 are fine, if Firpo re-signs. The 4 in midfield are fine, if we were to convert Rothwell's loan, the 4 wingers are fine, if we were toconvert Solomon's loan, up front is fine with Piroe. Now the concern would be injuries but I don't want squad fillers, I want 2 or 3 starters that are considerably better than the players they are replacing. There aren't any glaring holes, doubts maybe with striker, 10 and gk, but they are certainly okay in the team.

I'm not sure about the back 5,Firpo and Bogle are excellent at attacking but hopeless at defending luckily we dont need to do much defending in this league.If we get promoted they'd get skinned most weeks.

[Jammy 07]

And Summerville appears to be a bit part player for West Ham. Not certain he is a top prem player yet and like you say at the point we bought him was nowhere near prem quality.

Cooper, Ayling, Bamford, Klich and Dallas were more than good enough for our first season back which is why I say about replacing 2 or 3 in the starting line up. You then do the same the following year. So basically by year 3 or 4 most of the starting XI has evolved. As we saw, or as I see it, we had a worse team than we had had in the championship.

Summerville has been injured and therefore out of the team. Up until then he was impressing most West Ham fans according to my mate who's a Hammer.