Leeds Utd v Millwall Match Thread - Poveda makes the bench for Leeds

[HarryofOz]

That's my thoughts too, he has also been quite lucky when you consider the timing.

Eddie gets the nod then gets injured. Bamford finds a few goals to add to his game.
JKA shows up but too late to start and Bamford scores a brace.

I really do hope both these strikers can contribute to our run in, but I would hate JKA to be held back to the degree some of us felt Eddie was.

But last night potentially could be a massive springboard going in Feb and we will need Bamford to be at his best.

Based on what we have seen from Bielsa, I can't see him picking JKA ahead of Bamford (or should I say PB in the interest of fairness) yet.

JKA will have to prove himself first I think and earn his spot from PB rather than just be given it.

No-one really knows that happened with Eddie, maybe he just didn't impress Bielsa enough overall to convince him that he should be selected first.

We all want JKA to be a success and for Leeds to benefit from it but only time will tell. It's easy to blame Bielsa's 'stubbornness' when it comes to Eddie - or anyone else for that matter - but Bielsa is the one who is with the players through the week, through training sessions and so on.

Possibly or probably it would be different if we were a mid-table team, but we are at the top. We need to trust Bielsa - as I'm sure you do. He obviously is not perfect - who is - but he is damned good at his job, luckily for us.

[rab_rant]

Thoughts from the lion's den
https://youtu.be/-IUaIiJDi-o

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[Azkal]

Just remembered why I don’t bother posting on here, negative insults at half time including Bielsa out ffs !! Leeds’s not good enough blah blah!! Just beaten the form team having given them 2 goal start to go top and some people want Bielsa out?? Disgraceful fickle and pathetic

Fully agree

[Azkal]

I follow the forum for months, but never wanted to write because I can't stand this kind of "fans"... don't suppose Leeds has the best fans of the english football? If that is true, I can't even imagine how are the other ones...

I was watching the game today and was pathetic to come here and read some comments, specially against a coach like Marcelo Bielsa.

Understand this: HE KNOWS MUCH MORE THAN ALL OF YOU ABOUT FOOTBALL.

You should be grateful of having him. I'm chilean and I'd kill for having him again on my national squad... we were beasts under his direction, now, we are s**t...

When he goes, you'll understand how lucky you are...

Welcome to the forum Maltrain. I like you, rarely post any comments on football matters these days due to the fact that a small minority feel constantly posting negative trash is equal to healthy debate. Luckily these "fans" are in a minority on this forum, there are a lot of decent posters that I enjoy reading their views and comments. Look forward to hearing your views, comments in the future.

[whiteswan]

Surely the ball went out of play in the lead up to the Millwall penalty!!!

It did Harry, and previous to that Leeds shpuld have had a blatant corner. The standard of officialdom last night was an absolute disgrace. I don't usually have a go at the officials, but I had to turn the game off as I was so wound up. We were playing against 14 in the first half!

[1964white]

I've switched off before my blood pressure hits the roof

You should never switch off, same with fans leaving a match early Swannie, the game is not over until the fat lady sings.

Hope your blood pressure is somewhat easier today

[whiteswan]

You should never switch off, same with fans leaving a match early Swannie, the game is not over until the fat lady sings.

Hope your blood pressure is somewhat easier today

I find watching Leeds on the TV bad enough to be honest 64. So different to actually being at the game, I just want them to win. But last night, as I say, it was the officials that made me switch off because I felt how unjust and unfair they were to our players....you can't beat the referee. I did however switch back on, after we scored, because I felt that our lads were gonna show that they were gonna give it a go....and boy did they

[1964white]

With the exception of the linesman missing the ball (probably) going out before their penalty I think the officials have been fair to both teams. The officials are not the problem.
This has become a broken record. Leeds have a great advantage of possession, are playing attractive football, have created more chances, missed more chances and the opposition has sat back and scored with their very few attempts. How many games recently can you apply this description to?
I hope the 2 new players can come in soon and make a difference or we need the elusive Plan B.

I respect your opinion Bob but I thought the referee was poor as did our chairman.

Too many decisions going against us of late. Fortunately our players were strong enough mentally & physically to overcome the injustices & batter Millwall in the second-half.

[1964white]

With the exception of the linesman missing the ball (probably) going out before their penalty I think the officials have been fair to both teams. The officials are not the problem.
This has become a broken record. Leeds have a great advantage of possession, are playing attractive football, have created more chances, missed more chances and the opposition has sat back and scored with their very few attempts. How many games recently can you apply this description to?
I hope the 2 new players can come in soon and make a difference or we need the elusive Plan B.

I respect your opinion Bob but I thought the referee was poor as did our chairman.

Too many decisions going against us of late. Fortunately our players were strong enough mentally & physically to overcome the injustices & batter Millwall in the second-half.

[weasel]

If Bamford can increase his predatory instincts beyond the six yard box then we might have a player rab.

So maybe you could explain the the great unwashed why he needs to get so close to goal.? Why does he waste so many when he has the keeper to work?
When Bamford has a keeper to beat he is ridiculously wasteful.
Tap in Bamford.

Didn't realise goals were worth more if they were scored from further out.

[1964white]

Sorry but I disagree completely. This referee and his linesmen are appalling. 64 White at the game has texted me in the first half to say 2-0 to the referee. Radrizani has tweeted how disgraceful they have been so far!

I did young lady, you must have heard the booing in Bramley

[whiteswan]

Sorry but I disagree completely. This referee and his linesmen are appalling. 64 White at the game has texted me in the first half to say 2-0 to the referee. Radrizani has tweeted how disgraceful they have been so far!

Me too bb. I'm not one for criticising the referee's on a regular basis, but last night I thought the officials were atrocious

[weasel]

Here in Chile, in fact, the media call "Bielsa's widows" to all the fans (thousands and thousands) who miss Bielsa until this day. Some chileans, on Twitter, remember every day some phrase or date from Bielsa. And many follow his career wherever he goes... I'm still a Bilbao and a Olympique fan.

Now, in Leeds, I see every video on YouTube from LUFC Vlogger, LUFC Lewis, All Leeds TV and many more... I care more about Bielsa than Alexis Sánchez or Arturo Vidal. I'm a fan of a team fighting for returning to the first division, after being champions many times, but if someone ask me... I prefer Leeds goes up. In fact, I know every player of Leeds, even the U23 ones (I see some matches on YouTube), but I can't say the same about the chilean team I follow... XD

Thankfully the fans who are against Bielsa are in the minority. What he has done to this club is nothing short of miraculous. He has transformed the way we play using the same players that many fans would have sold for peanuts. To get these same players playing such beautiful football is a joy to behold and it is the best football I have ever seen Leeds play (having been born in 75 so missing out on the Revie years). To continually play so well no matter who the opposition is, to toy with teams, to keep the ball and pass it out no matter where we are on the pitch, this is what I dreamed we could do even during the O'Leary times when despite us doing well we rarely controlled games, certainly not in a manner like we do now.

The only reason we aren't miles clear at the top of the table has been our wasteful finishing. Bielsa cannot put the ball in the net himself he has to rely on the players. All he can do is get them playing in such a way that we create chances, and keep creating chances. If we give Bielsa even better players then I can only drool at the prospect of what he can achieve with them. No wonder JKA wanted to come here, no wonder Poveda did too.

The imbecilic fans who want Bielsa out should realise that the only reason we are where we are is because Bielsa has turned our players into much better players. Great managers do that. How many bad signings did Man Utd make when Fergie was there - the answer is not many but that is because Fergie got the best out of them. Would the same players that are flopping under Ole be flopping under Fergie - I very much doubt it.

I would love it if this was Bielsa's final club. If he stayed with us for several years and built this club up and created a lasting legacy with the success that befits him as one of the finest football thinkers and innovators the world has ever seen. We are lucky to have him and we need to make sure he knows it.

[weasel]

Me too bb. I'm not one for criticising the referee's on a regular basis, but last night I thought the officials were atrocious

I would love it if at some point in the season, preferably after we secured the title, Bielsa said something along the lines of, "I have never criticised referees in my entire career but f*ck me they have been bloody awful this season."

[1964white]

Thoughts from the lion's den
https://youtu.be/-IUaIiJDi-o

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We're different gravy you know what I mean

[1964white]

I find watching Leeds on the TV bad enough to be honest 64. So different to actually being at the game, I just want them to win. But last night, as I say, it was the officials that made me switch off because I felt how unjust and unfair they were to our players....you can't beat the referee. I did however switch back on, after we scored, because I felt that our lads were gonna show that they were gonna give it a go....and boy did they

We did beat the referee & Millwall in the end Swannie.

I texted Ges & a few others with the team selection regarding our defence prior to the game & the reaction wasn't good. I was led to believe Ayling was playing CB with Dallas at RB & White at DM, thankfully that wasn't the case.

Even so what the hell was our defence playing at giving away cheap possession & the initiative to Millwall in the opening fifteen minutes, we were so slow out of the blocks & the goon officiating wasn't helping our poor start.

[1964white]

I would love it if at some point in the season, preferably after we secured the title, Bielsa said something along the lines of, "I have never criticised referees in my entire career but f*ck me they have been bloody awful this season."

Me too!

He won't though, he too much of a gentleman to criticise the referees.

[rab_rant]

Conor gives the match officials both barrels
https://youtu.be/RHMF0RS39SQ

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[1964white]

Positives

We upped our game to a different level that Millwall couldn't cope with, fantastic comeback.
Second-half was our best performance of the season.
Scored three times in fourteen minutes after zero goals in our last three games.
Two goals for Bamford.
Klich & Hernandez back to the their best.
Costa & Harrison ran Wall a merry dance.
Alioski also looking impressive going forward.
We actually scored from a corner.
We scored with a shot from outside the box
Atmosphere went from flat at half-time to ecstatic, manic in the kop.
Three points.
We are top of the league.

Negatives

Defensively we were poor particularly in the opening quarter.
Free header for their opening goal.
Referee was bl**dy awful.
Missed chances.
How did Klich miss that chance with the goal at his mercy, 4-2 & it would have been a comfortable ending.

Ratings mainly on our 2nd half perfomance

7.5 Casilla
8.0 Ayling
8.0 White
7.0 Cooper
8.5 Alioski
8.0 Dallas
8.5 Costa
9.0 Klich
9.0 Hernandez
8.5 Harrison
8.5 Bamford

[rab_rant]

Many people have complained about the referee at the Millwall game,and for the first time we have photographic evidence that there might be bribery involved.

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