Crawley Town v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Cooper returns as Bielsa makes seven changes

[SG90]

KP, Casilla, Costa, Struijk, Pablo, Harrison, Alioski, Shackleton were all shocking. Hardly novices too.

[The Subhuman]

Yep, kids need to be not thrown in against teams who are playing the biggest game of their lives.

Today Bielsa tried to force things in the second half, some days it works, today we didn't have a chance for it to work as in a blink of an eye we were two down.

Especially in an unfamiliar formation I must say I've never been a fan of Casey's .. That was a massive downgrade at CB when we took off the captain

[Cjay]

Only benefit i can see is it may stop us deluding ourselves into thinking we have a good squad, outside the first 11 we have very little.

[Scoobychief]

boy do we need some quality players bringing in.

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Only benefit i can see is it may stop us deluding ourselves into thinking we have a good squad, outside the first 11 we have very little.

Probably true, better side won today plus they looked committed. Our lads looked disinterested.

[Cjay]

Villa's youth team only lost 4-1 to Liverpool and Liverpool had Mane and other 1st teamers playing.

Sorry i dont think young footballers should be excused.

Poor vs Hull and shite vs Crawley, youth is no excuse.

[mothbanquet]

I was more angry with the performance in the League Cup than actually going out. This time I'm less angry but more gutted. Just so many mistakes, so much complacency from players who should be better than they were. I'm looking at Phillips, Casilla, Hernandez, Costa, I expected much more from these today.

Not going too hard on a few of the lads and won't hold any of the youngsters to account. Alioski busted a nut and did all he could and all we expect from him. Rodrigo wasn't getting much in the way of service and couldn't really do more to affect the game. Poveda showed Costa what he should be doing but couldn't be expected to do it all himself. Harrison was in a completely new position and I can't help but feel that was Bielsa throwing in the towel.

Nothing more to say, just wasn't good enough from those senior players today.

[SG90]

If we kept the same team for the second half, we'd probably have won. So the blame is with Bielsa.

[Leeds1000]

I can only read the game and the changes that Bielsa made and think is plans were made with us being 3 up at half time. It was all about giving the first teamers some minutes and hope the lads who come in do a job for the team. It failed on all counts.

[SG90]

Villa's youth team only lost 4-1 to Liverpool and Liverpool had Mane and other 1st teamers playing.

Sorry i dont think young footballers should be excused.

Poor vs Hull and shite vs Crawley, youth is no excuse.

It was the experienced ones who were shite! I'll excuse Jenkins and Greenwood, as it wasn't fair on them.

[mothbanquet]

boy do we need some quality players bringing in.

We had more than enough quality in that squad today, considering the competition. They had no excuse and I'm put my house on Bielsa laying into one or two of them behind the scenes.

[Cjay]

Fair play

[CHAPELALLMAN]

It's also about formations - 4 at the back is so much more solid. I'm starting to get sick of our 3 at the back. Including Crawley we have conceded 36 goals now. A good old fashioned 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 is basically just better than a 3-3-1-3 when in possession.

[mothbanquet]

Also have to give Crawley the credit they deserve, they went for the win and got their just reward. Well done to them.

[Cjay]

It was the experienced ones who were shite! I'll excuse Jenkins and Greenwood, as it wasn't fair on them.

It was a chance to make an impression and they failed.

They should be able to handle a league 2 side ffs.

Been said before but we vastly overrate our academy kids imo and it shows.

Shacks, Davis and Struijk so poor tpday, even if you excuse the really young ones cant excuse them.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

I was more angry with the performance in the League Cup than actually going out. This time I'm less angry but more gutted. Just so many mistakes, so much complacency from players who should be better than they were. I'm looking at Phillips, Casilla, Hernandez, Costa, I expected much more from these today.

Not going too hard on a few of the lads and won't hold any of the youngsters to account. Alioski busted a nut and did all he could and all we expect from him. Rodrigo wasn't getting much in the way of service and couldn't really do more to affect the game. Poveda showed Costa what he should be doing but couldn't be expected to do it all himself. Harrison was in a completely new position and I can't help but feel that was Bielsa throwing in the towel.

Nothing more to say, just wasn't good enough from those senior players today.

Were you really expecting more from Casilla ? A player who has lost the confidence of his manager and lost confidence in himself. Get rid in January so that the club can spend 40k a week in wages on players we need.

[gessa]

It was a chance to make an impression and they failed.

They should be able to handle a league 2 side ffs.

Been said before but we vastly overrate our academy kids imo and it shows.

Shacks, Davis and Struijk so poor tpday, even if you excuse the really young ones cant excuse them.

I know what you're saying Cjay but what was that formation...who plays 45 minutes regardless of opposition or competition without a striker

[The Subhuman]

Teams will always beat an ill formed collection of very good players ...no matter the quality on either side. We had that won at HT, cruising Crawley couldn't get a kick then we made the changes (and I agree I think they were pre planned)

Everyone wants us to spend like Ridsdale but

Rodrigo 27M looked wrong
Raph 17M - didn't look 17 Mill worth playing on the left or where it was he was playing

[SG90]

Were you really expecting more from Casilla ? A player who has lost the confidence of his manager and lost confidence in himself. Get rid in January so that the club can spend 40k a week in wages on players we need.

Why play him in the first place?

[Peter in Blackpool]

I know what you're saying Cjay but what was that formation...who plays 45 minutes regardless of opposition or competition without a striker

Bielsa does!

Oh what a genius!

Now you now why he doesnt stick around more than a couple of years