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

[Finnatic]

You've summed it up well there Finn. Bielsa turned into Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now

[White Riot]

That's an understatement.
Turned into Mike Bassett, Benson and Hedges were the subs.

[Lumiukko]

First, I should acknowledge well done to Crawley.

But so glad I made the sub-conscious decision to stay in bed when my alarm went off at 5:15am this morning (5:30am KO). Just watched the game recorded from ESPN and I just don't know where to start. Many before me in this thread have commented and for the much have said everything I could say.

I am not sure it's fully fair to say that some of these U23s are not good enough to play a part in the senior side, if played as an individual alongside 9 or 10 established first-teamers all playing in their natural positions. But Bielsa just did that all wrong. Too many players who haven't played together before, players in the wrong positions, too many subs, it was just well bizarre.

As for the first team squad: Casilla, should be saving two of those (I thought goal #2 took a wicked bounce off the turf which did make it hard to save). Hernandez didn't cover himself in glory either, particularly in the second half whereas I didn't think he played too bad in the first. Rodders got little service, Costa was meh, Poveda did well (but against L2 opposition), Cooper little to do and coming back from an injury, KP poor but with a makeshift back line in the second half, Alio worked his socks off, and Struijk somewhat out of position but played too far up the pitch in the first half.

Clearly we need 2 or 3 reinforcements bringing in, with LB, GK, and CM8/10 being absolute positions to fill. Romero from Scum for GK would be one of the first I'd consider and ship Casilla out. No way will De Paul or Pulgar want to come to us if they get wind of that performance (hopefully they don't show FA Cup on Italian TV), but it was clear we were missing a Klich today.

[Ron Swanson]

How much are average league one goalies earning?

Realistically we are going to have to top up his wages to move him on.

A 37-38 year old keeper that has a good head on his shoulders would be perfect for Illan to learn from, as a mentor. Maybe bring Martyn in as a consultant.

[Clacton White]

When we lost to Histon we were in League One

In the championship when losing at Rochdale, Sutton & Newport although we were crap then.

Today's thrashing beats those four shockers by a country mile

On par with Colchester then .

[1964white]

We break records for all the wrong reasons

[1964white]

On par with Colchester then .

I would say so, remember it well CW

[1964white]

As has been said earlier, Greenwood has to be the most disappointed with his chance being mangled by putting him in midfield while Harrison moved to 9. How could you justify that?

What was that all about

[1964white]

Almost glad I forgot to set my alarm

We aren't the first, and we won't be the last, team to be on wrong side of an FA Cup shock result

I suspect we've had more cup shocks than most clubs.

Unsure how you can defend a shocker like that Harry

[1964white]

Did Bielsa use the second half as some bizarre “live” experiment that only a mad scientist would do?
Three wingers, no CF.
No proper holding midfielder.
Three midfielders and a untested kid at the back, when he knew a circus clown was behind them.
There are obviously reasons why, that’s why he’s El Loco.

BONKERS

Bielsa obviously wanted us out of the FA Cup, totally disrespectful to the FA Cup itself & our fans imo!

Still fuming

[HarryofOz]

I suspect we've had more cup shocks than most clubs.

Unsure how you can defend a shocker like that Harry

It's not a matter of defending it Leon. I didn't see the game, but I would assume we played poorly enough to lose to a League Two team. But as I said elsewhere, it doesn't make our players any worse than they were yesterday. And a win against Spurs next week - should that occur - won't mean that they are any better than they are today.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

It's not a matter of defending it Leon. I didn't see the game, but I would assume we played poorly enough to lose to a League Two team. But as I said elsewhere, it doesn't make our players any worse than they were yesterday. And a win against Spurs next week - should that occur - won't mean that they are any better than they are today.

As 64 pointed out, we are not going to beat Spurs next week as we have just lost 3-0 to them - exactly the same as today's result. I don't quite get the point of talking hypothetically about if we were to beat Spurs next week, when they proved in the last league game that they are currently better than us.

It's trying to define how good our current crop of players are that is the question people are asking - it's subjective if someone says ' it doesn't make our players any worse than they were yesterday ' as there is no definite yardstick to measure how good or bad they are individually or collectively except for current league position. Besides, confidence is a fragile thing in sport - look how Casilla is a bag of nerves now, and useless to the club. Some players can lose confidence after a bad game, whilst collectively a team can lose confidence too - so individually or collectively players or teams can become worse after a certain result.Mentality is probably more important than physicality in sport.

[Richard]

Pablo gave the ball away 31 times today, nobody else gave it away as many times. Can we now agree it’s time to say bye bye to him.

[danhirons]

Pablo gave the ball away 31 times today, nobody else gave it away as many times. Can we now agree it’s time to say bye bye to him.

Wow that's a crazy amount of times.

I think this is why he can't start for us in the Premier league. He did this a lot last season but it mattered less because every now and again he comes up with the goods and we were dominating every single game so losing the ball so often didn't matter.

I'd still keep him as an impact sub. Was the only one looking to make something happen with poveda today.

[1964white]

Wow that's a crazy amount of times.

I think this is why he can't start for us in the Premier league. He did this a lot last season but it mattered less because every now and again he comes up with the goods and we were dominating every single game so losing the ball so often didn't matter.

I'd still keep him as an impact sub. Was the only one looking to make something happen with poveda today.

Agree Dan the only two, the rest may have well stayed at home!

[Bally]

Saw the line up and was suprised how strong it was and expected a comfortable win.
Watched the game in disbelief I've no idea what formation we played who played where and the substitutions made it even more unclear what was going on ,Crawley deserved the win I just wish I had a fiver every time we passed the ball too far it was just a bizarre game,

[Overman]

Today really exposed our lack of depth, or quality of depth we actually have. We played the second half without a recognised striker, is just absurd. We clearly need to add to the squad with more established players. A keeper, lb, creative midfielder and a striker to start with.

[Fridge]

A no-nonsense interview from the Crawley manager.

[Velotrax]

A no-nonsense interview from the Crawley manager.

Not what you would call pc, but I love his attitude, bet he was buzzing underneath the cool exterior....well played to Crawley, we were crap to say the least

[Prisoner37]

Firstly, well played Crawley Town, they played a solid game and even without the goalkeeping errors they deserved their win.

It is really hard to take such a defeat.

It seems to me that it was all about the Brighton game as it seemed pre-planned to fully or half rest our starting XI (whatever the scoreline) besides Phillips who is out anyway. Phillips was played as CB to give Pascal time as DM in preparation for Brighton.

What puzzles me is playing first game or starting debutants out of position. As was said earlier, confidence is everything. I do know though that with Bielsa there will be a reason, unknown to mere mortals.

I hope Casilla is going to donate this week's £40,000 to a suitable cause.