Harrogate Town v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[AcrossThePondAsh]

Firpo - Junior scores in a pre-season again.

Ampadu - Last season's MOTM player of the year continues where he left off, apart from gertting done for pace once, Amps was a rock.

Rothwell - Nice start to his Leeds career, some slick passing, moves the ball quickly & forward.

Gruev - We must have been dominant in the second-half, as even Illan got forward

James - Lightening quick & involved in much of our attacking play

Georginio - Some delightful passing & a goal to boot, even though Geo was off-balance.

Piroe - Quiet

Joseph - Lively & a assist.

Struijk - Good to see the big sexy pirate back, looking even more athletic.

Summerville & Gnonto - We looked more of an attcking threat with our dynamic duo on the pitch.

Gelhardt - Thought Joffy played well.

Chambers - Nice strike.

So let me get this straight, your man-crush (and rightly so cause he's was stud all last season) is finally a full-fledged member of the squad, Leeds through and through now, and he doesn't even make your post-match analysis

[weasel]

Only watched the highlights, but Joffy looked really good making those penetrating runs

Let's see if Farke keeps him around. I definitely think he has something to offer in the 10 role. We saw him doing it in the premier league. So no reason why he shouldn't be doing it in the championship. I think he's a great late sub, playing the 10 role like Rutter did last season. Definitely think he's quality for our bench and should be used more.

Would be great if he got his confidence back cos there is definitely a good player there and perhaps more importantly for us someone that has shown he can come on as a sub and make a big impact.

[1964white]

So let me get this straight, your man-crush (and rightly so cause he's was stud all last season) is finally a full-fledged member of the squad, Leeds through and through now, and he doesn't even make your post-match analysis

Joe didn't have much to do apart from passing the ball sideways, he did make a couple of forward passes, also a couple of loose ones too!

[1964white]

Would be great if he got his confidence back cos there is definitely a good player there and perhaps more importantly for us someone that has shown he can come on as a sub and make a big impact.

Joffy appeared in better form, than he did in our 2023 pre-season.

[mentalcase]

Debayo started at CH

Meslier

Ampadu - Rodon - Debayo - Firpo

No centre half ever gets up and down the touch line right to the by line, overlapping the winger. So correct on Amps at RB

I'm afraid both you and Victor need to either go or watch the game again, neither Ampadu nor Debayo were CH's, both were LB & RB , simple as that, Firpo was LWB, he did fill in as LB only when Harrogate tried to attack .
We started with 3 across the back.
Ampadu - Rodon- Debayo
Goodnight

[mentalcase]

Joffy appeared in better form, than he did in our 2023 pre-season.

Joffy needs a run but doubt he'll get one in what appears to be a new system, true, we don't know what will happen with either summerville or gnonto, but Rothwell will be a starter I assume, we also have Aaronssen to consider, respect to Joffy for sticking it out.
Hopefully Joseph gets time to impress as well.

[Ellandback1]

Struijk - Good to see the big sexy pirate back, looking even more athletic.

[Kennyb41]

Would be great if he got his confidence back cos there is definitely a good player there and perhaps more importantly for us someone that has shown he can come on as a sub and make a big impact.

I was quite heartened to see Joffy out there, showed me DF doesn't just throw them on the scrapheap if he feels they're worthwhile working with, he can probably see he's got the right attitude and responds to DF's input, I saw him talking to him/instructing him from the touchline at h/t.

He's not given up on him, which in itself is interesting.

[Cjay]

Didn't watch the game.

But played 3-4-3?

That right?

So
. . . . . . . . . . .Meslier . . . . . . . . . . .

. . Rodon . . Struijk . . . Wober . . .

Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firpo .

. . . . . Ampadu . . Rothwell . . . .

James . . . . Piroe/Joseph . . . . Rutter.

Assuming Gnonto and Jimmy go and Firpo stays.

Not sure how I'd feel about that, back 3 for Championship level is elite.

But with our slow buildup still struggling to see where the creativity or goals come from?

[Finnatic]

Didn't watch the game.

But played 3-4-3?

That right?

So
. . . . . . . . . . .Meslier . . . . . . . . . . .

. . Rodon . . Struijk . . . Wober . . .

Bogle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firpo .

. . . . . Ampadu . . Rothwell . . . .

James . . . . Piroe/Joseph . . . . Rutter.

Assuming Gnonto and Jimmy go and Firpo stays.

Not sure how I'd feel about that, back 3 for Championship level is elite.

But with our slow buildup still struggling to see where the creativity or goals come from?

In the main it was 3-4-2-1 with Joseph spearheading and Piroe left and Geo right but at times, yes it was 3-4-3

The first half (as I saw it) was roughly this:
Meslier
Ampadu/Rodon/Debayo
James/Gruev/Rothwell/Firpo
Geo/Piroe
Joseph

[mentalcase]

In the main it was 3-4-2-1 with Joseph spearheading and Piroe left and Geo right but at times, yes it was 3-4-3

The first half (as I saw it) was roughly this:
Meslier
Ampadu/Rodon/Debayo
James/Gruev/Rothwell/Firpo
Geo/Piroe
Joseph

Thats exactly what it was.

[Cjay]

In the main it was 3-4-2-1 with Joseph spearheading and Piroe left and Geo right but at times, yes it was 3-4-3

The first half (as I saw it) was roughly this:
Meslier
Ampadu/Rodon/Debayo
James/Gruev/Rothwell/Firpo
Geo/Piroe
Joseph

Ah ok.

Did it work? If DF is still playing the 2 holders it's even safer than last season?

[Finnatic]

Ah ok.

Did it work? If DF is still playing the 2 holders it's even safer than last season?

Harrogate didn’t have a shot on target until later and I can’t remember them having a proper shot at goal first half.
It did work vs this opposition and could work very well against teams who low block.
If anyone did get us on the break we should in theory have the middle and both wings covered so the Marsch problem of leaving half a pitch free will rarely happen.
It would be similar to how it worked well when Philips dropped back and White and Cooper (or other) moved to the side when in the Championship and when we had a full first team to pick from in the PL, ie the last ten games in our first season back.

Firpo and James as wing backs work pretty well, James especially as his forward runs were from deeper and he wasn’t caught offside as per.

Geo did his Geo things further forwards and only dropped back to except passes from Gruev and Rothwell - Gruev was deep when needed but was ten yards further up generally and Rothwell helped out deeper but also showed glimpses of why we bought him looking for a through pass.

It wasn’t quite the same with Piroe as an inside-left but it would work with Summerville or Gnonto if they stay.

Debayo and Strujik played well on the left of the three as did Ampadu on the other side.
Crew impressed me with his composure second half and Joffy proved he’s fine as an impact sub.

[Leeds1000]

He was showing the observant, Ampadu can play RCH.

We already know he can play LCH, if need be.

Did he need to tho? I think getting Amps back up to speed in midfield is far more of a concern especially with Wober apparently back in the frame.

[Leeds1000]

Didn't see anything I liked from Rothwell yet... I'm told we bought him as we needed someone running the ball at defences but Geo does that much better and Joffy did too tonight.. Early days but at 29 he's at his peak

You are a hard taskmaster. He's only played 45mins for the club. His runs into the box should create space for others and help out our forwards. I think that's the plan anyway.

[The Subhuman]

You are a hard taskmaster. He's only played 45mins for the club. His runs into the box should create space for others and help out our forwards. I think that's the plan anyway.

Not really I'm the most positive accessor of players here, and by a distance .. We've added, in Rothwell, the quality of player we let go in Ayling, Cooper, Bamford as he is and even Forshaw. Those players most here wanted gone. We'll see and I have no bias so fair chance I change my mind

[Leeds1000]

Not really I'm the most positive accessor of players here, and by a distance .. We've added, in Rothwell, the quality of player we let go in Ayling, Cooper, Bamford as he is and even Forshaw. Those players most here wanted gone. We'll see and I have no bias so fair chance I change my mind

That's indisputable. I'm still guessing you think Tyler Robets will come good.

[Barlow Boy]

Did he need to tho? I think getting Amps back up to speed in midfield is far more of a concern especially with Wober apparently back in the frame.

You may be waiting a little while for a reply mate.

[Leeds1000]

You may be waiting a little while for a reply mate.

Where's he gone BB. I thought it was strange he hadn't replied yet.

[The Subhuman]

Where's he gone BB. I thought it was strange he hadn't replied yet.

Ban for constantly insulting a poster ...