Jammy 07 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:55 am
Last night was probably the best all round team/squad performance we've seen for some time.
Two further points;
Tanaka & Rothwell were/are a better combination than Gruev & Ampedu.
My initial assessment of Rothwell could not have been more wrong and last night he showed true quality. Which means I'm happy to admit that on this occasion judgement was passed far too quickly as he's a really good player and we're lucky to have him.
The pair are much more forward thinking. I love the way Rothwell drives past the opposition midfield & plays one-two's always looking for the return pass.
A good friend of mine commented at the game, his son-in-law is a Rovers fan, they loved Rothwell, & were sad to see him leave Blackburn.
Jammy 07 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 10:24 am
Thought after last night that Firpo is now on 5 yellows and therefore suspended for Watford on Tuesday night ?
Just checked Firpo is on five cards, I assume the one he received in the Boro' cup game applies to his championship bookings.
Another very good all round performance last night, the odd silly mistakes by Rodon and Firpo, but in the main we were the dominant side throughout, even biased wilder couldn't argue with the facts, could he !!
Like the sunderland game, we were far the better side, more of this and we'll win this league.
I've been championing Rothwells cause since pre-season, it's took injuries to get him in, and he's showing what he can do, whether he can sustain it is another matter but we have more strength in depth this time around.
Great options off the bench as well.
" Man is not affected by events but by the view he takes of them "
What a result for Leeds. Woohoo!
I was expecting a draw.
The team played very well second half especially.
Tanaka and Rothwell were men of the match for me.
mentalcase wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:06 am
Another very good all round performance last night, the odd silly mistakes by Rodon and Firpo, but in the main we were the dominant side throughout, even biased wilder couldn't argue with the facts, could he !!
Like the sunderland game, we were far the better side, more of this and we'll win this league. I've been championing Rothwells cause since pre-season, it's took injuries to get him in, and he's showing what he can do, whether he can sustain it is another matter but we have more strength in depth this time around.
Great options off the bench as well.
Me too, Joe played well in our friendlies.
Players need time to settle into a new club & a coaches system.
Had Ampadu & Gruev not picked up long-term injuries, I doubt we'd have seen how good Rothwell & Tanaka are. With those two in midfield, we have arguably put in our two best performances of the season vs Sunderland & the Blunts.
1964white wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:18 am
Me too, Joe played well in our friendlies.
Players need time to settle into a new club & a coaches system.
Had Ampadu & Gruev not picked up long-term injuries, I doubt we'd have seen how good Rothwell & Tanaka are. With those two in midfield, we have arguably put in our two best performances of the season vs Sunderland & the Blunts.
Agree, nice we have options, had it not been for injur we wouldn't have had the changes, Tanaka and Rothwell are both better than Gruev imo.
As we mentioned during the week, James and sOLOMON ARE GREAT TO BRING ON.
" Man is not affected by events but by the view he takes of them "
Jammy 07 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:55 am
Last night was probably the best all round team/squad performance we've seen for some time.
Two further points;
Tanaka & Rothwell were/are a better combination than Gruev & Ampedu.
My initial assessment of Rothwell could not have been more wrong and last night he showed true quality. Which means I'm happy to admit that on this occasion judgement was passed far too quickly as he's a really good player and we're lucky to have him.
The Rothwell-Tanaka pairing is proving to be stellar. Always thought there was a player there in Rothwell, just needed coaxing out with more PT. Glad he’s gotten some. I do suspect Ampadu will come back in and earn a place which will likely come at the expense of one of these two, but suspect the resulting midfield pairing will work just fine. Given the small body of evidence from this pairing, Gruev clearly shifts the balance too conservatively.
1964white wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 12:14 pm
Maybe some of our negative fans will start believing now.
What a change of pace, Leon. We’ve been cursed following international breaks for ages. What a nice change. I’m also open-minded about the previous “passive tendency” of our midfield not being born out of instruction, but perhaps more due to the personnel manning it…because the Tanaka-Rothwell pairing have been anything but passive…which has been a blessing.
I’ll gladly state I’m wrong if that means Leeds is having success. Small price to pay, IMHO
Farke seems to have gotten his subs more dialed in this season and the balance of the squad appears to be better. Still early days, but time to sustain those positives. Presently concerned by Mes’s composure under duress and the lack of CM depth as weak points going forward.
The Subhuman wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 10:20 am
Well, unless Firpo and Bogle both get suspended for the same game there's no issue there. Kinda hoping to get a good look at Schmidt tbh, looks to be a player there
God knows what we do if/when Rodon gets suspended. I still can't figure out what I'd do in that scenario.
So far, Farke has always brought on Byram as a full back sub and Schmidt for one of the wingers. I wonder if Byram would be the first replacement to start at full back.
JoeDenver wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 12:11 pm
The Rothwell-Tanaka pairing is proving to be stellar. Always thought there was a player there in Rothwell, just needed coaxing out with more PT. Glad he’s gotten some. I do suspect Ampadu will come back in and earn a place which will likely come at the expense of one of these two, but suspect the resulting midfield pairing will work just fine. Given the small body of evidence from this pairing, Gruev clearly shifts the balance too conservatively.
Gruev is really out of the discussion now. The Bulgaria manager expects him to miss the whole season. Kinda wishing we'd taken the money we were offered in the summer. Hindsight is lovely isn't it.
I do hope we get Ampadu back soon though. Would be nice to have 3 really good options in midfield. As I said earlier, Tanaka is proving to be a big upgrade on Kamara.
1964white wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 10:57 am
Just checked Firpo is on five cards, I assume the one he received in the Boro' cup game applies to his championship bookings.
Another needless yellow card.
There was no mention of it on commentary. I'm assuming the one in the cup game doesn't count.
CUSSIE01 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 1:00 pm
Seriously BB ? You’d need to be very picky to criticise last nights performance. Hope you bought your Grandson a Leeds scarf.
Yep, there’s a few near me who constantly moan Cussie, no matter what’s going on .
P.S The grandson has a full kit (which my daughter forgot to bring over, so it’s on his wardrobe at home ).
Don’t cry because you said goodbye to your pet, smile because you said hello
Way, way way Too early to start saying the Rothwell / Tanaka partnership is our best midfield option. One swallow and all that….
Ampadu is still for me our most important player. Depending on the opposition - possibly either of Tanaka or Rothwell alongside him would be the midfield silver bullet. Gruev is a decent DM but he does not have the qualities in possession the other three possess and with DF’s tactics and approach positive, brave, progressive distribution is necessary.
The one player who stood out for me with Blunts was Souza - he made some very timely interventions that prevented us creating opportunities and/ or scoring in the first half. Particular the touch that spoiled Gnonto’s attempt.
I thought Mes looked pretty solid also. He seemed unfazed by the previous calamity and was assured as usual with the ball at his feet, his positioning when we play out and his movement to ensure he is an option is overlooked if you are not aware of how a goalkeeper contributes to the system we employ. His distribution was also very good.
Another very good win and performance. Still believe we can play better but for anyone to start picking out faults from last nights game is just ridiculous.
There is no denying this seasons squad is far better than last seasons, you just have to look at the way players coming into the team are making us as strong, even better than the starting eleven.
As DDB said above " one swallow and all that " its way too early for fans to start thinking we are now going to walk this league, just as they did when we beat Leicester and Ipswich last season. What we have to do is make certain we dont drop silly points against the poor sides this season. There are a few of the top teams that are going to take points of each other during the rest of this season and also drop points unexpectedly, and we have to make sure we capitalise on this when it happens. Burnley, Blunts, Sunderland ( and i believe Luton will join this list ) are not as strong as Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton were last season so its definitely more in our hands this season than it was last season.
malcolmw wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:56 pm
I agree cjay. His workrate is top notch, but he has to gain maturity when in attacking positions. I think he will. He seems settled now.
Good lad for the squad.
He seems a good lad always puts a shift in.
I think if he was playing as a number 8, midfield 3, battling and buzzing about you'd say OK he's been OK.
But in the more attacking role where traditionally you have that special player creating and being the star he doesn't do enough.
He needs to improve and have more of an impact on the game as an individual, creating chances, scoring goals.
andrewjohnsmith wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 1:15 pm
Gruev is really out of the discussion now. The Bulgaria manager expects him to miss the whole season. Kinda wishing we'd taken the money we were offered in the summer. Hindsight is lovely isn't it.
I do hope we get Ampadu back soon though. Would be nice to have 3 really good options in midfield. As I said earlier, Tanaka is proving to be a big upgrade on Kamara.
Complete agreement there, AJS. Read my mind re: Kamara and I actually was wondering the same re: taking the money in the summer for Gruev. Hindsight 20/20, but also difficult to discern how real the offer for Gruev was.
Another thought re: Rothwell is that he fits the mold of a grizzled Championship ba***rd (a “GCB” for short) that many have suspected we’ve needed. Doesn’t suppress the broader discussion of needing others in that mold, but does placate that part of the fan base.
