Preston North End v Leeds United Match Thread

[Cjay]

Statistically they conceded more fouls against Oxford but that may have been because there was a proper ref. They committed a lot of fouls that wouldn't have been classed as fouls because the ref didn't give us free kicks.

I think we stood up to them very well. We kept searching for the equaliser, kept playing. I don't really know what more you expect them to do in terms of 'standing up to the challenge.' Did you expect us to do the same as them and commit late fouls and try to wind them up? No we kept playing our football and kept plugging away. We lacked a bit of quality where it counted but it wasn't due to a lack of fight, a lack of determination etc - it is just that as a team we don't seem to possess the quality consistently in the final third. Even in matches that we have dominated it is rare that the oppositon keeper has been making save after save.

Not on about the team, it's the fans complaining about the ref and fouls.

If the manager and players are as well then it's daft.

End of the day Farke needs to fix this away form or it will cost us again.
Of the last 20 teams promoted 17 have got a minimum of 39 points away from home (most have got a few more, in the early 40s).

Or to maintain our current 2ppg record with our remaining fixtures we will need to maintain our current home form which would mean we'd end the season with the 2nd best home record in the Championship in the last 10 seasons.

We'd only be able to drop 6 points in our remaining 12 home fixtures.

In all liklihood our home form is unsustainable.

Farke needs to fix the away form and by a significant amount.

[Cjay]

That's backwards logic. What you're saying is the referee called more fouls, hence protecting the Oxford players.

No the evidence suggests they were even more physical.

For all we know they were even more aggressive and those 20+ fouls were the ones the ref had no choice.

If evidence suggests you are a team that can be bullied and struggles with a physical low block approach then it will happen.

[Jaydog]

I'm not convinced of that Jay, remember that Southampton beat us 3 times last season, with ease, and they are getting rinsed on a weekly basis now. Farke's record at EPL level is abysmal Jay, and that won't change. This is a guy whose got 100% faith in Meslier, and is still singing Bamford's praises on a regular basis

If we get up, and that's a big if, then the 49ers are obliged to keep faith with Farke, so, will he get the best out of what's provided to him? I doubt it. He's been getting out coached by less experienced coaches at this level, and those coaches have less resources available to them than what our Daniel has. Never mind what he's gonna face at EPL level.

The recruitment would have to be atrocious to get saddled with the majority of what Orta and co provided us, and hopefully there will be a much more diligent and professional approach to recruitment if we get a second turn at EPL level. But, the biggest problem is Farke, he hasn't learned, or changed anything from last season in terms of his tactics and that's really worrying when you consider the manner of our failure last season.

We had a coach in Bielsa who succeeded for just one season at EPL level and then crashed and burned dramatically after that as he stuck with the same approach. I haven't forgotten the weekly humiliations of our last two seasons in the EPL, where we were just food for other teams and coaches = over 160 goals conceded.

You can cite Southampton Riot but how about our record v the teams I mentioned, Leicester & Ipswich. They are still in a position to survive. I wont write off Farke yet if he gets the chance tbh.
Of course spending well & wisely will be important but the signs are promising on that front.

[1964white]

So many mistakes in this messy game.

My player ratings are not going to read well.

[1964white]

Busby is the name of the referee, is he related to Sir Matt?

One of the worst refereeing displays I've wirnessed.

He made at least ten errors!

[1964white]

When the board went up for time added-on.

Dorigo screamed out 4 what is going on.

So, there were ten substitutions made, constant time-wasting & plenty of stoppages for PNE's thuggery actions,

Busby added on two minutes in the first-half due to an injury & the stoppage when the ref was booking everyone apart from the real culprit Whiteman.

Dorigo commented, "I didn't see a poor challenge on the touchline between Farke & Hecky, was it bad?"

[Cjay]

We didn't have a shot on target till the 55th minute and it wasn't much of one then the next time we had a shot that even registered above a 0.09 on the xG scale was the Bamford one.

Created basically naff all of note till the game was 3/4 over.

[1964white]

Meslier, Bogle, Byram, Struijk, Rothwell, Gnonto, Aaronson & Piroe were all average/poor.

[1964white]

We didn't have a shot on target till the 55th minute and it wasn't much of one then the next time we had a shot that even registered above a 0.09 on the xG scale was the Bamford one.

Created basically naff all of note till the game was 3/4 over.

Woodman only had two saves to make in the final ten minutes.

[1964white]

Struijk has got away with quite a few errors from our fan base, then you get that vacant stare from Pascal.

There was a catalogue of errors from five of our players involved in Preston's goal.

Firstly, Rothwell drove into a space in their box that wasn't there and lost possession.

Then Struijk is turned & done for pace, unable to stop the cross field pass (not the first time).

Meanwhile watch Rodon!!! Joe makes no effort for the ball, spreads his arms out as if he deliberately meant to leave it.

Bogle started his chase with Potts at the same time, but positioned himself wrongly as their RB followed the ball.

Then Meslier (bless him) gets both hands on the ball & fails to stop the shot.

Plenty of fluff in the heads of those involved.

So what was Rodon doing here?

[The Subhuman]

Struijk left out of position by the loss of the ball and then with the pace of the break that favours the running forward versus the turning defender every time and Pascal isn't the quickest anyway. Rodon was the strange one, seemed to let it go for either Mes or Bogle. I think he could have intercepted it but maybe worried about the own goal

Mes should do better

I'm not a fan of Rothwell running with the ball, he runs into dead ends a lot. Every now and again it helps us but not often enough. I don't think he has an assist from open play yet which considering he's a progressive mid is worrying. Like to see Tanaka there

[1964white]

Struijk left out of position by the loss of the ball and then with the pace of the break that favours the running forward versus the turning defender every time and Pascal isn't the quickest anyway. Rodon was the strange one, seemed to let it go for either Mes or Bogle. I think he could have intercepted it but maybe worried about the own goal

Mes should do better

I'm not a fan of Rothwell running with the ball, he runs into dead ends a lot. Every now and again it helps us but not often enough. I don't think he has an assist from open play yet which considering he's a progressive mid is worrying. Like to see Tanaka there

Watching their goal several times, I'm still flabbergasted with the catalogue of errors, it's as if we stand still when the opposition catches us on the break.

Rodon would have been my MOTM if not for his lapse!

[weasel]

Struijk left out of position by the loss of the ball and then with the pace of the break that favours the running forward versus the turning defender every time and Pascal isn't the quickest anyway. Rodon was the strange one, seemed to let it go for either Mes or Bogle. I think he could have intercepted it but maybe worried about the own goal

Mes should do better

I'm not a fan of Rothwell running with the ball, he runs into dead ends a lot. Every now and again it helps us but not often enough. I don't think he has an assist from open play yet which considering he's a progressive mid is worrying. Like to see Tanaka there

I think he'd have been stretching a bit so could have ended up diverting it towards goal rather than away. It did look though like he was leaving it as if he had either had a call to leave it or thought Messlier or Bogle was simply going to get to the ball comfortably first, almost like he didn't realise PNE had a player in our box and like he hwas letting it harmlessly go by.

In fariness to Struyjk their player does do really well. He doesn't wait until the ball gets to him buts moves away to meet it giving himself more space to turn and does take an excellent touch. Struyjk does then try to foul him but he has got enough momentum to get away. I would credit their player more than I would lambast Struyjk for that even though the PNE player was shithouse (and not the brick variety).

[1964white]

[Tom the Cat]

Where do you start with this substandard away performance at Preston. Its so predictable, why is it that when we are at home the players show up and put in a performance and when we are away its like someone flicking a switch to crap mode. The current Leeds side should not be involved in 1-1 draws with Preston, our side is far better as we all know but the frustration of watching our team just go through the motions. Our defending was poor and of course our goalkeeper let in a simple stop for their first goal. Not good enough but its unlikely to change. DF has to shoulder some of the responsibility for the away performamnces, his tactics again are non existent. The fatal blow was the subs coming on around the same 70 minute mark and out of all the players he could bring on Bamford gets the nod. Joseph must have been fuming!!!!. Its the lack of tactical knowledge that worries me the most. Aarronson and Piroe were about as ineffective as it gets. Our away form has to improve really quickly but unless Farke actually starts coming up with some alternative game plans we are going to see more games like this...

You are quite correct about bringing Bamford on rather than Joseph. I watched the end of the match and every time James crossed the ball Bamford moved to the far side of the defender to ensure that he couldn't get to the ball. I reckon that the guy is scared stiff and avoids physical contact like the plague. The trouble is who in their right mind is going to take him - league two teams might have a punt but they cannot afford him.

[Musicman1965]

You are quite correct about bringing Bamford on rather than Joseph. I watched the end of the match and every time James crossed the ball Bamford moved to the far side of the defender to ensure that he couldn't get to the ball. I reckon that the guy is scared stiff and avoids physical contact like the plague. The trouble is who in their right mind is going to take him - league two teams might have a punt but they cannot afford him.

Maybe a package deal,......Buy a Joffy get a Bamford free........