DDB220 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 21, 2025 8:56 am
Turned that one around nicely.
We miss Rothwell. Gruev is too one dimensional for me. He can only pass the way he is facing with the instep of his left boot. I am sure he has more in his locker but he seems content to be ultra cautious and rather bland. It is a useful approach in certain games but we are lacking variation without Rothwell available.
Agree completely. Have been a big fan of Rothwell this season. I’ll give Gruev his due today in terms of being a menace in the press and collecting balls, but he isn’t progressive with the ball once he has it. It’s like he has a moment of indecision followed by the safest pass possible. I don’t know how to describe it any other way, but it frustrates the hell out of me.
Rothwell, conversely tries to orchestrate some magic. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it fails. But at least he tries. I’d like to have Rothwell in the squad in the Prem at least as a backup. I’m not so sure about Ilia in the Prem.
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Mon Apr 21, 2025 8:12 pm
Donovan, Dempsey, Robinson, Bradley are at best bottom end Prem players, played a lot of their careers at Champ level.
I disagree Yorkshire. Robinson is one of the top players on a top half Prem side this season. And Dempsey was arguably the best player on a lower half Prem side…and became a starter at top 5 Spurs later in his career.
Donovan was a frustrating player, but was well above Championship quality. When he was on, he was unstoppable (like when he played for a top half Everton side or for Bayern Munich in Germany), but he needed a continental style to suit his game. Only problem is that the continent made him homesick which created other problems (and thus a very frustrating player to follow).
Bradley? Maybe you’re right. Tough to gauge, but he was pretty stout in his prime at Roma.
Maybe “above average Prem players” if you’re trying to generalize.
JoeDenver wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:13 pm
Agree completely. Have been a big fan of Rothwell this season. I’ll give Gruev his due today in terms of being a menace in the press and collecting balls, but he isn’t progressive with the ball once he has it. It’s like he has a moment of indecision followed by the safest pass possible. I don’t know how to describe it any other way, but it frustrates the hell out of me.
Rothwell, conversely tries to orchestrate some magic. Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it fails. But at least he tries. I’d like to have Rothwell in the squad in the Prem at least as a backup. I’m not so sure about Ilia in the Prem.
Gruev is excellent at what we do well and given the attacking prowess of the team he is a good fit. Didn't work so well last season when it was him and Kamara but him doing a steady job is fine if it allows Tanaka (or Rothwell) the license to get forward and give us a threat. Gruev, as others have mentioned, also gives us a bit more protection when Bogle is raiding down the right and Firpo is lurking on the edge of the 6 yard box!
Dependant on what players we sign, the fitness of Struyjk etc it may be that Gruev is a good fit to make us more secure in the prem and still allow our full backs to maraud at will.
Cjay wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 4:23 pm
I've pretended to support a team that's been crap for most of my life as part of a long term plan
Victor_Notts-17 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2026 7:03 pm
Did you post them because there's something wrong with your brain
Per my post yesterday, somebody managed to do the Lord's work and posted a full match replay to YouTube and I was able to watch the game last night. I haven't managed to post much for some time but felt it necessary to comment on that match.
It was almost a flawless performance in terms of rating players. Everyone looked possessed. Piroe was outstanding in the #9, and Solomon, Gnonto, and Bogle almost unplayable at times. The amount of pressing and tackling to win the ball back followed by quick incisive passing and movement was as good as a game I've seen Leeds play in a long time, perhaps the best since Bielsa.
Even after naming the above players, I thought everyone played a massive part. Aaronson with his energy and harrying, Firpo with his forward movement and getting to the byline, Tanaka and Gruev for tackles and cleaning up of loose balls, and then of course Amapadu and Rodon who were very classy at the back. Darlow barely had a thing to do.
Also pleased for Farke who has carried himself with grace and dignity all season, compared to someone like Wilder who has lost his head a number of times. Great to have a calm but steely influence over the team, and I know he gets Leeds, which is incredibly important. Being Leeds manager comes with so much more pressure than many other clubs, especially in this dark place we call the Championship.
Now, onto 100 points and a trophy. We deserve it. We probably have a little harder two games than Burnley, but Bristol City not being secure of playoffs means they have to come and play us. Similarly Plymouth may have a sniff of staying up depending on the next round of results. Should they have to come at us, I think we can pick them off. I'm sure Farke will keep the team grounded until after the last whistle at Plymouth. MOT ALAW
JoeDenver wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 12:55 pm
Watched the match replay last night after being stuck in meetings all day. Kept up with the score as I couldn’t take not knowing our fate. Was able to cut away to watch the last 20 minutes of the Burnley victory on my phone. I had to work hard to contain my excitement the rest of the work day.
Anyway, what on earth did the team consume prior to kickoff? A Red Bull “pregame” formula? My word, they were a nonstop swarm out there. Stoke looked helpless to advance the ball past our press. Particularly in midfield with Tanaka, Gruev, and Aaronson to win all those balls back. Gnonto was uncharacteristically swarming and tracked back! Just a fantastic team effort!
Piroe scoring 4 goals is incredible. I think I might give him a match day rating of 10. I was most impressed with where he scored his goals! All were typical number 9 “poacher-style” goals, not his usual false 9/10 goal efforts. I think it was Preston where he looked like Bamford in both movement and finishing. Appears to have been putting in quality work on the pitch and the film room and this is the payoff. Credit to him!
Both Bogle and Firpo looked dangerous. Bogle was EVERYWHERE. Firpo too. He could’ve had two more goals with all of his dangerous runs.
Will also have to give credit to Farke here. I concede I’ve been a loud critic of his at times this season, but he had this lineup ready to go from the start. How nice to not have a nail biter finish and conversely get a lot of unused subs some minutes (Ramazani and Gray…wow!!).
Just a great feeling to be going up again. Onward!
Honestly. I had a weird feeling prior to kick off. The players were smiling and relaxed. The crowd were in party mood. It had all the feeling of things about to go horribly wrong. We looked complacent. I thought maybe we'd concede an early goal before having to kick our arses into gear.
How wrong I was
It was the opposite. We seemed relieved of the pressure that had hung over us all season. And without that we gave the truest example of we really were as a team. We showed just how superior we were to the rest of this league. The points, the goal difference, the goals scored, don't lie. We were clearly better than the other top 3 in the 4 games we played against them. We were far better than everyone else this season. And yesterday was the clearest example of that.
weasel wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:27 pm
Gruev is excellent at what we do well and given the attacking prowess of the team he is a good fit. Didn't work so well last season when it was him and Kamara but him doing a steady job is fine if it allows Tanaka (or Rothwell) the license to get forward and give us a threat. Gruev, as others have mentioned, also gives us a bit more protection when Bogle is raiding down the right and Firpo is lurking on the edge of the 6 yard box!
Dependant on what players we sign, the fitness of Struyjk etc it may be that Gruev is a good fit to make us more secure in the prem and still allow our full backs to maraud at will.
I'm guessing we'll need two strong defensive mids in every game next season. Maybe not Gruev as first choice. But we'll need him as part of the squad.
Lumiukko wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:35 pm
Per my post yesterday, somebody managed to do the Lord's work and posted a full match replay to YouTube and I was able to watch the game last night. I haven't managed to post much for some time but felt it necessary to comment on that match.
It was almost a flawless performance in terms of rating players. Everyone looked possessed. Piroe was outstanding in the #9, and Solomon, Gnonto, and Bogle almost unplayable at times. The amount of pressing and tackling to win the ball back followed by quick incisive passing and movement was as good as a game I've seen Leeds play in a long time, perhaps the best since Bielsa.
Even after naming the above players, I thought everyone played a massive part. Aaronson with his energy and harrying, Firpo with his forward movement and getting to the byline, Tanaka and Gruev for tackles and cleaning up of loose balls, and then of course Amapadu and Rodon who were very classy at the back. Darlow barely had a thing to do.
Also pleased for Farke who has carried himself with grace and dignity all season, compared to someone like Wilder who has lost his head a number of times. Great to have a calm but steely influence over the team, and I know he gets Leeds, which is incredibly important. Being Leeds manager comes with so much more pressure than many other clubs, especially in this dark place we call the Championship.
Now, onto 100 points and a trophy. We deserve it. We probably have a little harder two games than Burnley, but Bristol City not being secure of playoffs means they have to come and play us. Similarly Plymouth may have a sniff of staying up depending on the next round of results. Should they have to come at us, I think we can pick them off. I'm sure Farke will keep the team grounded until after the last whistle at Plymouth. MOT ALAW
Glad to hear from you Lumi. Hope you're doing well.
Lumiukko wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:35 pm
Per my post yesterday, somebody managed to do the Lord's work and posted a full match replay to YouTube and I was able to watch the game last night. I haven't managed to post much for some time but felt it necessary to comment on that match.
It was almost a flawless performance in terms of rating players. Everyone looked possessed. Piroe was outstanding in the #9, and Solomon, Gnonto, and Bogle almost unplayable at times. The amount of pressing and tackling to win the ball back followed by quick incisive passing and movement was as good as a game I've seen Leeds play in a long time, perhaps the best since Bielsa.
Even after naming the above players, I thought everyone played a massive part. Aaronson with his energy and harrying, Firpo with his forward movement and getting to the byline, Tanaka and Gruev for tackles and cleaning up of loose balls, and then of course Amapadu and Rodon who were very classy at the back. Darlow barely had a thing to do.
Also pleased for Farke who has carried himself with grace and dignity all season, compared to someone like Wilder who has lost his head a number of times. Great to have a calm but steely influence over the team, and I know he gets Leeds, which is incredibly important. Being Leeds manager comes with so much more pressure than many other clubs, especially in this dark place we call the Championship.
Now, onto 100 points and a trophy. We deserve it. We probably have a little harder two games than Burnley, but Bristol City not being secure of playoffs means they have to come and play us. Similarly Plymouth may have a sniff of staying up depending on the next round of results. Should they have to come at us, I think we can pick them off. I'm sure Farke will keep the team grounded until after the last whistle at Plymouth. MOT ALAW
On the couple of occasions Stoke players were receiving treatment on the pitch, the Leeds fans sense of humour shone again as we sang "He's had enough"
1964white wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 4:04 pm
On the couple of occasions Stoke players were receiving treatment on the pitch, the Leeds fans sense of humour shone again as we sang "He's had enough"
1964white wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:18 am
Gruev is totally one footed & cautious, you say.
Unconvinced, Ilia is a Premier League player.
I am far from convinced. Technical ability aside, for me he just is not athletic enough to compete. There are some powerful technical beasts in the prem playing in the middle of the park.
He will be closed down pretty much relentlessly and will have little time to make a pass on a frequent basis.
I believe he would play us into trouble on a regular basis. If he is here next season I sincerely hope I am wrong.
DDB220 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 4:46 pm
I am far from convinced. Technical ability aside, for me he just is not athletic enough to compete. There are some powerful technical beasts in the prem playing in the middle of the park.
He will be closed down pretty much relentlessly and will have little time to make a pass on a frequent basis.
I believe he would play us into trouble on a regular basis. If he is here next season I sincerely hope I am wrong.
To name several
Rodri
Moisés Caicedo
Declan Rice
Enzo Fernández
Casemiro
Bruno Guimarães
Thomas Partey
Ryan Gravenberch
Yves Bissouma
Tyler Adams
Idrissa Gueye
Amadou Onana
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Sandro TonaliJorginho
andrewjohnsmith wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 3:45 pm
I'm guessing we'll need two strong defensive mids in every game next season. Maybe not Gruev as first choice. But we'll need him as part of the squad.
Having a strong squad is vital and a big part of what cost us last time around. We had a decent 1-11, under Bielsa, but when the injuries bit we were screwed. We sacrificed KP and Raphinha to bolster the squad but unfortunatley we got quantity rather than quality.
For me that is the adavantage that established prem teams have. They have built up a squad and as such when they get injuries they are still relatively strong
Cjay wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 4:23 pm
I've pretended to support a team that's been crap for most of my life as part of a long term plan
Victor_Notts-17 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2026 7:03 pm
Did you post them because there's something wrong with your brain
weasel wrote: ↑Tue Apr 22, 2025 1:27 pm
Gruev is excellent at what we do well and given the attacking prowess of the team he is a good fit. Didn't work so well last season when it was him and Kamara but him doing a steady job is fine if it allows Tanaka (or Rothwell) the license to get forward and give us a threat. Gruev, as others have mentioned, also gives us a bit more protection when Bogle is raiding down the right and Firpo is lurking on the edge of the 6 yard box!
Dependant on what players we sign, the fitness of Struyjk etc it may be that Gruev is a good fit to make us more secure in the prem and still allow our full backs to maraud at will.
I'm not that particularly fond of Gruev myself, but that makes sense about Bogle and i do see that as a reason he plays Gruev now, i'm usually in the camp of the previous poster that finds it hard to see past his 'blandness'
