Leeds 3 Charlton 1
A difficult game to sum up this one. Leeds were on a hiding to nothing.
We got the points and certainly deserved them but something was missing.
But what was it ?
As is the norm now at Premier League grounds the home side's fans dont
sing until they are winning. The away team's fans sing for most of the
game but nobody gives a f@ck anymore.
"Your supposed to be at home" and "you only sing when you're winning"
are no longer a piss-take cos it happens every week, everywhere.
Home fans are shite but nobody gives a f@ck.
That's it ! Nobody gives a f@ck anymore. Win, lose or draw - who gives a
flying fuck ?
Mum : Good day out son ?
Son : Yes mummy, Daddy took me to the Superstore and we bought a picture
of Harry Kewell and we had a Leeds United cheeseburger and a cup bovril
(1000 degrees)
Mum: How simply enchanting ! And how was the match ?
Son : Ermm..yes there was one .... erm....dad ?
Dad : Oh...erm..i think we won, not sure.... the pies were nice darling
but Toby burnt the roof of his mouth on his.
Son : Who was playing again Daddy ?
Ollie Dacourt failed a fitness test and the young Chinese-looking Aussie
,Jacob Burns made his debut. Chinese Burns. Like it.
So what would the formation be ? Surely not the left-sided Burns
straight in for Ollie in the crucial centre-midfield axis role ! Maybe
Matteo in the middle or even in centre defence with Mills going on the
right and Bowyer in the middle........ Ah f@ck it ! O'Leary's brain
doesn't work like that. Just wait for them to line up and see what's
what.
Martyn
Kelly Woody Mills Harte
Bowyer Bakke Burns Matteo
Viduka Smith
Great to have Woody back - a truly class defender. So Burnsey into the
frying pan for you my son !
A few years back, in the days of Batty, Strachs and Chapman we used to
tear into sides at the start.
This game resembled chess in both excitement and atmosphere. Leeds
passing was poor and young Burns, despite some neat touches, was hiding.
Hardly surprising really.
The bloke next to me had a pie in a tray of mushy peas. Yummy. I spent
the first 15 minutes watching him waiting for it to cool down. The tray
was made out of asbestos, his plastic fork melted into the peas.
How do they get the pies to such temperatures ? I'm sure NASA stick
those pies to the outside of the space shuttle to protect it from the
Sun's harmful rays.
Football..oh yeah...
Charlton knocked it about neatly but it was all lateral movement and
Leeds just waited for the ball back so they could give it away cheaply
again. And so this went on.
Eventually Leeds started to get a grip, Burns realised he could come
looking for the ball off the back 4 and he supported the athletic Bakke
well. A few dangerous, deep crosses from Leeds went begging and it
seemed we'd not take advantage of our best spell.
Out of the blue an 8 man passing move was developing - Harte, Matteo,
Burns, Bakke, Bowyer, Kelly (!), Bakke, Viduka, Smith... left
foot........ G-O-A-L.
What a goal. Superb. So simple. Why did it take us 35 mins to string
more than 1 pass together ? WHY ? do we practise ?
O'Leary : Right lads, training today will be juggling the ball for 30
mins
Team : what again ?
O'Leary : well has anyone any better ideas ?
Team : Bingo ?
O'Leary : TO BE SURE ! Eddie ! get the numbers machine out !
Leeds fans sang the delightfully inspiring "Super, Super Leeds.." non-
stop for 9 seconds.
Ipswich hit back. Johannson, quiet up til now went close twice. Firstly
skinning Mills and blasting narrowly wide and then beating the offside
trap only to be denied somehow by Martyn.
In between Smith missed a relatively simple chance to make it 2-0 but
scuffed his shot. If only he'd flicked it up and juggled it into the
net....
Half Time - Piss time.
Leeds were better this half and from the kick off Burns and Bakke drove
us forward and put the pressure on the Robins.
Viduka and Smith were beginning to link up well and Bakke's and Bowyer's
incisive running with the ball was causing problems.
Matteo watched from the left hand side, wondering if he'd get a chance
to kick the ball. Eventually he decided to get involved...
The big ex-Liverpool defender won the ball on the left and fed Bowyer
who in turn released Smith into the box. It looked a lost cause but
Smith's determination (and skill) produced an unexpected cross which was
met with a cheeky backheel flick from Viduka 6 yards out. 2-0. A tiny
bit more singing.
Viduka blazed over from 18 yards after superb footwork and Harte smashed
one at the keeper who could only parry. The re-bound eventually fell to
safety.
Martyn left the field, remembering he had an out-of-date library book
that he had to urgently return. O'Leary reluctantly brought on a sub -
Robinson.
Charlton pushed forward and should have had a penalty when Jackie Garry
Chan Kelly kung fu kicked a Charlton man at a corner.
Robinson was flapping about.
No surprise when Charlton pulled one back after a net buster from Claus
Jansen left Robbo leaden-footed.
Fucking hell Leeds ! This is when it matters to the true fans. The
unthinkable could be reality. Imagine if we only get a draw against this
shite! The stomach churns and the nerves begin to show. 8 mins to go.
Burns needed taking off. O'Leary, though, likes to keep his subs fresh
for juggling practice later in the week. Twit !
Charlton pushed for an equaliser but were down to 10 men after Rufus
hobbled off to have some shrapnel (one of Smithy's studs) removed from
his thigh. All 3 subs had been used by the Londoners.
Just when it seemed we'd survived Harte broke down the acres of space
down the left and his cross caught the top of Smith's head and broke
perfectly (i.e. luckily) for Viduka to prod home from 4 yards.
Game, Set and Match.
But then again - who gives a fuck ?!
Scores.....
Martyn 7 Two fine saves at 1-0 kept us in it.
Kelly 4 The weakest player in the team. Cant pass to save his life.
Harte 5 A defensive nightmare. Thinks he's better than he is.
Mills 7.5 Got stuck in. Brave and gaining confidence with every game.
Woody 8.5 Sheer class. What a star in the making we have.
Bowyer 7 Stuck out right, has to cut in to find some action.
Bakke 8 Played the lead role and excelled. Another future star.
Burns 7 For his 1st game I'd say he was very good. Comfortable on
the ball and not bad tackling. Given time could make it.
Matteo 6 Quiet game. Did little wrong but is better at defending than
attacking
Viduka 7 Lost his footing early on but improved dramatically, scored
two poachers goals and set Smith up nicely for the first.
Smith 9 100% Leeds - he does give a fuck. The Boy Wonder.
Robinson 6 Must have been shitting it. I was when he came on.
3 points - that's all that matters.
6 BIG games ahead. These games will tell us where we are at.
I think we'll give Man U a hell of a game next week but our passing must
improve and we need Olivier back to kick some Scum ass.
Lets fucking show them !
--
stotty
www.astott.demon.co.uk