Newcastle United 2 Leeds 1
Yesterday I heard Paul Ince comment on Middlebrough's new manager and
their new improvement in results. He said that before, under Robson, the
players used to just turn up and play off the cuff. BUT now Venables has
given the team and each player instructions that are to be carried out
during the game.
This is what I think....
Leeds play "off the cuff"
Nobody has got a clue what they are doing individually or collectively.
The defence, midfield and attack are all isolated and none of the units
work together.
Leeds got an early lead from Dacourt's free kick. Much to the Geordies
chagrin the ref moved the wall back a further 10 yards after a player
had encroached. 1-0. 4000 Leeds fans noses bled in unison.
With 5 minutes of the half remaining the home crowd were silent (except
booing the ref) and Leeds clearly needed to shut up shop before the
break. This would have got the crowd on Newcastle's back and given Leeds
the incentive they needed to grind a result out of this game. Forget
pretty attacking football.
At half time we trudged in 2-1 down. The mass of black and white had
awoken from their reverie and were taunting us big time. Everywhere I
looked fat Geordies were laughing at us.
Leeds are fast becoming a joke.
Tactic #1 - Throw ins
---------------------
Any throw that we get in opposition territory must be delayed to allow
the defences to re-group otherwise we may get an unfair advantage. Then
we must dummy the throw 3 or 4 times and eventually chuck it to the
nearest player who has 3 men on him. He plays it back, we try and cross
it and it rebounds of their man's shin and then off our man and they get
the ball back.
Tactic #2 - Forward play
------------------------
We've got 3 good forwards so there's no need in the midfield bothering
to support them when we attack. Kewell plays the ball into Viduka who
dummies it and Smith nearly gets it. Shrug shoulders all round.
(Alternative - Kewell plays it to Smith, who dummies it and Viduka
nearly gets it) The front two must never make any intelligent runs down
the channels to pull the central defence about cos this will make us
tired for when we play our dream football. Under no circumstances must
we try and get round the back and cross the ball for our big strikers.
This may lead to concussion if one of our forwards heads the ball.
Tactic #3 - Midfield
---------------------
We've got 3 busy midfielders so we dont need anymore bodies in there -
besides it gets crowded with all their men swarming around us. Ollie
picks the ball off the defence - he turns and tries to shake off the 2
men on him. He lays it back to Kelly who stops, eventually gets it under
control, looks up, stops, panics, tries to blast it aimlessly up the
line. It hits an opposition shin, rebounds onto Kelly's shin and they
get a throw.
Tactic #4 - Defence
-------------------
We've got 4 class defenders so we dont need any midfield cover. Allow
anybody making a run to just go - he'll probably be offside and Robbo
will stop any shots cos he's class. Woody and Rio must learn from Radebe
- just watch how he sits down so majestically on the bench, pure class
from a superb defender. Any chance Kelly gets to break forward must be
done in 2 stages. Once he gets clear he must stop and let the opposition
catch up, he can then use his pace and silky skills to manufacture
another opening.
Tactic #5 - Set Pieces
----------------------
Close your eyes, strike the ball, and hope.
Tactic #6 - Patience
---------------------
Give all tactics time to work. At least 70 mins and then maybe - MAYBE -
bring a £12m sub on to change it about.
People say our passing is bad. 700 feet up in the Sir John Hall stand I
got a terrific view of Leeds' pattern of play. Our passing is bad
because quite simply, there is never anyone to pass to. The midfield
(except Ollie) dont want it as they are so badly out numbered. The
forwards wont move for it and try and create space. We have no options
what-so-ever.... except lay it off to Kelly....
We play off the cuff.
2nd half Dyer and co destroyed us. They could easily had another 2 or 3
goals. Bowyer struck a post in our only meaningful attack but that would
have papered over the huge cracks that our beloved team has developed.
It's back to basics now for us.
O'Leary blames the players work rate, their ability and anything else he
can. The tactics play into other teams hands. Swamp the midfield, stop
Dacourt and that's 3 points. Thankyou !
O'Leary still maintains that he wont compromise his attacking ideals but
when will he realise that his offensive (!) formations actually
compromise our defence and maybe our season.
Last season Leeds were a surprise package. We had Bridges and Kewell up
front pulling defences all over the shop, Bakke and Bowyer were fresh,
Radebe, Woody and Harte were all firing. This season we are the team to
beat. No longer the underdogs. We arent good enough to break teams down
any more. We are stale and lack confidence. The players were on 3k a
week last year and fighting for a place. This year they are on 15k a
week and dont appear to give a fcuk.
We have reached our Nadir. Things can only get better.
28 years on from my 1st game when Peter Lorimer smashed in a hatrick i'm
still as madly in love with Leeds as ever. O'Leary's done a good job for
us so far BUT his quote of "we need to be in the top 6 by the New Year"
is gonner come back and haunt him.
Scores
------
Robinson 5 - doesn't like crosses so defence is nervous. Time for Nige
to come back before Robbo is mentally scarred
Kelly 2 - Utter shite. Summed him up when he completely missed a
gently rolling ball. Mills to return
Matteo 5 - Struggled but no cover in front to help him.
Rio 4 - 1st poor game for Leeds. Exposed.
Woody 6 - Looks 60 - played like a pensioner at times. Dyer murdered
us.
Bakke 4 - Not good enough to be able to cope with 3 against 4. Who is
?
Bowyer 5 - Headless chicken
Dacourt 9 - What is he doing playing for us ?
Kewell 3 - Oh dear. Not fit and the big pitch showed him up.
Viduka 2 - The lead boots he got for Xmas should be returned
immediately
Smith 2 - Has caught Mad Viduka's disease. Saps your energy and makes
you attempt to dummy everything.
subs/
Keane 7 - his name says it all
(for Kewell)
Batty 6 - his name says it all
(for Bakke)
It cost £400 for my family and I to go to this game. I feel very short
changed indeed.
Happy New Year to yous all.
--
stotty
www.astott.demon.co.uk
(LUFC match reports, cartoons, and Flash movies)