HarryofOz wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:26 am
First of all seeing that our defending has improved so how anyone can say that we haven't learnt from our mistakes beggars belief.
Absolutely.
Honestly, if you're saying you're not happy with the performance of this squad you must have a screw loose. These guys have been absolutely brilliant all season long. When has a newly promoted side ever enjoyed such success or created such excitement, not only in England, but all over?
I think that the Times article which I posted recently gave a very balanced perspective of the season so far - not too over the top either way, and it rightly points out that there have been some duff performances as well as the excellent ones ( losing 6-2 to Man U principally )
Personally speaking I'm very happy with the club having consolidated in the PL, with the entertaining, swashbuckling style of play and with a few very good results along the way, though as the article pointed out, there is the cautionary tale of the blunts and second season syndrome to bear in mind.
When did a promoted team ever enjoy such success ? Well, the blunts last season with a 9th place finish first season back in the PL. Do I think that the side have been brilliant all season long ? No, Bielsa himself has said that the performances have been inconsistent, and against some of the better sides we simply weren't at the races. There have been some brilliant performances and also some duff performances, however overall it's been a better first season back than many would have predicted with this squad.
I am more than happy with the performance of the team in the league this season, and everyone who has stepped on the pitch for us has given some quality at various times. Sure, like everyone, I wish we would concede less goals but I feel we have improved our concession rate without losing our attacking prowess, so definite progress if you like. As others have said, Bielsaball requires ball-playing defenders for the system to work. If we converted more of our shots in front of goal, the goals we do concede at the back would not concern us anywhere near as much. I can think of numerous times this season where we were very wasteful with our shots which may have changed the whole game dynamic (not to mention the times we've been burned by VAR).
CHAPELALLMAN wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 8:50 am
I suspect that it's the man marking - you can't watch watch the flight of the ball from a corner and then position yourself and jump if you are rooted to the spot with one eye on the player you are marking, and probably jostling/grappling with him at the same time.
That goal conceded against Fulham was a good example of that - Ayling was totally preoccupied with marking his man ( who deliberately stood behind him until the last moment ) ....
This. In a nutshell. If ever there was a clear example of the failings of man to man marking on corners that was it. A 70 pound midget could have cleared that simply by attacking the ball.
HarryofOz wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:26 am
First of all seeing that our defending has improved so how anyone can say that we haven't learnt from our mistakes beggars belief.
Absolutely.
Honestly, if you're saying you're not happy with the performance of this squad you must have a screw loose. These guys have been absolutely brilliant all season long. When has a newly promoted side ever enjoyed such success or created such excitement, not only in England, but all over?
Only us under Wilko in 1990-1991 John - I think we finished 4th in the old First Division and obviously went on to win the title the next year.
Leeds1000 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:22 pm
Not just Josh Warrington now for Boxing fans to shout for, looks like we have another Whites fan entering the arena.
CHAPELALLMAN wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:02 pm
I think that the Times article which I posted recently gave a very balanced perspective of the season so far - not too over the top either way, and it rightly points out that there have been some duff performances as well as the excellent ones ( losing 6-2 to Man U principally )
Personally speaking I'm very happy with the club having consolidated in the PL, with the entertaining, swashbuckling style of play and with a few very good results along the way, though as the article pointed out, there is the cautionary tale of the blunts and second season syndrome to bear in mind.
When did a promoted team ever enjoy such success ? Well, the blunts last season with a 9th place finish first season back in the PL. Do I think that the side have been brilliant all season long ? No, Bielsa himself has said that the performances have been inconsistent, and against some of the better sides we simply weren't at the races. There have been some brilliant performances and also some duff performances, however overall it's been a better first season back than many would have predicted with this squad.
probably goes to ipswich all those years ago when they finished fifth in their first season in the prem
I do think it's mad that fans aren't happy with our performance this season though - been far beyond anything any of us could reasonably have predicted
whiteswan wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:43 pm
Wow! Great interview, Just hit the record button for this....
Thanks Leeds....
I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to girls fighting Whiteswan. I think she has been bought over has a stepping stone fight for her WC opponent Shannon Courtney, but she talks a good fight so i wish her well on Saturday. Good luck to her and you never know in Boxing.
Norm wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:37 pmOnly us under Wilko in 1990-1991 John - I think we finished 4th in the old First Division and obviously went on to win the title the next year.
IMO Wilko has never had the credit which he deserves for those incredible 3 years. The club had been in the old 2nd division for 8 years, and he got promotion by winning the 2nd division title in his first full year in charge. Then 4th in the 1st division the year after,followed by winning the 1st division title by pipping you know who. Absolutely incredible, and he didn't spend a fortune either.
If MB achieved something like that then the fans would set up shrines in their houses devoted to him. Wilko never enjoyed anything like the degree of adulation which Mr Bielsa has enjoyed - just saying.
Aussieleeds wrote: ↑Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:19 pm
This. In a nutshell. If ever there was a clear example of the failings of man to man marking on corners that was it. A 70 pound midget could have cleared that simply by attacking the ball.
Just a thought - I seem to remember that Jansson was excluded from man-marking duties at set-pieces in order to allow him freedom to attack the ball. Why aren't we doing that now with the likes of Struijk?
