Leeds v Birmingham - Team/Reports/Ratings

[Genghers]

Thought I'd kick this one off early.

Barring an injury to Cooper, I think Bellusci has to be dropped and we should go back to the back four which have played most of the season.

I thought Adeyemi had the best game I've seen him play v 'Boro and definitely mopped up loose balls well. Mowatt is a bit slow imo, and hasn't shown the sharpness he's capable of.

If fit then Wood should start, though I think Ant did well yesterday.

--------------Silvestri-------------
Berardi-Bamba--Cooper-Taylor
-------------Adeyemi-------------
-------Murphy------Cook---------
Botaka---------------------Dallas
---------------Wood---------------

Bench: Turnbull, Byram, Bellusci, Mowatt, Phillips, Buckley, Antenucci

[lufc1304]

Possibly a little harsh on Mowatt, who I thought had a good game yesterday, but Murphy has to start, so I'd go with that team too.

[weasel]

is Buckley available for this game?

[1964white]

is Buckley available for this game?

Yes mate

[weasel]

Yes mate

At last decent back up for Doukara.

[Gurj]

Just hoping Wood is back for Saturday, I got the impression the way Rosler spoke afterwards that, although it's nothing serious, its more likely to be after the international break before we see him return.

Love Antenucci, but the lone furrow role is impossible for him and unfair, he just isn't suited to it.

Let's go at Blues from the off. Play Buckley wide right, Dallas wide left, Cook and Antenyemi in the centre, with ( if Wood is unfit ) Boyata up front with Ant. He did play there at times with he's Dutch club previously I read.

Daring line up I know but the defensive approach hasnt got us that far of late especially at home. Take the reins off Uwe - you never know, it may be the way to get us that Heavy Metal style you promised !

[The Subhuman]

Bellusci has to start for me, and should never have been dropped. We need to get that understanding between him and Bamba back. Bamba is a better player with Bellusci in the team and Bellusci is better than Cooper just

[lufc1304]

Bellusci has to start for me, and should never have been dropped. We need to get that understanding between him and Bamba back. Bamba is a better player with Bellusci in the team and Bellusci is better than Cooper just

This is a key decision for Rosler. Drop Bellusci again, and he destroys the guy's confidence. Retain him, and he has to hope yesterday's display was purely down to a lack of match practice. I do prefer him over Cooper, but Cooper can feel a little hard done by. Didn't do much wrong when he came into the side, bar constantly hitting long balls towards Wood

[Genghers]

Let's go at Blues from the off. Play Buckley wide right, Dallas wide left, Cook and Antenyemi in the centre, with ( if Wood is unfit ) Boyata up front with Ant. He did play there at times with he's Dutch club previously I read.

Daring line up I know but the defensive approach hasnt got us that far of late especially at home. Take the reins off Uwe - you never know, it may be the way to get us that Heavy Metal style you promised !

I know you want to be positive at home, but we played 4-4-2 against Brentford and were completely overrun. I'd rather us get this formation nailed down and creating chances than chop and change between games... I don't think Botaka is up for being a striker, even if he did play there a few times in Holland - he just doesn't look strong enough.

We missed Wood, but I think Ant did alright despite it not being his best role. We need someone else on the bench who can play upfront well, though. Doukara isn't the answer...

Both Duke and Erwin are playing for the u21's today. So far Doukara has scored one and set up two for Erwin...

[The Subhuman]

This is a key decision for Rosler. Drop Bellusci again, and he destroys the guy's confidence. Retain him, and he has to hope yesterday's display was purely down to a lack of match practice. I do prefer him over Cooper, but Cooper can feel a little hard done by. Didn't do much wrong when he came into the side, bar constantly hitting long balls towards Wood

Shouldn't have been dropped in the first place and I do think Cooper can feel hard done by but he's an honest ok defender with limited upside. I'm not seeing a next level and he's left footed which gives us two left footed central defenders. I do wonder why he can't play on the right of Bamba though.

[lufc1304]

Erwin seems to always be amongst the goals for the U21s, surely he merits a bench place ahead of Doukara. showed nothing again yesterday

[lufc1304]

Shouldn't have been dropped in the first place and I do think Cooper can feel hard done by but he's an honest ok defender with limited upside. I'm not seeing a next level and he's left footed which gives us two left footed central defenders. I do wonder why he can't play on the right of Bamba though.

If Cooper plays on the right, then he has to come inside to kick/clear, not ideal. Whatever pairing Rosler goes with, he needs to stick with it. Change for change 's sake is not the way forward

[Genghers]

Erwin seems to always be amongst the goals for the U21s, surely he merits a bench place ahead of Doukara. showed nothing again yesterday

That's my thinking, but everything Rosler's been saying indicates that he'll probably be going out on loan... If we play 4-5-1/4-3-3 with Wood as the lone striker and Ant on the bench then Erwin's chances will be limited, but as soon as one of those two aren't playing (like yesterday) then I don't see the harm in him taking a bench spot. Doukara doesn't seem to have any effect when he comes on, and if he's there as a wide option then he'll be out of the 18 once Buckley signs.

[mav]

My first game at ER this season, so expect a bore draw!

Obviously I will take out my now traditional 3-1 home win bet. (I have had to explain a number of times that, yes I am a Leeds fan but no I don't want us to score a hatfull as the correct score is usually worth a few hundred quid to me).

[lufc1304]

That's my thinking, but everything Rosler's been saying indicates that he'll probably be going out on loan... If we play 4-5-1/4-3-3 with Wood as the lone striker and Ant on the bench then Erwin's chances will be limited, but as soon as one of those two aren't playing (like yesterday) then I don't see the harm in him taking a bench spot. Doukara doesn't seem to have any effect when he comes on, and if he's there as a wide option then he'll be out of the 18 once Buckley signs.

Wood starts, if fit. But how long does Rosler persist with a player (Doukara) who obviously does enough in the development/U21 games to merit inclusion in the first team squad, but then does bugger all to justify being there when he gets the chance? Erwin can't be any worse. Outside Wood and Ant, our options appear to be seriously limited

[The Subhuman]

If Cooper plays on the right, then he has to come inside to kick/clear, not ideal. Whatever pairing Rosler goes with, he needs to stick with it. Change for change 's sake is not the way forward

But we expect Bamba to do the same

[rab_rant]

From the under21's against QPR
But two quick-fire goals after the re-start restored United’s lead.
Lee Erwin headed Leeds back in front, before grabbing his second less than a minute later.

If Wood is still out I would give the boy a go.

[Gregsta]

I just wanna see a midfield three as below. And then i'd like to see it left alone for a good 6 games regardless of results. No more tinkering. This is our strongest centre mid in my opinion... Adeyemi is average, a decent Championship player, but nothing special, where as these 3 have x factor.

..........Cook..........
Murphy........Mowatt.

[gessa]

This will be our 10th home league game since our last win against Ipswich on March 4th - the law of averages say we must win one soon..A shocking record. Murphy has to return for me. Hopefully Wood is fit and can score against his old team(albeit on loan). Birmingham look a decent team, last Saturdays home defeat to Rotherham was the shock of the weekend for me,the Villa defeat probably took a lot out of them, mentally and physically, playing tonight too, hopefully they'll be knackered come Saturday.

[The Subhuman]

I just wanna see a midfield three as below. And then i'd like to see it left alone for a good 6 games regardless of results. No more tinkering. This is our strongest centre mid in my opinion... Adeyemi is average, a decent Championship player, but nothing special, where as these 3 have x factor.

..........Cook..........
Murphy........Mowatt.

and I agree.