As I was leaving the ground, a very irate young man was tell everybody within a 40 yard radius how bad the Barnsley team is. In fairness, most people were telling him to calm down. The fact is that if any team finishes above Leeds this season, they will win the league. Personally, I thought that we did very well for most of the game, and it is very disappointing when you lose to two late goals, but our opponent was exceptional, and sometimes, you just have to put a late defeat down to the learning process. In Kalvin Phillips, Leeds had the game’s outstanding player. He controlled the tempo from just in front of the Leeds central defence, always being in the right place, always wanting the ball and always accurate in his passing. The Barnsley press in the first half knocked many of the Leeds players out of their stride, but he was never rushed, he always had time. He is going to be a very, very good player. But he had lots of competition from those in grey(?). Just as last season, it was pace that we found hard to live with, but their movement was good too, and just like Fulham, they inconvenienced us most by getting players behind the advanced full backs. If we want to know just how far we have to go, then a player by player comparison with the Leeds eleven will tell us all we want to know. But it is not a surprise, is it? Our players are here to learn. They are here to get better, and today was a school day. It is not even like we played poorly. We did not. For all of the first half, and half of the second, we matched them, chance for chance. But all that pressing, all that running had to take its toll, and when both teams turned to their benches, Leeds found yet more pace, whilst Barnsley found players who had not started because they lacked pace. Wouldn’t it be great if we could turn to our bench and find players of the quality of Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah awaiting our call instead of Pinillos Bahre and Thiam. In the end, we were ground down by it and as the second half wore on, I could see only one winner. I was not deflated by the defeat though as I had been by the Luton defeat. I was encouraged, particularly by the performances of the keeper, the two centre backs, the two strikers and especially by Sibbick, who looks like he can play anywhere. However, whilst we could cover our weaknesses last season in League 1, this season our weaknesses are picked apart mercilessly, particularly when the opposition is as good as Leeds were. Cavare has his supporters on the BBS. He is strong. He is quick and he has skill on the ball. However, his passing is poor and his concentration has a tendency to lapse at the most inconvenient moments. It is no good having the body of Adonis if you have the mind of Mickey Mouse. I know exactly why right back Jordan Williams was picked at left back. With his namesake Ben suspended and Dani Pinillos a poor choice against pace, it was either Oduor or Williams, and Stendel clearly does not trust Oduor yet. I was one of Alex Mowatt’s greatest fans last season, but the lack of real pace that blighted his future prospects at Leeds, and caused them to move him on has resurfaced again this season with our return to the Championship. He can still pass the ball well, and he still takes a very good free kick. He can still cover the ground, even though much of his running is wasted effort against players with better skills, but the Achilles Heel in his skill set is his lack of pace, and it will be this that prevents him from playing at a higher level. I was surprised that Jacob Brown played 80 minutes after being out for so long. It is hard to judge his effect on the game because he is used to playing on the front foot, and today, for a lot of the time, he was defending and filling in. He will improve, and as he says, there were times when he was struggling physically with the pace of the game. To end, let me look at the positives. Collins could not be faulted for the two goals, and he made some quality stops. Andersen and particularly Halme had their best games for the club, particularly when Bamford was playing. He represented just the sort of challenge our big lads relished. The Woodrow and Wilks partnership showed promise, although there is much still to learn. But my man of the match was Sibbick. I really cannot understand why everyone has not seen it yet, but the guy has enough talent to play anywhere. By training, he is a defender, but today he was our best central midfield player… by a mile. Rookie Watch Brad Collins was faultless. He made several good stops and used his height to take several crosses that got his team out of difficult situations Toby Sibbick gave a man of the match performance in central midfield, which included the pass of the game to Mallik Wilks which set him up for a chance. Aapo Halme was a close second for man of the man against his former team. He looked good in the air and was confident enough to carry the ball into the heart of the Leeds defence, even going on to demand a return pass when he released it. Mads Andersen was back to his best today. He looked a very good player against a talented opposition. Luke Thomas sacrificed himself for the team today. He would have been more effective if he had held his wide position, but worked inside in order to help his overworked colleagues in central midfield. Mallik Wilks had probably his best game for the club showing great pace and almost scoring on a number of occasions. Nevertheless, he needs to improve on his finishing. Player of the Match Toby Sibbick can play anywhere.
Thought we played well and deserved a point. If we continue these performances we will be fine. Halme and sibbick are nailed on starters next week for me even if Bambo and McGeegan are healthy
A good report that other than I wouldn’t agree with the point about Mowatt. Thought he had another good game in the middle. Sibbick played well but I didn’t think he was MOTM. For me (can’t believe i’m going to say this) it was Halme. Strong and aggressive. Finally saw a good player in there. Individually and collectively I thought that was a decent performance. Felt for the lads after putting in a tremendous shift and getting zilch. Oddly I thought Leeds were good at the back and piss poor in front of goal. As for us, we just can’t take our chances and until Woodrow gets some serious help, that is going to remain a problem. All that fuss about Schmidt signing on deadline day looks a complete load of hype. Stendel doesn’t seem to fancy him.
Difficult, nay impossible, to argue with any of that. If that's a minority report consider me in the minority. That was the game I watched.
Exactly how I saw it. Fair analysis of both teams. I do feel that bringing Thomas off and Williams changed the dimension of the game and in turn contributed to the loss I do hope that we learn from this fast and take a lot from the performance
Another good read, reflects what I watched too. Deflating to lose so late on, but even with my bias to us, Leeds just had that bit extra in terms of quality and composure. Sibbick was excellent, against some class in their midfield too.
Nailed it, Sibbick played out of his skin today, we shut the Leeds fans up early in the first half, they knew they were un for a game,be interesting to see what the leeds fans from work made of it tomorrw
Agree with most of that except the bit on Mowatt. Whatever happened with the lad I don’t think he was ever discarded due to ability or pace. The lad had a really bad couple of years & didn’t impress on loan at Oxford in league one after been one of Leeds’ best players when he was aged 19-20ish which suggests there were problems off the pitch causing issues on it as he’s clearly always had the ability.
He was very good for me today. Laid one on a plate for Thomas first half and won countless challenges as well as good passing. Like you it's the only thing I really disagree with regards Red Rain's report.
I thought long and hard before I wrote the stuff about Mowatt. My problem was that it felt disloyal to criticise one of the players that got us promoted last season, one of our most influential players, and that does not sit well with me at all. However, we just do not control games in the Championship, and that lack of control has a lot to do with our central midfield players. If you dominate that area, you say how the game will be played, and we are not doing that. I accept that today is not a good day to make that point. Leeds have some very good players, and it would have been very hard for us to dominate a game when our players generally were inferior, but Mowatt should know that when he chases lost causes, he forsakes his default midfield defensive position, and when that happens there will be a Mowatt sized gap and someone has to fill in, leaving the player that they were supposed to be marking. Today was always going to be hard because whenever we got too many players ahead of the ball, gaps opened up on the counter that they could exploit with their pace, and Mowatt did it time after time. He just does not have the pace to recover when he gets out of position, and in that case the coach has two options. He instructs Mowatt to play more conservatively, with more discipline, or he has to have a player continuously watching Mowatt's back. Is Mowatt really good enough to dictate to the Chief Coach that he plays 3 in central midfield, perhaps forsaking an attacker. Phillips was the best player on show today, but he always played within the parameters set by the team shape. If Phillips does not have the talent to dictate to his coach, then I am damn sure that neither does Mowatt.
I agree with much if your report this week. I too think Alex's lack of pace is an issue but thought he had s good game today. sibbick is an outstanding prospect. I'd like to see him in the defensive CM role with Mcgeehan and Mowatt on either side of him.
Your comment suggests that you see Sibbick as the defensive player in a narrow midfield 3, but that was not how Sibbick played today. There were times when Mowatt tried to be Barnsley's version of Phillips, directing play from deeper as well as times when Mowatt was chasing lost causes into the Leeds box. Sibbick looked good partly because he was the disciplined one. He was the one who kept his shape whilst Mowatt ran around like a lose cannon. Sibbick was the one who was in the right place defensively most of the time, whilst Mowatt was continually dragged into places he had no right to be. Mowatt does not have the talent, nor the pace to play without any responsibility. He is no Craig Hignett. No matter what shape we play, a lose cannon will cause us problems.
I agreed with much of your first post on the thread red rain - but it seems to me your criticism of Mowatt, which started off observational, is getting overly strong. That said, as I say, your view of today’s game roundly matches mine - though I don’t agree Sibbick could play anywhere as I think he’s looked poor at full back. I could see him at centre back at this level, certainly in midfield, but not right back anymore, Cavare has faults aplenty but his return has led to us looking a more cohesive unit. Jordan Williams is no left back, and he’s hardly Usain Bolt himself so pace can’t be the deciding factor - so it has to be Pinillos for me next week. Especially at his old club.
Spot on assessment, if somewhat harsh on Mowatt. Harsh penalty award, can't remember the last time we got a soft one like that.