But in the absence of the great one, and I'm afraid repeating what I've said on another thread. You can analyse the times where we started 4-4-2 or switched in-game to 4-4-2 and you'll find that our situation in the game worsens. Because of our age and relative inexperience, we need 4-5-1 (or, as the club describes it, 4-1-4-1) in order to try and protect the defence. In some games that will allow us to attack on the break and beat teams (see Forest (home) and Sunderland (home)). In other games (today) if the opposition are simply better (and usually, more expensive) then it will make no difference. Today was hard, but we are not as good a team as Leeds. Sainz and Alioski are simply superb players, and Leeds will need to get to the next level quickly if they are to keep them. No problems with our lot today - they can only do what they can do. They weren't lacking for effort - only quality. But they are a young, honest squad who are eager to learn. And they are learning with the best manager we have ever had, who is also still learning.
Saint was the best player to come to Oakwell this season. He was immense. Ayling was a proper cheat though.
Probably true, Tina. But Hammill wasn't exactly a blushing innocent up against him. We need to learn how to play players like him. Truth is, we'd like to have him. After all, we like scamps like Scowen or (Scowen2) Williams!
My thoughts precisely. Yesterday wasn't great but they never stopped trying. A bit of a shame that Barnes lost his rag so early, it inhibited him from his normal game for the rest of the time he played.
In the words of the Good Book, "Blessed are those who expect little, for they shall not be disappointed!"
It also says summat like blessed are the meek and suffer unto me, and boy did we suffer on Saturday whilst the meek hid . I know Leeds were blessed with quality players but we ourselves have proved over the years that if we play with fire in our hearts and give everything we can we can match their skills with endeavour as most times top players want none of it, and results can be to our advantage as proved under Hecky and flitcroft and other David and Goliath clashes.
I can sort of understand his anger though, having seen the replay from the camera at the Ponty End. Ayling is maybe a foot away from Barnes when he goes down - an act of cheating on the "Gunnar Halle" scale (for those who don't understand that reference it was an FA Cup from years ago when Owen Archdeacon gave away a "penalty" at Oldham when Halle was barely in the same half as Archie, never mind close enough to be tripped). Barnes was obviously incensed by the blatant cheating but it was a pointless booking. He's young - he'll learn.
Remember it well, if it was a foul it was about 10 yards outside the box..... To be fair to the Dirty Leeds player, he didn't appeal for a penalty and got up straight away and got on with the game. Also they could easily have got 2 penalties for Lindsay's shirt pulling lunacy.
The thing is, he wasn't really, but the referee let him get on with it. After getting booked, he still persisted in mouthing at Barnes, clearly trying to instigate something. He dove to try and get Barnes sent off, and then brandished a yellow card. 3 further bookable offences after getting booked. He was being blatant, and the referee let him do it.
