Leeds away - a summary..

Arrived at Bellend Road about five minutes to kick off, and upon reaching the concourse I saw an old pal I'd not seen since I left Tarn almost 12 months ago so we had a bit of a catch up whilst watching the opening few minutes on the TV's down there. Then made my way to my seat only to find it was already occupied. A young lad moved instantly and so I took up my position and settled in to watch what turned out to be anything but a 0-0 bore draw.

Kept having the odd look at the dugout initially, just to see him there. Our Danny. Back in charge. Never thought I'd see the day. It felt 'right', if you know what I mean? Like that comfy pair of jeans you never throw out despite your lass insisting you look a turnip in them.

The lads were set up as I'd expected in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Butland in goal; Back four (from right to left) of Wiseman, Cranie, Ramage and - making his fourth BFC debut, at long last - Nyatanga. The returning Hassell making his first start of the season in a holding midfield role, with Mellis and Perkins ahead of him; Tommy Polska wide left, Jim O'Brien on the right, and Tudgay employed as the lone (loan) striker.

No idea about Leeds formation or selections and quite frankly couldn't give a ****. But it was soon noticeable that they had a lot of height in their side, which goes some way to explaining their tactics for the day - hoof it towards Smith.
He was thwarted twice early on by Butland after two awful pieces of defending by Ramage. The second chance in particular - which he scuffed - was begging to be put away. Just thankful that those opportunities, and a later one dropped to him rather than the on-fire McCormack.

We were keeping the ball well, though. Other than Ramage, the lads at the back in particular were precise with their passing into midfield and I never felt nervy, as I did watching the same lads under Hill/Flitcroft. Midfielders too, were interchanging nicely and Bobby was at the heart of everything good in the first half. I'm admittedly a big fan of his so some will no doubt take this with a pinch of salt, but his performance today was Premier League quality. Think of a top holding midfield player in the top flight, well Hassell was that good.
His passing was spot on. Always looking for the ball, always finding his target despite men around him. In fact, he was twice given the ball with two men on him yet still controlled the ball superbly which gave him the necessary time to pick out his man and keep us ticking over, and importantly, kept us moving forward.
Not once did he, or the other midfielders play the safe option - backwards. We looked to get it forward or wide at every opportunity, and both O'Brien and more so Cywka saw plenty of the ball, but the latter as usual when he starts, flattered to deceive. No lack of effort from him, but nowt really came off for the lad.

About 20 minutes in and the dream scenario nearly came off for us. A loose ball found it's way to Hassell who hit a half volley from about 25 yards out, dipping, it went just wide of the Leeds goal. That signalled a ten minute period where practically everything went through the ginger prince.
He put over one or two splendid free kicks. None of that short ******** we're used to. Bobby waited for the big lads to get forward before curling a couple of beauties into the 'mixer' that first Ramage glanced wide of the post, before a looping Tudgay header was tipped over the top by Fat Paddy.


Our corners were still a joke. In fact, today they were as bad as ever. Perkins was on them for some reason. I'd have had Bobby take them n all.

But our chance did materialise. An overhead kick forward from O'Brien saw Tudgay one on one with his defender who he brushed aside easily to be fair, but as he approached the net and Kenny, the goal you expected as he hit it never came. The shot dragged wide. For me, he should have gone for the near post but whatever, it was a bad miss.



Half time came and the reds were roared off by the travelling tarn army. It was then that I made my way towards where Bobby's missus was sat, who happens to be a good friend of r lass, as I wanted to thank her for the Christmas card etc. But as I did so, a fella tapped me on the shoulder to tell me someone wanted me. So I walked out the other side to meet the young lad who was originally in my seat at kick off. Turns out it was none other than our Phil. Hemsworth himself. Although to be honest, I was a bit wary initially (I always am) when the lad asked if I was Andy, from 'the forum'. Anyway, I said aye and asked his name and when he said Phil I said "Hemsy? Come here pal, hows it going?" and gave him a big hug. Lovely to meet him. I then bumped into Hicksy in the gents. (make your own joke) Always nice to see him, too.



Second half was a different story. Leeds became more aggressive. Even more direct. And I feared for us once Hassell was withdrawn with what looked to be cramp. Dawson came on though and put himself about as he does, although he did my head in a few times where he refused to play the ball forwards. Going back to Butland from halfway etc. But Danny'll soon knock that out of him.
Butland wasn't keeping us in it as such, as Leeds' efforts were all rather speculative. But nevertheless, he was first class when called upon to deny their front two.

Mellis found space once or twice inside the Leeds box, but chose the wrong options on each occasion. I wish he'd have been greedier at some points, and less greedier at others. But again, not knocking him at all. Typical Mellis performance from central midfield. We're such a better side with him in there. Just more threatening. It's that simple.
Perkins was decent in general. Good short passing, got stuck in a lot more. However, there was one move in the second half where he ran through in acres of space and offloaded to O'Brien, but once the move broke down, Perkins jogged back as Austin surged through on the break. He didn't look arsed. First half too, in oceans of space, 25 yards out, took ages to decide to shoot and when he did it was embarrassing. Certainly not the same player I once had down as our key man. Think I'd prefer Dawson in there.

Cywka was non existent after the break. O'Brien was fantastic. Leeds had no joy down our right flank. Wisey and Jim were bang on all afternoon. One moment first half, McCormack was onto a long ball, quick as you like, but Wisey easily got there first, little touch of the ball, nudged McCormack away before a sublime second touch and 90 degrees turn and calmly came away with the ball. Had Vincent Kompany done it, the likes of Hansen on MOTD would have been orgasmic in their praise of such "quality defending".

Danny brought Etuhu on for Cywka. Kelvin went wide right, Jim switching to the left. The substitute had a cracking game once on. Looked quicker than I've seen him previously, and was the only danger for us as we approached the dying embers, although Scotland had a moment or two himself once on for Jim.

I had an awful view of the Tudgay 'tackle' that saw him dismissed. The instant red card leads me to assume the ref got it right. I'll have to see it again on the FLS in a bit. But it was the last thing we needed. Ten minutes plus stoppages (six minutes, ffs) with ten men. And Leeds constantly hoofing balls towards the giant Smith, who won most of the duels in the box, but we won the second balls etc. A few things dropped for them, and we've seen us lose games like today. But today, we held strong, and held out, for a deserved share of the spoils and a valuable point.



So, a few observations.

I think Hassell and Nyatanga's displays today have emphasised what a bizarre decision it was from the previous manager to ignore them. And trust me, on the evidence of today, that back four with Hassell ahead of them will be a tough nut to crack. Lewin was fabulous today. It wasn't all about Bobby. He's had to wait and wait too, for a chance that never came under Flitcroft. For him (and Bobby) to come in from the arctic like that and put in the displays they did says a lot about them as professionals, as it does quality footballers. A 180 degree spin on the ball with a man on him was summat to see (Nyatanga), and he wasn't troubled at all either by pace or aerially. Cramped up towards the end, understandably. But on that showing, a marked improvement on Kennedy.

Bobby was in the right place at the right time on more than one occasion today. It wasn't all passing, crossing etc. Couple of last ditch clearances, one a spectacular bicycle kick out of our box. If owt, I think he cramped up earlier than Lewin due to him doing too much. He really played like a bloke with a point to prove.
Well, he's proven it once more. I know that he plays every game like it's his last. Can't blame him, after the last two years. But at last we now have a manager who can see and trust him and his abilities. My only slight issue would be the amount of fans I've seen on twitter (and here, too) who are claiming he should have been starting every week etc etc etc. Hang about. I don't recall him being in many peoples starting elevens. Was in mine from day one. Today proved why.


If Paddy and COG had been fit today, we'd have thumped Leeds. Seriously.

Tudgay was pants. And Cywka just isn't the same player when starting.

My one real worry with us in terms of us being dangerous, is our lack of pace. We're very pedestrian at times going forward. But, I trust this manager like no other, and fully expect him to sort us out more and more as time progresses.

Do I think we're great all of a sudden? No. Nowhere near. But today was a good first step towards being decent again. And with the atmosphere today between fans, management and players, I really think if we can keep that (even if we lose), we'll be capable of once more surviving in the second tier.



Loved today.

You Reds.

 

Excellent report - many thanks Whitey

 

That's not a summary, it's longer than the actual game.

 

Good read - thanks. And nothing I disagree with at all - very good assessment of the day.

Really enjoyed today - one of the best 0-0 draws I've seen. Thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in the away end today - the cost was extortionate but in the end, I am glad I went.

Great to see Danny back in the dugout - feels like we have a proper manager now.

 

Thanks Whitey. Good report

 

Great report, I couldn't bring myself to pay £36 but listened to the commentary and had COG have been fit, I reckon we could have got 3 points!

It's refreshing to have a manager with tactical awareness, I can see us easily being safe come the end of the season. Obviously, it isn't going to be easy but we'll manage.

Can't wait for Boxing Day, WALKING IN A WILSON WONDERLAND!

 

No problem. As someone pointed out, it was more of a novel than a summary, but I know a lot of you couldn't get to the match and I know myself when I can't attend a game how useful it is to get a proper report from a supporter so I purposely gave it some hammer. But then, that same person always seems a bit arsey with me anyway and I actually expected his post. Just surprised he hasn't got 10 likes for it yet. He could tell you what he had for tea and make it seem interesting.

 

Cheers for the summary Whitey. Don't sweat the earlier moan, it's all meaningless.

 

Thanks for that mate.

 

Good read that Andy ya daft un. Gave a better insight than BP did lol. Just kidding i was half asleep listening to match. As you know, big admirer of Bobby, when people say his legs have gone tell em to go fook, when you read a ball and a game as well as he does and Craine ect you dont need to be Usain Bolt.

Does anyone remember the first few games of last season when bobby was playing infront of the back 4? We kept clean sheets at home and Crainie replaced him when he was out for a few games. Then the formation all changed and KH was out by new year

Its Harry from old work by way Andy just so tha knows lad.

 

The one player yesterday who did look off the pace was ramage. It may well have been the fact he was marking a giant in smith, but he looked rushed all afternoon when compared with the rest of our back line. Personally I thought our full backs were excellent, begging the question why had we not seen Nyatanga before now? Before yesterday he was becoming the new Phil Gridlet!

In the middle Bobby was assured and provided the protection the back 4 have needed. Mellis is a class player, as Whitey says his decision making could be better, but that's why he's with us. Tudgay struggled on his own but did carve out a couple of chances.

With COG and Paddy back in we can add to the attacking options, especially with a couple of home games coming up.

Special thanks to the Oakwell box office. We live up in Scotland and the tickets must have got lost in the post but they got a couple of duplicates for us to pick up at Elland Road. I know they mainly get moaned about but they sorted us out with no fuss.

Just one negative, on returning to the hotel all excited my missus asked me if I remembered what happened last time Danny was here. Obviously I said promotion and the premier league. She reminded me that my then wife divorced me!

4 more sleeps to Bolton.

 

Good write up , although I thought tudgay had a half decent game and put himself around a bit as a lone striker, hard to play as a lone striker. But he should have scored tbh

 

Don't know what your problem is with me mate, but I certainly haven't got one with you. I was pulling your leg, it was a joke, not a criticism. I thought that was obvious, but I do appear to have a problem on here with people taking what I write seriously when a good 95% of what I write is in jest. I don't think I've ever been intentionally 'arsey' with you. Sorry you feel that way. If I have, those times have been very few and far between.

I read your report and I enjoyed it. I had nothing to add to it as I wasn't at the game. I could have written 'great post, thank you' but I didn't know you required that approval. I wasn't snubbing you, it's just I don't believe we should have to click 'like' or write a thank you to everything we enjoy. If I did that, that's all I'd ever do. I do it sometimes, not always. Anyway, my 'like' button doesn't work and never has. Actually, I haven't even got one now.

I was surprised to read the 'I actually expected his post', because as far as I'm aware I don't respond to your posts all that often and if I do it's certainly not to criticise. So even if you took this post as a criticism, which, as I said above it certainly isn't, I believe that comment is very unfair.

I can assure you that any animosity between us is entirely one sided. I have none for you and think you're a very good contributor to this forum who adds a hell of a lot. I'm sorry you don't feel the same about me, but we can't all be mates I suppose.

 

I've missed spongbob square pants to read all they whitey.........good read though mate!!!

 

A reasonable summary of a reasonable game although I thought a little unfair on Tudgay who did ok in a very difficult position to play and Tompole who whilst being anonymous was one of our best players against Yeovil from the start the week before. Our lack of physical presence was a minor worry against a hulking Leeds team and Ramage though average did at least provide this. The absolute joy of having a manager selecting a team on merit can't be underestimated.

Onwards and upwards.

 

Thanks for that, Andy

I really enjoyed reading your post, mate. Bumping into Hicksy in the toilets conjures up disturbing images on a Sunday morning, though!

 

Re: Thanks for that, Andy

Great read, Whitey. Appreciated the depth of it, as I can't get to many games because of work.

 

Re: Thanks for that, Andy

I don't usually like long posts but this is an excellent post - well written and easy to read.

For us that weren't there, other than watching a replay of the match, a report like this gives us an insight of what actually happened.

Interesting to hear that Hemsworth-Tyke is a young lad...........people need to remember that when they are slating him on here.
Also I have been one of the guys that has said that Hassell is too slow and not up to the task.........I hope that Bobby Hassell proves me wrong.