Bit late i know
Another big following, another good day out and another no show from the Leeds United Bottlers. Just as the Rhinos seem to be finally getting rid of their chokers tag we seem to be perpetually weighed down by it There were over 4000 loyals in fine spirit and humour despite the criminal Kick Off time who once again witnessed a display of attacking futility.
The day started so well. Elephant opened early and a couple of hours breezed by until the 10.16 london train hauled us to Peterbro. The anticipated huge police escort didn’t appear and we were left to walk the 20 minutes unaccompanied. Soon discovered why. About 50 OB were escorting about 50 of their troop and we all breathed a sigh of relief.
Was nice to stand up for once without the inconvenience of a seat getting in your way unlike the away following to our right. That big no 10 with the white head bandage was causing a few tremors in our back four early on. Hes got a good touch, quick feet and turned Rui/Telfer inside out a couple of times. The game was quite evenly balanced so I think that was our cue to make it interesting by giving the ball away a few times and fart about around the edge of our box. They could have scored three times resulting from this stupidity and that rather put us off our stride. Becchio put one just wide with only the keeper to beet but that was about the only effort we produced. We had some good possession and got into some good positions but too often the crosses went straight to their very decent keeper. By half time I thought we were doing ok just lacking a bit of final penetration. We looked pretty tidy in midfield and all in all I thought we could eaily win the game.
They obviously thought otherwise because they ran us ragged straight after the kick off. For about tem minutes they ripped us apart. Ive thought right from the start of this season that we were too easily sliced open between the full backs and center halfs and they exploited that all too easily. Their goal came from exactly that sort of situation.
Even at one down and plenty of time left I thought we could still win it. And why not, given our goal scoring potential.
Unfortunately potential and actuality are two different things. The fans have every right to expect but Jermaine Beckford does not. Someone should tell him that he has the shirt on and he has to make things happen. In fact by the end of the game most fans around us were getting mighty pissed off with his lacklustre movement and distribution.
I think he could be the only player you can criticise for effort. Douggy, Bechio and Robinson were putting loads of energy into it. The full backs were busy and getting forward and in all honesty I thought we were doing most things right. Time and time again though we let ourselves down in the last third. It was woeful. For all Becchios endeavour he just didn’t produce the telling pass or shot on goal. Despite Robinsons strong running his delivery was either wayward or straight to the opposition. Douggy was bringing the ball up field and feeding the overlapping backs but for all our possession we never actually threatened goal. Their second was really incidental but it put us out of our misery.
Three substitutions were a bit telling as well I think and maybe testament to Maccas possible shortcomings. Howson and Delph together is not strong enough and despite them being excellent players I think it really was a game to far for them both. By the time three subs came on we had lost all shape and continuity. Snodgrass added some danger to our attacks but it was still the same negligible activity in the box. I reckon we can afford to lose nine games this season. This was one that shouldn’t have been in that equation.
Great support and craic from the Leeds fans, especially when we split into the Home and away section. Suppose we had to because the Peterbro fans were pathetic. I really wouldn’t bother if it meant as little as it seemed to do to them.
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I might Be Middle Class but I'm Hard. Al Dente you might say
