Leeds 1-1 Wolves: Verdict Thread

[Alan]

We didn't press Leeds but that surely wasn't a poor decision on its face; Leeds aren't peak Barcelona or anything but the teams they beat are usually the ones who try to beat them at their own game. I mean, we all saw what happened when they started being able to isolate our defenders 1v1. Defending in numbers is the best way to keep a team like that out.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

The aggression at winning the ball back in midfield has definitely changed. We've gone from that high pressing to back to holding shape

I don't know about that. Joao was still winning the ball high up the park vs Newcastle. Less so vs Leeds as he managed to get himself booked after four minutes.

If Donck could be a bit less shit that would help. He isn't really doing anything at the moment and he's a better player than that.

 

[Tony Towner]

It's not Leeds though, it is every game from Brentford (didn't see Watford) onwards. Results have had a significant upturn, but I don't see how anyone can say we are stylistically playing the same. Not even saying one is right or wrong, but it's definitely different

 

[YoungWolf]

The aggression at winning the ball back in midfield has definitely changed. We've gone from that high pressing to back to holding shape

Agree with this. Especially when we lose the ball, we’ve been far slower to win it back. I’d imagine our PPDA is far lower now for example

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's not Leeds though, it is every game from Brentford (didn't see Watford) onwards. Results have had a significant upturn, but I don't see how anyone can say we are stylistically playing the same. Not even saying one is right or wrong, but it's definitely different

It's not though is it.

Are we deeper?
Are we playing a different system?
Are we hoofing it rather than passing it?
Have we picked markedly different players that would indicate a change in style?

I don't think any of that applies.

What you might be seeing is what Lage likes to do (or at least what he likes to do with these players) when we go 1-0 up. We didn't know that in August. You can hate him or like him for that.

I think we're a mid-table team with a lower mid-table manager, with profit on the balance sheet and wankers on the executive team. I'm not thrilled by that but I don't quite get the angst. It was pretty obvious what we were signing up for, more fool us.

 

[Johnny75]

It's not though is it.

Are we deeper? Definitely yes
Are we playing a different system? No
Are we hoofing it rather than passing it? Yes
Have we picked markedly different players that would indicate a change in style? No but we're asking them to do different things.

I don't think any of that applies.

What you might be seeing is what Lage likes to do (or at least what he likes to do with these players) when we go 1-0 up. We didn't know that in August. You can hate him or like him for that.

I think we're a mid-table team with a lower mid-table manager, with profit on the balance sheet and wankers on the executive team. I'm not thrilled by that but I don't quite get the angst. It was pretty obvious what we were signing up for, more fool us.

I think it's very different.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Who are we asking to do any different? It isn't the centre halves, it isn't Semedo and Marçal is an attacking void anyway. Our CMs are what they are.

I genuinely don't see this mate.

 

[YoungWolf]

Not sure we are deeper (except when leading as you mentioned I think) but definitely more passive. Struggling to find the patterns we had in the first 3/4 games for consistent periods too.

 

[Johnny75]

Who are we asking to do any different? It isn't the centre halves, it isn't Semedo and Marçal is an attacking void anyway. Our CMs are what they are.

I genuinely don't see this mate.

The front 3 were very fluid in the first 4 games which is why we created so many chances. Adama in particular with his movement of the ball was almost a different player playing in the inside left position.

Now he's back on the right and it's as static as ever when he's there. And that's because Hwang is on the left. Hwang is far better at running off the shoulder and taking players away but against Villa he was asked to hold the ball up and we hoofed it to him.

We then hoofed it into the channels second half against Leeds or at Raul's head.

In the first few games Moutinho was much higher up the pitch and allowed Saiss room to stroll out of defence whilst having passing lanes as well as a moving Adama to hit. All that has gone now, partly because Hwang's first touch is shite but mainly because João is sat 5 yds in front of Saiss.

Kilman has the same problem with a static Adama on the right and Donk being total fucking shite with his running and position. Neves was doing a much better job with João in the centre of midfield and really moving the ball well in the midfield third, always looking for that forward pass.

We were playing mainly in the midfield third and on the front foot with that pairing.

I thought Donk would give us energy and steel in the middle of the pitch to win the ball back higher but he's been awful and shouldn't play again unless he gets that drive back (as he did against Spurs).

The players really aren't doing what they were doing and I've no idea why.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

So Donck is being Dave Edwards minus the random goalscoring runs, Joao is old, Adama has gone into the rubbish cycle of him being him (none of this will ever change), Hwang is a bit weird in that he can look top class and Sunday League in the same five minutes, and we miss Trincao.

Yeah, fine.

But none of these are tactical changes, are they?

The manager hasn't said "we lost all these games 1-0 so play like this". He hasn't changed a jot tactically.

 

[redvictor]

To be fair, perhaps I explained it poorly (very likely). The preference would be for us to win every game while playing sexy football.

We would then be in a red strip and playing home games at Anfield!
There's some great points posted today. I just think he's going to want to get as many points as possible before the December fuck fest arrives. Then get some fresh legs in January and start playing sexy football again. Or..... he could be planning on it next week!

 

[Alan]

You'd imagine that Bruno has been in Jeff/whoever's ear a lot this season. He was willing to public about the squad's needs before so I can only guess that he's doing it in private, as well.

If January passes by without at least one promising/exciting senior signing, I think I'll end up in the same boat as the likes of Dan, Tony, and Johnny in terms of losing complete faith in our current overlords.

 

[redvictor]

You'd imagine that Bruno has been in Jeff/whoever's ear a lot this season. He was willing to public about the squad's needs before so I can only guess that he's doing it in private, as well.

If January passes by without at least one promising/exciting senior signing, I think I'll end up in the same boat as the likes of Dan, Tony, and Johnny in terms of losing complete faith in our current overlords.

You'd hope so on the latter, but being the new guy he's had to accept what he's got for now, until he gets his feet a little more under the table..

 

[Jinky]

Not sure how I feel about Raul (or any of our players) interacting with fans of other clubs when they’re accused of cheating. Is it good that he’s replied after being called out, or should he be avoiding this kind of discussion?

 

[The Bear]

Shouldn't be engaging with them.

 

[Johnny75]

View attachment 4519

Not sure how I feel about Raul (or any of our players) interacting with fans of other clubs when they’re accused of cheating. Is it good that he’s replied after being called out, or should he be avoiding this kind of discussion?

Isn't it just a social media person the club employ to look after Raul's account?

In which case they should be ignoring it.

 

[Alan]

If he keeps his responses to that then I don't mind.

Agree that he's asking for trouble by doing so, though.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Just decided to watch the first half again. So many opportunities to break and get at them in 1v1 situations in the first 35 mins of that game. But so many poor passes, poor decisions or poor passes meant the opportunity was stopped in the halfway line.

Leeds we’re useless. So much lack of quality in the attacking third meant that they created nothing and we were totally untroubled.

Not sure I want to re watch the second half!

 

[Alan]

In fairness, I think Leeds were toothless in part because we were astute with our defensive tactics. It was partly them being a team that is inconsistent (sound familiar?) but, IMO, equally was about our good work in shepherding the likes of Raphinha into positions where he/they couldn't really hurt us.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Leeds must be top of the league in twatty haircuts though - manbuns, pigtails, custard dips aplenty.