You Must Reflect After A Good Night’s Sleep!
Leeds United 1-2 Carlisle United
League One Play-off semi-final 1st leg
Leaving the ground last night I was absolutely livid, pure raw emotional anger. Today I am a little calmer but still seriously concerned at the manner of Leeds’ performance last night and the fact that they have wasted a fantastic opportunity and set themselves up for what is now the hardest challenge of the season on Thursday night.
In front of a packed Elland Road, the Leeds players gave an abject performance devoid of skill, pace, passing, movement, width, and (almost) goals. I don’t understand how they could not have been motivated for a game like that, how they were second to every ball, how they couldn’t control the ball or pass it, why the ball was hoofed to Freedman repeatedly. Why can’t they just get it right when it matters?
There is a team collective I know, but nevertheless there are some individuals who could be held accountable for last night’s defeat. I could actually tear the whole team to pieces but a few key players will suffice.
Jonathan Douglas
The “big money” signing from the Championship days. The captain of the side. According to some, the key influence and difference between winning streaks and losing streaks. In fact I read one statistic that Leeds haven’t lost at Elland Road when Douglas has been in the starting eleven since the defeat in March 2007 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
I haven’t verified this but if it is true I can only imagine it to be one of the greatest coincidences in the history of the world. When we paid nearly £500,000 for Douglas in the Championship he wasn’t good enough. When we were relegated there was a possibility that having previously been a Premier League player, he could shine in League One. Sadly, there is no division in professional football where Douglas’ ability to pass and shoot is acceptable, nor is there any football ground in the world (where supporters pay to watch their team) that would stand watching the team captain give up on the half way line, having lost the ball, whilst the opposition ran through and scored against an over-exposed defence. In a game of absolutely massive significance. I was, and still am, completely appalled.
Frazer Richardson
Frazer is a committed Leeds player, of that there is no doubt. His work rate is outstanding. Always has been and always will be.
However, whilst he gives everything he sadly offers nothing. Clumsy in the tackle, unable to keep his feet and composure at key times. No creativity going forward (the looking-at-the-floor run down a blind alley) and when a cross eventually finds its way in – and in fact there were quite a few last night to be fair – they are lacking in quality, precision or direction. Unless of course the training ground routine is to avoid a Leeds player at all costs, in which case he can claim to be the most technically brilliant player ever to have lived.
Those are his faults, and there are many. But Frazer doesn’t pick the team. Neither does Tresor Kandol. More on him later.
Dougie Freedman
Whilst clearly the inappropriate target of the static hoofball tactic adopted last night, Freedman’s performance was way below par. This perhaps takes greater significance because he is an experienced pro whose creativity and guile has made him, perhaps more than anyone, the crucial player in so many games since McAllister took over.
He must have known there was a heavy weight of expectation on his shoulders but his response was to go the other way; largely disinterested, no working back, no calming influence on Beckford. The number of times he tried to dribble round three or four men (which player can actually do that in the modern professional game – apart from Ronaldo?) when players were in better positions was unbelievably frustrating.
In the Championship Freedman is a substitute. In League One Freedman is a big-name, big impact player. You wouldn’t have known it last night.
Tresor Kandol
A lot is said about Kandol and he has come in for a hell of a lot of flak this season. He also got a lot of flak last season; I remember him allowing the ball to run out of play in his own half against Barnsley, at home, the score 0-0 (it might have been 1-1 actually) and with about five minutes to go when we needed to attack. I just couldn’t get my head round what he must have been thinking.
Sadly I am no closer to understanding this twelve months on. Watching Kandol last night, brought on in the second half with what must have been the single instruction of getting in amongst the Carlisle defenders and causing them problems, I again struggled to understand what was going through his mind. He seems to be happy simply to hold the ball 40 yards from goal, pass to a team mate and “job done”. Alternatively when there is no-one to pass to he tries his luck by shooting from just about anywhere. Interestingly, the closer to the goal he is, the further away from it the ball ends up.
Simply put, he is not a footballer. Well certainly not in any recognisable sense (control, passing, movement, heading, shooting, etc.). I can honestly say I think more footballing talent exists in amoeba on Saturn than in Tresor Kandol. He is truly awful and without a single redeeming footballing feature. He is sluggish to react and this makes him appear lazy which is also something I cannot abide. He does appears to be brow-beaten by the criticism he receives from the stands and his confidence is suffering as a result. For a well-paid professional at his level, I have no sympathy whatsoever.
That said, and as with Frazer Richardson, Kandol does not pick the team. They are both asked to wear the shirt and both do so without hesitation. They are both asked to do a job and, repeatedly, they do not. So where does the criticism lie? In the players for having no technical ability, or for the management team for failing to acknowledge that they will simply not get results using players of that calibre? I would say the latter, particularly where there are alternatives available.
Gary McAllister
I am a big fan of Gary Mac. I think he has done a fantastic job since he arrived, given the circumstances and disarray when he arrived at the club. I think there can be no doubt, however, that he got it tactically wrong last night.
1. Bradley Johnson is a central midfielder. He has a good left foot and therefore has been played on the left where he has become pretty effective. He is not a left back; never has been and never will be.
2. David Prutton is not a left midfielder.
3. Neil Kilkenny is not a right midfielder.
4. With Rui Marques on the bench, Paul Huntington was not the right choice at centre back.
5. Frazer Richardson is not the right choice at right-back.
6. Jonathan Douglas is not worthy of a place in the starting eleven, but if his influence is so great (Huddersfield away anyone?) he can sit on the bench and come on in the second half to save the day.
7. Where is Darren Kenton?
Suggested starting eleven for the second leg…
GK Ankegren
RB Huntington (unless Kenton is fit or reappears)
LB Andrew Hughes (or Huntington)
CB Rui Marques
CB Lubo Michalik
RM David Prutton
CM Jonny Howson
CM Neil Kilkenny
LM Bradley Johnson
CF Beckford
CF Freedman (c)
This is, I think, our strongest line-up. Howson and Kilkenny are both talented footballers. Kilkenny was out of position last night and when he was moved to the centre of midfield he controlled the game. His passing rarely went astray (pity the same could not be said for the rest of the midfield) and he has the vision that can split defences and cause problems. Why he is not played there week in, week out is beyond me. Howson was disappointing but he has shown himself to be a great learner so he deserves his second chance on Thursday.
As always though, I remain optimistic now the dust has settled. Maybe, just maybe, that goal in the sixth minute of injury time could be the most important goal in the history of Leeds United. The odds are against us and I blame the team for that. It was in our hands. Now we have to take it out of Carlisle's on Thursday night.
Marching on Together
League One Play-off semi-final 1st leg
Leaving the ground last night I was absolutely livid, pure raw emotional anger. Today I am a little calmer but still seriously concerned at the manner of Leeds’ performance last night and the fact that they have wasted a fantastic opportunity and set themselves up for what is now the hardest challenge of the season on Thursday night.
In front of a packed Elland Road, the Leeds players gave an abject performance devoid of skill, pace, passing, movement, width, and (almost) goals. I don’t understand how they could not have been motivated for a game like that, how they were second to every ball, how they couldn’t control the ball or pass it, why the ball was hoofed to Freedman repeatedly. Why can’t they just get it right when it matters?
There is a team collective I know, but nevertheless there are some individuals who could be held accountable for last night’s defeat. I could actually tear the whole team to pieces but a few key players will suffice.
Jonathan Douglas
The “big money” signing from the Championship days. The captain of the side. According to some, the key influence and difference between winning streaks and losing streaks. In fact I read one statistic that Leeds haven’t lost at Elland Road when Douglas has been in the starting eleven since the defeat in March 2007 at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
I haven’t verified this but if it is true I can only imagine it to be one of the greatest coincidences in the history of the world. When we paid nearly £500,000 for Douglas in the Championship he wasn’t good enough. When we were relegated there was a possibility that having previously been a Premier League player, he could shine in League One. Sadly, there is no division in professional football where Douglas’ ability to pass and shoot is acceptable, nor is there any football ground in the world (where supporters pay to watch their team) that would stand watching the team captain give up on the half way line, having lost the ball, whilst the opposition ran through and scored against an over-exposed defence. In a game of absolutely massive significance. I was, and still am, completely appalled.
Frazer Richardson
Frazer is a committed Leeds player, of that there is no doubt. His work rate is outstanding. Always has been and always will be.
However, whilst he gives everything he sadly offers nothing. Clumsy in the tackle, unable to keep his feet and composure at key times. No creativity going forward (the looking-at-the-floor run down a blind alley) and when a cross eventually finds its way in – and in fact there were quite a few last night to be fair – they are lacking in quality, precision or direction. Unless of course the training ground routine is to avoid a Leeds player at all costs, in which case he can claim to be the most technically brilliant player ever to have lived.
Those are his faults, and there are many. But Frazer doesn’t pick the team. Neither does Tresor Kandol. More on him later.
Dougie Freedman
Whilst clearly the inappropriate target of the static hoofball tactic adopted last night, Freedman’s performance was way below par. This perhaps takes greater significance because he is an experienced pro whose creativity and guile has made him, perhaps more than anyone, the crucial player in so many games since McAllister took over.
He must have known there was a heavy weight of expectation on his shoulders but his response was to go the other way; largely disinterested, no working back, no calming influence on Beckford. The number of times he tried to dribble round three or four men (which player can actually do that in the modern professional game – apart from Ronaldo?) when players were in better positions was unbelievably frustrating.
In the Championship Freedman is a substitute. In League One Freedman is a big-name, big impact player. You wouldn’t have known it last night.
Tresor Kandol
A lot is said about Kandol and he has come in for a hell of a lot of flak this season. He also got a lot of flak last season; I remember him allowing the ball to run out of play in his own half against Barnsley, at home, the score 0-0 (it might have been 1-1 actually) and with about five minutes to go when we needed to attack. I just couldn’t get my head round what he must have been thinking.
Sadly I am no closer to understanding this twelve months on. Watching Kandol last night, brought on in the second half with what must have been the single instruction of getting in amongst the Carlisle defenders and causing them problems, I again struggled to understand what was going through his mind. He seems to be happy simply to hold the ball 40 yards from goal, pass to a team mate and “job done”. Alternatively when there is no-one to pass to he tries his luck by shooting from just about anywhere. Interestingly, the closer to the goal he is, the further away from it the ball ends up.
Simply put, he is not a footballer. Well certainly not in any recognisable sense (control, passing, movement, heading, shooting, etc.). I can honestly say I think more footballing talent exists in amoeba on Saturn than in Tresor Kandol. He is truly awful and without a single redeeming footballing feature. He is sluggish to react and this makes him appear lazy which is also something I cannot abide. He does appears to be brow-beaten by the criticism he receives from the stands and his confidence is suffering as a result. For a well-paid professional at his level, I have no sympathy whatsoever.
That said, and as with Frazer Richardson, Kandol does not pick the team. They are both asked to wear the shirt and both do so without hesitation. They are both asked to do a job and, repeatedly, they do not. So where does the criticism lie? In the players for having no technical ability, or for the management team for failing to acknowledge that they will simply not get results using players of that calibre? I would say the latter, particularly where there are alternatives available.
Gary McAllister
I am a big fan of Gary Mac. I think he has done a fantastic job since he arrived, given the circumstances and disarray when he arrived at the club. I think there can be no doubt, however, that he got it tactically wrong last night.
1. Bradley Johnson is a central midfielder. He has a good left foot and therefore has been played on the left where he has become pretty effective. He is not a left back; never has been and never will be.
2. David Prutton is not a left midfielder.
3. Neil Kilkenny is not a right midfielder.
4. With Rui Marques on the bench, Paul Huntington was not the right choice at centre back.
5. Frazer Richardson is not the right choice at right-back.
6. Jonathan Douglas is not worthy of a place in the starting eleven, but if his influence is so great (Huddersfield away anyone?) he can sit on the bench and come on in the second half to save the day.
7. Where is Darren Kenton?
Suggested starting eleven for the second leg…
GK Ankegren
RB Huntington (unless Kenton is fit or reappears)
LB Andrew Hughes (or Huntington)
CB Rui Marques
CB Lubo Michalik
RM David Prutton
CM Jonny Howson
CM Neil Kilkenny
LM Bradley Johnson
CF Beckford
CF Freedman (c)
This is, I think, our strongest line-up. Howson and Kilkenny are both talented footballers. Kilkenny was out of position last night and when he was moved to the centre of midfield he controlled the game. His passing rarely went astray (pity the same could not be said for the rest of the midfield) and he has the vision that can split defences and cause problems. Why he is not played there week in, week out is beyond me. Howson was disappointing but he has shown himself to be a great learner so he deserves his second chance on Thursday.
As always though, I remain optimistic now the dust has settled. Maybe, just maybe, that goal in the sixth minute of injury time could be the most important goal in the history of Leeds United. The odds are against us and I blame the team for that. It was in our hands. Now we have to take it out of Carlisle's on Thursday night.
Marching on Together
Comments
Ironically, I think we have a better chance in the 2nd leg because we're playing away in a less pressurised environment.
My nerves can't handle it - imagine penalties, imagine having to have faith in tresor kandol stepping up to score! (We actually have a half decent record of penalties - although we lost to leicester in league cup (1999?), we won on penalties against stoke in zenith data and maritimo in uefa cup
on on on
Bradley Johnson - incredible commitment.
Remember these are 3rd division footballers playing in the 3rd division, despite Elland Road and 36000 supporters.
I agree with Wizzy's team choice... ever thought of applying for the job? (Just think, you wouldn't have to fork out for another season ticket!!!)
And where is Kenton?