I didn’t agree with Darren’s starting 11 today and I was quite harsh with my criticism but to be fair to him it did work well in that first half (I will be reserving my criticism next time for if it’s needed) especially with Holgate and Gibbs pushing forward and putting crosses in and the movement of the three strikers.
Where he messed up was in the second half. As soon as Norwich brought off Buendia and brought on Srbeny, Darren should have been looking to make a change in the following ten minutes as Norwich started to get more into the game. For a start he could have brought off one of our three strikers and brought on Leko and gone to a 4411 with Leko covering Holgate and Brunt on the left covering Gibbs and one of the remaining strikers playing deeper than the other. Instead he didn’t change it and Norwich kept pushing. When he eventually made the change, it was like for like with Sako on for Gayle and then Leko was a waste of a substitution.
Darren’s problem this season has been his substitutions. Sometimes he has been very good and other times complacent. He no longer has the supporting excuse of being a novice Head Coach because he’s over half the season through so far. He really does need to find more consistency and if needs be have even more help on the touchline from Jones and Shan.
Anyway, we’re only 3 points off Norwich and Sheffield United so we’re still ok. Norwich are in somewhat of an inconsistent patch now and I’m still certain that Leeds will have a typical Bielsa second half of the season.
Where he messed up was in the second half. As soon as Norwich brought off Buendia and brought on Srbeny, Darren should have been looking to make a change in the following ten minutes as Norwich started to get more into the game. For a start he could have brought off one of our three strikers and brought on Leko and gone to a 4411 with Leko covering Holgate and Brunt on the left covering Gibbs and one of the remaining strikers playing deeper than the other. Instead he didn’t change it and Norwich kept pushing. When he eventually made the change, it was like for like with Sako on for Gayle and then Leko was a waste of a substitution.
Darren’s problem this season has been his substitutions. Sometimes he has been very good and other times complacent. He no longer has the supporting excuse of being a novice Head Coach because he’s over half the season through so far. He really does need to find more consistency and if needs be have even more help on the touchline from Jones and Shan.
Anyway, we’re only 3 points off Norwich and Sheffield United so we’re still ok. Norwich are in somewhat of an inconsistent patch now and I’m still certain that Leeds will have a typical Bielsa second half of the season.