23-08-2015, 10:24
A POINT GAINED OR TWO LOST?
As usual we take the lead at Leeds but end up with a point.
At half time, we had played it pretty much perfectly by snuffing out their dangers and taking our single chance for a perfect smash & grab raid. Second half, we gave them too much space and offered little threat going forward.
The first half was largely nondescript except for a moment of genius by Matias, who scored a la Gascoigne in Euro 96 by flicking it over the defenders head and volleying home brilliantly. Leeds were restricted to a handful of chances but Wood & Antenucci kept running offside. My only concern was that eventually one of them would stay onside & take their chance.
Even in the first half, it was clear that Nuhiu's lack of movement meant that we had limited scoring options so they concentrated on shackling Matias & Sougou, leaving us little threat.
It appeared that we sat back in the second half. Doubt that was the plan but Hutchinson & Lee ended up deeper & deeper and Leeds controlled the match well in our half. Sougou & Matias offered less & less threat and Nuhiu offered nothing.
The goal appeared to be inevitable. Lee gave the ball away cheaply, Wiggins was easily nutmegged and Lees fell asleep, leaving Wood with a simple tap in. Full credit to Leeds for a well worked goal but we have to do better defensively. How Lees got the SKY MOTM, I don't know.
After that, it was hanging on for a point although Palmer made one very good break and if he had looked left could have set up an easy goal.
Price - 6 - easy afternoon, no chance for goal
Palmer - 6 - solid performance
Lees - 5 - lost Wood too many times
Sasso - 6 - looked assured
Wiggins - 5 - caught out of position a bit
Semedo - 6 - good first half but gave ball away too much
Hutchinson - 6 - good energy but too many poor challenges
Lee - 6 - good with the ball apart from the goal but positionally poor defensively
Sougou - 5 - little impact on game
Nuhiu - 4 - the ball just bounces off him
Matias - 6 - wonder goal then tired
.............................................................
Hunt - 6
Helan - 6
Lopez - 6
Matias did what he does, scored the goal but did little else. That is why you have your best player on the pitch because in a few seconds, he can win you the match. Sadly, we couldn't defend that goal. We need a striker that has pace because that makes it far harder for opposition defenders because they cannot defend so high. That is why we scored so many when we had Antonio. Joao looks like he will do the job but he is probably a couple of years away. We need someone as a stop gap for this season.
Tuesday night's team should be selected with the Boro match in mind so we should rest Hutchinson and give starts to Sougou & Joao.
In my mind, it was two points dropped because I don't think Leeds are particularly good. However, it will take time to get it together & I expect we will pick up momentum as the season progresses. If we get through in the LC & get something off Boro then we can build on that.
Match Stats:
Most Attempts:
Wood 7
Antenucci 5
Matias 3
Phillips 2
Dallas 2
Most Tackles:
Taylor 4
Bamba 3
Adeyemi 3
Palmer 3
Lee 3
Most Dribbles:
Bamba 2
Antenucci 1
Dallas 1
Sasso 1
Passing Accuracy:
Lopez 100%
Hutchinson 81%
Sasso 79%
Palmer 76%
Lees 75%
Lee 69%
Wiggins 68%
Matias 67%
Hunt 67%
Semedo 65%
Sougou 64%
Helan 60%
Price 54%
Nuhiu 53%
Key Passes:
Palmer 3
Lee 2
Hutchinson 1
Shots on Target:
Matias 2
Palmer 1
Total Touches:
Nuhiu 47
Price 46
Palmer 46
Lees 44
Sasso 44
Hutchinson 40
Lee 37
Matias 31
Wiggins 29
Sougou 28
Semedo 22
Helan 7
Hunt 5
Lopez 5
As usual we take the lead at Leeds but end up with a point.
At half time, we had played it pretty much perfectly by snuffing out their dangers and taking our single chance for a perfect smash & grab raid. Second half, we gave them too much space and offered little threat going forward.
The first half was largely nondescript except for a moment of genius by Matias, who scored a la Gascoigne in Euro 96 by flicking it over the defenders head and volleying home brilliantly. Leeds were restricted to a handful of chances but Wood & Antenucci kept running offside. My only concern was that eventually one of them would stay onside & take their chance.
Even in the first half, it was clear that Nuhiu's lack of movement meant that we had limited scoring options so they concentrated on shackling Matias & Sougou, leaving us little threat.
It appeared that we sat back in the second half. Doubt that was the plan but Hutchinson & Lee ended up deeper & deeper and Leeds controlled the match well in our half. Sougou & Matias offered less & less threat and Nuhiu offered nothing.
The goal appeared to be inevitable. Lee gave the ball away cheaply, Wiggins was easily nutmegged and Lees fell asleep, leaving Wood with a simple tap in. Full credit to Leeds for a well worked goal but we have to do better defensively. How Lees got the SKY MOTM, I don't know.
After that, it was hanging on for a point although Palmer made one very good break and if he had looked left could have set up an easy goal.
Price - 6 - easy afternoon, no chance for goal
Palmer - 6 - solid performance
Lees - 5 - lost Wood too many times
Sasso - 6 - looked assured
Wiggins - 5 - caught out of position a bit
Semedo - 6 - good first half but gave ball away too much
Hutchinson - 6 - good energy but too many poor challenges
Lee - 6 - good with the ball apart from the goal but positionally poor defensively
Sougou - 5 - little impact on game
Nuhiu - 4 - the ball just bounces off him
Matias - 6 - wonder goal then tired
.............................................................
Hunt - 6
Helan - 6
Lopez - 6
Matias did what he does, scored the goal but did little else. That is why you have your best player on the pitch because in a few seconds, he can win you the match. Sadly, we couldn't defend that goal. We need a striker that has pace because that makes it far harder for opposition defenders because they cannot defend so high. That is why we scored so many when we had Antonio. Joao looks like he will do the job but he is probably a couple of years away. We need someone as a stop gap for this season.
Tuesday night's team should be selected with the Boro match in mind so we should rest Hutchinson and give starts to Sougou & Joao.
In my mind, it was two points dropped because I don't think Leeds are particularly good. However, it will take time to get it together & I expect we will pick up momentum as the season progresses. If we get through in the LC & get something off Boro then we can build on that.
Match Stats:
Most Attempts:
Wood 7
Antenucci 5
Matias 3
Phillips 2
Dallas 2
Most Tackles:
Taylor 4
Bamba 3
Adeyemi 3
Palmer 3
Lee 3
Most Dribbles:
Bamba 2
Antenucci 1
Dallas 1
Sasso 1
Passing Accuracy:
Lopez 100%
Hutchinson 81%
Sasso 79%
Palmer 76%
Lees 75%
Lee 69%
Wiggins 68%
Matias 67%
Hunt 67%
Semedo 65%
Sougou 64%
Helan 60%
Price 54%
Nuhiu 53%
Key Passes:
Palmer 3
Lee 2
Hutchinson 1
Shots on Target:
Matias 2
Palmer 1
Total Touches:
Nuhiu 47
Price 46
Palmer 46
Lees 44
Sasso 44
Hutchinson 40
Lee 37
Matias 31
Wiggins 29
Sougou 28
Semedo 22
Helan 7
Hunt 5
Lopez 5
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.