Leeds United (A) | Post Match Thread

[tizzerp]

I don't like saying this but I have to admit it: the Leeds crowd were making a hell of a racket, even at 2-0 down. Props to them. They were pushing their team and there was a rocky period after they scored, for a short while. All I could hear on the radio commentary was us in the first half. Great atmosphere all round. Anyone who was there confirm?
It strikes me that this is what we've got to do. We talk about this player and that player. We've got to make a fucking racket at the Etihad. Sometimes we do. But not often if we go behind. We have our part to play. I'm wary about making this statement, because finances make it difficult for me to get over at present, so it makes me look a bit hypocritical. But I do genuinely believe it — we have our part to play.

I was there and it was decent support from both home and away. Proper atmosphere with lots of banter without the coin throwing and sub human behaviour from the ferals at the western end of the M62. There are not many ground in the country where you would get the singing in the home end that there was when they went 2-0 down and looked down and out. Definitely must have motivated there players

 

[OB1]

I made a post about this last night. I found it odd that neither Mahrez or Grealish made concerted attacks from the wings. As soon as either received the ball, more often than not they passed back or sideways.

Jack revealed at the end of last season that he's has to curb his natural instinct to take on defenders & prioritise keeping possession instead. Far be it from me to advise Guardiola, but I think we need to introduce a bit of unpredictable maverick jeopardy from the wings.

I've never viewed Jack as a traditional winger. He's more of a left midfielder. We need dedicated wing wizardry on both sides, as this season it seems Mahrez's powers are waning & he'll be 32 next birthday too & he's the only dedicated winger we've got.

Agreed, our finishing was profligate last night & we must do better, but I must disagree that Mahrez was very good in either half.

We're in desperate need for a new overlapping left footed left back, a quick traditional winger or two. We just don't seem to have that Sterling/Sane option to switch our style of attack any longer.

We already know Gundog may leave in the summer & KDB will be 32 by then too, & we're STILL surrounded by Bernardo uncertainty... AGAIN! We've potentially got a very big midfield/winger rebuilding job ahead of us.

Mahrez had a good game. Best pass completion, most key passes (5 - which is very good), and one of his two shots caused their keeper enough problems to allow Rodri to score from the follow-up.

I agree that a pacy winger would be a useful addition to the mix. We defnitely need a true left-back.

I'd expect City to try and manage things so that only one of Bernie or Gundo leaves, and gets replaced by Bellingham, but there's no guarantees.

We could see a change at CB if press stories are to be believed, and it's not inconceivable Ake or Laporte wil want a move.

Four major signings would be a lot but presumably not beyond the bounds.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

Are you aware who our coach is or have you been away somewhere for the last 6 1/2 years?

Granted but even he was doing his fruit on the touch line at some of the decision making

it’s the only downside to Pep, we are so well coached that our play is automated. Sometimes we need the players to make decisions on the pitch that reflect the change in momentum

 

[OB1]

He was the best player on the pitch last night. A constant fucking pain in the arse for Leeds. He created the 2 goals that won us the game.

He got kicked all over the place but showed how tough he is by cracking on. If that’s not a top mentality I don’t know what is.

Ok he missed a couple of chances, who doesn’t?

Haaland missed 3 he should’ve put away. Perhaps he should join Jack for shooting practice?

Ffs get off his back and support him.

Has to be said Haaland did hit the target and work the keeper. Jack did balloon a couple of chances; the one he missed when stretching for the ball would be a could have gone anywhere for most players, although Erling seems to specialise in putting those in.

All the ones Jack missed where when it was 0-0 and you have to wonder if the added bit of pressure that induces, first goal being so important for City, played it's part i.e. practice may not be the key factor. Jack needs to (be able to) relax a bit when shooting. He has a huge spotlight being shine on him and is desperate to score more, maybe a bit too desperate. What is encourging is that he is getting in good positions to shoot. His magnificent work to assist the 2nd goal was crucial to the win.

 

[Dribble]

Mahrez had a good game. Best pass completion, most key passes (5 - which is very good), and one of his two shots caused their keeper enough problems to allow Rodri to score from the follow-up.

I agree that a pacy winger would be a useful addition to the mix. We defnitely need a true left-back.

I'd expect City to try and manage things so that only one of Bernie or Gundo leaves, and gets replaced by Bellingham, but there's no guarantees.

We could see a change at CB if press stories are to be believed, and it's not inconceivable Ake or Laporte wil want a move.

Four major signings would be a lot but presumably not beyond the bounds.

My observations weren't around stats as such, but based on watching both Grealish & Mahrez rarely taking their man on as traditional wingers, & choosing to pass sideways or backwards, therefore prioritising possession.

Has Guardiola lessened our attacking wing play in favour of retaining possession? Based on Grealish's comments & the evidence of last night, it seems so.

In our defence, we have to keep evolving, because we've seen many teams emulating our style of play as best they can, with many finding effective ways to stifle & counter us.

Perhaps our lack of speedy flying wingers in favour of technical passers is part of our evolution to find ways around how the opposition are approaching games against us.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Granted but even he was doing his fruit on the touch line at some of the decision making

it’s the only downside to Pep, we are so well coached that our play is automated. Sometimes we need the players to make decisions on the pitch that reflect the change in momentum

We lost in Madrid because Ederson started kicking long and giving the ball back to them not because we were trying to play out from the back. If we'd kept to our automated system we'd have been going to Paris.

 

[Groke]

I was there and it was decent support from both home and away. Proper atmosphere with lots of banter without the coin throwing and sub human behaviour from the ferals at the western end of the M62. There are not many ground in the country where you would get the singing in the home end that there was when they went 2-0 down and looked down and out. Definitely must have motivated there players

Not sure if they do it when they are 2-0 down against the likes of Fulham - fair play it they do.

 

[MadchesterCity]

He was the best player on the pitch last night. A constant fucking pain in the arse for Leeds. He created the 2 goals that won us the game.

He got kicked all over the place but showed how tough he is by cracking on. If that’s not a top mentality I don’t know what is.

Ok he missed a couple of chances, who doesn’t?

Haaland missed 3 he should’ve put away. Perhaps he should join Jack for shooting practice?

Ffs get off his back and support him.

I always do when I'm at the match

 

[jimharri]

I saw it some of the abuse Grealish got and some reactions were OTT. I've read back a few ' heated' pages this morning and it seems some of the nastier comments have either been removed by you mods or deleted by the poster. Probably that latter, jim.

I didn't delete anything from the thread. Not that I wasn't sorely tempted.

 

[Cricket Blue]

Good performance, Grealish did well, he just needs to relax more.
The end game management needs to be a lot better, very sloppy again last night.