20 Feb 2021 06:13:31
Leeds United have lost 50% of matches: 12 out of 24 ; that is really too high a percentage of defeats even for a newly promoted club.
There continues to be a (very) serious issue with Bielsa's Leeds in that if we concede the first goal we nearly always lose. (The Leicester away game was the exception) . This issue must be resolved asap.
Some of Bielsa's Leeds United team of players need to toughen up more mentally and in their matchplay and help turn at least some of these defeats into draws or wins, whichever it be, deserved or heaven forbid undeserved ( that would make for a pleasant change) !
And along with hopefully this extra newly found matchday toughness, can we please have more luck with not conceding own goals, a little more justice with VAR and referees, less profligacy in front of goal etc. Thank you.
P. S. on a plus point it is gratifying to see that we now look potent in scoring from corners.
20 Feb 2021 06:24:43
You get more points winning half your games than drawing all of them.
20 Feb 2021 07:41:37
Yes of course Alf that is factually correct.
And thankfully Leeds United have won 10 games.
Although neither have Leeds won half their games and they could certainly do better to turn some of the defeats into draws at the very least.
20 Feb 2021 07:47:50
Not sure if you’ve noticed but we’ve won 10 games, which is a pretty high number, even for an established premier league club.
Also on average the team scoring first wins c.80% of matches (c.85% at home, 75% away) . Looking at our season in the league we’ve won 2, drawn 1 and lost 9 when the other team scores first, so the team scoring first won 75% of the time. So Leeds are actually better when conceding first than the average. Maybe we don’t have a very serious issue to resolve ASAP, but you’d just prefer it if we never lost?
20 Feb 2021 08:09:15
Yes of course I am fully aware we had won 10 games Brockley which in itself is very good.
And if you are actually correct about the 80% figure ( seems high to me ) then fair enough.
But if Leeds are ever to make progress from a lower half table team then the types of avoidable defeats against Wolves twice, Everton etc need to be turned into draws or wins.
20 Feb 2021 08:15:21
I can see where you’re coming from BV and I think it hurts because defeats like last week at Arsenal are down to individual errors. Again, I personally do not believe it’s down to a lack of mental toughness coaching or tactical nous on the part of our manager but individual errors, or simply being forced to play with players we all know would be lucky to make the bench when everyone is fit and available (Alioski)
In cold light of day these players have been found out and will be eased out certainly for next season. I do think the club failed to prepare for the loss of Phillips, reliance on a Forshaw return?
If we could only improve one area of our team for next year for me it would midfield definitely need a good DM and a creative Midfielder I think Drameh and Huggins could cover full backs, don’t get me wrong I want a specialist left back but I believe our midfield has been the primary factor for those 12 losses Coops and all.
Either by not protecting the back four, lack of goals and creativity.
Yes 12 is more than we would want but actually not shocked for a newly promoted side forced by injury to play its Championship Team from last year.
Fulham only lost 11 but only three wins WBA lost 15 and Blunts 19 so I’m still giving the team a B+ -A- for the season to date.
Hope we get to play our full side at least once before season ends then maybe we can truly compare.
20 Feb 2021 09:08:04
Good points Class yes individual errors certainly and some players not being quite good enough
Still believe that some of the players who are technically good enough need to improve their mental toughness and Winners mentality.
20 Feb 2021 11:48:37
As I said our problem is simple we are the worst team at defending which means we have to play well and work hard for every goal yet other teams can play bad and get easy goals against us . this has to stop as ultimately it means we are underachieving.
20 Feb 2021 12:32:18
I thought actually we defended quite well yesterday Berm, the problem was that they scored that all important first goal a fortuitous goal at that, from which Leeds almost always lose.