[Archived] Leeds United preview

[thenodrog]

Hes not that though Mike is he.

Have to ask do you want to see Rovers playing championship football forever and a day.

Careful. In years to come JAL you might yearn for championship football.

[1864roverite]

I was impressed by Rovers on Saturday. at times solid, frustrating and effective.

I am worried about a lack of service to J Rhodes. I am concerned by the inability of the central midfield slots when we give the ball away in the middle. I am concerned by the frustrating play of the sometime enigmatic Josh King.

I suppose the next 2 games sort of makes or breaks our season. If we take 4 points it would be a wonderful return, I would even take 2 draws. Going to be 2 very tough away games.

The defence are doing well, hope they keep it together this week.

[RevidgeBlue]

There wasn't too much too criticise about Saturday's performance but our main weakness imo is still that the midfield leave Rhodes too isolated.

There were times on Saturday when Rhodes and at some points Taylor were working their socks off trying to close the opposition defenders down but then there was a forty yard gap as the midfield sat tamely back just inside their own half.

[RevidgeBlue]

As a minor irritant, when the Leeds keeper came up for those corners on the 90th minute, DJ was lurking just outside our area but GB appeared to wave him back into defence resulting in 22 players inside our own penalty area thereby inviting extra pressure on ourselves.

When the keeper came up I don't know why we didn't promptly order DJ onto the half way line meaning Leeds would have had to have left at least 2 defenders back and possibly the keeper would have had to retreat as well.

[FGS5635]

As a minor irritant, when the Leeds keeper came up for those corners on the 90th minute, DJ was lurking just outside our area but GB appeared to wave him back into defence resulting in 22 players inside our own penalty area thereby inviting extra pressure on ourselves.

When the keeper came up I don't know why we didn't promptly order DJ onto the half way line meaning Leeds would have had to have left at least 2 defenders back and possibly the keeper would have had to retreat as well.

Thats a good point, especially when you consider Dj is 4 foot 6 and pretty pointless in there anyway

[arbitro]

As a minor irritant, when the Leeds keeper came up for those corners on the 90th minute, DJ was lurking just outside our area but GB appeared to wave him back into defence resulting in 22 players inside our own penalty area thereby inviting extra pressure on ourselves.

When the keeper came up I don't know why we didn't promptly order DJ onto the half way line meaning Leeds would have had to have left at least 2 defenders back and possibly the keeper would have had to retreat as well.

I have made this point several times this season where invariably we bring everybody back for the opposition corners. The exception to this was at Burnley when Todd Kane went up front. Surely as the home team we should be leaving at least two up, preferably King would be one of them to try and capitalise on his pace.

[FGS5635]

The trouble is it becomes a game of cat and mouse. What if they call our bluff, which they should if losing so late in the game and we have unmarked players in our area

[RevidgeBlue]

Agree, I'd have stuck King and DJ on the half way line to try and relieve the congestion and give us an outlet if we won the ball back.

[arbitro]

The trouble is it becomes a game of cat and mouse. What if they call our bluff, which they should if losing so late in the game and we have unmarked players in our area

I don't think any manager would do that. Late in the game they might not keep a spare man at the back but I'm certain they would at least match us up.

[FGS5635]

I don't think any manager would do that. Late in the game they might not keep a spare man at the back but I'm certain they would at least match us up.

Pointless though, may as well lose 2-0 going for 1-1 than 1-0. Worth a risk with DJ as he's a midget and useless in our box though

[Majiball]

Are people figuring out the big big difference between 1st team and the ressies/youth? Bowyers spent years developing players and results aren't so important as long as the players grow. Now though it's win at all costs and Bowyer must up his game tactically, where as before it wasn't a key factor now it's the be all and end all.

[JonnyBRFC]

According the the Rovers LT reporter, Paul Wheelcock, the Cairney central and Taylor behind Rhodes was a planned move and has been worked on in training. Think it shows GB does have the nous to change things around and with good success.

[Majiball]

According the the Rovers LT reporter, Paul Wheelcock, the Cairney central and Taylor behind Rhodes was a planned move and has been worked on in training. Think it shows GB does have the nous to change things around and with good success.

He needs to start showing it in the match now, that he can see how to change the game to our benefit. We've seen he can do it with success with Bournemouth away as you said with preperation, now he needs to work on that during the game itself.

[Leonard Venkhater]

I prefer to think of him as the Mark Atkins of today. Never eye candy but all teams need one.

I've noticed a growing undercurrent of hate amongst the sheep against Lowe. It is quite tangible. So to all the supporters that always need a hate figure and now that PublicEnemy No1 MGP has gone dont look for the next scapegoat just get off his keaning back!

Dead right. Interesting how passing time re assessed Atkins' contribution, as well.

The problem with scapegoats is that by definition, they have to replaced, as long as the general problem/dissatisfactio/anger remains.Rovers fans scapegoating of Jimmy Quinn cost the club a bucket of money and loads of goals.

.I do worry about the possible damage that could be done to Lowe's confidence and development.

Certainly, I will never forget the forlorn, isolated figure of Mark Atkins trudging from the field after his desperate own goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup. It gives me great pleasure to think that a few short years later, he had a premiership winners medal in his pocket.

[JonnyBRFC]

He needs to start showing it in the match now, that he can see how to change the game to our benefit. We've seen he can do it with success with Bournemouth away as you said with preperation, now he needs to work on that during the game itself.

He moved around the 3 attacking mids, to move Taylor central, this was half way through the first half. Even if the formation has been worked on in training it's good to see him know when to put it into place in the game.

[Mike E]

Tbh Maj I reckon that's what happened vs Leeds. I don't think he planned to switch them round after exactly 22mins, put it that way.

He saw we were a bit under the cosh and went 'well we've been trying it in training, so let's see how it goes'.

[rovers11]

I was impressed by Rovers on Saturday. at times solid, frustrating and effective.

I am worried about a lack of service to J Rhodes. I am concerned by the inability of the central midfield slots when we give the ball away in the middle. I am concerned by the frustrating play of the sometime enigmatic Josh King.

I suppose the next 2 games sort of makes or breaks our season. If we take 4 points it would be a wonderful return, I would even take 2 draws. Going to be 2 very tough away games.

The defence are doing well, hope they keep it together this week.

Rhodes will score tomorrow. Hasn't scored for a while and he'll be well up for it against his ex club. He rarely goes more than 2-3 games without a goal so he's due one.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Parsonblue's match report is now published to the front page here.

[FGS5635]

Parsonblue's match report is now published to the front page here.

Good review, hard to argue with most of that.

[Mike E]

Rhodes will score tomorrow. Hasn't scored for a while and he'll be well up for it against his ex club. He rarely goes more than 2-3 games without a goal so he's due one.

He's gone more than 3 games w/o a goal twice already this season

I do like him but wonder if he's been somewhat found out by more astute managers/defences.

[Amo]

Rhodes-bashing is totally hipster.

[beatrix]

Good solid performance against Leeds, again they tried to rough us up but didn't get away with it this time.

I do think that word has got round that roughing up the young Rovers team will get a result but credit to them they are not

rising to the bait and retaliating.

Taylor had a great game but he wasn't the only one. Rhodes struggled on the day with some big strong defenders, they played 5 across the back for

much of the game which gave Rhodes problems because he was always outnumbered , doesn't make him a bad player the set up was against him.

Thought Hanley was very impressive, strong, determined, he may well be our next big outgoing transfer the way he is playing. Hope we can keep

hold of him though.

[funny-old-game]

Talking to a Leeds fan on Sunday, he said all the Leeds fans around him where relieved when Dunn went off as he was are best player in their view .

Do you think he is OK to go on or is it that he has a greater risk of injury the longer he stays on, cause we do look a much more threat when he is in the side, like to see him stay on longer because I don't think his legs have gone. personally!

[FGS5635]

He is arguably still our best player...that said he looks knackered after 60mins.

To me that suggests his body is struggling and he isnt doing the same training as others inbetween games as really there is no excuse for a full time player training proper not being fit enough for 90mins.

When he went on that run in the 2nd half he'd have scored but for fatigue in my opinion

[funny-old-game]

ye there's a bit of both regarding his fitness, but interesting to her other fans view saying he was still a big threat.