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Leeds United 1 Liverpool 1 (Apr 19 2021)

     

     
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    Dave Usher

I’m going to ignore the huge elephant in the room and just focus on the game. I wouldn’t even know where to begin in addressing the other thing and once I had begun it would be difficult to stop. So I’ll just say that I hate the idea and that I’m massively concerned about the implications of it and I’ll leave it at that for now. 

 

I’ll write something when I’ve been able to process it all and get my head around it. Probably in the diary this week. I’ll keep this as just a match report. Not that anyone is particularly arsed about the match because none of these games mean anything now do they? Klopp and the players are trying to get into the top four but for what? The owners don’t want to be in the Champions League so it’s all moot.

 

I was worried about how the players would come out for this game given all that had gone on. I say worried, but that would imply that I cared when the truth is I wouldn’t have blamed the lads if they were in no frame of mind to play the game. So I half expected us to be completely flat and dispirited but that wasn’t the case. The lads looked up for it and Klopp certainly was in his pre-match interview. You can tell he was fuming about what has gone on but he was also irked by the t-shirts worn by the Leeds players in the warm up and left in the visitors dressing room. 

 

He was livid about the “Earn It” slogan on the t-shirts because he and his players have fought and scrapped for everything they’ve achieved to date. Nothing has been handed to them. I understand why that annoyed him but the point was valid. It was about future qualification, not past achievements. Still, he did everything but go into Wealdstone Raider mode and giving it the “you want some?”. He was ready to fight someone that’s for sure.

 

The players seemed similarly determined to make a point too and we started the game really well. Of course we were shite in the final third but that goes with the territory now. Doesn’t even matter which of the forwards play and which one is left out. It’s the same old toothless crap regardless.

 

This time it was Mo on the bench, so the threat of a goal from us was even less than usual. Sadio’s raw deal from refs continued as he was blatantly hauled down on the edge of the box early on and got nothing. I would give the ref the benefit of the doubt and say he played the advantage because Jota picked up the loose ball, but the ref was Anthony Taylor so no benefit is being given to that baldy Manc turd.

 

The keeper wasn’t being tested enough but we were in total control and Leeds offered nothing in the first half other than one opening we created for them when a terrible pass by Fabinho went straight to a Leeds player and my boy Bamford was sent clear. He took a touch too many and Alisson was out quickly to smother the danger.

 

We had so many good situations where we took too long to shoot or the pass was delayed a fraction too long and allowed defenders to block, but eventually we managed to put together one quality, incisive move and we scored from it. Jota’’s lovely ball got Trent in behind Harrison, the keeper came rushing out but Trent got there first and squared for Mané who just about found the empty net. He so nearly missed that.

 

Surprisingly we looked quite dangerous from corners. Jota headed over from one and then completely missed another one that looked to be dropping to him. Leeds must be awful on set-pieces if we were posing a threat from them. We haven’t looked dangerous from corners since we lost Van Dijk (and to a lesser extent Matip).

 

All good at half time then but the second half started and it was completely different. We didn’t look in much trouble initially even if we weren’t doing much ourselves. As the half went on though Leeds just got more and more on top and they had much more of the ball than we did.

 

There was a VAR check when the ball brushed Trent’s hand in the box. Mike Dean had a look and said no pen, which frankly staggered me. Not because it was a pen, but because it was us. And because it was him. And because of all the negative publicity we’ve had (rightly so). Anyway, Dean correctly ruled that Trent was pulling his arm away and could not nothing about it.

 

We had more let offs than just that though. Leeds outran us and had more possession. That’s telling I think. They looked like they wanted it more but I’m sure that’s more about them being fitter than we are at the moment. By fitter I mean less jaded I guess. We’ve played so many games while short handed that there just isn’t that much left in the tank. The second half was proper fucking shit. 

 

Leeds had us under the cosh for most of it and could have scored two or three easily. Alisson made a great save with his left boot to deny Harrison. Bamford then hit the bar before Alisson denied Roberts. These were three gilt edged chances. It wasn’t good at all from us, they were all over us. Sadio made way for Salah and that was an obvious decision as he was crap again even though he scored.

 

We just needed one clinical counter attack to make the game safe and we did have opportunities to do it. We should have finished them off with a trademark Red Arrows charge from a Leeds corner but it was Robbo leading the break and - much as I love him - he’s probably one of the last players you’d want in that situation. He had Salah to the right and Jota to the left and he completely fluffed the pass to Jota. It’s not a position he often finds himself in and it showed. He’d usually be the one on the overlap, not the man charging through the centre needing to play the right pass.

 

Mo then wasted a good chance when the keeper kicked it straight to him. His first touch wasn’t great and then he just telegraphed what he was going to do (cut in and shoot, surprise surprise) and it was blocked. He had another chance to wrap it up but he dragged his shot wide after a nice ball over the top by Thiago. He may have been offside anyway though.

 

We did have one or two nice combinations in the second half and Jota had some exciting runs but mostly it was flat and timid. Milner said that we were a bit tired and therefore needed to keep the ball better. He’s right. We didn’t keep it at all. There was no possession, any time we got the ball we just tried to counter attack and invariably gave it straight back to them.

 

Jota was replaced by Ox and I’m not gonna lie, my reaction was “why the fuck are you doing that?” Ox for Milner or Thiago, sure I can get on board with that as it’s fresh legs in the middle of the park. Sticking him in the front three though, nah. As it turns out he was on the right of a 4-4-1-1 which is at least a bit more understandable as it’s extra cover for Trent, but it didn’t help us much though.

 

Leeds kept creating chances and winning corners and eventually they made it count when Llorente headed in. I don’t even think that was about particularly bad defending. It’s just something that happens when you have a good ball in and three big lads attacking it. We had Kabak and Firmino trying to deal with it, neither of whom are giants. The ball dropped over Firmino as he challenged Bamford, and Llorente was there behind them to head it in. 

 

Our defending wasn’t the problem. It rarely is. Sure, we’ve conceded a late goal but if we could actually attack to a half decent level we could afford the occasional goal against us. Our problem is even when we concede only one it invariably costs us either a draw or a loss now because we’re fucking shit at the other end.

 

I’m sick of watching performances like this. It’s virtually the same kind of performance game after game. The only real variant is the scoreline. It feels like we’ve seen the same performance in almost every game for about five months now. It’s definitely an empty stadium thing. It isn’t just that and we’d still be dropping plenty of points even in full stadiums but the energy levels and concentration would be much better.

 

Star man is Milner who was decent enough and I can’t think of anyone else who was better. Fair play to Thiago as well for somehow managing to concede around thirty fouls without picking up a yellow. Usually he gets booked for his first one.

 

So now what? It feels pointless talking about how these results impact the ‘race for the top four’ when as things stand fourth place isn’t going to mean shit anymore. It probably doesn’t mean shit now. Not that we’re going to get it anyway. Other teams will drop points but we’ll probably drop more. Does it even matter now? Everything is completely fucked and this season has just been a living nightmare that gets worse by the day.

 

Where’s it all going to end? Either with another grovelling FSG climb down or with Klopp walking and us having to rally the troops to go on a fucking rampage against another set of greedy American owners.

 

 

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Kabak, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Thiago, Milner; Jota (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Firmino, Mané (Salah):


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Well like I said after the 'dead rubber' in Denmark, I want us to win every game. I think it's too early to say top 4 this season counts for nothing or the club doesnt want to be in the CL, next season at least.

 

I think leeds, the club, were a disgrace last night with that t shirt trick. Yeah, this is a club once headed by ridsdale who spunked loads ofcash they hadnt earned. Sticking those shirts in our dressing room shows how small time they are. Their fans are cunts trying to stop our coaches getting into the ground and abusing the players at lunchtime when having a walk.

 

All this clearly wound up Jurgen and the players. They started the game all guns blazing even if they fired mostly blanks. Overall, I was happy at half time although another goal would have been great.

 

2nd half we just ran out of gas around the 60 minute mark. Leeds clearly got on top and Jurgen had to make changes. Love the man but why only 2 changes especially when Bobby looked fucked?

 

I thought taylor was a cunt. I think the corner came from a nothing foul he gave them? There were one or two other instances, I thought Mo should have had a corner down their end but he gave leeds a goal kick?

 

Last word on this super league stuff, sky and the media can fuck off quizzing Jurgen and the players over this. Ask the fucking clubs you shitheads if you have a problem. Shearer was saying why arent the owners in front of cameras etc. Erm because cunts like you are going for the easy target in the manager and players.

 

Fuck, out of +ve. Good report and will be back later.

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Depressing times. Last June / July seem like light years ago. When you’re talking about the sums of money involved in ‘protecting’ the ECL and Premier League, then anything could happen in the next few days/weeks. VAR being operated by clowns, empty stadium football, pandemic, this...you could fall out of love with football very  quickly.

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14 minutes ago, dockers_strike said:

Well like I said after the 'dead rubber' in Denmark, I want us to win every game. I think it's too early to say top 4 this season counts for nothing or the club doesnt want to be in the CL

 

I get that mate, but you aren't on the pitch or picking the team. It's all well and good me or you wanting us to win every game but it's not realistic that everyone will see it with the same importance. Players aren't going to be going full throttle in every game when the incentive for them to win isn't as high, and managers aren't going to pick their strongest team for a home game with Palace when we're 15 points off top spot and we have a trip to Barcelona coming on the Wednesday night.

 

Fans won't be up for it in the stadium either. There's be an 'end of season' feel about games in February.

 

And the club (specifically the owners) doesn't want to be in the CL. They put out a statement this week saying exactly that. Breaking away from UEFA is the very definition of not wanting to be in the CL.

 

Saying it counts for nothing was more in reference to that than anything else though. It may still count if FSG have a trademark change of heart and climbdown, but if they go ahead with their plans then it won't matter where we finish this season because we'll either be in a new ESL if it's formed in time, or UEFA won't let us play in the CL just until the new league is formed because why the hell would they? 

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I doubt the Leeds players actually wanted to wear those t-shirts yesterday. I'm sure the players and coaching staff all have an opinion to some extent on the merits of a breakaway competition excluding all but the elite, but it looked like the t-shirts were foisted upon them.

 

Also, Leeds ought to be reminded that they mortgaged the house and the family silver to buy their way to the top table. They hadn't 'earned' the right any more than the oligarch and sport-washing clubs.

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30 minutes ago, dave u said:

 

I get that mate, but you aren't on the pitch or picking the team. It's all well and good me or you wanting us to win every game but it's not realistic that everyone will see it with the same importance. Players aren't going to be going full throttle in every game when the incentive for them to win isn't as high, and managers aren't going to pick their strongest team for a home game with Palace when we're 15 points off top spot and we have a trip to Barcelona coming on the Wednesday night.

 

Fans won't be up for it in the stadium either. There's be an 'end of season' feel about games in February.

 

And the club (specifically the owners) doesn't want to be in the CL. They put out a statement this week saying exactly that. Breaking away from UEFA is the very definition of not wanting to be in the CL.

 

Saying it counts for nothing was more in reference to that than anything else though. It may still count if FSG have a trademark change of heart and climbdown, but if they go ahead with their plans then it won't matter where we finish this season because we'll either be in a new ESL if it's formed in time, or UEFA won't let us play in the CL just until the new league is formed because why the hell would they? 

Yeah I agree with a lot of that Dave. We have rested players in the league for big European games in the past so dont really see much difference there. Admittedly it could become a more regular occurence with this Euro league though.

 

I do agree the clubs have to answer the question if you are in 2nd, 3rd or 4th etc in the PL and the 1st club is 15 or so point in front, what are you playing for if you are one of the 6 in this Euro Super League? Is it just pride, the final placings money in the PL or something else, if so what?

 

This is certainly going to run!

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21 minutes ago, dockers_strike said:

Yeah I agree with a lot of that Dave. We have rested players in the league for big European games in the past so dont really see much difference there.

 

I think the main difference is that usually when that has happened in the past it has been a difficult decision for the manager and there has often been criticism (except when it has been in the last couple of weeks of the season and we are still in the semi or final of the CL when everyone understands it other than Neil Warnock!). 

 

If you introduce a scenario when the only thing to play for is 1st place and there are no consequences to finishing 10th because it's effectively the same as finishing second anyway, that's when you lose the integrity of the competition and the PL will end up like the League Cup to any 'big six' team out of the title race early.

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What an absolute nightmare of a season/year this has been. I look forward to your thoughts on the ESL, for what it's worth I think it's an absolute disgrace, and would think all "legacy" fans would agree. There's a lot wrong with footy, but this takes the biscuit.

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I also thought it was ironic that when Mane had an open goal he put it right in the corner, nearly missed. Yet when any of our forwards shoot will a GK in there it currently goes straight down the middle.

 

We can't keep a clean sheet every game but we should be scoring a lot more considering the shots we are having.

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11 hours ago, Arnaud said:

I am not saying Shaq would have done better but he could still try, couldn’t He ?

 

Yeah I'd be up for seeing more Shaq over the coming weeks. Just something a bit different. Don't want him in the front three though. Somewhere in a 4231 with Mo centre forward maybe.

 

45 minutes ago, Scooby Dudek said:

I also thought it was ironic that when Mane had an open goal he put it right in the corner, nearly missed. Yet when any of our forwards shoot will a GK in there it currently goes straight down the middle.

 

Yep, good point. 

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1 hour ago, Scooby Dudek said:

I also thought it was ironic that when Mane had an open goal he put it right in the corner, nearly missed. Yet when any of our forwards shoot will a GK in there it currently goes straight down the middle.

 

We can't keep a clean sheet every game but we should be scoring a lot more considering the shots we are having.

I think Mane still has goals in him but our midfield being lopsided week after week is not helping forwards either. Never mind Firmino's horrendous form.

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I knew we weren’t going to win the minute Robertson had a break and had the simplest pass to his left but instead played it out of play

 

And as for Taylor well is goes without saying how shite he is especially when every time a Leeds player flopped to the floor he gave a free kick yet Mane got fuck all 

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That t-shirt trick was really shitty, but,hey, all's fair when your trying to get any sneaky advantage over your opponents and Leeds have penty of previous in that regard. Trying to put our lads in a difficult position when they've ha nothing to do with it was real small time.

I didn't know whether to laugh or rage when some dopey bint with the title of Shadow Minister for something or other was blathering on about the 'Football Family'. I was thinking - do you mean the kind of family that's always fighting each other or exchanging vile insults? Or arguing for a null and void when they're in danger of relegation or their bitterest rivals have just about won the title. The 'Football Family' wasn't much in evidence when Bury went down the Swannee for the want of the loose change from the back of the sofa of near neighbours Abu Dhabi FC.

The right outcome has happened, but we've been drowning in hypocrisy and bandwagon-jumping this week. Nauseating.

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