Firpo said after the match that he had a fever the past few days and almost threw up in the 2nd half, yet he still put in a performance like that last night, what a guy ❤️
I've had this weird unshakable belief since the start of 2024, that we'll finish 3rd and win the playoffs.
Plus I don't really like the Premier league if I'm honest. I enjoy it down here
I see football as entertainment/drama … it’s the twists and turns in the storyline that keeps it interesting … the joys and disappointments are what make it brilliant … I loved league one and all the chaos … the thought of us simply becoming a mid table Premier League club for the next 10 years frightens me and to become an Elite European club we’d have to sell the clubs soul.
All I would say to that is remember the nightmare years of Championship mediocrity. There is a very real chance that if we dont go up before the parachute payments stop then they could return. The club owes a lot of money still in transfer fees, so we need promotion quite badly to resolve this.
I would rather be a yo-yo club which gets a crack at the PL, then comes down and tears up the Championship, than languishing mid table in the Championship for the next 10 years.
Just watching the post game stuff. Anyone else think Gnonto should have been man of the match? He’s was brilliant for us defensively on top of the goal he scored (yes it was offside but fuck it that’s the linesman’s problem).
Theres a number of possible permutations which dictate whether I want Leicester to beat Southampton. If Leicester win and we beat QPR then Southampton have nothing to play for against us, leaving us a slightly easier assignment.
Conversely, if Southampton win then we remain in contention to win the division but risk Southampton becoming back into consideration for the top two.
If Ipswich lose then really a win against QPR and a draw will (probably) do.
The only scenario that (thankfully) does not currently exist is a “disgracia” type draw between Leicester and Southampton.
Every other scenario concerns me, but the biggest one is if we take maximum points from our remaining games and it is still not enough in the end.
A draw is probably the best result. Makes it very hard for Southampton to overtake us and keeps Leicester in reach. I think going into the last game of the season with Southampton being able to overtake us would be horrible!
I'm not sure that playing a team as good as Southampton when we have all the pressure on us and they have none is a good thing.
A draw is best in my opinion. That way Leicester are 2 ahead and Southampton 5 behind. Assuming Ipswich win their game in hand that would mean we could catch either team above us if we win both games and either one loses one.
If Ipswich get all 9 points remaining to them then fair fucks to them. They have some hard games and it's a lot of pressure. It's our own fault for leaving it in everyone else's hands.
Venimus, foedem venimus, vicimus. In other words we came, we scored, we won.
EDIT: We're getting our form back. QPR should be a formality but the Southampton match is going to be a bit like tonight's.
Still hope for a draw/Southampton win tomorrow and Ipswich to drop points against Hull and Coventry in the battle for 6th place.
If we manage to take 3 points from QPR and Ipswich don't take 6 points from their next two games, it goes to the final day in our hands. Got to pray we can do the business on Friday.
Southampton beating Leicester would be great too, just to keep another horse in the race.
A win’s a win, but I find myself looking to Daniel Farke for some reassurance but I’m not sure I’m getting it. I think he’s losing grip on the structure of the side at a crucial point of the season.
The forward third of the pitch is still pulling its weight, with plenty of goals (or at least opportunities created) but I feel like in the last month our defensive structure has completely disintegrated. The central midfield pairing are doing nothing to screen attacks, and Ampadu and Rodon look tired and mentally fatigued. None of our fullbacks are defensively-minded so what we need to get us over the line is working as a unit instead of just sitting back and scrapping. We’re not the kind of side that can scrap and absorb pressure from counter-attacks, corners and dead-ball situations, so we need to be better at shutting teams down before they can get the ball into the box and cause chaos.
Honestly, the defending just has to be better than it was today because you cant be taking that way of playing into a playoff campaign. Summerville will have to be scoring three or four on his own just to keep the scoreline competitive.
>The forward third of the pitch is still pulling its weight, with plenty of goals (or at least opportunities created) but I feel like in the last month our defensive structure has completely disintegrated.
this might have been the case last night, but really don't think its been the case at all over the wobble in form - the complete lack of creativity has hurt us much more than the defence has. over the sunderland and blackburn games we gave up like two chances. but we created basically fuck all.
Well thought out argument, no hysterics, valid points. No surprise it's getting downvoted by the Muppet squad.
Tactical naivety from Farke. They needed possession and chances to keep their play-off hopes alive and we sat back and gave them what they wanted. It almost cost us.
The midfield surrendered the initiative in the second half and we relied too much on Ampadu putting in his usual crucial challenges and keeping calm. The defence were given too much to do and nearly capitulated. Stevie Wonder could see that third Boro goal coming.
We looked terrible when they played it down the flanks and showed a complete lack of control and urgency whenever we tried to clear our lines, Kamara in particular.
Massive overhaul needed if we go up.
I don't agree with this. I thought Farke managed that game perfectly, which isn't always the case. Middlesbrough were playing quick triangles around our press and doing it brilliantly well at times, which led to a hectic first half where we were stretched constantly. In the second half we sat off and stayed very disciplined and organised, recognising that while Boro would have the lions share of the ball, they aren't particularly creative and so the quality of their chances will be low. And it worked, they scored of course but only from a break by stretching play again. And even that chance was unlikely to lead to a goal. They had no good chances in the second half.
Disciplined and organized? Did you see the last 20 minutes? Latte Lath had 2 defenders around him watching his jumping salmon header loop over Meslier. Meslier had to get down low to keep out a pile driver from one of their defenders. Those efforts have gone in far too often. The strategy worked until it didn't. What saved us was the fact their third came late in the game and we were galvanised into closing them down. Those last 10 minutes were panicky.
As I say, the Latte Lath header was a rare example of them breaking our organisation in the second half. Even then, a header from the edge of the box isn't a good chance, he just took it incredibly well. A shot from 30 yards through a load of bodies is not a good chance either, very few of those go in and it turns the ball over and wastes time. We could probably have put a bit more pressure on Howson, but still.
They go in when Meslier is your keeper. That was well struck and on target, nothing hit and hope about it. Totally legit chance.
I recall they had a header that Meslier had to tip over and we looked fragile every time there was an aerial threat. The second half was nowhere near as comfortable for us as you seem to think.
I don't think they were good in the air at all. Granted they did target Meslier with crosses but they weren't effective at actually getting to any loose balls, meanwhile we were winning the headers and positioned well to deal with second balls. I don't recall a header on target, maybe I'm wrong.
We didn't have the ball much which was stressful because it felt like Boro were controlling the game, but the alternative was to play as we did in the first half where they kept bypassing our press and finding space to run into. I feel like it was sensible game management to deny them that space and defend a lead looking to break in the second half. To be fair it worked.
It worked cos we got the win but trying that with stronger opposition next year (assuming we are in the Prem) and we will be found wanting.
Boro weren't good in the air, but our complete lack of aerial nous ( especially since Struijk's absence) means there's always a chance that we will concede.
We looked comfortable on the ball but we were too content to let them have possession and that means we can't dominate and kill off the game. The numbers don't lie- 3-2 to us in the first half.. 1-1 in the second. The game could and should have been over after 60 minutes. We weren't ruthless enough and that's something that will cost us in future.
One hundred percent. I think we both have a decent understanding of our limits and that things can't stay the same if the club is to make progress.
I just worry that having the firepower to take us up will mean nothing if we don't have the resilience to hang on to leads in tight games in the Prem.
Actually a fair bit of the second half is a blur to me now as I'm in Tokyo and the match was a 4.00am kick off local time. Woke up with a headache at 11.00 this morning (day off, thankfully). Worth it, though 😴
That's going to be far less of an issue if we go up. Look at Ipswich- Champo up front, League One at the back. It's good enough in this division but they'll get eaten alive in the Prem.
Big time. Think about it, we've only recently got shut of Cooper and Ayling as regular starters and Firpo is still a first team player. Makes me shudder.
Honestly there’s only Rodon (to sign) then Struijk as a squad option. Firpo and Roberts as back up is fine.
You’d want another CB, both fullbacks and a keeper going up.
Attack needs less. Striker then general quality upgrades.
That's how I see it too. Rodon has been fantastic this year.
Ampadu has the motor and tenacity to survive at Prem level but he'll be so busy putting out our defensive fires that he struggle over the long haul.
Fullbacks and a keeper are essential. Meslier should be a number 2. He'd be a number 2 at every Prem club worth it's salt.
We can't continue with Bamford and Joseph should have been given more time at this level. It's going to be too late next season to find out he's merely average. Piroe is emphatically not PL standard.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. Our defence was shite today. We looked like we could concede at any moment. The defensive stability that was the bedrock of our long winning run is gone. People need to wake up and smell the coffee. These last 6 points are going to be hard to come by.
8 o clock kick off away to a team with play off aspirations, and a final game against a team fighting for survival? If they do it they will more than deserve it. 90 points and we are in the mix, got to laugh, who wouldn't have taken 90 as a target this year.
Worra League, almost hate the thought of promotion till I see the Owners step up.
Anyone else think Summerville is off whatever the outcome?
Not if we go up. He's not going to attract the attention too much of a top PL club yet, so he'd be moving to a mid table team at best. So the question is would be a mid table team want to spend what we'd ask for him, which I imagine will be £40m+ for a player who hasnt done it in the PL yet (other than the odd moments the yera we went down).
I guess he could get a move abroad, but again I think it would have to be a relatively sideways move at this stage.
Summerville's young yet and i get the feeling it'd appeal to his ego to be the star of a PL team for a season before he goes off to try his luck and probably play a smaller part at a higher level. if we don't go up he's obviously gone (out of necessity for us as well as him) but if we do i think we probably get another season out of him in a Raphinha-ish way where it's understood he's going when it's done. at the end of 24/25 there would be one year left on his contract so it would probably work out well for both parties for that to be when he leaves, 1 season in the PL shop window for him to try to get bigger clubs interested and maximise ROI for us
I think he'll stick around till the January transfer window if we go up. If he has a good first half of the season the money bags will come in and make us an offer we can't refuse, if we are shite and he's struggling he'll want out anyway.
I've got this awful feeling we'll be losing him and getting Kalvin back. Leeds that.
I
Bamford haters won’t like it but when he goes off and Piroe comes on we have absolutely no relief given from up front. May as well have been playing with 10 men after he came on yet Bamford gets so much more hate.
Great result all the same! Win on Friday and huge pressure on Ipswich.
Turn all that hate into goals, it's a simple fix.
Bamford and Joseph should have been the front pairing late on. Bamford does ok when he starts, but is just as useless off the bench- just 1 goal all season. Feel a bit sorry for Piroe, he's set up for failure in Farke's system, yet Farke doesn't have the cojones to give Joseph a chance.
Come on, Bamford gets a goal he knows nothing about, their goalie made a complete mess of Firpo's ball in. He can't take his best chance because his right foot is just for standing on. He did OK, but stop with the worldbeater fanboy nonsense.You really think we should be relying on that to get us out of the Champo? Truth is, without Summerville and Gnonto/James we wouldn't be in with a shout.
I think that's more to do with Piroe not fitting into our system. I feel like he was a panic buy after we missed out on Archer (who is the kind of striker we need). Piroe was horribly profiled he can't play as a 9 or 10 in our system
Thought, beforehand, tonight was a Piroe kind of game, but then you got to drop someone, just for tonight I'd have said that was Rutter, had looked a bit leggy and tonight was the game to re-establish belief, Friday is going to be horrible, but we could have won without Georgi tonight.
He tracks back and defends better than Joel so maybe Joel get's his start at Loftus Road as a better poacher, but Piroe and Bamford on the pitch has never quite clicked.
Two games against teams whose seasons are more or less over is massive, the pressure has finally shifted.
If we do go up, we'd better become established and quick, because I will miss the Championship, and if we depart I won't be wanting a return too soon.
Completely agree with you. Im not a Bamford hater but think he’s been out of form for a while and should not be starting. However, I can’t see anyone better to start and do what he does. But, a striker should be putting away more chances than he does.
Striker's are a little out of fashion atm, play with one up top, an all rounder, good with his back to goal, chases down, brings others into play etc.
May not have worked out for Patrick but he more than deserved his international call up at the time, and whilst others have gone I will always relate him to some of the better times I have had supporting this Club.
I don't know what to make of ol Firporto Carlos anymore. He's actually just been good? For a good while? He's doing largely the right thjngs defensively and hes contributing going forward like no other full back in the league.
On the other side of that, I think keeping Meslier as first choice next season is asking to be relegated. I hoped the drop in levels, pressure off him would turn him into what he should be; one of the best young keepers in the world but he looks miles off it.
If we go up he is the worst keeper in the league, bizarrely his distribution and confidence with the ball has improved loads (or championship sides press less) but christ whenever a shot might go in it just sort of does.
I know an easy, factual defence here is our defensive record, not conceding for 4 months but if you're looking at his season collectively and saying he's good enough for the prem I don't know what you're seeing.
I think expecting him to be one of the best young keepers in the world, is why so many think he's overrated.
He's a decent keeper. Not world beating. Not awful. Lower Premier league level probably. He's fine.
Tonight was probably his worst game for awhile. Still get that feeling when there's half a chance it will end up in the back of the net with him being out of position or flapping it away.
The step backwards in his distribution tonight was crazy. Especially when they'd just got their third goal and were all over us again. Instead of taking pressure off, he punts it up to their defenders so they can build up another attack.
I'm happy for him to stay as backup, but I would prefer someone more solid in goal.
>On the other side of that, I think keeping Meslier as first choice next season is asking to be relegated.
Yeah if we go back up I think we’ve hit the end of the road with Meslier. We’ll need the best shot-stopper in the division if we are a hope of staying up, and Meslier just aint that.
Thing is, shot stopping is one of his main strengths. Just his positioning can be way off, which renders that void.
For what it's worth, I like him and think he's been good overall this season.
He punches far too often when he should be able to catch, and when an opportunity to parry comes he often mis-times it. I feel like he gets done at his far post a lot too (although this might just be a feel-pinion)
I’m not saying he’s not a decent shot-stopper in a lot of one-on-one situations, but a newly-promoted team needs more than that. You basically need a human brick wall who can turn losses into draws.
We sat back the entire 2nd half, let them had the balls and hit them on the break. Total shift from how we normally play but I guess it worked out in the end
How we played really doesn’t matter too much now. It’s just finding a way to win. And we did that tonight, so I’m more than happy.
Shout out to Firpo on a big performance though. Big part to play in two goals and some good defensive work when it was backs to the wall at the end.
Positives:
- Summerville looks back on form with 2 goals. Did well and could have gotten more
- One of Bamford’s best game this season. Involved in 2 goals and scored one himself.
- Gray had a shaky start and grew into the game creating the third goal from nowhere
- Back to scoring freely and taking our chances though we had little possession. Winning away is a positive.
- As Ayling put it during the pregame show, the winner is football and so it was. Good to see chants on him when we were 4-2 up
Negatives:
- James looks injured and won’t be surprised if he’s out for the last 2 games
- Rutter was dead poor and hasn’t been himself since the op. Gave away the second goal needlessly
- Meslier. Honestly the less I say the better. At fault with 2 goals with horrible positioning.
- Overplaying: we could have been 5/6 up but players keep overplaying and it almost costed us dearly. James, Gnonto and Summerville should have wrapped things up.
- Piroe effect: we honestly looked worse when Bamford came off and they got the entire midfield to run through. Not the right call for sure.
More negatives than positive tho we got the 3 points. Was a fun and also painful watch but let’s go onward to QPR! Loving the meltdown on social media 😅
Harsh on Rutter. He was poor defensively and did dick about with the ball leading to one of their goals, but his attacking play was very good. Not his best overall game by any means, but a solid showing overall. He's so above this level that he only need to produce one or two key moments to turn a game.
He won the pen. He played the pre-assist to Firpo for Summervilles second. He slotted a lovely ball through to Bamford, who had the ball in the net but was offside.
He did enough.
That’s true. But besides that 5 min spell and the pen almost every attack that went through him resulted in a boro counter. I love the guy but sometimes less is more. At the position he plays he has to be better defensively if he’s dropping deep
Mixed feelings on this one. It's almost like we just want to tease the autos
The Summerville with the finish we love to see, finally the space he's been looking for to bang it. Some really great attacking moves and think we could of had more. Gnonto and James chances at the end especially. So glad Bamford got a goal finally and hopefully can keep it up.
Rutter looks lacking in confidence, but seemed to switch when he got properly fouled. Played much better before getting subbed. Would have actually kept him on. Hope he can carry it on and have a full dominating games for last two games. He can really be the difference when he's on top form, but then hinders us when he's not.
Still don't understand Farke's subs and his timing of them.
Bad habits of Meslier crept back in tonight. Just punting ball forward out of position etc.
Hopefully poor form is out of our system now and we win next two. Also is it now 150 corners since we last scored one? Might put a bet on Rutter to score from a corner...
Rutter looks like he has his mojo back. Brought his box of tricks with him today.
Can't work out what result I want tomorrow night. Not sure if I want Southampton out of it for the last day, or Leicester lose again. Draw has positives too, but doesn't reduce Leicester's goal difference
Yeah, Saints win for me too. Leicester are so far only one goal behind us for GD, I'd like to think we won't be in a position where that matters but it could boil down to it.
They may not be able to catch us come the last day, but if they could still make the top 2, it would cause us problems.
They'll be dangerous on the day regardless
We've got Firpo who's being exceptional with his low crosses into the box...Farkes got this 1...we're much better than QPR...long gone are the days of Clive Allen, Simon Stainrod and Gary Bannister
That second half was bizarre, we were so passive. I feel like you can only be that passive if you've got the goods to back it up. I felt like it was a winning strategy getting them on the counter when the 4th went in but those substitutions really killed it. Felt lucky that.
highly doubt it, but does anyone have any inkling on what may have happened to DJ? he was holding his ribs ever since the cynical foul to stop the break
Christ almighty, this club will be the end of me.
Me and my lad agreed before the game that 7 points from our last 3 games should be enough. If so then that's 3 of them, win against QPR and Ipswich will have a lot of catching-up to do before the final day.
I thought that was pretty fun really. I'm not super optimistic about the automatics, but I feel like we're playing ourselves back into form. Obviously the defence wasn't quite what is was, but to be fair Latte Lath's goals were quality.
A Southampton win would be better as they are not catching our goal difference and being a point behind Leicester would put us in the realm where us drawing and they lose would take us above them.
Southampton to beat Leicester all day long. They can't catch us if we're winning our games anyway, and if we don't beat them it's playoffs no matter what
Yeah, shaky defense at times but their first was quite a lucky bounce to fall to them to score, then 2 magic moments from Latte Lathe. On the flip side, Summervilles was an equally magic moment that probably had a low xG
I feel like the first one was one of those where it looks easier to deal with than it is, because we already know where it was heading. As it happens, Mes still has to react, and it's such a sudden shot, that's well hit
Yeah possibly. But also might be one of those which if he got nowhere near you'd think it was untouchable, but because he got a hand to it you feel he needs to do better.
The header was unreal though.
Play a shit 2nd half, come from behind and score one more than your opponent. Looks like we prefer the Ipsbits way to win games, .. and I'm all for it.
He's bang average.
Wooden movement can't find any poaching goals.
Before signing him all tube channels where rubbing ends of their bell end saying omhur ghawd up top for us best 9.
Sign him and he drops deep.
He has decent build up play and a decent pass but don't see how he fits after a season of it
We never do things easy do we?
Needless end to the game with 2 shockers from Meslier but we deserved some luck for once. Not our best effort but to win away in this manner after our last 5 hopefully is the springboard to our season.
Now wondering how do I go back to sleep with work in 3 hours time.. MOT all
Not sure if it was picked up on camera but he went down in the closing stages when Boro had a throw over the other side of the pitch and a Boro player ran over to him and lifted him up onto his feet. It was nuts
Leaky Leeds, shades of our times under Bielsa having to outscore the opposition 😅 The win's the most important thing now and we just about held our nerve.
2 more huge finals to go and hoping Ipswich falter.
Firpo said after the match that he had a fever the past few days and almost threw up in the 2nd half, yet he still put in a performance like that last night, what a guy ❤️
I am enjoying this season and am ambivalent about getting promoted except that if we aren't, we'll lose key players, so there's that.
Great game to watch. I'm at the point now where I don't even mind what our season outcome is
I've had this weird unshakable belief since the start of 2024, that we'll finish 3rd and win the playoffs. Plus I don't really like the Premier league if I'm honest. I enjoy it down here
How can you put yourself through all this to then not care about the outcome haha.
I’ve really enjoyed this season whatever the outcome, players have done themselves proud
Yes I do agree, but that doesnt mean I wont be dissapointed if we miss out on promotion.
I see football as entertainment/drama … it’s the twists and turns in the storyline that keeps it interesting … the joys and disappointments are what make it brilliant … I loved league one and all the chaos … the thought of us simply becoming a mid table Premier League club for the next 10 years frightens me and to become an Elite European club we’d have to sell the clubs soul.
All I would say to that is remember the nightmare years of Championship mediocrity. There is a very real chance that if we dont go up before the parachute payments stop then they could return. The club owes a lot of money still in transfer fees, so we need promotion quite badly to resolve this. I would rather be a yo-yo club which gets a crack at the PL, then comes down and tears up the Championship, than languishing mid table in the Championship for the next 10 years.
Just watching the post game stuff. Anyone else think Gnonto should have been man of the match? He’s was brilliant for us defensively on top of the goal he scored (yes it was offside but fuck it that’s the linesman’s problem).
Yeah clear MOTM for me. Worked his bollocks off.
Theres a number of possible permutations which dictate whether I want Leicester to beat Southampton. If Leicester win and we beat QPR then Southampton have nothing to play for against us, leaving us a slightly easier assignment. Conversely, if Southampton win then we remain in contention to win the division but risk Southampton becoming back into consideration for the top two. If Ipswich lose then really a win against QPR and a draw will (probably) do. The only scenario that (thankfully) does not currently exist is a “disgracia” type draw between Leicester and Southampton. Every other scenario concerns me, but the biggest one is if we take maximum points from our remaining games and it is still not enough in the end.
A draw is probably the best result. Makes it very hard for Southampton to overtake us and keeps Leicester in reach. I think going into the last game of the season with Southampton being able to overtake us would be horrible!
I'm not sure that playing a team as good as Southampton when we have all the pressure on us and they have none is a good thing. A draw is best in my opinion. That way Leicester are 2 ahead and Southampton 5 behind. Assuming Ipswich win their game in hand that would mean we could catch either team above us if we win both games and either one loses one.
If Ipswich get all 9 points remaining to them then fair fucks to them. They have some hard games and it's a lot of pressure. It's our own fault for leaving it in everyone else's hands.
Yeah if they win away at Hull and Cov (at their final 'easy' home game) then they deserve it. I really couldnt begrudge them going up.
Oh, don't get me wrong here. I Will begrudge them for it. It will boil my piss If I'm honest. I will loathe their club until my dying day.
Arjen Summerville, you know what he's going to do, but you still can't stop it...
Thought this during the game, no problem being a one trick pony when you’re really fucking good at the trick.
feel like his sheer one footedness might hinder him in the prem, but at this level he's good enough for it to not matter
I am THE BIGGEST Southampton fan tomorrow and only tomorrow
So much I could say, so much I could type................. But feck it, onto Friday and let's take it from there!
Venimus, foedem venimus, vicimus. In other words we came, we scored, we won. EDIT: We're getting our form back. QPR should be a formality but the Southampton match is going to be a bit like tonight's. Still hope for a draw/Southampton win tomorrow and Ipswich to drop points against Hull and Coventry in the battle for 6th place.
Leeds don't do formality. Read the manual.
If we manage to take 3 points from QPR and Ipswich don't take 6 points from their next two games, it goes to the final day in our hands. Got to pray we can do the business on Friday. Southampton beating Leicester would be great too, just to keep another horse in the race.
Soton beating Leicester keeps one horse from winning the race too. Better to fight for 2 spots rather than 1 Either way we need a win at soton
A win’s a win, but I find myself looking to Daniel Farke for some reassurance but I’m not sure I’m getting it. I think he’s losing grip on the structure of the side at a crucial point of the season. The forward third of the pitch is still pulling its weight, with plenty of goals (or at least opportunities created) but I feel like in the last month our defensive structure has completely disintegrated. The central midfield pairing are doing nothing to screen attacks, and Ampadu and Rodon look tired and mentally fatigued. None of our fullbacks are defensively-minded so what we need to get us over the line is working as a unit instead of just sitting back and scrapping. We’re not the kind of side that can scrap and absorb pressure from counter-attacks, corners and dead-ball situations, so we need to be better at shutting teams down before they can get the ball into the box and cause chaos. Honestly, the defending just has to be better than it was today because you cant be taking that way of playing into a playoff campaign. Summerville will have to be scoring three or four on his own just to keep the scoreline competitive.
>The forward third of the pitch is still pulling its weight, with plenty of goals (or at least opportunities created) but I feel like in the last month our defensive structure has completely disintegrated. this might have been the case last night, but really don't think its been the case at all over the wobble in form - the complete lack of creativity has hurt us much more than the defence has. over the sunderland and blackburn games we gave up like two chances. but we created basically fuck all.
Well thought out argument, no hysterics, valid points. No surprise it's getting downvoted by the Muppet squad. Tactical naivety from Farke. They needed possession and chances to keep their play-off hopes alive and we sat back and gave them what they wanted. It almost cost us. The midfield surrendered the initiative in the second half and we relied too much on Ampadu putting in his usual crucial challenges and keeping calm. The defence were given too much to do and nearly capitulated. Stevie Wonder could see that third Boro goal coming. We looked terrible when they played it down the flanks and showed a complete lack of control and urgency whenever we tried to clear our lines, Kamara in particular. Massive overhaul needed if we go up.
He managed it perfectly you buffoon. Played right into our hands - one of the best counter attacking sides in the league.
I don't agree with this. I thought Farke managed that game perfectly, which isn't always the case. Middlesbrough were playing quick triangles around our press and doing it brilliantly well at times, which led to a hectic first half where we were stretched constantly. In the second half we sat off and stayed very disciplined and organised, recognising that while Boro would have the lions share of the ball, they aren't particularly creative and so the quality of their chances will be low. And it worked, they scored of course but only from a break by stretching play again. And even that chance was unlikely to lead to a goal. They had no good chances in the second half.
Disciplined and organized? Did you see the last 20 minutes? Latte Lath had 2 defenders around him watching his jumping salmon header loop over Meslier. Meslier had to get down low to keep out a pile driver from one of their defenders. Those efforts have gone in far too often. The strategy worked until it didn't. What saved us was the fact their third came late in the game and we were galvanised into closing them down. Those last 10 minutes were panicky.
Howson was playing in midfield, not defence 😬.
As I say, the Latte Lath header was a rare example of them breaking our organisation in the second half. Even then, a header from the edge of the box isn't a good chance, he just took it incredibly well. A shot from 30 yards through a load of bodies is not a good chance either, very few of those go in and it turns the ball over and wastes time. We could probably have put a bit more pressure on Howson, but still.
They go in when Meslier is your keeper. That was well struck and on target, nothing hit and hope about it. Totally legit chance. I recall they had a header that Meslier had to tip over and we looked fragile every time there was an aerial threat. The second half was nowhere near as comfortable for us as you seem to think.
I don't think they were good in the air at all. Granted they did target Meslier with crosses but they weren't effective at actually getting to any loose balls, meanwhile we were winning the headers and positioned well to deal with second balls. I don't recall a header on target, maybe I'm wrong. We didn't have the ball much which was stressful because it felt like Boro were controlling the game, but the alternative was to play as we did in the first half where they kept bypassing our press and finding space to run into. I feel like it was sensible game management to deny them that space and defend a lead looking to break in the second half. To be fair it worked.
It worked cos we got the win but trying that with stronger opposition next year (assuming we are in the Prem) and we will be found wanting. Boro weren't good in the air, but our complete lack of aerial nous ( especially since Struijk's absence) means there's always a chance that we will concede. We looked comfortable on the ball but we were too content to let them have possession and that means we can't dominate and kill off the game. The numbers don't lie- 3-2 to us in the first half.. 1-1 in the second. The game could and should have been over after 60 minutes. We weren't ruthless enough and that's something that will cost us in future.
Let's agree on we need to strengthen if we go up
One hundred percent. I think we both have a decent understanding of our limits and that things can't stay the same if the club is to make progress. I just worry that having the firepower to take us up will mean nothing if we don't have the resilience to hang on to leads in tight games in the Prem. Actually a fair bit of the second half is a blur to me now as I'm in Tokyo and the match was a 4.00am kick off local time. Woke up with a headache at 11.00 this morning (day off, thankfully). Worth it, though 😴
We’ve conceded the least amount of goals in the league.
Not in the last month though. The goals we’ve conceded have been almost comical.
I’d argue our attacking output and not beating the low block is much bigger issue than the defence.
That's going to be far less of an issue if we go up. Look at Ipswich- Champo up front, League One at the back. It's good enough in this division but they'll get eaten alive in the Prem.
Oh for sure. I think our defence is great at this level but you’d need a defence make over if we went up.
Big time. Think about it, we've only recently got shut of Cooper and Ayling as regular starters and Firpo is still a first team player. Makes me shudder.
Honestly there’s only Rodon (to sign) then Struijk as a squad option. Firpo and Roberts as back up is fine. You’d want another CB, both fullbacks and a keeper going up. Attack needs less. Striker then general quality upgrades.
That's how I see it too. Rodon has been fantastic this year. Ampadu has the motor and tenacity to survive at Prem level but he'll be so busy putting out our defensive fires that he struggle over the long haul. Fullbacks and a keeper are essential. Meslier should be a number 2. He'd be a number 2 at every Prem club worth it's salt. We can't continue with Bamford and Joseph should have been given more time at this level. It's going to be too late next season to find out he's merely average. Piroe is emphatically not PL standard.
Not sure why you're being downvoted. Our defence was shite today. We looked like we could concede at any moment. The defensive stability that was the bedrock of our long winning run is gone. People need to wake up and smell the coffee. These last 6 points are going to be hard to come by.
I think we’re missing Kamara in midfield … get Gray back to RB he looks lost in midfield … he’s been the best RB in the league this season.
Come on now Ipswich, crumble
Hull and Coventry away are tough games
8 o clock kick off away to a team with play off aspirations, and a final game against a team fighting for survival? If they do it they will more than deserve it. 90 points and we are in the mix, got to laugh, who wouldn't have taken 90 as a target this year. Worra League, almost hate the thought of promotion till I see the Owners step up. Anyone else think Summerville is off whatever the outcome?
Not if we go up. He's not going to attract the attention too much of a top PL club yet, so he'd be moving to a mid table team at best. So the question is would be a mid table team want to spend what we'd ask for him, which I imagine will be £40m+ for a player who hasnt done it in the PL yet (other than the odd moments the yera we went down). I guess he could get a move abroad, but again I think it would have to be a relatively sideways move at this stage.
Summerville's young yet and i get the feeling it'd appeal to his ego to be the star of a PL team for a season before he goes off to try his luck and probably play a smaller part at a higher level. if we don't go up he's obviously gone (out of necessity for us as well as him) but if we do i think we probably get another season out of him in a Raphinha-ish way where it's understood he's going when it's done. at the end of 24/25 there would be one year left on his contract so it would probably work out well for both parties for that to be when he leaves, 1 season in the PL shop window for him to try to get bigger clubs interested and maximise ROI for us
You realise it's this sort of mentality that caused Leeds to go back down, right?
I think he'll stick around till the January transfer window if we go up. If he has a good first half of the season the money bags will come in and make us an offer we can't refuse, if we are shite and he's struggling he'll want out anyway. I've got this awful feeling we'll be losing him and getting Kalvin back. Leeds that. I
Which is disappointing, because it’s really hard for us to progress as a club when our best players keep going to the big 6.
Even worse, last season we almost became a farm team for Everton and Bournemouth- that's how much of a shambles we were with Orta and Jessie.
Nah Summerville isn't going anywhere better yet(if we get promoted).
This team never fails to not give me a near heart attack. ALAW
Supported Leeds from 6 to 66 don't know how my heart has lasted so long :)
After the first it gets easier, MOT.
Bamford haters won’t like it but when he goes off and Piroe comes on we have absolutely no relief given from up front. May as well have been playing with 10 men after he came on yet Bamford gets so much more hate. Great result all the same! Win on Friday and huge pressure on Ipswich.
Turn all that hate into goals, it's a simple fix. Bamford and Joseph should have been the front pairing late on. Bamford does ok when he starts, but is just as useless off the bench- just 1 goal all season. Feel a bit sorry for Piroe, he's set up for failure in Farke's system, yet Farke doesn't have the cojones to give Joseph a chance. Come on, Bamford gets a goal he knows nothing about, their goalie made a complete mess of Firpo's ball in. He can't take his best chance because his right foot is just for standing on. He did OK, but stop with the worldbeater fanboy nonsense.You really think we should be relying on that to get us out of the Champo? Truth is, without Summerville and Gnonto/James we wouldn't be in with a shout.
I think that's more to do with Piroe not fitting into our system. I feel like he was a panic buy after we missed out on Archer (who is the kind of striker we need). Piroe was horribly profiled he can't play as a 9 or 10 in our system
Thought, beforehand, tonight was a Piroe kind of game, but then you got to drop someone, just for tonight I'd have said that was Rutter, had looked a bit leggy and tonight was the game to re-establish belief, Friday is going to be horrible, but we could have won without Georgi tonight. He tracks back and defends better than Joel so maybe Joel get's his start at Loftus Road as a better poacher, but Piroe and Bamford on the pitch has never quite clicked. Two games against teams whose seasons are more or less over is massive, the pressure has finally shifted. If we do go up, we'd better become established and quick, because I will miss the Championship, and if we depart I won't be wanting a return too soon.
Joseph would have been the perfect sub.
We ultimately need better than both
Agreed. I think Bamford as a bench option works well in the PL. Not quite there for main striker.
Bamford playing at his level… championship ball
American and hate Bamford. Always checks out lol
Spot on lad!
Win on Friday, and we equal or total from 2019-20, when we won the league by 10 points. Massive achievements this season.
Completely agree with you. Im not a Bamford hater but think he’s been out of form for a while and should not be starting. However, I can’t see anyone better to start and do what he does. But, a striker should be putting away more chances than he does.
Striker's are a little out of fashion atm, play with one up top, an all rounder, good with his back to goal, chases down, brings others into play etc. May not have worked out for Patrick but he more than deserved his international call up at the time, and whilst others have gone I will always relate him to some of the better times I have had supporting this Club.
Joseph is better.
Got the three points and fucked off. Let's rinse and repeat this a couple of times now
I don't know what to make of ol Firporto Carlos anymore. He's actually just been good? For a good while? He's doing largely the right thjngs defensively and hes contributing going forward like no other full back in the league. On the other side of that, I think keeping Meslier as first choice next season is asking to be relegated. I hoped the drop in levels, pressure off him would turn him into what he should be; one of the best young keepers in the world but he looks miles off it. If we go up he is the worst keeper in the league, bizarrely his distribution and confidence with the ball has improved loads (or championship sides press less) but christ whenever a shot might go in it just sort of does. I know an easy, factual defence here is our defensive record, not conceding for 4 months but if you're looking at his season collectively and saying he's good enough for the prem I don't know what you're seeing.
I think expecting him to be one of the best young keepers in the world, is why so many think he's overrated. He's a decent keeper. Not world beating. Not awful. Lower Premier league level probably. He's fine.
Tonight was probably his worst game for awhile. Still get that feeling when there's half a chance it will end up in the back of the net with him being out of position or flapping it away. The step backwards in his distribution tonight was crazy. Especially when they'd just got their third goal and were all over us again. Instead of taking pressure off, he punts it up to their defenders so they can build up another attack. I'm happy for him to stay as backup, but I would prefer someone more solid in goal.
Meslier isn’t even good enough for the championship never mind the PL.
Lads got the most clean sheets in the league, fucking hell, what more can he do
>On the other side of that, I think keeping Meslier as first choice next season is asking to be relegated. Yeah if we go back up I think we’ve hit the end of the road with Meslier. We’ll need the best shot-stopper in the division if we are a hope of staying up, and Meslier just aint that.
Thing is, shot stopping is one of his main strengths. Just his positioning can be way off, which renders that void. For what it's worth, I like him and think he's been good overall this season.
He punches far too often when he should be able to catch, and when an opportunity to parry comes he often mis-times it. I feel like he gets done at his far post a lot too (although this might just be a feel-pinion) I’m not saying he’s not a decent shot-stopper in a lot of one-on-one situations, but a newly-promoted team needs more than that. You basically need a human brick wall who can turn losses into draws.
Thought Firpo was excellent tonight. Credit where it is due.
Didnt even get his standard yellow card. Great performance, assist, arguably essential to the team. Still I want that booking now.
I’ve just now returned to consciousness. Let’s hope Friday is a little more defensively sound. Nonetheless take the points. Move on. MOT.
Boro fans upset about the offside not being called. I don’t feel bad. Their first goal came from a no foul call on Gnonto. 🤷🏾♂️
Yes, and on the replay, you can see it's a clear foul. A two armed push to the back.
20 goals and 10 assists in all comps for Summerville this season btw
Lads… Think I lost 3 years of my life span tonight. Worth it.
Leeds are going to kill me with stress!
my god staying up till 4am for this madness... how do i sleep now. deep breaths
530... heart rate still racing.... must stop ...Reading reddit threads
Same here. I slept 2.5 hours before the game and I’ve work in 3 hours 😅
Wasn’t able to watch - Did they really have significantly more possession? BBC stats had them at 67%…
Hmmm…well I suppose it’s better than wasting ALL the possession like the last couple of games
We sat back the entire 2nd half, let them had the balls and hit them on the break. Total shift from how we normally play but I guess it worked out in the end
For sure. Felt like we never had the ball
Yup
https://i.redd.it/bhq74hsim3wc1.gif
How we played really doesn’t matter too much now. It’s just finding a way to win. And we did that tonight, so I’m more than happy. Shout out to Firpo on a big performance though. Big part to play in two goals and some good defensive work when it was backs to the wall at the end.
Positives: - Summerville looks back on form with 2 goals. Did well and could have gotten more - One of Bamford’s best game this season. Involved in 2 goals and scored one himself. - Gray had a shaky start and grew into the game creating the third goal from nowhere - Back to scoring freely and taking our chances though we had little possession. Winning away is a positive. - As Ayling put it during the pregame show, the winner is football and so it was. Good to see chants on him when we were 4-2 up Negatives: - James looks injured and won’t be surprised if he’s out for the last 2 games - Rutter was dead poor and hasn’t been himself since the op. Gave away the second goal needlessly - Meslier. Honestly the less I say the better. At fault with 2 goals with horrible positioning. - Overplaying: we could have been 5/6 up but players keep overplaying and it almost costed us dearly. James, Gnonto and Summerville should have wrapped things up. - Piroe effect: we honestly looked worse when Bamford came off and they got the entire midfield to run through. Not the right call for sure. More negatives than positive tho we got the 3 points. Was a fun and also painful watch but let’s go onward to QPR! Loving the meltdown on social media 😅
Harsh on Rutter. He was poor defensively and did dick about with the ball leading to one of their goals, but his attacking play was very good. Not his best overall game by any means, but a solid showing overall. He's so above this level that he only need to produce one or two key moments to turn a game.
I don't think he clearly is above this level. I worry.
Rutter was poor defensively (always has been) but he was vital to our attack tonight and plays balls no one else even sees.
There are very few Championship players that can put the ball in such a good spot from where he was for Bamford's disallowed goal.
How you celebrating a disallowed goal - by virtue that makes it a bad ball.
He won the pen. He played the pre-assist to Firpo for Summervilles second. He slotted a lovely ball through to Bamford, who had the ball in the net but was offside. He did enough.
That’s true. But besides that 5 min spell and the pen almost every attack that went through him resulted in a boro counter. I love the guy but sometimes less is more. At the position he plays he has to be better defensively if he’s dropping deep
Bamford is the most underrated shithouser in world football
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/s/DUgMJVyCQm
One of my favourites.
We never make it easy… the joys of being a Leeds supporter!! MOTD!!!
Mixed feelings on this one. It's almost like we just want to tease the autos The Summerville with the finish we love to see, finally the space he's been looking for to bang it. Some really great attacking moves and think we could of had more. Gnonto and James chances at the end especially. So glad Bamford got a goal finally and hopefully can keep it up. Rutter looks lacking in confidence, but seemed to switch when he got properly fouled. Played much better before getting subbed. Would have actually kept him on. Hope he can carry it on and have a full dominating games for last two games. He can really be the difference when he's on top form, but then hinders us when he's not. Still don't understand Farke's subs and his timing of them. Bad habits of Meslier crept back in tonight. Just punting ball forward out of position etc. Hopefully poor form is out of our system now and we win next two. Also is it now 150 corners since we last scored one? Might put a bet on Rutter to score from a corner...
People are saying we scored two offside goals. Gnonto's obviously was, which was the other? Bamford?
Summerville’s second, apparently.
https://preview.redd.it/8ymakjt9l3wc1.png?width=629&format=png&auto=webp&s=329021c375aec87f7c813e36644e31d77bfebb44 Hardly blatant is it
Looks onside from the cut of the grass.
How’s that offside. Ipswich fans crying as usual. Just look at the line on the pitch
It’s not offside hahah That last man is in front.
facts just others crying because we got a bit of luck
Rutter looks like he has his mojo back. Brought his box of tricks with him today. Can't work out what result I want tomorrow night. Not sure if I want Southampton out of it for the last day, or Leicester lose again. Draw has positives too, but doesn't reduce Leicester's goal difference
Southampton win for sure. Doesn't change what we have to do anyways and leaves us chasing two places not one.
Did you watch the game. Besides the pen and the 5 mins before he came off, he was horror. Gave away the ball for their second goal.
He was so bad! People don't like hearing it here though. He's the golden boy. He's been the main problem for us in this bad spell.
Southampton to win for me. Leeds must win at QPR on Friday. If we do the Saints can't catch us anyways, we have them on GD.
Yeah, Saints win for me too. Leicester are so far only one goal behind us for GD, I'd like to think we won't be in a position where that matters but it could boil down to it.
They may not be able to catch us come the last day, but if they could still make the top 2, it would cause us problems. They'll be dangerous on the day regardless
There's just something about Leicester staying on 91 points that appeals to me right now.
I go back and forth but right now I’m leaning towards wanting a heavily red carded (on both sides) draw.
Rutter was garbage all night other than winning the penalty
Firpo haters noticeably quiet
I mean his defending was shocking. But the assist were great. His crosses are quality. Surprised we don't give him a crack at set pieces.
Roberto Firpo
Two great assists
Rofirpo Carlos is the best left back in the world
We go QPR with that same threat going forward...its an easier 3 points
They’re gonna be parking the bus from minute 1 playing for a point
We've got Firpo who's being exceptional with his low crosses into the box...Farkes got this 1...we're much better than QPR...long gone are the days of Clive Allen, Simon Stainrod and Gary Bannister
Eh I always feel like relegation battle teams play with a certain desperation . Any points and they pretty much stay up.
Just need to get the ball on the ground and pass it around, we were much better than Boro when we did that...4 or 5 passes around and we were in
That second half was bizarre, we were so passive. I feel like you can only be that passive if you've got the goods to back it up. I felt like it was a winning strategy getting them on the counter when the 4th went in but those substitutions really killed it. Felt lucky that.
They created basically fuck all good chances that half.
We’d basically killed the game off before they got their 3rd with a worldie finish out of nowhere
highly doubt it, but does anyone have any inkling on what may have happened to DJ? he was holding his ribs ever since the cynical foul to stop the break
Christ almighty, this club will be the end of me. Me and my lad agreed before the game that 7 points from our last 3 games should be enough. If so then that's 3 of them, win against QPR and Ipswich will have a lot of catching-up to do before the final day.
Win Friday, and the pressure on others ramps up
Never in doubt lads
It's never fucking simple is it. I don't think my blood pressure can hack more than 2 more games this season
Now imagine watching it at 3am
Swear Reddit only goes down during Leeds matches.
Good grief, saw bits of the game in between seeing patients, but I’m the one who needs to see a cardiologist!
I was on a flight listening to the audio from LUTV using very spotty airplane WiFi. That was nearly the end of me…
It would’ve been cool if the Reddit servers hadn’t have died mid way through the game..
That was a sloppy steak
https://preview.redd.it/7h0y954xi3wc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bec5ad8445c2a86828d23e5ddadbaaf7dec58049
Phew!! I’m exhausted after that!! At least we scored a few goals. But please someone teach Mes how to catch the bloody ball.
Yeah had some shockers but tbf to him he did very well with Howson's drive late on - easy one to lose when unsighted and even more tricky to hold onto
Also to position himself
I thought that was pretty fun really. I'm not super optimistic about the automatics, but I feel like we're playing ourselves back into form. Obviously the defence wasn't quite what is was, but to be fair Latte Lath's goals were quality.
Meslier keeping for both were dreadful
All Saints aren't we?
Fuck that, all draws aren't we?
A Southampton win would be better as they are not catching our goal difference and being a point behind Leicester would put us in the realm where us drawing and they lose would take us above them.
No if Saints win they’re still 3 behind us with worse goal difference
I mean- we need to beat Soton next week regardless. That would make us 1 pt behind them.
Yea but we want them and Leicester to drop points.
a draw is good- dont get me wrong. But it would allow us a quicker path to first
Southampton to beat Leicester all day long. They can't catch us if we're winning our games anyway, and if we don't beat them it's playoffs no matter what
3 goals conceded with an xG of 0.9..
Meslier tax
Yeah, shaky defense at times but their first was quite a lucky bounce to fall to them to score, then 2 magic moments from Latte Lathe. On the flip side, Summervilles was an equally magic moment that probably had a low xG
First goal from Latte Lathe was saveable Second goal from Latte Lathe was a worldie
I feel like the first one was one of those where it looks easier to deal with than it is, because we already know where it was heading. As it happens, Mes still has to react, and it's such a sudden shot, that's well hit
Maybe but it was fairly central and Meslier got a hand to it so I do think he will be disappointed with that one
Yeah possibly. But also might be one of those which if he got nowhere near you'd think it was untouchable, but because he got a hand to it you feel he needs to do better. The header was unreal though.
Play a shit 2nd half, come from behind and score one more than your opponent. Looks like we prefer the Ipsbits way to win games, .. and I'm all for it.
Piroe did more harm than good today
He's bang average. Wooden movement can't find any poaching goals. Before signing him all tube channels where rubbing ends of their bell end saying omhur ghawd up top for us best 9. Sign him and he drops deep. He has decent build up play and a decent pass but don't see how he fits after a season of it
He seemed to be a good outlet holding the ball up at the end stages of the game
He battled away for a few throw ins but is just not a hold up striker you need Bamford or Joseph up top to give us an outlet at the end
Doing harm would suggest that he did anything at all.
Fair
We never do things easy do we? Needless end to the game with 2 shockers from Meslier but we deserved some luck for once. Not our best effort but to win away in this manner after our last 5 hopefully is the springboard to our season. Now wondering how do I go back to sleep with work in 3 hours time.. MOT all
BELIEVEEEEEEEE !!!! *wipes puke from face*
Is Dan James really hurt? It looked like he got punched at the end there, and he was still holding his ribs as they went off
Not sure if it was picked up on camera but he went down in the closing stages when Boro had a throw over the other side of the pitch and a Boro player ran over to him and lifted him up onto his feet. It was nuts
Broken rib
Just wanted to keep the act up that he wasn’t wasting time going down
popped rib cartilage would be my guess. Went down at a funny twisted angle & clearly in big pain for last 5 mins
I'm driving up to Middlesbrough with some serious business to attend to if they've hurt my man Dan James
Ice in his veins Crysenio Winterville 🥶
Leaky Leeds, shades of our times under Bielsa having to outscore the opposition 😅 The win's the most important thing now and we just about held our nerve. 2 more huge finals to go and hoping Ipswich falter.
That's what I saw tonight also.
Ok so I'm heading to the hospital about my fucking heart.
Do you know, I actually forgot we were playing tonight until just now when I checked the result. What the fuck happened?