The Official Leeds United Thread

[Killer2005]

Better than expected, but disappointed we didn't get a point.

Koch looked a bit wobbly but given that's the first time he's played with Striujk it wasn't too bad. Both played better in the second half.

Think we'll do well this year.

[Groat]

Neutral here. That was a good watch.

Keep that standard up you'll get top 6.

[Zad]

Bloody hell!

I mean..... Bloody hell!

This is going to get a lot of back page headlines around the world. I must admit, I was expecting to come away from the runaway league champions at home with our arses handed to us, 5-0 or something. For some bizarre reason it feels like we actually won that! If ANYONE had doubts about us being a Premier League team, then I think they were all dispelled. Last week, the BBC pundit predicted us finishing 11th. 24 hours ago that seemed way too high. Now it feels a bit low. At Elland Rd with a crowd... Who can say?

I know, it is only 1 match, but right now the lads must feel now like they have a good chance whoever they are up against. Next practise every one of them will run a little bit faster and have a little bit more confidence.

[MOBB]

Groat said:

Neutral here. That was a good watch.

Keep that standard up you'll get top 6.

+1 cracking team

[CellarDoor]

Zad said:

Bloody hell!

I mean..... Bloody hell!

This is going to get a lot of back page headlines around the world. I must admit, I was expecting to come away from the runaway league champions at home with our arses handed to us, 5-0 or something. For some bizarre reason it feels like we actually won that! If ANYONE had doubts about us being a Premier League team, then I think they were all dispelled. Last week, the BBC pundit predicted us finishing 11th. 24 hours ago that seemed way too high. Now it feels a bit low. At Elland Rd with a crowd... Who can say?

I know, it is only 1 match, but right now the lads must feel now like they have a good chance whoever they are up against. Next practise every one of them will run a little bit faster and have a little bit more confidence.

You were superb. Play like that for the rest of the season and you'll be competing for champions league football alongside Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd and Wolves.

[giblet]

Gutted to not walk away with a point. First penalty was exceptionally soft, VAR is ste.

Defence looks shaky, to be expected without Cooper and Koch having had minimal training. It will take a bit of time for him to settle in.

Kudos for Bamford for his finishing today, even if he did get lucky with some abject defending. Saying that all 3 goals were great.

Just hope we can keep that level of playing up for the remainder of the season

[JNW1]

MOBB said:

Groat said:

Neutral here. That was a good watch.

Keep that standard up you'll get top 6.

+1 cracking team

Thanks but not sure about top 6! If we keep playing that way hopefully we'll have a decent season but personally I'd regard a mid-table finish as good in our first year back - anything 10th or higher would be excellent IMO.

Just a shame Anfield had to be empty for that game tonight - Liverpool's passionate home support combined with our army of noisy travelling fans would have made for a great atmosphere!

[dxbtiger]

That's the best I have felt about a loss in a very long time.

Mate asked if I would take 2-0 loss before the game, I said no as it is going to be all about the performance, whether we can live with a team that ran away with the league last year.

I think that proves we can survive in the big boys league, performances like that will be more than enough to take points from many of the rest of the league.

First penalty a farce, there is no way that this law will be applied consistently throughout the season.

Rodrigo's one was bloody idiotic.

All that with a 'makeshift' back 4.

We are back.

We belong.

ALAW

MOT

[BlackStang5point0]

I'll certainly take that. As someone else said I was worried that our welcome back to the prem would be Liverpool handing us our arse on a plate..!!

Took many positives from the performance (apart from the dodgy penalty decision). The new lads look a bit nervous but it'll come and if we can continue to play like that we should do ok.

Buzzing this morning and never felt like this after a loss..

[Leicester Loyal]

Great performance but lets not forget it's only one game, Norwich looked class for 4 or 5 games last season.

I can't believe Bamford scored!

[DocJock]

Welcome to the Prem. Keep playing like that and you'll be a valuable addition.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Looking forward to the rest of the season after that. Considering one of our defenders only had his first training session with the team on Wednesday and Stuijk has never started a first team game in defence, not too shabby.

Didn't think anyone had a bad game.

[ziggy328]

I don’t think Leeds have a bus, never mind knowing how to park it. I hope Bielsa stays for years.

[dxbtiger]

ziggy328 said:

I don’t think Leeds have a bus, never mind knowing how to park it. I hope Bielsa stays for years.

Agree, but I don't think we'll get more than the next season (at a push) out of him.

Match thoughts

Koch needs to wake the fk up, ridiculous challenge.

Not sure what Rodders is going to be, I know he was parachuted into 10 for Pablo but I've seen nothing today or the Hull game. Nothing.

We need to learn to close a game off, keep ball across the back 4 and KP is ok, we don't need to always attack.

KP was poor tonight, by his own standards. He nearly looked the same as Declan Rice, we can't have that.

[BlackStang5point0]

dxbtiger said:

KP was poor tonight, by his own standards. He nearly looked the same as Declan Rice, we can't have that.

I totally agree he was poor although other reviews I've seen and read seem to suggest he had a good game..!!

Costa and Bamford only 2 players for me who stepped up (ETA: plus Klich did pretty well). Rest of the side looked average. Looking back at the goals Meslier could have done better aswell.

Bamford did say post match that he thinks it will take 4/5 games for us to get into our stride so lets hope that's when the new guys start to show some class.

However, first home game in the prem in 16 years and the only stat that really counts is we got the 3 points - although made it hard for ourselves and the last 20 mins I was hiding behind the sofa. Just such a pity ER wasn't packed to the rafters.

Sheff Utd away next #MOT

[Zad]

This match was pretty much the opposite of the Liverpool one. Yes, we won, 3 points is always good to have, but it left me feeling very concerned about our defence. I do wonder how we beat them 3-0 not many weeks ago (then I remember we lost a certain player). From what I saw on MOTD there was some amazing work up front, seemingly randomly punted balls appearing at the feet of other Leeds players - it could have been 6-0. Or 2-5 for that matter. I have to laugh at the media commentators who think we can't keep this up all season. That would be a season which is several games shorter than the Championship one.

If we get the defence nailed down (or even half working) then the job's a good 'un.

[JNW1]

Good to see us get our first win and some points on the board but a little concerning we almost managed to blow a 4-1 lead! Also, whilst accepting it's very early days, it's also a bit of a worry that neither of our new and relatively expensive signings has hit the ground running; neither Rodrigo nor Koch seem to be up to speed with life in the Premier League as yet but hopefully they'll improve with a few games.

Still some rumours we're going to get a deal for Rodrigo de Paul over the line so fingers crossed with that - we can't relay on Hernandez for creativity so hopefully this bloke will give us something extra in midfield if he arrives. However, I think Udinese are wanting big money for him (over £30m) and if I'm honest I can see this potential transfer going the same way as the one for Ben White.....

[Killer2005]

Diego Llorente completed his transfer today, another CB who can cover as a defensive midfielder.

[Drezza]

Killer2005 said:

Diego Llorente completed his transfer today, another CB who can cover as a defensive midfielder.

Good stuff... Watford are selling Pereyra to Udinese, looks like it'll be a replacement for De Paul, fingers crossed!

[ziggy328]

That was actually always going to be a tough game to win. I had already decided that a draw would be a good outcome. 3 points from games like these will be crucial. Brilliant result. Amazed how Bamford seems to have stepped up a notch too!