The deficiencies in the squad are all to apparent now. Wasn't a bad performance. Simply too many individual errors. Not just for the goals either.

Thought that Evans had a good game. Covered a lot of ground box to box. So obviously faded around the 60 minute mark. Perhaps showed the difference between the demands of League 1 and the Championship. McCleary deputised well at right full back. Looked natural in the position as if he played there every week. Rakels looked energetic when he came on. Eager to impress. Like Evans undoubtedly has work to do like Evans to be effective for a full 90 minutes. Cox is looking sharper and fitter, shame hasn't played more with Vydra this season as not on the same wave length yet.

Was a young team where some on field leadership and direction would have helped. Quinn was doing his best but you feel that the loan players will never die for the cause.

There's simply no replacement for Tshibola in the squad currently. With some reinforcement in midfield could easily have bossed this game far more. If one stands back there is a structure and style evolving. Though very much in it's infancy.

Would agree with the above. Once again a game we should have come away with something ends in defeat. Cooper has talent but a simple error has cost us the game re Fulham and Palace. At this level when games are so tight you can not afford to keep making basic errors. I thought Evens did ok and Mcleary a solid game at fullback. Vydra gave his usual masterclass in giving the ball away. The rest all had solid games but once again a painfull long journey home, with nothing to show for our efforts.

Overall it was a decent performance, either Leeds had a bad day or we made them look bad. The obvious problem was that they scored with their only meaningful chances and we didn't. Agree that McCleary improvised at full back well but was disappointed in Cox with Piazon ineffective as usual. Ola John looks a class above this league and lively again when he came on, don't understand why he doesn't start every game.

Question: with McCleary not the force he was on the wing and deputising well at fullback and Obita being weak defensively, is it worth looking at three centre backs and those two as wing backs next season?

We just seem rather vulnerable at the back.

Stick with the midfield three and two upfront. Maybe give a touch more width and a little more solidity at the back... the diamond feels a little dangerously like 2-5-3

[quote="Ian Royal"]Question: with McCleary not the force he was on the wing and deputising well at fullback and Obita being weak defensively, is it worth looking at three centre backs and those two as wing backs next season?

We just seem rather vulnerable at the back.

Stick with the midfield three and two upfront. Maybe give a touch more width and a little more solidity at the back... the diamond feels a little dangerously like 2-5-3[/quote]


I always thought that Clarke would have gone down the three centre back route given we have Obita and McCLeary two reasonably talented and quick players, the " sweeper" role would suit Ferdinand perfectly with his experience, and I think it would undoubtedly do Cooper good. Would like to see it at least tried during pre season.

Thought Taylor had a poor game. Stayed on the edge of the six-yard box & sent Quinn out to (fail to) stop the cross for the first goal. The first two goals were both unmarked headers.

Wasn't overly impressed with McCleary at right back either. Lots of poor first touches from him.

But has been said, overall a decent performance that would have been rewarded if it weren't for some shoddy defending.

Depends which Ola John turns up on the day. Has the technical skill. Why he hasn't made the grade can only be down to application.

Assume Ferdinand will be gone in the summer. Looks like Brian is already working towards next season.

The way Norwood (and Hector) have played in central midfield this season, you could argue we've been playing with 3 centre backs anyway, especially when Hector has played in there.

Give Josh Barrett a game in Piazon's position? Or let Ola John play in a free role?

Norwood lacks sufficient pace . As was the case yesterday too easily beaten and picked up another booking. A core weakness in the spine of the team.

Good lord.

Goal 1 - no width in defence, weak from the defenders awaiting the cross

Goal 2 - awful from the defenders waiting for thw cross

Goal 3 - Cooper's gangly physique and lack of pace trip him up in a nothing situation to create a goal from a skewed kick in midfield.

Cox should have scored 1v1 with the keeper. Unlucky not to score in the build up to Rakels' goal.

Great ball in from Norwood for a calm finish by Hector.

I'm not particularly impressed by Cooper, definite quality, but I think his height makes him aqkward and he's not going to get over that. Not in Hector's class for me. Buttime is on his side and he should be learning a lot.

Butt time?

squints.

oh. ok.

Equally poor defending by Leeds.

Equally poor defending by Leeds.
You are so negative, dad! Every goal in football is technically 'poor' defending. When do you give the attacking team credit?

We deserved more than we got yesterday, but that's what you get when you are forced to play 3 players in defence who haven't played there together, or even there before.

We played nice counter attacking football, quick flowing attacking play but just lacked the solidness in defence you require from it.

Unless I'm mistaken Leeds had 4 shots in the second half, 3 on target, 3 goals. That's why we lost. 2 crosses which should have been stopped at the source, and a purely defensive error/slip.

I didn't go to Middlesborough, but we were, by all accounts deserving of a point at least, and juding by the Bolton, forest and Leeds performances I am fully behind McDermott in his management and trust Arsenal's ex chief scout fully to rebuild our squad and find the missing links.

In McDermott i (we should all) trust.

We were alright, from what I saw. Great day out though.

Equally poor defending by Leeds.
You are so negative, dad! Every goal in football is technically 'poor' defending. When do you give the attacking team credit?