Some Perspective From Saturday's Game

[Spiros]

C17BHA - you are bang on. I couldn't believe some of the negative comments at the game on Saturday, though they were mostly coming from characters occupying seats that had been empty for all of the previous matches this season. Leeds are a class above anything else we seen this season. They have quality players in every position who are also prepared to work their socks off and deny their opposition any time or space. They did this especially well to Bennett and to Dicker/Crofts. Sometimes it's probably more realistic to take your hat off to a good opponent than to try and claim that your own team are 'useless'

 

[Dave the OAP]

I am not really sure anyone is suggesting that we were useless, I was just alarmed at the gulf in class between both sides. Yes Leeds are a good side and they will no doubt go up playing like that ( although they are yet to come up against the Town who will thrash their arses like last year), but what was more worrying was just how we capitulated so badly and looked totally clueless with our defence forced to hoof the ball away a la the Slade days.

 

[Box of Frogs]

I didnt blame Smith for any of the goals, but yet again another 3 go past him. Something isnt right with him.

Maybe Smith isn't Kuipers? I somehow feel that if MK had been in goal he would still have let in 3 at least but many more would have been standing up for him and pointing out that he couldn't be faulted for any of them (and it was Leeds after all). I guess we'll have to put up with this until MK either leaves or retires.

You've hit the nail on the head there Jimbo - Smith isn't Kuipers so will therefore be subject to extra criticism because of that.

I would pick FDM as no 1 but Smith was not to blame for any of the goals on Saturday. FDM wouldn't have saved them either.

You need to clarify that Knotty. FDM would not have done any better with the goals but you would pick him over Smith - why?

did McLeod actually touch the ball when he came on?

He did quite a few times and, I thought, he looked more 'up for it' than in previous games. Was actually looking for the ball and trying to do something when he did get it!

 

[Clive Walker's slaphead]

I am not really sure anyone is suggesting that we were useless, I was just alarmed at the gulf in class between both sides. Yes Leeds are a good side and they will no doubt go up playing like that ( although they are yet to come up against the Town who will thrash their arses like last year), but what was more worrying was just how we capitulated so badly and looked totally clueless with our defence forced to hoof the ball away a la the Slade days.

If you were alarmed at the gulf maybe a glance at the table would have helped. They are top and have been for weeks and we are one place off relegation having been down there all season. The simple reason being is that they are a lot better than us

 

[Knotty]

You need to clarify that Knotty. FDM would not have done any better with the goals but you would pick him over Smith - why?

Because, on the evidence of what I have seen this season, FDM is a better keeper.

I can only go on what I've seen and maybe Smith is capable of better and I just haven't seen it. Smith certainly has been unlucky with the number of goals he has conceded, the majority of which he can't be blamed for, and he had no chance on Saturday.

Both of them will always make mistakes because they are third-tier keepers. FDM just gives me more confidence than Smith and I believe that he is capable of the occasional save that you wouldn't expect him to make. I haven't seen that yet in Smith.

FDM was rightly dropped for poor form, and rightly re-instated for the Southampton game where he justified his place. No blame to Smith for last Saturday but, equally, he did nothing to suggest he should win the place back.

 

[Danny-Boy]

Wigan are just a crazy football team this year. They go from the sublime to the impossibly bad. Not many teams will beat Chelsea at home and Aston Villa away this season, and I reckon not many teams will lose 9-1 either. They'll be ok though.

Ah but will they then meet Spurs in the FA Cup semi-finals and beat them 4-3? I don't think so....

 

[withdeanwombat]

Smith is an honest trier,but I don't think his positioning is very good - his awareness of where he is in his area - he doesn't seem that dominating as most good keepers are,and am I looking through my binoculars the wrong way,or is he quite small for a goalkeeper?

Whatever it is,he is plainly second to Kuipers.That doesn't mean Kuipers is Englands no1,but I suspect Mr Poyet will have a careful eye on this position.

Oh,and Leeds looked like a team at the top of the Championship rather than league 1,and won it at ease against a team which had no competitive edge,and I'm sure Mr Poyet will have a look at that,too.

 

[essbee]

Leeds chased us down all afternoon............we didn't do that to them.......that's one difference. Their passing was better. They also went from one end of the pitch to the
other exceptionally quickly - we took an age in the build up and then lost it. When they
had possession they used it well and didn't lose it - we gave it away by hoofing too often.

Football isn't rocket science is it.

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

Lots of posts have referred to Smith not being at fault for any of the goals - I agree as with every goal I have seen him concede. Are we however missing subtle things such as positioning ?, sometimes a yard either way can make a big difference. Commanding the defense, anticipating a 'cock up', physical size of kuipers? - stats are not everything but FDM should still be no.1.