Tonight's game...Villa v Leeds

[blademark]

I know its easy to be pessimistic at the moment, but to all the bedwetters, I promise you will see a very different United team when confidence returns. When it does, hopefully tomorrow night, all of a sudden we will seem quicker, stronger, more athletic, shooting more, crosses will start finding their intended targets, goals will start flowing, and our fans will start dreaming again.
Confidence is everything, and for whatever reason, we are very short of it just now.

 

[CornwallBlade]

You can't blame Villa for the ghost goal fiasco, it wasn't their fault.

You can blame Dean bloody Smith for not behaving with the grace that Bielsa did when they were similarly affected though.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Again, you can't say that for certain.

Nobody knows what would have happened in that match had our goal been given.

It could have finished 2-1, 1-2 or 4-4.

We'll never know.

But, an evening up immediately afterwards would have taken any doubt out of it. There is no defence for any sporting, reasonable person/club not to have said “hands up, that was shite, we’ll fix it now”.

 

[Champagneblade]

This performance proves to me that we have every reason to be optimistic this season.
Lost to villa with ten men
Lost to leeds when but for their keeper we could have got at least a draw, when leeds have proven to be much the better team tonight and subsequently all things being equal we could easily have had four points from these two matches.
No matter what the results in the next three matches I personally have every reason to be optimistic

Without wanting to sound like Warnock, we lost both of those to refereeing decisions.

The head of PGMOL has admitted Egan shouldn't have been red carded and that Berge was fouled in the build up for their goal.

That said, we also had 180 minutes to score ourselves missed excellent chances vs Leeds and a penalty vs Villa. So you've got to help yourself at some point.

 

[HammerInPeace]

Can't believe we lost to both. Shows how bad we are

I thought you were unlucky in both games though.

 

[LS16Blade]

The first and third goals were amazing calmly and well executed, is Bamford going through a purple patch because he's never shown that sort of composure before?

Bamford is a perfect example of the effect that playing behind closed doors appears to be having on many players who have long been known to be technically excellent players but who have not necessarily played to their potential because of mental fragility in the pressurised surrounds of an actual match day.

Freed from the scrutiny of supporters in the stadium, Bamford, who has habitually spurned gilt-edged chances over the past 2 seasons for Leeds, is popping them away as if games are a training ground exercise...which to all intents and purposes, these games will feel they are, for the players on the pitch.

A reporter in The Times has queried whether anybody seriously believes that Patrick Bamford would be doing what he is currently doing in the Premier League, under normal circumstances with crowds in the grounds. Now that he has the confidence in his finishing, though, he may well just carry on in this form.

Unfortunately for us, it seems that it is 'the occasion' that gets our players performing to their maximum. Dean Henderson even revealed that our mantra last season was 'the big occasions are when real men turn up'. We clearly can't summon the necessary 'edge' for these glorified training ground matches.

 

[Tezza1889]

Bamford is a perfect example of the effect that playing behind closed doors appears to be having on many players who have long been known to be technically excellent players but who have not necessarily played to their potential because of mental fragility in the pressurised surrounds of an actual match day.

Freed from the scrutiny of supporters in the stadium, Bamford, who has habitually spurned gilt-edged chances over the past 2 seasons for Leeds, is popping them away as if games are a training ground exercise...which to all intents and purposes, these games will feel they are, for the players on the pitch.

A reporter in The Times has queried whether anybody seriously believes that Patrick Bamford would be doing what he is currently doing in the Premier League, under normal circumstances with crowds in the grounds. Now that he has the confidence in his finishing, though, he may well just carry on in this form.

Unfortunately for us, it seems that it is 'the occasion' that gets our players performing to their maximum. Dean Henderson even revealed that our mantra last season was 'the big occasions are when real men turn up'. We clearly can't summon the necessary 'edge' for these glorified training ground matches.

Been saying the same thing. Look at how man utd finished last season..

 

[Niceguyeddie]

My sincere apologies to John Harris for any distress caused.

Why did he have to sit next to you once ?

 

[Rufus Smalls]

I can see Villa winning tonight.

I may be wrong but I think Leeds, after a decent start, will drop off the pace and start to struggle over the full season.

UTB !

Straight out of the Steve Nicol book of punditry
So, tonight’s prediction is Liverpool 4 , Blades 0.
UTB !

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

The first and third goals were amazing calmly and well executed, is Bamford going through a purple patch because he's never shown that sort of composure before?

He was up against Mings who had a shocker.

 

[Gee]

They are nothing like us last year. Leeds are all out attack and are taking the ball% off of top teams and are creating loads of chances. We were rock solid at the back, conceded loads of possession but nicked results.

I didn’t mean in the way that they are playing, I meant the pundits having a spunk fest every time you put sky sports on, sick of hearing fucking how good Leeds are on every footie programme. They were at it before a ball was even kicked this season. They were same with us last season. Cocks!!!. That said we’re hardly giving them anything positive to talk about.

 

[1973Blade]

I didn't rate Bamford just as I didn't rate DCL. If this season has shown me anything it is that I don't know what I am talking about.

 

[metalblade]

After seeing Grealish throw himself to the floor to get a penalty I'm glad Leeds won, did he get a yellow card for that blatant bit of cheating?

 

[Rufus Smalls]

After seeing Grealish throw himself to the floor to get a penalty I'm glad Leeds won, did he get a yellow card for that blatant bit of cheating?

He also had a terrific run the full length of the pitch and should have put Villa 1-0 up and in control of the game.

The point I’m making is he still has to cut the diving out and the gamesmanship but he is a fantastic talent.

 

[BladesOnToast]

The one good thing about Leeds doing well is that it would be nice to see more of a "re-northerning" of the prem, even getting more midlands sides back up there would help. I've been delighting in Derby, Forest, Middlesbrough and Sunderland's feeble showings in recent years but it would also be great getting some more northern teams in there to reverse the Palace, Bournemouth, Watford, Brighton, Fulham trend. And no, i haven't yet checked who went down last season, before anyone points out two glaring flaws in this post.

 

[BladesOnToast]

Without wanting to sound like Warnock, we lost both of those to refereeing decisions.

The head of PGMOL has admitted Egan shouldn't have been red carded and that Berge was fouled in the build up for their goal.

That said, we also had 180 minutes to score ourselves missed excellent chances vs Leeds and a penalty vs Villa. So you've got to help yourself at some point.

The Villa decision is so much more painful considering the Luiz incident