LUFC Leeds Fan View v WatfordI made my usual away day trip with Leeds United as they went down to a 4-1 defeat at Watford.
Here I give my own views on the player performances during the game.
Silvestre 3
Is he any better than Paddy Kenny? I haven`t been impressed with him so far and I have yet to see him make a good save. The corner that led to the first goal could have been prevented had he come off his line and collected the ball.
Byram 2
If Premier League clubs want to offer £4 million for the fullback, we should be snapping their hands off. He had a good season in his first year as a professional but he was average last season and he looks a shadow of the player who broke into the side. He had a poor game on Saturday before being sent off in injury time. To be fair to him, he made no contact with the Watford midfielder who went down as if he had been shot.
Bellusci 4
He was having a good debut until 10 seconds of madness in the second half. He looked composed and good with either foot in the first half. He made a complete hash of his clearance that led to his sending off and resulting penalty that changed the whole course of the game.
Pearce 4
He looked more confident back in his usual defensive position on the left but he isn`t a leader on the pitch and to be honest, I am struggling to think of a player in the squad who is. The goals we have conceded this season have been shocking and as a centre back and captain, he should be leading by example. Both the third and fourth goals were shocking defensively and where was the wall for the fourth goal?
Warnock 5
He was having another decent game and he made a crucial last-ditch challenge to deny Watford just before the break. My only gripe is as the experienced professional in defence; he should be sorting out the back four.
Murphy 3
He needs help in midfield. I think he would be ok for Leeds with a better midfield around him but at the moment, he is struggling.
Austin 3
Another poor game. On the occasion when he did win the ball, it is a waste of time if he is just going to kick it straight back to the opposition.
Tonge 3
Worrying when Tonge looks like one of our better players and that sums us up at the minute.
Bianchi 6 Star Man
The only Leeds player who looked to get on the ball, link up play and get the side going.
Sharp 3
Once again feeding off scraps but when he did get the ball he often wasted it. He did supply the cross that led to the own goal.
Antenucci 2
As debuts go, he did very little.
Subs
Cooper 3
Unlucky to lose his place in the side but he was needed when Bellusci saw red.
Poleon 0
He continues to get game time and he has been a complete waste of space this season. He looks totally uninterested and he needs to be offloaded this month.
Smith
He came on inside the final ten minutes. He won a few things aerially but no-one close to him.
Summary
Where do we start? In all honesty, I felt the game was there to be won until Bellusci saw red. Watford seemed happy to sit back and let us pass it around because we never looked a threat going forward. Watford themselves had hardly threatened the Leeds goal.
So many things wrong at the moment and it is going to be a long hard season. We all know Hockaday should never have been appointed and he alongside his fellow puppet Junior Lewis, just stand in the technical area motionless during the game. Massimo Cellino must take the blame. It is ok bringing in all these players but if you have someone trying to coach them who is clueless, someone he appointed, then he might as well play the kids.
Something needs to be done and done quickly. Bring in an experienced coach with credentials, not someone who impressed him during a chat about football in a bar. If that is the case, there will be 30,000 Leeds fans applying for the job when it comes up.
If Hockaday doesn`t go after this defeat, he cannot lose at Bradford City in midweek because that will be the final straw.
The only highlight of a disappointing afternoon was Chris Kamara reporting for Sky by the side of the away fans. I would have loved to hear what he was reporting back to the studio.
Read more:
http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=368066#ixzz3BISIWRKK
