27 Jan 2026 11:42:15
Actually thought that was a good system second half, worked well. Fair result in the end enjoyed it.
{Ed025's Note - first half was abysmal though DMS, why do we always wait until we are a goal down before we decide to come to the party especially at home?, that good system should have been deployed for the start mate especially the energy and the want to win attitude...not just for a bloody half, im certainly not giving out any plaudits for 50% tactical awareness..
27 Jan 2026 12:12:41
Yes he does dither but his explanation this time made sense. The lads just coming back and fitness. Gueye and Ndiaye not leggy in my view, just needed to grow back into the pace, which they did. Sort our RWB/RW out, a striker, bring through Aznou (LB/LWB) we are good to go.
27 Jan 2026 12:51:08
It’s fair to ask the question, I did. We knew how Leeds would set up and didn’t adapt in the first half. Perhaps this is because options are limited. Going three at the back without Keane and with JB only just returning would have been a risk.
Fans have been calling for reactions, and largely they’ve come. Mykolenko’s race is run for me, and McNeil, both entirely redundant yesterday.
27 Jan 2026 13:16:25
Well I didn’t enjoy it. I thought it was bloody awful again.
27 Jan 2026 13:18:03
Mykolenko was hardly redundant perhaps limited at times. It is the right hand side and not particularly Patterson that needs addressing. McNeil is the one that shouldn't be on the pitch, Leeds goal in my view could have been prevented if that lazy sod had gone with the player, he literally saw him make his run and made no effort.
27 Jan 2026 14:31:38
How wasn't he redundant? Some fans seem to have this delusional idea that he is a decent defender. It is sheer nonsense. He got ran ragged last night by their fullback. He lost 6 out of his 8 duels. Committed 3 fouls and completed 2 tackles.
For their goal he is jogging around in no mans land, the danger is clearly going down the line and he just saunters across to him and doesn't stop the pass. Same with O'Brien getting across to stop the cross into the box. Then Tarks letting DCL get across him when he had the position on him. Sh** defending, simple as that.
Going forward, has Mykolenko ever been anything but redundant? 0 goals and 0 assists this season. 4 goals and 6 assists in the 5 seasons he has been with us - disgrace.
In this game - 94 touches of the ball, not a single 1 of them was inside the oppositions box. Compare that to the two Leeds fullbacks who had 6 and 4 respectively. Only Barry had more touches in the box than their two fullbacks. Leeds fullbacks aren't considered "attacking" fullbacks like your Munoz or Timber yet look at the difference in numbers.
He made 56 passes, with a pass accuracy of 79% (only 7 of those into the final third) , 1/4 accurate crosses and 0/4 accurate long balls.
Saying he is limited is an understatement.
Both sides need addressing because both of them wouldn't get into any other PL side. The fact that we haven't just gone and bought 2 fullbacks this window is nothing short of negligence. It isn't about keeping your powder dry until the summer because the 2 we have could be improved upon and replaced with £15/20 million quid.
{Ed025's Note - i cant argue with that mate..
27 Jan 2026 14:57:17
Great post BN and very accurate, it’s actually criminal we haven’t sorted these two areas of the pitch out, as two fast decent full backs wouldn’t cost the earth and could also operate as wing backs if we ever need to flex the systems around like last nights second half.
27 Jan 2026 15:09:13
I see what I see bluenose different opinion is all.
27 Jan 2026 15:11:50
This isn't insta mash, we will finish top 10. Think I may do a Skylark for awhile.
27 Jan 2026 15:45:39
It really is Col. If we had 2 decent full-backs this season, there is no reason why we wouldn't be in the CL places right now, given that we are currently 5 points off and have had to contend with the injuries and AFCON this season.
No issue with difference of opinion Dms. Some people like Moyes, some don't. Some people think Barry will be a hit, some don't. Some people think Ndiaye should play on the left, some on the right. Some people think O'Brien should be one of our starting CB's. There are reasons for and against for all the above but when it comes to the Mykolenko question, it is all but settled. His performances, numbers and the eye test alone, show that he is distinctly average, ordinary and nowhere near good enough to be starting as a left back for a PL club and certainly not one that has any aspirations of getting back to the heights of English football, be that in the short or long term.
27 Jan 2026 18:50:47
Watch the replay of the goal again. McNeil basically let's the lad go and makes no effort to track him. Had he done that then there is a very good chance they would not have scored.
27 Jan 2026 19:09:18
Bang on the money about Myko BN.
His crossing yesterday hit the first Leeds player every time.