LEEDS UNITED- V -
DONCASTER ROVERS
Leeds United came to the Keepmoat in October and humiliated a very poor Doncaster Rovers. I doubt if Leeds have had an easier victory this season. So no wonder if the Rovers faithful crossed the fixture off their list of away matches. Its no fun having the piss taken out of you by the Leeds, especially if you've been dumb enough to pay £36 for the privilege.
But then, Ken Bates sacked Simon Grayson while Leeds were in 10th place, a mere 3 points away from the play-offs. It's not gone quite so well since then and, paying £36 to take the piss out of the Leeds could be considered a bargain by the Donny faithfull! The problem is that it is by no means a safe-money bet. The way both sides are playing, it would be a very over-confident fan who put money on either side.
LEEDS UNITED
The most important thing tomorrow, other than the result, is that we put on a performance against Doncaster where we look like we care. - Neil Redfearn
The article on that link sums up the situation at Leeds at the moment. The current manager has no idea about his or the club's future. He's publicly stating that the situation is unsettling for players as they do not know the club's future plans. Meanwhile, the only person who can resolve all the questions is sitting in Monaco doing a very good impression of someone who couldn't care less. Maybe, it isn't an impression.
As a Rovers fan, I've seen it all and more when it comes to bad chairmen. Believe me Leeds, in a pissing contest, Rovers can say our ex-chairman was far worse than your current one. But we do say that with some sympathy. We know what it is like when the wrong person controls your club.
Now, I tried to review the last few Leeds games on LUTV as my missus pays £52 a year for that privilege. What a load of pants it is! First of all, I mistakenly logged in on an expired account so couldn't play any video. The "service" would not allow a sign-out or new sign on, so I was reduced to logging in on a current account on a netbook. I could not find a way of getting the video to play on full screen and the video buffered to such an extent as to make it unwatchable. So sod that! I'll watch the games on "player" - which costs £34 a year. Leeds fans - you really should start complaining about how you are being exploited by your club!
But THANK YOU Leeds and Coventry as watching the highlights was extremely entertaining once I got there. Sure, comedy central would be a more appropriate channel that Coventry Player but it was great entertainment.
I should have known I was in for a treat when I heard the Coventry commentator announce the scoreline at the Doncaster Rovers match being played at the same time.
"And they have spent a lot of money haven't they, Doncaster" he said knowingly.
"Yes" agreed the pundit. "A lot on loan players but it hasn't worked". PMSL is the phrase I believe.
On the pitch and I was first struck by how quickly Leeds moved the ball going forwards. I've seen this many times, so wasn't surprised though I had a feeling that Coventry's ineptitiude in defence was making it look a little better than it was. But the ball moved quickly and chances were created.
There were clear (and how clear) chances for White and McCormack that were attrociously wasted with panache as Coventry did their damdest to help Redferan get a permanent job.
But if Leeds should have scored at least three, Coventry should have had six. It was one of those videos that you show kid's teams with the standard phrase "that's why you shouldn't...." Defensively, Leeds have got worse since I last saw them based on that performance. And downwards from what I last saw wasn't easy.
Players are half-heartedly challenged at set-pieces; getting goal-side of your marker seems easy - even encouraged and a couple of offside appeals showed that the defence really do not know what one another are doing.
But the second penalty, conceded well into injury time was the cherry that went on top a cake that was really well iced and gift-wrapped for the next oppoenents. The Coventry player broke with pace from well within his own half. A challenger tried a tackle, decided he couldn't make it and so pulled the lad back - still a good 40 yards from goal. The lad was looking good so, foul him while he's a long way from goal. You burn some more very precious time while a very innocuous free-kick is taken and leave Coventry with a point.
But the second penalty, conceded well into injury time was the cherry that went on top a cake that was really well iced and gift-wrapped for the next oppoenents. The Coventry player broke with pace from well within his own half. A challenger tried a tackle, decided he couldn't make it and so pulled the lad back - still a good 40 yards from goal. The lad was looking good so, foul him while he's a long way from goal. You burn some more very precious time while a very innocuous free-kick is taken and leave Coventry with a point.
That's what should have happened but no, the challenger, in a rare attack of sportsmanship, let the runner's arm go. And he ran on. Sportsmanship spread as more and more defenders stepped back to admire the young lad's skill. Then, in the penalty area, somebody decided that plan A - foul the kid had indeed been the correct option - wonderfull!
DONCASTER ROVERS
When you read the article on that link, you kind of see Saunders as a manager clutching at straws and anything else available to him. Now he talks about Paul Keegan and Chris Brown, the forgotten Rovers frontman.
"Not an out and out striker - that's not his game" says Dean. Maybe not. But Brown did score 10 goals in 22 games while on loan at Donny back in 2003/04. Yes, it was at a lower level but Chris was also much less experienced. Also, do we have an out and out goalscorer? I think not. So why not give Chris a go in a role that would give him this kind of opportunity? There is a vacancy and I think Chris is a far better player than many people think he is. Sean O'Driscoll certainly thought so! (damn - mentioned Sean. Baaaaad Duck!)
Unfortunately, entertaining though it may have been, Rovers could have used Leeds beating Coventry. As it happened, Rovers were having enough problems of their own against a good Blackpool side.
So now I've just watched James Hayter miss two very presentable chances, the very kind that have to go in the net if you want to get out of the relegation zone. I also saw Gary Taylor-Fletcher getting between two centre-backs for one goal and looking like Ronaldo to bag a second. No disrespect to GTF but he is not Ronaldo so why did he suddenly look like him? Would the guilty party who flattered him so much please step forward - all three of you!
But Matt Gilks made some very good saves from Brian Stock and unbelievably from Martin Woods and Diouf scored the cheekiest of penalties and then made gobby gestures to Gilks. No wonder Rovers' fans are loving Dioufy!
All in all typical Rovers and more so since the loss of our finest. Chances created - tick the box. Chances converted.....ahhhhh, hmmmmm, well.....
And that's that really. A wonderfully generous defence awaits an attack who wouldn't know a good thing if it laid in front of them with it's legs in the air. At the other end, legs are also being waved in the air, but will memory serve the Leeds strikers? I wouldn't bet on it!
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