this season? when?

we’ve lost 3 games, all 1-0 with 2 of them being set piece goals and the other being from our own mistake and getting countered

assuming you stop our attack and play one in behind us, teams have either no one up the pitch or one attacker, who then typically has to outplay one of Struijk/ Rodon / Ampadu + a covering defender before receiving any support. they’re the best defenders in the league

i respect that they didn’t come to low block / time waste / pray. But also they proved why teams take that option.

Yesterday was an example of what happens when a team wins the tactical battle and also has players that are way better than the opposition’s.

just one example, but we really tore Cardiff apart yesterday. In general the return of Firpo balanced the attacking dynamic and having Piroe drop in and play these passes to runners going beyond him really showed the strengths of his game.

1 pass from Piroe in behind their defensive line (he did this all game) and James was in, eventually squaring it for a tap in and that was 2-0 after 13'.

Aaronson initially miscontrols the lay off from Piroe, but you can see how easily we now have a 4-on-4 situation in a central area. Not only that, but we have space to run into. Any side that lets us do that... bad day to be them.

see that shape here. but they've allowed leeds to get all 4 attackers comfortably between the lines here with little pressure on the ball. Credit here to Firpo/ Bogle for holding the width, allowing attackers to overload the middle.

this is all getting a bit guesswork-y because at the end of the day what we see on the pitch is such a tiny projection of how a player is in reality / behind the scenes but yeah.

This also applies to the club culture managers create: Steve Cooper, Lampard, Dean Smith I'm looking at all of you...

Bruno Fernandes/ Lisandro are their two worst for it at the moment. Any decision, they cry. if things arent going well - it's straight to head loss. Ronaldo was the exact same

having a few players like that is OK, maybe even good but they need to be a rung below the real commanders on the pitch imo

I honestly don't think you can have a truly successful team (I mean more than winning an FA Cup here and there) with team leaders who are as pathetic / petulant as what they've got. It's why you see them fall apart in so many games across the years.

granted Derby aren't great but basically every team that's come to Elland Road this season has gone for this kind of set up...

not sure if this is of any interest gents @allstatsarentwe.bsky.social @grahamsmyth.bsky.social @joedonnohue.bsky.social

think I'll also tweet this thread on the other place

all this to say I think the fact more goals are coming from subs isn't necessarily an indication that Farke has changed how he makes subs this season as has been slightly implied by some.

usage has followed the same late / poor patterns as 23/24 (and rest of Farke's career) imo

we've gained points from Aaronson's equaliser 95' vs Portsmouth and Gnonto 91' to win vs Swansea.

other top end Champ teams:

Sunlun 0 (0%) + 0 points
Blades 3 (14%) + 3 points
Burnleh 4 (19%) + 5
Boro 5 (17%) + 1
West Brom 1 (6%) + 0

small sample size etc