The Game's Gone Crazier

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Sunday 29 December 2013

Derbyshire Screamer Derails Leeds United's Promotion Charge and Helps Nottingham Forest Pick Up Steam!

Oh dear. Within seconds of McCormack equalising with his side's first shot on target all afternoon,  super sub Matt Derbyshire collected the ball 30 yards from goal, strode forward a couple of paces, looked up and let fly - and the ball travelled like a heat seeking missile into the top corner of Podgy Kenny's net. 2-1 just as I predicted, but 2-1 to the wrong bloody side!

Not that Leeds can complain. They were second best for most of the game and could have gone 2-0 behind moments before McCormack's equaliser, when Tubby Reid drilled a shot against the post, with Podgy beaten all bellies up. There would have been no coming back from that, and there was no coming back either from the body blow delivered by Derbyshire even as the travelling fans were celebrating McCormack's goal. Talk about the ecstasy and the agony!

That McCormack goal apart, the Forest defence rarely looked troubled, with McRoss invisible for most of the game and Smith being used as an all too predictable aerial target. The lad did his best but Forest defenders were doubling up on him each time the ball was lumped towards him and Leeds could not get enough players forward to support him, in part because of the decision to start Shit Brown. The midfield enforcer was belatedly withdrawn, but by starting him, Friar Brian betrayed anxiety and signalled a more defensive approach - and his team responded by playing conservatively when really they should have had the confidence to play the game in Forest's half given Billy Davies was trusting to make shift striker Halford up front.

The withdrawal of McCormack with Leeds 2-1 down and with 10 minutes still to play is worrying. True he had been quiet prior to his goal, but you don't take off your goal machine when you desperately need a goal, unless he is unfit. Maybe Friar Brian was saving him for the game on New Year's Day, but if so, it was a strange decision to make, as it as good as handed the 3 points to a major promotion rival. It was asking a lot of young Poleon to come on and rescue the game, whilst the even younger Ariyibi wasn't going to be shooting in a hurry after his first attempt on goal flew so wide that it went out for a throw in.

So the Leeds United McFeelgood Factor Sleeper Express to the Premiership, Europe, Infinity and Beyond has been temporarily derailed. Happily, however, many of the other results went in their favour. Yes Leeds have slipped out of the top six, but only on goals scored, and with Wigan and Burnley sharing the points as well as Watford and QPR, the damage done to McDermott's promotion aspirations is nowhere near as great as it could have been. The trouble is, the top 4 are that little bit further ahead, and the Play Off Place chasing pack have edged that crucial bit closer. Suddenly Ipswich and Brighton are right in the mix and level on points with Leeds.

But look at the positives. At the end of the game Leeds had Byram, Lees, Smith, Poleon, Ariyibi and Murphy on the pitch - young colts all, instead of Warnock's knackered old carthorses; so even if promotion is missed this season, the future looks bright under Friar Brian.

20 comments:

  1. Not sure what warranted that outburst, particularly in the light of my final paragraph.

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  2. oh dear, think you have a headache? why don't you take anelka seltzer (or 2) to cheer you up?

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  3. Jumped on that quick didnt you after weeks of near silence. And your last paragraph is very true. The game sprung to life after that twat brown was subbed off. Poleon did more in his brief spell on than mccormack and smith could all game almost (barring macs goal obviously)

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  4. (18.02) West Ham's position doesn't make the Leeds performance any better!

    I watched the Hammers match on TV yesterday and found it entertaining.

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    1. your not a true Leeds fan. just a knob with as many mates as tracey.

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    2. I think you will find that knobs confuse your and you're!

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    3. Hammersfan has commented on both replies to Jack proving that he is in fact "yours and you" Scott, Neville, Tracey or whatever you call yourself.

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    4. I think you will find that correcting peoples Grammer as the only come back you can offer, shows your lack of depth

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    5. I also found the Leeds games entertaining last night Jack, but I hated that we dropped 3 points. I'm sure your bum chum Hammersfan took cold comfort from the 'entertaining' 3-all draw in a game that was as 'season defining' as he claims ours was.

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  5. Our lack of creativity is a big worry.when was the last time we dominated a game.even the doncaster game we won 3 nil flattered us..come on haigh,get some big signings in.

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  6. (18.31) I thought the blog offered some hope and positivity,....

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  7. that's because your an idiot or hammersfan in disguise you muppet. how can a so called "west ham fan" offer us "hope" when he clearly loves it when we lose or come unstuck you pratt? start smelling the roses instead of scotts balls and see that there is never any "positivity" from this parasite.

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  8. Too slow - too many has beens - pretenders not contenders - well turned over. 2-1 sounds close. 4-1 would reflect the difference.

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  9. I think you will find idiots confuse your and you're. And why isn't this positive?

    But look at the positives. At the end of the game Leeds had Byram, Lees, Smith, Poleon, Ariyibi and Murphy on the pitch - young colts all, instead of Warnock's knackered old carthorses; so even if promotion is missed this season, the future looks bright under Friar Brian.

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  10. Hmmm lets see, how about 3 years of insessant ridicule from you towards Leeds and everything they represent. Perhaps the anonymous writer had that in mind?

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  11. Please come clean and define the relationship between you and Jack. Also,who's on top ?

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  12. McDermott's post match interview explicitly states 2 or 3 out of the 4 suggestions, do your research. As for not needing that many, we need at least one winger (2 if Ariyibi is not ready), a creative attacking midfielder so Ross doesn't need to drop deep, a quick striker ease the burden on Ross (or use Poleon) and an experienced substitute keeper to cover for Ashdown's injury - so 4 wouldn't disrupt the squad, it'd complete it; you are clueless.

    "I would never push owners to do what they don`t want to do but if we can add two or three players in the transfer window, we will finish higher than we are now and that would be in the play-offs.

    "I have given David Haigh the name of four players that I am interested in. I am being as proactive as I can be and we will see."

    Read more: http://www.leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=343430#ixzz2oxE6yLjK

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  13. Freud would have a wonderful time doing a case study on you (06.21).
    Here we are having a lively debate about football and you revert it all back to homosexual practices. Subconscious mind indeed.....I suppose West Ham are on top as they are about 10 positions above us! LOL

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  14. Well Jack, Freud might also enquire as to how you,a supposed Leeds fan, can never find a word or critisism against this Blogger who spews hated against our (yes, your's as well) Team and it's players and supporters. He might also wonder why you are naming West Ham as being on Top of Leeds? Thats really odd. This has nothing to do with West Ham. Conclusion, you must have a love for Hammersfan and his Team that is beyond normal admiration, and you are very likely in the midst or a torrid sexual relationship with him.LOL

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  15. waiting for your latest blog about being "derailed?" cant see it so I will yawn on this one. we came back from 2 nil down. you were 1 nil up? lost 2-1 to the mighty Fulham? and did you get a player sent off? tut tut tut. dirty west ham AGAIN?

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