leeds/Farke called his bluff. 3 at the back with two wing backs made space difficult to find. When they were in possession a CB would step up from defence into midfield and the wingback (bogle) would be on the move. We couldn't cope with this as their pattern of play was to overlap vs Myko. How was this calling Moyes bluff? We couldn't get the ball through to Barry often enough to isolate vs 1 CB, he got a couple of half chances but we couldn't do regular enough. They defended from the front, and looked to press as quick as they could, it meant the defender stepping out of defence releasing bogle just slotted back into shape when we had possession. We don't have enough guile to break a side sitting deep with a layer of protection in midfield, down. The space leeds left behind the wingbacks needed attacking and dragging a CB across to cover - meaning space in the box for a cross to be aimed at one of ours. We didn't get hold of that idea till late, and we don't have anything at LB or RB to support a winger looking for that play. Also McNeil isn't quick enough to expose a wingback or a covering CB.
Moyes set up to impose our game on them, that didn't work, they were sharper and hungrier and got on the front foot.
So he matched them up at HT and we got back into the game from there, but were fighting uphill because we were already a goal down.
(I called the changing a winning side shout in the match thread btw)
We got D-Hall back and Branthwaite. Gana and Illy back to. Shame Grealish is out. We got a lesson last night out of Cal-Lewin about the lone striker and working his socks off. Granted he should have scored, but we know all about that.
We should be this, that and the other, should be beating these, those and them. etc. Our quality is wafer thin, and we're closer to an average side than we are to a quality one. We still have the remnants of benitez signings in the starting eleven. It's no coincidence the better Moyes sides with us were built on Coleman and Baines in the fullback slots. Until we have a fully functioning starting eleven all fit we can all gnash our teeth and demand sackings and complain about poor games. What next, another survival expert to keep us just about alive in the PL?
First half was bad last night, it got changed and we were better and earned a point. It aint perfect but I'm glad it wasn't a loss. DCL scores and we were finished yesterday, no doubt!
