Same old story at Oakwell highlights the need for change
Ups and Downs 13/1/13
Barnsley is a place associated with my favourite film, Kes. Hopefully you have seen the film and you can relate to my comparison of the football match, played out by the schoolkids and Leeds United's performance yesterday.
Quite frankly is was shocking and it made for a very long journey home in Shaun's sparkling new motor.
Having not been to Barnsley since a 1-0 win in a friendly at the start of Terry Venables disastrous tenure, I did not witness the recent 5-2 and 4-1 maulings. Having said that, I can't believe we were any worse on those occassions than we were yesterday. OK, the scoreline is better as far as margins are concerned but the manner in which we lost was unacceptable. In fact, only two players escape any criticism. Ross Barkley and Paddy Kenny can leave the room.
After last seasons defeat on the same ground, the then Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, really stuck the boot into his squad and went as far as to say that two players would never play for Leeds again while he was in charge. If Neil Warnock had taken the same approach following this latest dire show in South Yorkshire, there would have been more than two.
As I said, I don't attach any blame to Paddy Kenny or debutant Ross Barkley for yesterday's debacle but the following players, in particular, need to take a look at themselves.
Lee Peltier. The ex Liverpool RIGHT back, not LEFT back Neil, was trending on Twitter when he signed from Leicester, amid a flurry of tweets from excited Leeds fans. We had finally nailed that problem area when he out pen to paper in a deal where Leeds United actually spent some decent money. Or so we thought.
After an impressive competitive debut, albeit against Shrewsbury, playing at centre back, Warnock made him captain. He followed that up with a solid showing against Wolves. Since that we have rarely seen anything from 'Pelts'.
OK, he's hardly played the right back role but I don't believe he would perform any better there than he does on the left. Leicester City couldn't get him out of the Walkers Stadium quick enough, we now know why.
Rodolph Austin really looked the part when he came to Elland Road. He showed desire and quality. Like the right back slot, we had been looking for a player in midfield of Austin's quality for some time. All of a sudden we had forgotten the dire performances of Amdy Faye, Mika Vyrynen and countless loan players who were tried in that role.
However, since Rodolph's return from inury, at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, he's been a slim shadow of his former self. Yesterday was his worst performance in a Leeds shirt, For ninety minutes he ran around the midfield aimlessly, gave the ball away too often and bottled one or two challenges. Sorry Rodolph, the honeymoon period is over, we expect and demand better than that.
Unbelivably, Austin wasn't the worst midfielder on show. Stand up David Norris. Absolutely abysmal yesterday and the fact he was hauled off at half time tells it's own story. To be honest, Norris is falling foul of Neil Warnock's 'tinkering'. A good player at this level on his day but consistency comes with playing in a settled side week in, week out. He did not look the slightest bit interested for the forty five minutes he had his boots on.
El Hadj Diouf, absolutely brilliant when he came to Leeds on a short term deal. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to tie him to a longer contract. Since he signed it, he's be woeful. Yesterday further highlighted his inability to put in a decent cross. They either find the goalkeepers hands or are headed away by the first defender. Like Norris, Diouf was taken off at half time and rightly so.
Jason Pearce, yet another example of a player who's early season promise has wavered. Pearce used to be seen thumping his chest and letting out a battlecry. Opposing centre forwards knew they were in for a tough time. These days Jason Pearce looks more like Phyliss Pearce. Surely Tom Lees must be wondering why he was dropped yesterday.
Alongside Pearce was Swansea loanee Alan Tate. How good did he look when he first strolled into LS11? Calm, composed and assured. We finally had a centre half who could pass the ball. Yesterday and recent games he's been the complete opposite. On this form, I wouldn't like to think that the loan move will be made permanent.
So yes it is all doom and gloom and personally, yesterday was the lowest point of the season so far. We packed out the away end and made our feelings known. The players revel in our praise on good days, they have received plenty from me, look back over the season on this site. However, they have to be prepared to face the knocks when they perform like they did at Barnsley.
At the final whistle, off they went, the majority with sloped shoulders. They didn't even look at us as they made there way to the dressing room. Were they embarrased? They should of been. Or is it a case of they don't care?
Not once this season had I seriously questioned Neil Warnock's ability to do the job. I had questioned his committment to the cause and the fact he won't tell us of his plans for next season. On recent displays, he won't have to worry. He'll be asked to leave.
I fully believe that if we got the ball on the ground and played football, we will give anybody a game in this league. I am growing tired of seeing the ball in the air. It's like watching Stoke but the difference is, Stoke are good at it. Leeds have not got a clue. This is the reason I ask if they care. David Norris is somebody who can win a tackle, play the ball out wide and be in the box to score a goal when the cross comes in from the flanks. When Jason Pearce or Alan Tate are constantly hammering the ball up field to nobody and standing like statues waiting for it to come back, the midfield are by-passed and cannot get into the game. Maybe the players are tired of the tactics?
People question me and ask who would I want to come in and replace Warnock if he was to go. To be honest I don't know and that is not an argument won by those who want Neil to stay. I don't make the decision so who I would want is irrelevant.
What I do know is that I completely, one hundred per cent, do not want Gus Poyet. He had used Leeds as a stepping stone to better things when he walked out in 2007, completely exposing Dennis Wise who would soon follow him out of the door.
Also, those that want Poyet, or Zola who was mentioned yesterday, no doubt will have joined in at games since 2005, singing "Get the Chelsea out of Leeds". To want them now is a shallow view.
On Tuesday we turn our attention to the FA Cup, I honestly think the result does not matter as far as Warnock is concerned. A win will do little to change the views of those that want him out and I would expect that if we lose to Bristol City on Saturday, he will go. Walk or pushed, who knows?
Leeds up against the team at the bottom of the league without a manager. What can go wrong?
MARCHING ON TOGETHER
Barnsley is a place associated with my favourite film, Kes. Hopefully you have seen the film and you can relate to my comparison of the football match, played out by the schoolkids and Leeds United's performance yesterday.
Quite frankly is was shocking and it made for a very long journey home in Shaun's sparkling new motor.
Having not been to Barnsley since a 1-0 win in a friendly at the start of Terry Venables disastrous tenure, I did not witness the recent 5-2 and 4-1 maulings. Having said that, I can't believe we were any worse on those occassions than we were yesterday. OK, the scoreline is better as far as margins are concerned but the manner in which we lost was unacceptable. In fact, only two players escape any criticism. Ross Barkley and Paddy Kenny can leave the room.
After last seasons defeat on the same ground, the then Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, really stuck the boot into his squad and went as far as to say that two players would never play for Leeds again while he was in charge. If Neil Warnock had taken the same approach following this latest dire show in South Yorkshire, there would have been more than two.
As I said, I don't attach any blame to Paddy Kenny or debutant Ross Barkley for yesterday's debacle but the following players, in particular, need to take a look at themselves.
Lee Peltier. The ex Liverpool RIGHT back, not LEFT back Neil, was trending on Twitter when he signed from Leicester, amid a flurry of tweets from excited Leeds fans. We had finally nailed that problem area when he out pen to paper in a deal where Leeds United actually spent some decent money. Or so we thought.
After an impressive competitive debut, albeit against Shrewsbury, playing at centre back, Warnock made him captain. He followed that up with a solid showing against Wolves. Since that we have rarely seen anything from 'Pelts'.
OK, he's hardly played the right back role but I don't believe he would perform any better there than he does on the left. Leicester City couldn't get him out of the Walkers Stadium quick enough, we now know why.
Rodolph Austin really looked the part when he came to Elland Road. He showed desire and quality. Like the right back slot, we had been looking for a player in midfield of Austin's quality for some time. All of a sudden we had forgotten the dire performances of Amdy Faye, Mika Vyrynen and countless loan players who were tried in that role.
However, since Rodolph's return from inury, at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, he's been a slim shadow of his former self. Yesterday was his worst performance in a Leeds shirt, For ninety minutes he ran around the midfield aimlessly, gave the ball away too often and bottled one or two challenges. Sorry Rodolph, the honeymoon period is over, we expect and demand better than that.
Unbelivably, Austin wasn't the worst midfielder on show. Stand up David Norris. Absolutely abysmal yesterday and the fact he was hauled off at half time tells it's own story. To be honest, Norris is falling foul of Neil Warnock's 'tinkering'. A good player at this level on his day but consistency comes with playing in a settled side week in, week out. He did not look the slightest bit interested for the forty five minutes he had his boots on.
El Hadj Diouf, absolutely brilliant when he came to Leeds on a short term deal. A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to tie him to a longer contract. Since he signed it, he's be woeful. Yesterday further highlighted his inability to put in a decent cross. They either find the goalkeepers hands or are headed away by the first defender. Like Norris, Diouf was taken off at half time and rightly so.
Jason Pearce, yet another example of a player who's early season promise has wavered. Pearce used to be seen thumping his chest and letting out a battlecry. Opposing centre forwards knew they were in for a tough time. These days Jason Pearce looks more like Phyliss Pearce. Surely Tom Lees must be wondering why he was dropped yesterday.
Alongside Pearce was Swansea loanee Alan Tate. How good did he look when he first strolled into LS11? Calm, composed and assured. We finally had a centre half who could pass the ball. Yesterday and recent games he's been the complete opposite. On this form, I wouldn't like to think that the loan move will be made permanent.
So yes it is all doom and gloom and personally, yesterday was the lowest point of the season so far. We packed out the away end and made our feelings known. The players revel in our praise on good days, they have received plenty from me, look back over the season on this site. However, they have to be prepared to face the knocks when they perform like they did at Barnsley.
At the final whistle, off they went, the majority with sloped shoulders. They didn't even look at us as they made there way to the dressing room. Were they embarrased? They should of been. Or is it a case of they don't care?
Not once this season had I seriously questioned Neil Warnock's ability to do the job. I had questioned his committment to the cause and the fact he won't tell us of his plans for next season. On recent displays, he won't have to worry. He'll be asked to leave.
I fully believe that if we got the ball on the ground and played football, we will give anybody a game in this league. I am growing tired of seeing the ball in the air. It's like watching Stoke but the difference is, Stoke are good at it. Leeds have not got a clue. This is the reason I ask if they care. David Norris is somebody who can win a tackle, play the ball out wide and be in the box to score a goal when the cross comes in from the flanks. When Jason Pearce or Alan Tate are constantly hammering the ball up field to nobody and standing like statues waiting for it to come back, the midfield are by-passed and cannot get into the game. Maybe the players are tired of the tactics?
People question me and ask who would I want to come in and replace Warnock if he was to go. To be honest I don't know and that is not an argument won by those who want Neil to stay. I don't make the decision so who I would want is irrelevant.
What I do know is that I completely, one hundred per cent, do not want Gus Poyet. He had used Leeds as a stepping stone to better things when he walked out in 2007, completely exposing Dennis Wise who would soon follow him out of the door.
Also, those that want Poyet, or Zola who was mentioned yesterday, no doubt will have joined in at games since 2005, singing "Get the Chelsea out of Leeds". To want them now is a shallow view.
On Tuesday we turn our attention to the FA Cup, I honestly think the result does not matter as far as Warnock is concerned. A win will do little to change the views of those that want him out and I would expect that if we lose to Bristol City on Saturday, he will go. Walk or pushed, who knows?
Leeds up against the team at the bottom of the league without a manager. What can go wrong?
MARCHING ON TOGETHER