Leeds Utd(h) You get what you give.

Leeds Utd(h) You get what you give.

Iwobi switching to left wing back & Tom Davies coming in at right wing back were the big surprises when the team was announced. The thought after Digne’s injury was announced was that Nkounkou would get his chance, but he didn’t make the bench, neither did JonJoe Kenny.

Credit where it’s due Leeds deserved the win, they were fitter, more organised & to Everton’s shame, more committed. There isn’t enough space to write about everything that happened in the game, how it ended up with only 1 goal was astonishing.

In the first half I didn’t think we were as bad as some have commented, if the chances had been taken we could have been 3-0 up, as much as being 0-5 down. Yes, Iwobi & Davies were shaky, the balance of the team had been severely disruptive, but we were in the game.

Often I’ve criticised Jordan Pickford, but he was at his shot stopping best today, he needed to be. He also came off his line a lot quicker than at Fulham to claim crosses & close players down. His save from Bamford especially was excellent. Leeds, like Fulham last week knew that the wide areas were the most profitable, & they continued & continued to exploit the space. Fitness & conditioning being massive contributors in Leeds being the better side, it could have been a different game if Doucoure had lifted his sliding effort over Meslier instead of straight at him.

Like Wolves, this Leeds team have been put together over a couple of Championship seasons, they know their jobs, they know each other, albeit not the best individuals, but a very good team. They are drilled to the point of certainty, & that was the difference between the 2 sides all night.

Nothing clicked for Everton, nothing flowed, it was all forced. Allan was doing his absolute best to drive Everton forward, James was trying to make things happen from dropping into space centrally, but ahead of them DCL & Richarlison just couldn’t get into the game. And that was the story of the evening.

The goal that Everton conceded was in many ways typical of the game, a Leeds attack from right saw the ball reach Raphinha in acres of space at the top of the D & before Godfrey could fully close him down, the shot had been hit though his legs & Pickford was beaten to his left. It was harsh on a keeper who had looked determined not to get beaten all game. But now Pickford has conceded more goals this season from outside the box than any other keeper in the Premier League.

The more Richarlison couldn’t get into the game, the more he seemed to sulk. It’s not a good look for someone who ultimately is often the difference between us winning & losing.

It’s a hard one to take tonight, not as bad as the Newcastle game, but this was a game we could have won without playing well, it’s just a better team beat a better bunch of individuals. Ancelotti somehow needs to mould a team out of what he has. Holgate being back fit, Allan returning to full fitness & more game time for James were the only tangible positives.

Burnley away next.. got to get something from that.

UTFT 💙