Ricardo's report

[ricardo 8,098]

For some strange reason Ive posted it on the Non Football thread.

I must find those bloody tablets before I go to bed.

[Drazen Muzinic 1,509]

8 minutes ago, ricardo said:

For some strange reason Ive posted it on the Non Football thread.

I must find those bloody tablets before I go to bed.

If Bamford is included in it then it's in the right place. 

Beats me how he manages to steal a living season after season. Doesn't run, tackle, jump or score.

Thankfully his introduction changed the momentum of Dirty Leeds.

Edited October 1, 2024 by Drazen Muzinic

[yellowrider120 932]

5 minutes ago, Drazen Muzinic said:

If Bamford is included in it then it's in the right place. 

Beats me how he manages to steal a living season after season. Doesn't run, tackle, jump or score.

56 goals in 177 games for Leeds might suggest something different! 

[Mello Yello 2,585]

If the rain persists until Saturday against Hull Ricardo.....

[Tetteys Jig 853]

19 minutes ago, yellowrider120 said:

56 goals in 177 games for Leeds might suggest something different! 

Shadow of the player that bagged 17 PL goals a few seasons ago. Injuries have knackered him.

[Carrow89 264]

Ricardo's report

"Summer has faded to a distant memory here in Norfolk as leaden skies and persistent rain have been the order of the last two days. Sometimes its been light and sometimes heavy but there's rarely been a dry spell of more than a few minutes although it does seem to have  eased as we approached kick off time. In any event it's certainly not an evening for a bike ride. I did wonder if we would see another unchanged side after Saturday's victory but it was good to see that Hoff is not afraid to change a winning team and Slimane for Schwartau seemed a sensible move against a strong Leeds eleven.

The opening moments were fairly cagey with little goalmouth action until Leeds won the first corner but then Sainz almost sprung away, riding several tackles before winning a free kick well down the field. Leeds looked dangerous everytime Gnonto got on the ball and it looked like he got himself in the clear just after the ten minute mark only to be pulled up for a foul. Back up our end City suddenly sliced through the Leeds rearguard and when Crnac might have shot he instead played it on to Sargent who was caught around the ankles as he checked back. It was an obvious penalty and there was little complaint from the visitors when the ref pointed to the spot. He had the pressure on him as Leeds took their time over an injury but the Yankee striker banged the ball sweetly past Meslier to give City the lead.

 Leeds almost came back into it straight away as the City rearguard dozed when Gnonto appeared to be closely marked only to send a low shot through a ruck of players. The surprised Angus Gunn could only look on as the ball struck a post and was hurriedly hooked clear. It was mostly Leeds now but despite plenty of the ball they found it difficult to work shooting chances and we only saw the City front runners in rare breakaways that were often quite dangerous. Crnac almost got through but nobody could get on his ball across goal and play was soon back up the other end. Thankfully, Cordoba and Duffy both looked calm and assured under pressure.

Both sides took yellow cards as the play became a bit scruffy and Leeds might have made more of a free kick in a decent position but the wall held and Gunn was quickly down to the follow up. The home side was now mainly restricted to breaks but might have gone two in front when a swift move down the left ended with a ball in to Sargent that Melier had to divert round the post. With half time fast approaching, City had several short spells of pressure, with Crnac almost getting in and both Nunez and Sainz having efforts off target.

HT    CITY 1      LEEDS   0

I think most of us were fairly happy with the first half but it was clear that Leeds were a shade better in possession but it was certainly an encouraging half from the City point of view. Unfortunately, Cordoba picked up a knock and didn't appear second half and Stacey came on at right back and Fisher went to left.

It was more end to end as the second half resumed and when a Sainz free kick came in from the left Sargent couldn't quite get the right contact and the ball was ushered wide by Meslier. Back up our end Leeds had a couple of shots blocked and then Gunn had to go to ground to keep out a Rothwell shot from the edge of the box. After this little spell it began to look a much more even game with City showing one or two expansive moves with City earning a string of corners. I thought Crnac was well positioned to score from one but got too much on it and the ball flew over with the keeper beaten.

I was just staring to feel that we might see this out comfortably when Gnonto popped up on the left and slipped a ball behind the City defence for Ramazani to poke under Gunn for the equaliser. To be fair  he always looked capable of creating something. Things got a bit scruffy again and Hoff changed things by pulling Slimane and Crnac and bringing on Schwartau and Gordon. Leeds brought on Piroe and Bamford and for a moment I thought we might get pushed back but to their credit City continued full of running and harrying and Leeds rarely looked like coming up with a second goal despite periods of pressure.

Towards the end I thought we began to look the stronger side and if Stacey had a bit more composure he might have put a better ball in the box but it was already apparent with ten minutes left that neither side was prepared to risk all for the sake of the extra points and in all honesty it would have been a travesty if it hadn't ended up with honours even.

FT  CITY 1    LEEDS   1

My MOM Marcelino Nunez who was full of energy and inventiveness throughout. Good marks also for Sarge, Sainz etc. In fact hard to criticize anyone in yellow and green tonight."

[DraytonBoy 253]

Entertaining game with some odd refereeing decisions which spoilt things a bit, City definitely moving in the right direction but I think Sargent needs help up front, only one shot on target (the penalty) at home is poor. Leeds might feel disappointed with a draw but they look better than last season after a re-build again over the summer.  

[Helsinki canary 312]

Thanks for report as ever! Probably one of the toughest games of the season. For me Fisher gets MotM he was amazing again- Lets hope Cordoba is back soon as he is real class and composed on the ball - Duffy looka a new player alongside him and Doyle

[Cosmic Twin 192]

Thanks Ricardo! (And Carrow89!)

[Capt. Pants 5,146]

11 hours ago, ricardo said:

For some strange reason Ive posted it on the Non Football thread.

Well it's certainly an improvement on the usual drivel there 😉

[Canary Wundaboy 1,424]

Not going to get a tougher game at home all season. Leeds play some lovely stuff, have a strong team and plenty of talent on the bench to bring on. We gave them a proper game and a draw was probably a fair result, my only disappointment was how easily we coughed up possession at times, we invited way too much pressure on ourselves by giving it away cheaply.

[Robert N. LiM 6,422]

11 hours ago, ricardo said:

For some strange reason Ive posted it on the Non Football thread.

Sorry, Ricardo, not going in there for love nor money.

Edit: cheers @Carrow89

Edited October 2, 2024 by Robert N. LiM

[Big Vince 430]

Sargent worked hard for his MOM. Boy Gnonto was always a threat from Leeds. I was very pleased with Norwich's defensive work. They marshalled their own box very well. Last night proved Throwup is not just an attack minded coach. He is just as diligent on defence. Norwich are obviously a tad weaker having lost Sara's abilities, but hopefully the new boys will step up in due course, as Fisher has done.

Referees need to stop blowing up for tackles. They don't seem able to spot the difference between a tackle and a foul. It is no wonder players back off these days, instead of committing to a tackle, because as soon as they do, the ref is going to call it a foul. Just ridiculous. Originally conceived as a man's game played by the likes of Duncan Forbes. The odd kick up the **** was part and parcel.

Edited October 2, 2024 by Big Vince

[Thumbbass 367]

Crnac's header that went over is mentioned. Live it looked a glaring miss and the commentators on Sky repeated it, but I think it was Doyle in-front of him who glanced it taking it off the top of his forehead. Not sure he could have done any better really, he had no time to adjust. 

[ricardo 8,098]

1 hour ago, Thumbbass said:

Crnac's header that went over is mentioned. Live it looked a glaring miss and the commentators on Sky repeated it, but I think it was Doyle in-front of him who glanced it taking it off the top of his forehead. Not sure he could have done any better really, he had no time to adjust. 

Possibly correct but difficult to see from our end. It certainly felt like a chance at the time.

[daz 159]

6 hours ago, Canary Wundaboy said:

Not going to get a tougher game at home all season. Leeds play some lovely stuff, have a strong team and plenty of talent on the bench to bring on. We gave them a proper game and a draw was probably a fair result, my only disappointment was how easily we coughed up possession at times, we invited way too much pressure on ourselves by giving it away cheaply.

A few times from Duffy too not even looking and literally just passing it straight back to Leeds 🙈🙈🙈

[LaUnionCanary 150]

2 hours ago, ricardo said:

Possibly correct but difficult to see from our end. It certainly felt like a chance at the time.

Crnac seems to get better with each passing game. 

[ricardo 8,098]

41 minutes ago, LaUnionCanary said:

Crnac seems to get better with each passing game. 

Yes all he needs is a goal and then he will settle.

[paddycanary 583]

Many thanks as always Ricardo! 🏅

[littleyellowbirdie 3,147]

23 hours ago, Drazen Muzinic said:

If Bamford is included in it then it's in the right place. 

Beats me how he manages to steal a living season after season. Doesn't run, tackle, jump or score.

Thankfully his introduction changed the momentum of Dirty Leeds.

Is it just me, or does Bamford remind anyone else of Harry Potter?