By Mark RasdallNottingham Forest completed the double over Leeds United last night with a 2.0 win at Elland Road. You might say that they their players are really fighting to get into the Play-Offs and so were going to be really up for the game with Caretaker Manager, Gary Brazil's game plan perfectly executed and with him urging them on from the touchline.
That opening paragraph really says it all doesn't it? Yet another Home defeat - twenty one defeats in forty four league games this season; a worst away defeat in fifty years and one of the poorest FA Cup exits in recent history. Manchester United have endured a poor season by their standards - with all of the talk of restructuring after Ferguson in the background - and their manager, David Moyes, has paid the price. A proven manager who just could not hack it at a top club. Were the LUFC players really fighting, as Billy always urged, whatever the odds? Brian McDermott said he couldn't fault their effort. In the second half they certainly tried but what was our game plan? I still do not understand why our defenders were pushed up so high that the centre-backs were exposed time and time again, having proved in many of those twenty one defeats that they are not comfortable on the ball and with that system. Pushing defenders forward is all very well if they have the speed to offer real width but they didn't have that either. As so many times this season we lost the game in the first few minutes. Brian said it was 'no accident.' Correct. I do not understand why the system was changed and I have to say again here - having been really supportive of McDermott for a very long time - that I think their is a misplaced and unfounded self-assurance at play. His backhanded criticism suggests his players cannot play his system and therefore a summer 'clearout' is required. Surely you play to the strength of the players you have available at the time? Leicester and Burnley have got out of the league with a 4-4-2 their players are comfortable with and have drilled into them week in and week out. If our 'comfort zone' is to play three at the back then select a team that are happy with it; ditto with a 4-4-2. We may not have the biggest squad or best quality but Sean Dyche has managed it at Burnley without complaining about his players not being capable of understanding or worried about their salaries. Forest were missing key players such as Lansbury and Andy Reid who played so well against us at the City Ground, but they re-grouped and played to their strengths. McDermott also has favourites which I think is hugely dangerous at any football club. Austin - surely little more than a burly pub player - can break up play and protect the defence. Murphy showed against Blackpool that he can create and score when pushed forward. So, as with Danny Welbeck, let's play them out of position and, in our case, the opposite way round: unfathomable. I don't think Austin or Hunt had bad games in the overall way of things but tactically, again, I was mystified and then really angry. When he did come on, Smith caused the usual panic with his height over a relatively average Forest defence but McDermott seems determined to prove that Hunt was a good signing at the expense of us winning matches. McDermott brought in wingers with 'pace to burn.' Only one of them made the bench yesterday having proved that they don't - though I still have hopes for Stewart. The side was lacking in any kind of pace or energy. Is this because they have given up on the season now that we won't be relegated after all, or because they think Cellino will move them on anyway? Or is it because there is something wrong with the training regime under head coach Brian McDermott? After Blackpool and Barnsley - two abject teams about to be relegated - a number of people were saying 'there we are: told you so. Give Brian stability and he'll turn it round.' Well he had stability yesterday and we played one-dimensional, pedestrian hoof ball - something we all hate and with little chance of any kind of penetration against Forest's blanket defence. McDermott said we needed more creativity. Murphy and Mowatt have shown they can do this and also that they cannot tackle in the manner of Austin or Brown. So, they were played in defensive roles and Michael Tonge - never forwards in going backwards - was expected to provide the guile until a hamstring pull enabled him to wander off for an early Horlicks. I am just a loyal Leeds United fan and certainly no football expert. I have no doubt that off-the-field issues have been unsettling to downright corrosive at our club and I do admire McDermott for sticking it out thus far. But David Moyes never blamed the difficulties of starting a new dynasty - he just wasn't big enough for the club. McDermott has blamed everything - in a very nice way of course - but himself. We do have the chance to build a new regime at Leeds United but a big club needs a big, strong man (even a little bit frightening like Pearson or Dyche) and a decent coach at the helm. I'm sorry Brian but I am now certain that this man is not you.
9 Comments
craig
22/4/2014 07:02:25 am
Even better lets hope we sack him and the scum want him. Then they are surely to be playing championship football !!!!!! Yea I know it won't happen but nice thought
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22/4/2014 07:15:21 am
In a similar manner, I have refrained from uttering criticism of BMcD, but have finally given in to all the frustrations of trying to understand the points mentioned in this well-written article. I really can't follow his logic in so many areas, and so, nice man that he may be, it is surely time for a change at the top. It's a pity, since almost all of us wanted BMcD to succeed, but the results, performances and tactics can not be ignored any longer.
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22/4/2014 08:22:14 am
have to agree brian has lost too many games even with team we got shouild be doing better his tactics are completly baffelling at times and why keep playing players like hunt why not try a youngster intead i think we need fresh start for the new season mot
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22/4/2014 08:53:03 am
Well it took you and every ooooooooh BMCD long enough,clueless from day 1. stay in the game pass sideways backwards then lump it as far up in the air as you can ,then once our short strikers don't win the ball in the air bring on someone who can and so on,signed absolute dross and worst and MOSTdamaging played the pub player(AUSTIN) every game .now every thing is calm off pitch it will be fine? ,not fine to me Brian ,get out before next season is ruined
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Nick Smith
22/4/2014 12:31:04 pm
Hi, I'm a Leeds fan also, and think this report was very lucid. I have also been a supporter of McDermott and we were looking ok around Christmas and rose to 5th in the league. Many Leeds fans are saying Brian needs to go. I believe he should stay until 10 games say into the new season and then review. Reasons being 1) Players publicly backed him, especially Mccormack after the sacking incident. 2) 15 wins in 17 games he achieved with Reading only 18 months ago. 3) A manager needs a full season normally at least 4) The off field issues with GFH and wages.
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22/4/2014 03:41:34 pm
Spot on . You articulate all very well . If you were Massimo would you give BM your money I fully expect BM to be axed. Sooner rather than later . He's a nice bloke , we've somehow stayed up , job done, potenential ZERO. I just hope our new dawn starts with a great managerial appointment .
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22/4/2014 03:52:45 pm
abject misery that's what we have been served up , to cut MCd lose with a transfer budget would be sheer madness wrong man for our club, time to move on
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Lez Fisher
22/4/2014 08:15:03 pm
I totally agree. Mc Dermott has to go. If only he had gone when Cellino tried to sack him before he took over. He's totally out of his depth and worse, he's smug with it, like he knows best. As the previous writer correctly identified, he's always got a ready made excuse for every thing and not playing Smith from the start is idiotic. Smith causes more panic and chances for us than any other player. Even McCormack. McCormack is a good finisher but he's small and needs a big forward to feed off. Hunt is another shortie and past it any w does he keep playing him at the expense of Smith. The egg man doesnt know what he's doing
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White Down South
23/4/2014 08:38:54 pm
Strong rumour that Zola will be at the helm for next season - personally I would rather have Malkey Mackay or Billy Davies who both have the Dyche/ Pearson qualities referred to in the article.
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