Leeds United vs. Derby County: Three Talking Points from the 2–1 Loss
The losses keep mounting as the Whites get spooked against Derby and implode in the final 20 minutes.
Here at NFS, we analyse the games by highlighting three key talking points from the result. However, in recent weeks it has started to feel like the points keep arising… and there’s no real change happening. I sit here having to analyse another defeat based on the same reasons we have all mentioned since the defeat at Millwall.
The Derby game did differ somewhat to the other defeats: We did score the first goal. We seemed comfortable in a mostly uneventful first half, and it was not until the last half an hour when the mistakes started to appear.
In some ways, I was more frustrated on Tuesday night because it was the first time I had seen the players look drained of confidence. They had previously played poorly, but they seemed to still be sold on the current philosophy. On Tuesday, they looked completely lost.
The Derby result now makes us all look at the head coach, players and board and think about what needs to happen to get the club back on track.
Here are the talking points after a sixth defeat in eight games..
The tactics are no longer working
During the first few weeks of the season, I was the first to commend the free flowing tactics of Thomas Christiansen. His brand of football was a breath of fresh air in a league not known for attractive football. However, the attractive football has become ineffective as teams have over-powered and railed-roaded us.
I understand Christiansen wanting his team to set up and play his way, and I am fully behind that principle, but a major element of success on a football pitch is the ability to adapt accordingly in games. Unfortunately, Christiansen has not done this.
Regardless of the scoreline, the system never changes, and I now wonder if Christiansen has the ability to implement change.
No leaders
The most concerning thing about the loss to Derby (and previous games) is lack of leadership on the pitch. I wrote a few weeks ago about the need for senior players to stand up and be counted, but that has not happened.
The players who we all have come to love and never question, in terms of commitment and performance, have disappeared.
Even Luke Ayling, who captained the side on Tuesday, was once again caught out of position when Derby equalised. To be fair, execept for Samu Saiz and maybe Eunan O’Kane, every other player needs to take stock over the next few days and get back to the players we saw in August.
What needs to happen?
For the first time this season, the discussion around a change of management is starting to happen within the fanbase. I fully understand why: Football is a result-based game and results have not gone to plan over the last few weeks.
Some fans will put the blame at the feet of the players, and they do shoulder some of the blame, but footballers do not get sacked for bad performances: Managers do.
I personally disagree with sacking Christiansen, we left the era behind when we saw managers not given enough time.
I saw enough earlier in the season to think this team can be successful and, taking into account the fact that we have made our best start for some years, we should give him some grace.
Obviously, November is a defining month for Leeds and even though the fixtures coming up are very tough, I believe we will do better because they are a little more sporadic than in recent weeks. Here’s to a better November.
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