Leeds United vs. Reading FC: Three Talking Points from the 1–0 Loss
Leeds lose for the 1st time at home in another below par performance.
Leeds returned from the international break and continued to struggle, losing in another poor display. The outcome is one that none of us wanted but, looking back, is something we may have expected. Thomas Christiansen stated that the team have lost their confidence after the loss on Saturday, and that was on show throughout the game.
The main worry is the sharp drop in confidence and form in such a small time frame. The basic fundamentals of the way we played successful football have disappeared, and this ultimately cost us against Reading.
So, let’s have a look at the three main talking points from the game:
Tactical change needed in the short term?
Our ability with the ball was the base for the success we had in the earlier part of the season. On Saturday, our inability to string 5 or 6 passes was a major problem throughout the game as we lacked any rhythm and attacking flow.
I believe that the way we play football is the correct tactical approach and, if the team can re-implement the slick passing game we saw in August and early September, the team will be fine. However, it is all about how they now transition back to that team and whether these principles are changed in the short term to try and pick up a much needed win.
The fact that we saw Sacko introduced, and we felt like his direct pacey approach as a positive, highlights further that maybe we should utilise players with a slightly different style over the next few games.
Confidence effecting everyone
Confidence is clearly low throughout the team but most concerning is lack of leadership on the field. Our upturn in form over the last year has been down to us having strong and determined players on the field. However, over the last few weeks these players have started to disappear in games.
Jansson is starting to become a concern. He does not seem to have the same bite to his game that made him a cult hero last season. I wonder whether he is lacking match fitness and sharpness to his game, or whether he’s being too careful to avoid the yellow card suspensions he incurred last season.
You can see the frustration in his game and passionate players like Jansson can become engulfed with frustration and become ineffective.
Another player who I think is struggling is Luke Ayling. The constant 7/10 has had problems at right back over the last few weeks but I do believe that is more down to those further up the field just being obsolete in games. I think Ayling is having to drive forward more to create something and is left exposed. We saw that with the pace of Barrow, who caused numerous problems.
O’Kane was the only senior player on the pitch who was trying to push forward, however I felt that did leave Phillips exposed. He then became restricted in the middle of the park and had to try and be the teams enforcer which should be the job of both centre halves in my opinion.
Andy Lonergan Recall
One of the few shining lights from the game was actually Andy Lonergan. He made two very good and important saves and looked more comfortable between the sticks.
Felix Wiedwald does appear to lack the fundamentals of goal keeping in the English game, and this is something the young German will have to work on going forward, but I felt that Lonergan’s inclusion also hindered the way we like to play football. Our approach was more direct, which I don’t necessarily believe is a bad thing, I just think we were set up to play the usual way and the players struggled to adapt.
Still, I think Lonergan is the best choice with difficult ties against Bristol City and Sheffield United to come.
Overall, the performance we saw on Saturday is starting to look too familiar. I know we are still in the top 6, but the manner of the performances and lack of change is a problem. We are in free-fall and the next few weeks will be where we really judge Thomas Christiansen and this Leeds outfit. MOT.
