10 Feb 2026 21:46:02
Probably others to blame too.
Leeds fought well but our relatively poor home form costing us again and may cost us Champions League qualification. Lack of sufficiently experienced cool heads in defense shouting out for experienced CB. Fofana should have been brought on for Acheompong at half time and perjaps Cucurella kept on. Not sure what Delap adds up front apart from some barging ability. He and Acheompomg could have played on Friday. probably will. Caicedo looks tired.
A game that should have been a comfortable win thrown away.
But Santos outstanding in first half and Pedro too. Palmer good except dreadful. miss. Fernandez ok and Neto when on.
But this felt like a defeat and crucial. points dropped. Our home form In EPL not good enough and our defensive panic too frequent. Anxiety? But credit to Leeds for fighting so hard.
10 Feb 2026 21:57:44
The caicedo challenge really cost us some momentum, as it was smooth up until that point, with some really nice forward play.
The Palmer miss was jaw dropping. I really feel that we have been gaining important experience under LR of finding ways to win. Could’ve been a huge win had he scored. In saying that he was really good today and great to see him finding form again.
Having three teenagers in Josh, Hato and Estevao getting valuable minutes is great for the future. Hato seems much more settled since LR has come in and given him chances. Santos was brilliant once again.
10 Feb 2026 22:08:50
JBS, unhappy to have dropped points but I can see some improvement in our play.
10 Feb 2026 22:39:45
JBS, I’m sorry to say Josh was the player to blame for the second although I did think it should have been given as a handball.
11 Feb 2026 09:20:11
I will say this for Josh, in defence of that situation. He continued to try and play the ball, whilst others stood around with their hands in the air, waiting for the whistle to go for handball. Reasonable for him to expect the keeper to
come and collect that ball? Yes. Could he have cleared the ball behind, when it was clear that wasn’t happening? Also yes. Just a poor goal to concede all round.
As for the pen. It seems strange to question a player, who is so clearly top class, but Caicedo still makes challenges he doesn’t have to. He does it all over the pitch, mostly picking up needless yellows, but in this case costing the team a penalty. For me, it’s the one chink in his armour.
11 Feb 2026 11:46:31
Good post J and would agree with all in it.
Tom I also agree with your point about seeing some inprovement in our play and that sad thing about last night is that for much of the game it was again on display. But that mad 5 mins when Leeds scored their 2 goals rather blotted that out for many commentators and us fans!
But in terms of the Leeds second goal my view aligns more with J's as I think Sanchez could and should have called and come for the ball though yes given he didn't Josh should have booted it upfield or anywhere far away from danger.
Whole incident may not have occurred if Caicedo hadn't put in rash late challenge in which he didn't get ball even if some might think it was a soft pen - it was certainly a poor challenge and thus likely a foul anywhere else on the pitch and so a giveable pen. and once Ref had given it VAR v unlikely to overturn it.
Still not entirely sure why handball not given after VAR review though of course players mnust always play to the whistle.
11 Feb 2026 12:26:58
I think any Sanchez delay was due to him believing Josh was going to take responsibility for just clearing the ball from danger.
In my opinion the blame is down to Josh not doing the basics. Also let me make it clear, I thought Josh had a good first half and will become a top player. One mistake doesn’t make a bad player. It happens.
11 Feb 2026 13:57:06
I don't think anyone on here has ever suggested that Josh is a bad player Tom. And he dud have a goid first half and was outstanding at CB when brought on in our win over Liverpool. My only ongoing feeling is that last night with Reece not available and Cucu coming off at half time we might have benefited from bringing on Fofana as haaplayed more with TC and would help add experience to the back 4 on the night.
11 Feb 2026 15:08:25
JBS, we have to give these players a chance to play and impress. I personally believe that Josh had a good game but made a mistake. I also believe he will learn from that mistake. Players can learn a lot from making a mistake.
That’s al it was, a mistake. He is potentially a top player. I certainly want him to play more often and I except that being young and learning his trade, he is more likely to make mistakes.