09 Sep 2026 23:39:50
Still on. My way back from that match of two halves.
Alonso's 4 substitutions all. Perfect choices. First half revealed relative lack of strength in depth compared to. Some of pur top rivals. No. Mote Gusto in midfield. Gittens again well off quality required, LC not back to best by some margin and Estevso showing flashes of brilliance but Neto greatly better when on for him. Very glad indeed we didnt sell him!
Barco probably our best player first half and scores his first goal for us in second.
No brainer to say he should play in. Midfield ahead of Gusto. James. Made big difference when on alongside Barco too.
After the subs snd Leeds second pur attscking flair led by Palmer and Rogers especially but festuring Wellbeck on full display.
Atmosphere in the ground fumereal at half time became its bouncy noisy best during our spectaculour comeback. Madness!
10 Sep 2026 08:49:32
Jbs, in the press conference after the game, Alonso, refreshingly for a manager, admitted a mistake in making too many changes, and that it wasn't fair on the players in the first half. Another lesson learned.
I totally agree about Barco. Just one more thing, I think Gittens was unlucky to be hooked.
10 Sep 2026 09:35:52
A rollercoaster of a game. Positives: We won. Alonso was decisive, didn't wait to make subs until 60 minutes, and Barco gave a very tenacious performance and should start on Saturday.
10 Sep 2026 10:22:19
Will have to agree to disagree about Gittens, Tom. Neither he nor Estevao - who looked more likely to make an impact cos has more confidence and can beat opponents far more often than Gittens - may have had their moments, but were simply not making enough impact and giving the ball away too often... as Gusto was. In an ideal world, and if the opposition were not looking as strong as Leeds did in the first half, you might want to keep them on to get more minutes.
Rogers and Neto for those two made an enormous difference. As did James for Gusto and Palmer for Reggie W - though RW impressed us in Lower West for his fight and energy, stood out far more than Gittens may be cos Gittens was largely on the other side of the pitch - though Estevao is still v young and I know you have seen a player in Gittens.
There may be, but apart from that in that away cup game - against Lincoln I think - and literally just a couple of other moments, he has been very disappointing for most of us. Which is not to say he couldn't be pretty decent again in time playing in England - and you thought he was a baller in the Bundesliga? - but right now he doesnt look to be v close to the quality CFC needs and wants to challenge for top trophies. Part of the problem is his lack of getting his head up when running at speed at a defender to pick out team mate?
10 Sep 2026 10:40:41
JBS, I totally agree with your assessment. Watching the game on TV (not always the best), Gittens looked miles off in his decision-making and hunger. I'd also agree that he seems to be solely head down. You could see Estevao's frustration with him when he went for that near-post blast rather than passing him in. (Not that Estevao was necessarily in a hugely better position - and standing still and throwing your hands in the air, rather than attempting to make a different run, or being ready for a potential rebound, is not a good look at all.
More to be said on his attitude last night in relation to the rumours that have been coming out about his unhappiness at lack of game time thus far this season.) But Estevao perhaps could have passed the ball across the face of goal dangerously, and Gittens, to me, does seem very one-gear - he's either totally passive and weak, or intensely running with his head down. Reminds me a bit of Mudryk, actually (interesting that, given the same sporting directors fancied him), and a weaker Milan Baros.
10 Sep 2026 12:31:47
Interesting comparison with Mudryk, EdW, and I reckon you may have a point. Though for some reason I had more hope with MM - perhaps putting too much hope cos of his debut came v Liverpool?! Oh, and he did score that last minute equalise v Newcastle in Carabao Cup game!
10 Sep 2026 16:16:00
Jbs, I continue to have hope for Mudryk - perhaps because he looks like a lost puppy transformed into a gormless but very good-looking human by a witch's curse, doomed to chase a ball aimlessly at incredibly high speed whilst being pelted with abuse by angry men, and it all feels a little unfair. #freeMudryk.
10 Sep 2026 18:15:08
Well, so I still hope for the best for MM, and I know what you mean by feeling some sympathy for him cos the puppy-type look is rightly associated in one's mind with the fact of his separation from his Ukrainian family, and his country as a whole under brutal attack by Putin's forces.
I did think, as suggested, that I saw something in him at times as a player that I have yet to spot with Gittens, but perhaps both of them demonstrate that football, like any sport, is played best by those whose physical ability is matched by their mental strength.