Papa Johns Trophy - Leeds U21s

Always want to see us win, obviously, but I think he should throw out the same side that bored us to a no score bore draw v Barnsley.
Teach em a lesson for being so profligate in front of goal (did I seriously just use that word🤔)

Although…..

Maybe ‘yet another’ change might be as good as a rest with our ‘Tinkerman’ making half a dozen changes whilst also trying out all 5 subs

Wins do breed confidence so it would be sensible to go with my first option of keeping the same side 🤔😬



Don’t suppose it’s on iplayer is it??

Good game so far - fast attacking football by both sides, some great, slick moves by us and we are clearly on top in attack and defense. COYFWM.  I do hope we see more of Beck later.

Enjoyable game for us v £13+ million of Leeds hopefuls.  We did very well overall and never looked like losing.  Sadlier put in wonderful cameo at the end.  Should have had 8 or nine but at least we looked like scoring most of the game and actually got 3 unlike the boring team last Saturday.  JDB went off injured in second half - fingers crossed for him as he looks better every game.  Nothing really from Beck but you can see the potential.

Another decent game.

Those of you who avoid these “mickey mouse” cup matches are missing some good games. I accept the “mickey mouse” comment and it is not anywhere like as important as Accrington on Saturday but this was a really entertaining game of football.

Leeds players were really skilful and attacking wise caused us loads of problems. Without Williams to cover the defence, we were wide open and their attackers basically just ran through us. We do have a tendency to stand off opponents – on the assumption that we can catch them – but we couldn’t catch them in this match. They had a good shot early on when Jones was skinned. Then twice had one on ones with Dixon who saved the first one very well.

We though also attacked well. Isgrove looked good at right wing back, Bodvarsson had an excellent 1st half and we had umpteen chances. Bodvarsson scored well from a good Isgrove run and centre. Sheehan had a shot kicked off the line and also made their goalie save well. Dempsey was thwarted when one on one and Bodvarsson’s follow up header hit the bar. John miskicked when presented with a nearly open goal. The chances kept coming.

It was 1-0 at half time – should have been 2-2.



Second half calmed down a bit. Leeds passed and moved well. We tightened up a bit defensively and we eventually wore them down. Bakayoko missed a chance and then scored after a brilliant run and shot from Bradley rebounded from the keeper and Sadlier excellently went round the keeper to score from a good Bakayoko pass.



As I said, a really good game. Our experience and fitness eventually got us a good win.

A slightly flattering scoreline. It was not a comfortable 3-0, we had to work hard for it.





Marks:-

Dixon - 7 Good to report a decent performance. A couple of mix ups with short passing to Aimson but made some decent saves and catches

Isgrove - 7 A good busy performance, capped off with a run and centre to set up the first goal

Jones - 5 Caught out a few times by the speed of the Leeds attackers

Aimson - 5 A couple of dreadful passes out of defence nearly cost us. Like Jones, he didn’t mark so Leeds ran through the middle of our defence

Iredale - 5 Part of a back three that chose not to mark and, at times, were chasing shadows

John - 6 Got forward well but missed 2 reasonably good chances in the 1st half. Unlucky to be subbed.

Morley - 5 Not MJ Williams and it showed as there was little cover for the back 3.

Sheehan - 7 Good. Some neat passing. Shot cleared off the line plus a good save from their keeper.

Dempsey - 7 Busy. Missed a one on one with the keeper but involved throughout.

Kachunga - 5 Same complaint from me. He is just not a striker. One good move in the 1st half but achieves very little.

Bodvarsson - 7 Very good 1st half. Took his goal well, had a header against the bar and missed a very good header chance in the 2nd half. Hope his injury is not serious

Lee - 7 His usual classy performance

Bakayoko - 6 Eventually got his goal but missed a great chance beforehand. His movement is poor though. Good pass to put Sadlier through for the 3rd goal.

Sadlier - 6 Took his chance really well

Beck - 6 Missed a great chance to roll the ball to Bakayoko for a tap in

Bradley - 8 Just excellent. So positive. Created the 2nd goal and looked dangerous from the moment he came on the pitch

Dont doubt that the games are entertaining, probably because theres so little riding on them.

I dont mind them having a few quirky rules like a penalty shoot out to settle a draw. Its innovative.

But they lost me years ago with teams like Reading U21s being allowed in AND hitting clubs with fines for rotating players.

Still think my idea is best(well i would) that these group games are part of pre season in place of friendlies. Free up those Tuesday nights and by the time the next round kicks in you have teams invested in it with an eye on Wembley.

Tranmere vs Bolton on a Tuesday night 7pm in October or Tranmere on a July Saturday 3pm.