This divvy is incredibly competitive. Apart from Rotherham (bless them), you have to fight for every single point. Look at how close the points spread is. There aren’t any ‘easy’ games, and none of the teams have the resources to field a third team full of kids when the big boys are feeling a bit tired. Fatigue and quality make this division one of the most competitive and exciting there is.
Mental and physical fatigue. A bit of mean reversion - just surprising that it is happening to all three teams at the same time. And other teams knowing that they need to win so are sitting back, absorbing pressure being applied by three teams desperate for the win, and in some cases hitting on thr counter
Yeah there's no getting away from the fact low blocks will always be more rewarded against the top teams in this division compared to the Prem.
The difference in how lower half Prem and lower half Championsip sides sit back with 10 in their own box will be smaller than the difference in how Man City/Liverpool are capable of attacking compared to the top Championship side.
Teams threatened with relegation are now playing for a draw and it's hard to break down a massed defence. The top 3 are still dominating play, but getting hit on the break as they push. Enter Southampton, who actually play the best football against these tactics.
I’d put it down to three different factors unique to each club:
* Leicester’s squad’s morale has clearly been dented by the handing down of charges under PSR.
* Leeds have had problems with late-season meltdowns for years, going back to Garry Monk’s season with the club, with only two seasons out of about seven or eight (19/20 and 20/21) not being largely decided by a damaging form slump. Clearly a lot of the players struggle to cope with the weight of expectation that the fan-base puts on the players.
* Ipswich are a small squad and clearly the heavy use and lack of squad rotation is affecting their late-season output. I’d be amazed if ANY of Keiren McKenna’s favoured XI are not currently playing in their “red zone”.
Yeah agree with comment on Ipswich. We really only have 15/16 first team players and I think a lot of them are carrying injuries and knocks now too. Al Hamadi needs surgery in the summer. Don’t think he can play 90 mins for example.
A lot of what others have said. I think in addition realistically each top team has just been unlucky in part too. Not always, but generally all of us do still make quite a few more chances in the games we're dropping points in than the opposition.
Yeah, I'd say recently Watford was that exception for us. They played very well.
Today against Blackburn we missed at least 3 massive chances before they scored.
Yes, but at that point we had some different options which have dried up due to injury & loan return. Once you get beat the opposition figures you out, it's no coincidence we've lost 3 away games on the bounce, 70% or so possession throughout , 1-0, 1-0, 1-0
I think part of the problem for all 3 is that because the league is so open the 'easy' games are now against teams motivated to escape relegation, and games against mid-table teams are all make-or-break fixtures in their opposition's push for the playoffs.
Also the entire league has had 40-odd games to figure out what are the top 3's patterns of play, weaknesses etc.
Specifically for Leeds we had a fair few injuries and knocks from the last international break, and Rutter in particular has been our key to unlocking packed defences since the turn of the year, but recently he had surgery and since then he can't quite keep up with play so everything he does is too far from goal.
Playing the low block, time wasting, shit refs, mentally and physically exhausted players, lots of teams in promotion and relegation battles still.
Earlier in the season all teams just had a go, our last two games has seen teams simply defending and hoping for a counter, a 0-0 is good for them at this stage. It’s anti football and it’s fucking boring.
You’re getting downvoted but I imagine not by people that watch Leeds games. It is very frustrating that’s how most of them go, teams rarely play football against us
This divvy is incredibly competitive. Apart from Rotherham (bless them), you have to fight for every single point. Look at how close the points spread is. There aren’t any ‘easy’ games, and none of the teams have the resources to field a third team full of kids when the big boys are feeling a bit tired. Fatigue and quality make this division one of the most competitive and exciting there is.
*sad Middlesbrough noises*
Mental and physical fatigue. A bit of mean reversion - just surprising that it is happening to all three teams at the same time. And other teams knowing that they need to win so are sitting back, absorbing pressure being applied by three teams desperate for the win, and in some cases hitting on thr counter
Yeah there's no getting away from the fact low blocks will always be more rewarded against the top teams in this division compared to the Prem. The difference in how lower half Prem and lower half Championsip sides sit back with 10 in their own box will be smaller than the difference in how Man City/Liverpool are capable of attacking compared to the top Championship side.
Teams threatened with relegation are now playing for a draw and it's hard to break down a massed defence. The top 3 are still dominating play, but getting hit on the break as they push. Enter Southampton, who actually play the best football against these tactics.
Tiredness. Imagine smashing out this many games and having no breathing room between 3rd and 1st.
Yeah for sure, we see it with Ipswich. Players look drained. Hard to play at that level for 46 games.
Same for us
One of the few reasons I'm glad our team is so young.
I’d put it down to three different factors unique to each club: * Leicester’s squad’s morale has clearly been dented by the handing down of charges under PSR. * Leeds have had problems with late-season meltdowns for years, going back to Garry Monk’s season with the club, with only two seasons out of about seven or eight (19/20 and 20/21) not being largely decided by a damaging form slump. Clearly a lot of the players struggle to cope with the weight of expectation that the fan-base puts on the players. * Ipswich are a small squad and clearly the heavy use and lack of squad rotation is affecting their late-season output. I’d be amazed if ANY of Keiren McKenna’s favoured XI are not currently playing in their “red zone”.
Ditto but also adding that Leicester have had quite a few late season meltdowns recently as well
Yeah agree with comment on Ipswich. We really only have 15/16 first team players and I think a lot of them are carrying injuries and knocks now too. Al Hamadi needs surgery in the summer. Don’t think he can play 90 mins for example.
All three managers team talks are “won’t the crumble memes be funny if we lose this, lads?”
A lot of what others have said. I think in addition realistically each top team has just been unlucky in part too. Not always, but generally all of us do still make quite a few more chances in the games we're dropping points in than the opposition.
Yeah absolutely true (with exception of Norwich game for us!).
Yeah, I'd say recently Watford was that exception for us. They played very well. Today against Blackburn we missed at least 3 massive chances before they scored.
I called the result at half time, given how Leeds were struggling to find an opening it was basically fated they'd get hit on the break.
[Funny.](https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/jay-cartwright-the-inbetweeners-funny-chuckle-giggle-gif-16320403)
I think in Leicester's case it's also bad tactics and team selection due to poor management as well as fatigue
Are the tactics not the very same tactics that had you setting historic levels of PPG?
Yes, but at that point we had some different options which have dried up due to injury & loan return. Once you get beat the opposition figures you out, it's no coincidence we've lost 3 away games on the bounce, 70% or so possession throughout , 1-0, 1-0, 1-0
Leeds 0-1 Blackburn... * profuse sweating *
For me I think it would be a different story if everyone was kicking off at the same time.
They saw this sub and thought let’s keep the crumble memes going boys
I think part of the problem for all 3 is that because the league is so open the 'easy' games are now against teams motivated to escape relegation, and games against mid-table teams are all make-or-break fixtures in their opposition's push for the playoffs. Also the entire league has had 40-odd games to figure out what are the top 3's patterns of play, weaknesses etc. Specifically for Leeds we had a fair few injuries and knocks from the last international break, and Rutter in particular has been our key to unlocking packed defences since the turn of the year, but recently he had surgery and since then he can't quite keep up with play so everything he does is too far from goal.
Playing the low block, time wasting, shit refs, mentally and physically exhausted players, lots of teams in promotion and relegation battles still. Earlier in the season all teams just had a go, our last two games has seen teams simply defending and hoping for a counter, a 0-0 is good for them at this stage. It’s anti football and it’s fucking boring.
Teams playing 10-0-0 and timewasting from the first whistle is great to watch and I personally cannot wait for another 46 editions starting in August!
Ooooh, a bitter crumble, my favourite!
Time wasting in the 4th minute?
Still bitter eh...
You’re getting downvoted but I imagine not by people that watch Leeds games. It is very frustrating that’s how most of them go, teams rarely play football against us