On January 9, in the third round of the FA Cup, Leeds United visited Dean Court Stadium to challenge Bournemouth. As a result, Leeds United's entire substitute lineup performed well and defeated their opponents 3-1 to advance to the next round.
Back in the league, Leeds United visited the Riverside Stadium again to face Middlesbrough. This time, I don’t know if it was because of the absence of Viduka on the opposite side, which made the entire Leeds United team lose their energy. There was no place to express their energy, and the battle with Middlesbrough ended in a 1-1 draw. Of course, there is good news, that is, the previously injured Romedal, Davis and Albuchesson have all returned from injury. Albuchesson started the game, while Romedal and Davis came on as substitutes at the last minute to feel the long-lost atmosphere of the game.
Of course there is bad news, that is, the team's main player, Alan Smith, is injured. Fortunately, the injury is minor and he is expected to be able to return to the court after missing one game. Smith, who switched to midfield this season, has performed well. Although his position has retreated, his offensive firepower has been strengthened. After 23 rounds of the league, Smith has scored 11 goals and had 3 assists. It has surpassed last season's data in terms of data. The season is not over yet, and this data may still rise.
Local newspaper The Yorkshire Post has a column in its sports section dedicated to some of Leeds United's standout players this season.
In addition to Smith, there is also Dutch forward Robin Van Persie. Before his injury, Van Persie scored 9 goals for Leeds United, including 7 league goals. He was considered to have performed well, but because of injuries. The comeback is not expected until April. With only 7 or 8 rounds left in the league, it shouldn't be a problem to score double figures in the league.
In addition to the two offensive players, the team's wingers, midfielders, and backcourt also briefly talked about it.
Of course, the largest space is used to introduce the team's head coach, George Lee.
The article pointed out that Lee George has achieved greater lineup improvements through less investment in signings this season. At the same time, they introduced new tactics. They no longer used the long pass that British coaches liked in the past, but instead used high pressure, short pass penetration, etc.
After reading the newspaper, George Li felt that there was a little more bragging in the newspaper. First of all, short passes penetrated. Leeds United still use long passes to counterattack, but it is often not passed to the center, but to the long pass. Passed to both wings.
As the team came back one after another, Leeds United's lineup returned to the previous 433 formation, but I don't know if it was because of the 3-back formation that they had played in a few games before. Leeds United seemed a little uncomfortable.
On January 22, in the 24th round of the league, they lost to Charlton 0-1 at home.
On January 29, in the fourth round of the FA Cup, they beat the visiting "Black Cat" Sunderland 3-0 at home.
On February 3, in the 25th round of the league, they won 1-0 at home against Norwich and Davis returned.
On February 6, in the 26th round of the league, they were tied 2-2 away from home by Southampton.
Leeds United are now ranked 4th with 48 points, 5 points higher than Liverpool, which is ranked 5th.
But now Leeds United obviously has a feeling of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. They can win one or two goals by playing against the weak team, but they will not lose anyway, but now there is a problem when playing against the strong team.
In the 27th round of the league, Leeds United will face Chelsea at home.
Chelsea are now leading the table. Now that the league has gone on for 26 rounds, Chelsea has only conceded 8 goals, and its defense is really impregnable.
At the beginning of the season, Chelsea was a typical "1-0" doctrine. Mourinho insisted on stealing a chicken to win one, and then set up the bus. But it was not until the 14th round of the league that Robben returned and started to fly together with Duff. Chelsea's offense suddenly became more powerful, and the consecutive 4-0 results showed other Premier League teams a different Chelsea.
Therefore, this game was very important to Li, and he started preparing for this game a few days in advance.
It is also good luck that except for Robin van Persie who is still recovering from injury, the other main players can basically play. As for Chelsea, Robben is absent due to injury, which is indeed good news for Leeds United.
In this game, Leeds United sent out a starting lineup of Robinson, Hart, Matteisson, Albcheson, Mills, Graveson, Davis, De Jong, Romedal, Grenchar and Smith. After more than half a season, Smith finally returned to the starting forward position again. Of course, the task that George Lee gave him today is to participate more in defense, to withdraw his position deeper and give opportunities to the two wingers.
Compared with the previous game against Leeds United, Chelsea has several changes.
First, Robben was absent due to injury, and Joe Cole started in his place. Secondly, the main center back Carvalho was on the bench for unknown reasons today, and William Gallas started with John Terry.
The biggest change is that Mourinho has completely abandoned the previous left back Babayaro. Babayaro's performance against Leeds United last time was a disaster. Although Chelsea won, Babayaro's left wing was guarded by Leeds United. Romedal and Robin van Persie teamed up to become scum, and sometimes even Mills could come and take a look.
Today's replacement for Babayaro is Bridge. Wayne Bridge is full of physical energy and accurate crosses. He is a standard English full-back cultivated by Southampton, and sometimes plays a guest role as a left midfielder.
But Bridge is also Mourinho's over-the-top candidate for this position. It is said that Mourinho is already asking boss Abramovich to take action on Arsenal's left back Ashley Cole.
^^^
Throughout the first half, both sides played relatively dull and conservative, with no great offensive opportunities.
Except for Leeds United's long-range shot hitting the crossbar and Chelsea's Duff's shot hitting the side netting, both sides barely even shot.
In the end, the first half of the game ended 0-0, and a small conflict broke out between players from both sides in the tunnel.
It was Smith who still remembered the last game, when Lampard's suspected diving behavior got Leeds United a red card, and it was ten against eleven. As he walked to the locker room today, he bumped Lampard with his shoulder. As a result, Lampard became angry and started pushing Smith. Then it progressed to the point where both sides started to hug together and start a small-scale tentative team battle.
George Lee and Mourinho also followed and watched. They did not pull away and allowed the referee to drive away the players in the gathering place.
"Jose, don't you go and pull your players apart?" Although they are both young coaches, Li George is obviously younger than Mourinho, but he calls Mourinho by his first name.
Mourinho was not angry at all. Although the two had no personal relationship, they had a feeling that heroes cherish heroes. Mourinho, such an arrogant person, had never said anything bad about George Lee in an interview. It's even a compliment. This is unique among the other 18 Premier League head coaches.
"There is no need. My players are all smart people and will not lose their cool because of this provocation."
"Yeah, but this time it's my players' fault."
"You No. 17, don't look like a dynamite barrel, but in fact you are a ghost." Mourinho pointed at Alan Smith and said to George Lee.
"Haha, I think so too... Why are you looking at us?"
After the players were dismissed by the referee, they went out to the locker rooms of the two teams at the corner. However, some players from both teams looked at the two head coaches strangely at the corner.
At this time, the referee stepped forward and said to George Lee and Mourinho.
"Please two of you, Coach Li and Coach Mourinho, restrain your own team's players."
"Okay, okay." George Li said to the referee sincerely.
Mourinho, on the other hand, went straight to the locker room.
At this time, Leeds United assistant coach Brian Kidd walked up to George Lee and asked him.
"What are you two talking about?"
"I'm asking Mourinho if Gudjohnsen in his team is for sale."
"You think he is stupid, the league's number one main striker is selling you out."
"Maybe, I think Gudjohnsen is definitely better than Oscarson."
"Keep your voice down, don't let Ori hear it."
At this time, Iceland forward Ori Oscarsson, who had returned to the Leeds United dressing room, sneezed.
Gary Kelly, who was also wearing a substitute vest next to him, quickly dodged and then said to Oscarson.
"Ori, do you have a cold? Is the bed feeling too windy?"
"Hahaha~" Several people who had returned to the locker room laughed.
Since the last time George Lee was unable to direct the game due to the flu, Li Qiongjia laughed at himself in the interview about the reason for the cold. The windy bed has become a shortcoming in the Leeds United dressing room, especially those who like to go to bars and nightclubs. Even when he sneezes, he only dares to turn his head and sneeze, trying to keep the sound as low as possible.
After the midfield arrangement, the second half started again.
The turning point of the second half occurred in the 60th minute. During a scramble, Leeds United midfielder Graveson was injured and fell to the ground. He was then helped off the field for treatment by the team doctor. After the treatment failed, George Lee could only be replaced by substitute midfielder Eric- Buck.
Graveson's position in Leeds United is very important, just like Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, although Liverpool's goals are all Baros, Cisse, Kewell, Garcia and Gela Germany, but the team's transition from defense to offense and organization and organization were all done by Alonso.
Here at Leeds United, Graveson does all the work. Usually Graveson is inconspicuous, but at critical moments, he cannot be left without him.
Sure enough, after Graveson left the field, Leeds United suffered a heavy blow. Chelsea took the offensive initiative. In the 69th minute of the game, Chelsea used a set kick. Lampard's header was blocked by Robinson, and then Goode Johnson scored a supplementary shot to break the deadlock on the court.
1 to 0.
"Gone."
Seeing Chelsea score, Li George knew that the game was over. No one could compare to Mourinho in terms of his ability to set up a bus.
In the end, Leeds United lost in this crucial battle.
But there is good news, that is, Liverpool also lost the game against Birmingham, and the two teams still maintained a 5-point gap.
But after George Lee saw Graveson's injury report, he couldn't laugh anymore. Graveson will be sidelined for two months.
In the final sprint stage of the league, without the team's offensive and defensive hub, I am afraid that it will not be able to sprint.
