Matchday 2 Preview – Leeds United v Forest

After last week’s disappointment against West Brom, it’s going to be out of the fire and into the frying pan for Forest as far as the opposition goes for this weekend. I’m not too confident if I’m honest but I’m biting the bullet and getting myself down the A1, armed with my record of playing 1 and winning 1 at Elland Road. About time I became a lucky omen.

I’d spoken with Oscar at All Leeds TV earlier this week to get some insight into what to expect from Leeds, his thoughts on Forest and predictions for Saturday.

How is your season shaping up following preseason?  What are your expectations for this time out?

We come into this game and season off the back of a productive pre-season on the pitch. Pre-season performances and results have been good (aside from a 4-0 loss to Man Utd). We also got a good win in our first game of the season a 3-1 win at Bristol City. Off the pitch we have lost two important players in Kemar Roofe and Pontus Jansson. The early signs are that we have been able to sign a more than capable replacement for Pontus in Ben White. Eddie Nkhetia on loan from Arsenal could be a very promising addition as a replacement for Keemar Roofe.

Helder Costa and as already mentioned Ben White are the main signings so far, however, the returns of Jack Harrison and Clarke could prove to be very intelligent as well. Expectations have to be very similar to last season, we want to push for automatic promotion. With the squad fully adapted to ‘Bielsa-ball’ from last season and a few clever additions in the close season, the hope is we can go one better and achieve promotion this time around.

Leeds got a good result against Bristol City last Sunday, what was your take on it?

It was a very strange game and a good away performance all in all, although I don’t think it was as comfortable as the score line would suggest. We started the game slowly and were very sloppy in possession for the first 15-20 minutes. Then the midfield and Adam Forshaw in particular started to find their passing range and took control of the game. Pablo Hernandez produced another moment of quality for the first goal and after that we properly found our rhythm and finished the first half strongly.  We carried this into the second half and the intelligent movement of the wingers and attacking midfielders caused Bristol so many problems, gaps appeared everywhere and we got ourselves another two fine goals. Bristol got a goal back and we finished the game very nervously. It was a good win at a place where I think many of the top teams will struggle this time around but it still showed elements of our game we still need to improve.

What are the key strengths of the Leeds team? Who do Forest fans need to be worried about the most?

The strength of this team is the midfield and the various different components to it. Kalvin Phillips plays the holding midfield exceptionally well. He breaks the game down and protects the back four with consistent brilliance. On the ball he offers a lot and always makes himself available and his fine range of passing helps start a lot of our attacks.

Pablo Hernandez and Mateusz Klich are the main threats to Forest they were as a duo involved in over half of our goals last season. Klich is a fine player too who plays just ahead of Phillips, he is an all-round classy player who offers everything you want from a central midfielder: passing range, an eye for goal and tenacity off the ball. He has developed into one of the best all round central players in the league, he has the ability to control and dominate games from the central areas which very few players in this league can do. Klich is the brain of the team he sees passes and opportunities no one else can see.

Pablo Hernandez offers creativity in literally every game he plays and defies logic even at 34 he just continues to improve. Without trying to sound biased I do genuinely believe he has to be considered the best, if not one of the best players, in the league for his performances over the last 3 seasons. The left hand side has also started to develop into a real area of strength as well going forward, the understanding between Barry Douglas and Jack Harrison is growing by the game. Helder Costa is likely to be on the bench but is a very good option for us to bring off the bench.

What would you say are the main weaknesses in the Leeds team?

In terms of weaknesses it’s very difficult to identify specific areas. Tactically we like to push the full backs very high and at times through no fault of their own they get caught out as a result of this. Even though we won on Sunday we still saw a little bit of evidence of this and towards the end of last season got exploited by the quality wingers with this tactic and Forest most definitely have quality out wide. Kiko Casilla our goalkeeper is really struggling on crosses at the moment. He always looks to deal with everything but is starting to get in the way of his defence; which is causing confusion and problems. Sometimes he just needs to allow his defenders to do their jobs but doesn’t seem to be willing to do this. His shot stopping is good and other aspects of his game shine but this is an aspect of his game he needs to sort out.  The other issue we have is taking the chances we create. As much as I’ve spoken about creativity in general, we are not very efficient in front of goal. Against Bristol, we were very clinical but we have to maintain this. We do also currently have Luke Ayling and Tyler Roberts out through injury, who for me, were our best two players by a considerable distance during the last two months of last season.

What are your thoughts on Forest? Who do you see as our main threats ?

It’s very difficult to know with Forest, I think a lot will depend on the managerial appointment of Lamouchi whilst his recent track record isn’t the most impressive it’s important he is given time to implement his ideas. That is the issue though will he be given time? Forest are the only club who have gone through more managers than Leeds over the last 7-8 years. You just fear that no matter how well you are doing, the manager is only ever a sequence of bad results away from the sack.

Your starting 11 is still comfortably one of the best in the league and I do think you have strengthened. With that you should properly push for the play offs. My only worry for Forest is if the owner presses the panic button early again and brings in a Martin O’Neil sentimental type appointment halfway through the season. If you avoid this and make the most of the attacking talent in your squad by playing an attacking brand of football, you have a real chance of the top six and pushing for promotion.

Joe Lolley is a real threat and when Stuart Dallas pushes high (our right back), I do fear we will offer Lolley a lot of space in behind. He’s one of those players who; every time he gets on the ball, he looks like producing moments of magic. Lewis Grabban is such an intelligent striker as well and for me, the most proven goal scorer out of all of the strikers in the league. They are your two best players from an outsiders point of view and definitely the two who I see as the biggest threats.

Semedo had a good debut as well last week, whilst Matty Cash and Adomah are very good players too. Make no mistake about it we do see the whole team as having quality about it. You have players who can change games quickly we found that out the hard way in our last meeting on New Years Day.

Needle factor – What rating would you give the clubs rivalry with Forest out of 10?

5/10. I have a lot of respect for Forest. You have gone through a lot of stress and pain over the last 15-20 years much like ourselves mainly because of poor ownership. However, your fans have stayed loyal and you continue to have good support home and away like Leeds. I’ve got a lot of friends who support Forest and I have to say despite the incredible success you had in 1980’s your fans don’t fall into the trap of living in the past.

What’s your most memorable encounter with Forest?

Quite a few to choose from, we had two very good competitive games in League One back in 2007-2008 when you were promoted and we had our -15 point deduction season. We won the game at the City Ground 2-1 but were very lucky to win that game from memory. We played out a really good 1-1 draw later on in the season at a time when we were both pushing for automatic promotion. There is of course the 7-3 game followed by a 4-2 defeat at the City Ground during Neil Warnock’s disastrous time at Leeds (those two games are memorable for the wrong reasons). We also played out two very good games last season.
The favourite would be the 4-1 win for us in 2011 at Elland Road, Chris Cohen got a very harsh red card and we produced a brilliant second half display. Although the season went wrong from that game; you grabbed the last play-off spot ahead of us during that season.

What’s your prediction for Saturday?

I’ll go for a 2-1 Leeds win. It will be a close entertaining game in which both teams will score. Bamford and Klich for Leeds, Grabban for Forest.

Thank you to Oscar Marrio at All Leeds TV for your contributions. Much appreciated.

 

 

 

GOLDEN OLDIE GAME – NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 – LEEDS UNITED 0

1988 Wembley Stadium. Mercentile Credit Football League Centenary Trophy Tournament