KaKa

I agree 100%. It's a system issue and everyone is suffering. Feels like we are not playing to anyone's strengths at the minute. It's awful.

Honestly, like most of the team at the minute,I don't think they are being setup well enough to get the most of their strengths. Eddie needs to figure out the whole setup and approach to how we play. The team doesn't look right and no one is really playing well. When that starts to happen the manager has to change things.

Elanga, Gordon, Barnes and Murphy. None of these are good enough in deeper positions when we have the ball. They do not make consistently good decisions and are loose with their touches or their passes. As soon as we get the ball they should all be getting as high up the pitch as possible, right up against their opposing full back. They are all quick and make decent runs in behind. Between Malick/Schar/Botman, Hall, Tino, Bruno and Tonali and even Woltemade dropping deep, we should be figuring out getting the ball out from the back with minimal involvement from this profile of winger in those deeper areas of the pitch. I don't see any patterns or approach to progressing the ball forward that makes sense for the players we have. We barely use the midfield or Woltemade in build up and keep trying to play through the wingers too early.

I see he scored again last night, and has scored in his last 4 games now and has 5 in 14 in the Prem for an ordinary Leeds team. Going to be interesting to see how this one continues to play out, as there was a lot of back and forth about him last season on here. Always thought he just needed a fresh start outside of Everton where it had all gone a bit stale. Was surprised at how he was being completely written off at 27/28 years old.

In my opinion the only aerial ability that concerns me is when he is trying to score and he has shown that he is well capable in those instances. Even yesterday In some respect I'm glad he isn't comfortable competing for long balls in general play, because we shouldn't be fucking launching the ball at him that way. It's embarrassing. Again, the concern is why we have been doing that so often and cannot play the ball through midfield!

The team is so overly reliant on the wingers and full backs combining to get us up the pitch from deep. It's absolutely ridiculous. The wingers already have to track back a bunch defensively, and then are expected to dribble past everyone up the pitch too. While the midfielders struggle to get on the ball and contribute much in build up. It is absolutely maddening. I don't remember a single thing the midfield did in the whole first half. It was Gordon/Hall, Elanga/Tino trying to combine down each side to get up the pitch constantly, while the midfield was just jogging about I guess. It was only when Bruno was moved centrally and started dropping to get the ball off the centre backs that it started looking like something that resembled football at least. The whole thing is a mess and it is terrible to watch.

Bruno is the only one that is constantly moving and looking to get on the ball to make things happen. He needs to be back in the middle and central to everything now, even if it means the team is more vulnerable defensively.

Giving the ball to the wingers constantly, deep in your own half and not moving to receive it back and combine with them to get up the pitch is no use whatsoever. It's not FIFA, they can't just run up the pitch past everyone by holding down the run button.

Honestly, the midfield is far worse than a massive problem at the minute. It is completely non existent.

Adds nothing to the team when we have the ball currently. Either can't get on the ball or mostly gives it away cheaply when he does get it, trying to play first time passes.

Started turning on this guy already too. My God. The team is playing absolutely disgusting football. Can't keep possession and can't get it to the three forward players in decent positions. It's all a complete waste of time at the minute. Funny to see all the forward players getting shit on here constantly while the midfield continues to fail to function competently. Not only were they terrible at having any sort of control of the game, or getting the ball to the forwards, they also let Xhaka have the freedom of the pitch for Sunderland. Tonali especially has been completely ineffective when we have the ball. No idea what he's supposed to be doing.

We can't even get the ball off the defenders and progress it forward. Never mind what's happening with the striker. It's tragic.

Tonali at the base of midfield makes us better defensively, especially in dealing with teams on transitions. However, he cannot get the ball off the defenders and kick start our play. He doesn't even find the gaps to make himself available for a pass. It kills our build up play. Bruno is so much better getting on the ball and initiating play from that position but defensively is so much slower getting back defensively. Honestly think we have to go with the second option and have Bruno there, and just have him not push too far forward when we have the ball so that he is a bit deeper and can be in a bit better position to get back when needed.

Sunderland were so much more up for this it's difficult to even be upset. From the beginning the midfield was off and we weren't doing anything. Just giving it to the wingers and expecting them to dribble the whole team. Couldn't believe Howe never changed anything tactically that first half. Thought he could have and should have done much better today. Had to move Bruno central much earlier on. That was such a weak, pathetic nothing performance man. Started poorly and stayed that way for too long, and it gave them a ton of confidence and self belief.

Tino instead of hoofing it is playing a pass back into the middle. Thought he had a stinker. Just so dumb.

Embarrassing end to an embarrassing showing.

Well ... We've at least looked somewhat competent since the midfield shuffle, but it was left way too late to make the adjustment I fear.

Disagree completely. The front three keep getting the ball too deep with the midfield not finding space to get on the ball and move it around so we can get further up the pitch. Bruno has gone central now and is taking that responsibility and it's already making a big difference. Tonali is not capable of initiating play in that central position.

Thank God. Bruno now getting on the ball in midfield and getting things going. So close just then to finding Murphy.

At least Bruno has finally gone into the middle. Hopefully we can actually string together some play through midfield now.

The midfield is a disaster. They can't keep control of a match. Even when the get it they just pass it wide and stand there looking at the wingers.

Where is our famous midfield?! This is outrageous. Please put Joelinton on. At least he'll deck someone.

Looks like he was trying to score. Bizarre header.

What a game Woltemade has had. That is just ridiculous.

I think it's way too easy to have a go at the wingers in this team. I think the midfield gets away with murder. They have been so pitiful finding space to get on the ball and initiate any kind of build up play it's embarrassing. Meanwhile Xhaka and Sadiki are controlling things for Sunderland. Both our wingers are doing so much defensively, and then are just constantly given the ball in deep areas to have to make something happen going forward from there too. Talbi and Traore for Sunderland on the other hand can get higher up the pitch and allow the team to work the ball forward to them in more dangerous wide positions where they have more room to operate. I think it's incredible how ineffective the midfield has been using the ball and initiating play from front to back. Bruno was moved back into the middle a few games back to try and improve things, but it looks like Tonali is now back in that position again, and it's not working.