Leeds United 0-0 Newcastle United (30/08/25)

[Erikse]

We allways start the season with not so many points under Howe.. especially if you look at the table around 7-10 games in. Getting some tough games early along with our slow way of doing business doesn't help (probably to get the prices down because FFP).

[Lotus]

When we switched to a 4 3 3, for a period we started moving the ball quickly. Leeds looked under real pressure when we did. Could never get Osula in a shooting position though and we kinda just petered out. 
Think Woltemade will make a huge difference. 
Love Isak (as a player) but tbh his hold up play, or come-deep-lay-it-off was pretty ordinary. He’s not quite strong enough for it. 
Big Nick will offer us that for sure.

[Lotus]

Also agree we seem to start the season’s slowly. I’ve imagined, because of our intense style we let the players build up that last 5% of stamina as the games start to try and avoid burn out.

[Infatuation Junkie]

We missed Joe yesterday. 

[morpeth mag]

We need to play Hall if we go with wing backs.

I think EH was exploring options to get Botman into the team and also get support closer to the striker with the two Jacobs in this instance. Despite the poor display I think we were solid defensively and with better players on the pitch the system should remain an option.

As an aside, the crossing from dead balls was atrocious, especially given we had three big CB to hit.

[mattypnufc]

Won’t go into it. We’ve covered it all in depth it seems. Silly to go five at the back from the off against them but a point is a point.
 

Away end was canny. Loud for the most part despite nowt to really get excited about.
 

Was a few rows back from our @Paullyand a pleasure to say hello as always. 
 

Tells you how in need of development that round is that it’s single pane, none double glazing in the windows at the away end. Most of the grouting falling out. Sums the place up.
 

We also forget how lucky we are for our ground to be a stones throw away from everything. Every time I’ve been I always forget how fucking far it is. Pain in the arse. 

[Benwell Lad]

6 minutes ago, morpeth mag said:

We need to play Hall if we go with wing backs.

I think EH was exploring options to get Botman into the team and also get support closer to the striker with the two Jacobs in this instance. Despite the poor display I think we were solid defensively and with better players on the pitch the system should remain an option.

As an aside, the crossing from dead balls was atrocious, especially given we had three big CB to hit.

 

It really was.

[joeyt]

Do we think there was anything in playing Botman because there were rumours that clubs were sniffing around him?

 

Maybe in-house chat with him and the manager saying I need some minutes otherwise I'm going into the first international break without playing a minute and he can't afford to do that? 

 

It was probably always in Eddie's mind to play him but just seemed such a strange call to play 5 at the back

 

[OCOCOL]

9 minutes ago, mattypnufc said:

Won’t go into it. We’ve covered it all in depth it seems. Silly to go five at the back from the off against them but a point is a point.
 

Away end was canny. Loud for the most part despite nowt to really get excited about.
 

Was a few rows back from our @Paullyand a pleasure to say hello as always. 
 

Tells you how in need of development that round is that it’s single pane, none double glazing in the windows at the away end. Most of the grouting falling out. Sums the place up.
 

We also forget how lucky we are for our ground to be a stones throw away from everything. Every time I’ve been I always forget how fucking far it is. Pain in the arse. 

Aye fairly long walk back to station with only one shoo to get a couple of cans from 

[Lush Vlad]

10 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Do we think there was anything in playing Botman because there were rumours that clubs were sniffing around him?

 

Maybe in-house chat with him and the manager saying I need some minutes otherwise I'm going into the first international break without playing a minute and he can't afford to do that? 

 

It was probably always in Eddie's mind to play him but just seemed such a strange call to play 5 at the back

 

It is a predicament for Howe. As Botman is too good not to play. But then Burn was our player of the season. So what do you do?! 
 

I also think there must have been some truth in the rumours around Elanga and Barnes and maybe the data from Bunce and his team said they’re good for X number of minutes. Howe has then looked at the players he had available and decided the XI he went with was the best option. 
 

Completely guessing, mind. Could have just decided to keep it solid because of who we had out and not having a striker and it didn’t work. 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2025 by Lush Vlad

[alexf]

My only concern is if you look at the likes of Liverpool Chelsea Arsenal etc. None of played that well so far but apart from Chelsea drawing one they have all god maximum points despite their iffy performance. 

 

Contrast to us who I believe have been the better team in all 3 of our games but come away with 2 points. 

 

I know hopefully things will change when we get our full team out there but with the CL extra toll etc. I think we need to find ways to win when we're not at it like the teams that finished above us last year. But importantly we have to atleast win games when we're playing well.

[Davycc]

13 hours ago, huss9 said:

and Elland Rd.

what an absolute shit hole of a stadium.

they are a massive club and should have redeveloped that ground by now.

Couldn't do anything to it for years as we didn't own it from 2004 until it was bought back last year. Planning permission has been granted to refurbish and expand it to 56000 capacity. All those years struggling in league 1 and the championship didn't help.

[Smal]

40 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Do we think there was anything in playing Botman because there were rumours that clubs were sniffing around him?

 

Maybe in-house chat with him and the manager saying I need some minutes otherwise I'm going into the first international break without playing a minute and he can't afford to do that? 

 

It was probably always in Eddie's mind to play him but just seemed such a strange call to play 5 at the back

 

I just don’t see Howe being the kind of manager to make decisions based on stuff like that.

 

I didn’t really understand the shape we played at all though. A back 5 is fine and we’ve done it before, but when we’ve done it before it was more of a 3-4-3 so at least there was some sort of continuity in terms of our attacking shape with the three forwards. Yesterday it was a 3-5-2 and we didn’t really look like we knew what to do.

[joeyt]

If we really wanted to play the 3-5-2 I think it had to be Hall on the left

[joeyt]

Also what was with our kick off of just kicking for touch after half time?

 

I missed the game against Villa but someone suggested we did it then too?

[Alberto2005]

What we were actually playing yesterday?

 

Ramsey was seemingly playing inside but then also trying to cover out left. Murphy just looked fixed out on the wing.

Was it supposed to be 4-5-1?

[geordie_b]

5 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Also what was with our kick off of just kicking for touch after half time?

 

I missed the game against Villa but someone suggested we did it then too?

 

Pin the opposition deep in there half to start the high press, no issue with it at all. 

 

Made even more sense at Villa as the multi ball system was banned for the game

[nufc123]

4 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Also what was with our kick off of just kicking for touch after half time?

 

I missed the game against Villa but someone suggested we did it then too?

Not sure about the Villa game, but PSG have done it a lot. Get the ball out close to the corner, and put pressure on them high up.

[r0cafella]

6 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Also what was with our kick off of just kicking for touch after half time?

 

I missed the game against Villa but someone suggested we did it then too?

It's a good tactic if we are high pressing. In a 352? Not so much. 

[joeyt]

Are not just better off keeping the ball?

[r0cafella]

3 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Are not just better off keeping the ball?

Statistically probably not oddly

[huss9]

2 hours ago, Davycc said:

Couldn't do anything to it for years as we didn't own it from 2004 until it was bought back last year. Planning permission has been granted to refurbish and expand it to 56000 capacity. All those years struggling in league 1 and the championship didn't help.

will you guys be moving to temporary ground?

[Davycc]

4 minutes ago, huss9 said:

will you guys be moving to temporary ground?

No it's planned to be carried out in stages,there will of course be an impact on capacity whilst it's being done. No date set yet but I'd hazard a guess the 49ers will be looking how this season goes. Lots of season tick holders already asking about seat moves etc. this will help but theres still around 26k on the waiting list for season tickets.