The View from Behind the Lippy
By Richie "LaRue" Baggott
August 22 2009
Hello girls. Back from me jollies. Firstly, this is a fan's view on today's 3-0 win v Tranmere, and NOT the views of the Sport Network, OK? So if you don't like it, don't go b-itching to the nice Sport Network people. And no biting or scratching, either. Right - are we all sitting comfortably on a fluffy pink pouffe with purple stripes and silver stars on it, like I am? Good. Then, I'll begin.
Well, girls I really don't know where to start - it was such a rush to get back from the airport, that I barely had time to put a face on. But I managed it and I'm glad I did, cos it was a simply super game.
Within the first minute, Lovely Lucy played Becky clean through, but his shot was blocked by the Tranmere keeper. Within minutes, Becky got clean through again, and managed to beat the keeper, but the ball bounced agonisingly off the post. Really hard cheese, but the boys were playing well. We were absolutely all over Tranmere at this point and positively jumping up and down on them. More chances followed until finally after 13 minutes we got the break through we deserved. A great cross from Robbie and Lucy dived in bravely for a header. I yelped cos I though he was going to get hurt - but he didn't, though the goalie parried his header. Fortunately it went straight to Bradley, who puffed out his manly chest and gave it a really big kick into the bottom corner. 1-0.
But then we took our foot off the gas, a bit like we did against Exeter.Tranmere came more and more into the game and had lots of corners and were causing us problems down the wing. We needed a second goal and on the half hour we got one. It was a bit lucky really. Andy Hughes gave it a really big welly up the field and the Tranmere no5 tried to head it back to his keeper. But he hadn't realised Becky had slipped in from behind and he leapt onto the ball for his third one-to-one with the keeper. This time he made no mistake and rammed it in for number two.
The second goal pretty much killed the half off and it certainly took the sting out of Tranmere's tail and they stopped attacking so much after that. There was little to report for the rest of the first half, though I was delighted to see the subs warming up right in front of me. You can tell just by looking at Big Enoch's shorts that the rumours are true - I hoped I would get to see him in action before the day was out. We came close again once or twice before the half ended - with the keeper making another ouple of reasonable saves. And just before half time, I got the pleasure of seeing the Tranmere subs warming up and, as former Leeds star Michael Ricketts bent over right in front of me, I realised he was probably one of the few men in football who had right equipment to cope with Enoch's greater assets. Now there's a DVD I wouldn't mind paying for - not to mention the wide screen TV I'd need to watch it on. Anyway half time came and Tranmere's defence had looked decidly leaky throughout the half, with both Becky and Lucy running them ragged throughout. I felt sure that manager John Barnes would spend the entire half time break trying to plug the holes in his defenders.
Well, whatever he did had little affect, as Leeds went from strength to strength in the second half, with a series of glorious chances. First Becky hit the bar when one-on-one for the fourth time, then Patty Kiss-kiss had a great long shot that the keeper tipped over. Big Bradley also forced a good save and it looked a matter of time before we got the third.
But it didn't come and, as the half wore on, I started to worry whether Tranmere would get back into it. Try as we might we just couldn't exploit the holes in the Tranmere defence and I must admit I was screeching to get Enoch onto the pitch - now there's a lad who knows how to take advantage of gaping holes in the opposition's defence. That boy can really do some damage. But Larry didn't seem to agree and the game wore on, though Tranmere (who had put Ricketts on at the break) were still offering very little going forward.Finally, in the 85th minute it came. Substitute Mike Grella won a free kick on the edge of the box and Big Bradley lined up to take it.
He hit an absolutely belting shot which beat the keeper all ends up and cannoned back off the bar (the fourth time we'd hit the woodwork). As we groaned at yet another near miss, we realised that Lucy had read the situation perfectly and followed in to head the ball into the empty net for a thoroughly deserved third goal. Tranmere - to their credit - went straight up field and Ian Thomas-Moore (formerly Ian Moore - apparently he changed his name after getting married in the summer - presumably to a guy called Thomas - fair enough) forced a good save out of Shane Higgs. I was pleased for HIggs - he'd had little to do all day and it must be easy for keepers to switch off in those situations - but he was clearly alive and alert and not on drugs like certain other Shanes I could mention.
Anyway, game over and a thoroughly deserved 3 points and a very dominant performance. Two teams have already scored 7 in League One this season - and but for the woodwork and some very good goalkeeping we could easily have been the third.Player Ratings
(Please note, girls, these are ratings for perfomances ON the field and are nothing to do with looks)
Higgs - 6 - little to do, but was there when needed
Crowe - 5 - some stray passes
Hughes - 5 - ditto
Rui - 7 - generally commanding, one or two slips
Kisnorbo 9 - excellent throughout, very commanding performance. Looking forward to seeing him and Naylor together
Howson & Doyle - both 6 - competent, though uninspiring, workmanlike games.
Johnson 8 - best I've seen him play in a long while.
Snodgrass - 7 - excellent first half - drifted a bit in the 2nd
Becchio - 9 - constantly worrying the defence
Beckford 9.5. - could have had 5 were it not for woodwork and good goalkeeping.
The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Unofficial Leeds United (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 18:10
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Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Tony ~ Montana (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 18:28
Classic BF.I applaud you big man.
He's going to s-hit his thong when he gets back.
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Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Iamthegreatezt (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 18:36
BF is the king and queen of match reports!
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Stan Ogden (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 18:51
pure qualityRe: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: BAC White (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 19:14
Pure genius. "You are awful...but I like you"
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: bats (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 19:49
brillant bf but just think what hes going to have to come up with to get his own back
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Stan Ogden (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 20:12
Hes not fit to tie BF's laces, in the big ship of things BF is king, fids is just an also ran
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Rui (IP Logged)
Date: 22/08/2009 21:26
Welcome back Mr Fiddler!
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: TYDFIL WHITE (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2009 11:37
do it in black next time m8,,otherwise a great report..
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Chacko (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2009 18:39
leeds united, srsly lacking in Alan Smith's since August 8, 2004
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: kiwipete (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2009 21:03
absolute classic--im cracking up at my desk-the lads think ive gone mad
IM MEMORY OF THE BEST CAPTAIN AND GREATEST MANAGER IN OUR HISTORY--RIP BILLY AND DON
2013 PREDICTION LEAGUE---5TH
im cracking up at my desk-the lads think ive gone mad
IM MEMORY OF THE BEST CAPTAIN AND GREATEST MANAGER IN OUR HISTORY--RIP BILLY AND DON
2013 PREDICTION LEAGUE---5TH
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: koppy (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2009 21:50
Best cnutage I've ever seen on here
[img]http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4328htDx61qlqonqo1_r2_500.jpg[img/]
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Greg LUFC (IP Logged)
Date: 23/08/2009 23:48
Must have been watching a different game to me, we had 101% of the possession from what I can remember.
Re: The View from Behind the Lippy
Posted by: Surly (IP Logged)
Date: 24/08/2009 12:12
Pure genius. Top quality cnutage!
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