I haven't posted on this thread in a long time, for a few reasons. Firstly, I find myself posting less and less on chat forums generally - not sure if that is an age thing or not, and general weariness with getting into debates / arguments. Secondly, there was never a lot of regular traffic here beyond a few hardy souls, so there was an element of why bother, and thirdly, my inherent superstition - Leeds had been doing quite well since the last post here, and I didn't want to put the scud on them.
However, as Captain Obvious has posted, I feel compelled to give my tuppence ha'penny's worth.
There are very deep scars that still run through Leeds supporters around the play-offs, and I could sense the ghosts of Frank Lampard's Derby County, as the match progressed. Truth be told, we should have won that game by 6 or 7 goals, but as we spurned chance after chance, and the match remined 3-0, I feared the mother of all comebacks.
As good as Leeds were last night - and they were excellent - Norwich were brutal, and were not helped by early indecision by Gunn in their nets. With hindsight, the game - and tie - was gone after 20 minutes.
It was the same Leeds that had stormed the Division across the first quarter of 2024, with a brilliant team performance, underpinned by some excellent individual efforts - Gray, Rodon, Kamara, Rutter and Piroe were excellent, for me.
My fervent hope is that they will take tremendous confidence from this result and performance and play to their full potential in the final. If they can do that, then I'd be confident of a win, but it will be tough, regardless of the opposition.
If I had my pick as to our opponents, without a second thought, I'd go for West Brom. Southampton are a team who I fear have our number, and gave us a couple of serious beatings in the regular season. I really don't want to play them again.
One more match!!
However, as Captain Obvious has posted, I feel compelled to give my tuppence ha'penny's worth.
There are very deep scars that still run through Leeds supporters around the play-offs, and I could sense the ghosts of Frank Lampard's Derby County, as the match progressed. Truth be told, we should have won that game by 6 or 7 goals, but as we spurned chance after chance, and the match remined 3-0, I feared the mother of all comebacks.
As good as Leeds were last night - and they were excellent - Norwich were brutal, and were not helped by early indecision by Gunn in their nets. With hindsight, the game - and tie - was gone after 20 minutes.
It was the same Leeds that had stormed the Division across the first quarter of 2024, with a brilliant team performance, underpinned by some excellent individual efforts - Gray, Rodon, Kamara, Rutter and Piroe were excellent, for me.
My fervent hope is that they will take tremendous confidence from this result and performance and play to their full potential in the final. If they can do that, then I'd be confident of a win, but it will be tough, regardless of the opposition.
If I had my pick as to our opponents, without a second thought, I'd go for West Brom. Southampton are a team who I fear have our number, and gave us a couple of serious beatings in the regular season. I really don't want to play them again.
One more match!!