Leeds Utd vs Exeter City Matchday thread

[LLL MOT]

As I've said, I'm not trying to ignore what they've done and I think its fair that they are punished. I don't however think that Leeds fans should be let off for exactly the same thing. Especially when they are already being aggressive to the police officers.

Have you been to many away games? Proper ones, not "one man and his dog" non-league affairs. It happens, quite regularly in fact.

I've been away with leeds plenty. From being treated like sh-- by police at places like WBA, Barnsley. To being welcomed and treated with respect at yeovil.

 

[loobygrecian]

Was pleased to see Harley getting a few tackles in and thought Jonah pulled off some fantastic saves to deny Leeds on several occasions.

Alex Russell's free kick was simply superb, struck so sweetly, was such a great moment being there to celebrate the equaliser and i wont deny i didnt feel gutted when they scored in the dying minutes, i say they but if it wasnt for Jermaine Beckford, Leeds arent that much of a team and would be interesting to see how long they can hold onto him for.

I think we are more than capable of holding our own in this league, although its still early days of course. We wont fear any team - wonder if we can stick 7 past Norwich next week.....??!

 

[shabbashaz]

On the atmosphere front, I turned up right on KO and it was fairly quiet, thier were the odd chants but the majority of City fans were happy to sit down! Come on lads, it's first game back show some enthusiasm! There was only about 20 of us standing at the back and so the stewards decided to make a point and kick the youngest one standing up out, the word cowards comes to mind. After we equalized though the atmosphere was intenese and pretty much the whole stand was up and bouncing around! Great stuff, sounded so loud from whereever I stood.

RE the pitch "invasion" we have just scored a brilliant goal to equalize at Leeds, I think it's a bit harsh to have a go at anyone that runs on! The phrase "harmless fun" springs to mind, they weren't enticing voilence just celebrating with Russell who ran stright to the corner.

First things first, before kick off the atmosphere was immense from our fans. In fact a friend tried ringing me, and as I answered the phone, there was no way I could here them from the noise of our fans singing. And we kept it up for the majority of the game.

As for the stewards, it was already mentioned on their website about not being able to stand, and altho they're not gonna stop when everyone was doing it, but they had said that they are likely to pick out random people and escort them from the ground if they continue to stand. The stewards were asking us to sit down, the majority did sit down eventually, but some of you still stood up therefore, true to their word they ejected someone. Unluckily for Alex it was him, and as much as I like Alex, and don't think it was fair. Those are the rules, and there's no point in whingeing about it. We're with the big boys now, so we have to play by their rules, even if we don't like it. Southampton will be just as bad. So deal with it.

The same with running on the pitch, it's not allowed club's get fined, if people go on their pitch, therefore if anyone does do it, they will get done for it. And it's nothing to do with acts of violence, it is just the rule of the FA

 

[Egg]

Re: Discrimination against City fans in Leeds.

Presumeably his parents wouldn't let him vs Millwall. He looked about 5 from where I was but it turns out he's 9.

Is there any footage anywhere? I'd love to watch it again! ;-)

 

[josh4ecfc64]

First things first, before kick off the atmosphere was immense from our fans. In fact a friend tried ringing me, and as I answered the phone, there was no way I could here them from the noise of our fans singing. And we kept it up for the majority of the game.

As for the stewards, it was already mentioned on their website about not being able to stand, and altho they're not gonna stop when everyone was doing it, but they had said that they are likely to pick out random people and escort them from the ground if they continue to stand. The stewards were asking us to sit down, the majority did sit down eventually, but some of you still stood up therefore, true to their word they ejected someone. Unluckily for Alex it was him, and as much as I like Alex, and don't think it was fair. Those are the rules, and there's no point in whingeing about it. We're with the big boys now, so we have to play by their rules, even if we don't like it. Southampton will be just as bad. So deal with it.

The same with running on the pitch, it's not allowed club's get fined, if people go on their pitch, therefore if anyone does do it, they will get done for it. And it's nothing to do with acts of violence, it is just the rule of the FA

1) Like I said I arrived dead on KO so I don't know how good the atmosphere was before that, all I know is that when the game got underway the majority of our fans sat down and the atmosphere was quiet. If the 20 or so of us at the back sat down as well it would have been even quieter.

2) I was not moaning about the fact someone was evicted, I merely pointed out the fact that they went for the youngest person and gave him no prior warning, something they are meant to do. They said to him "Can we have a word please" before leading him out of the ground.

3) Some rules are unfair, there has been many an unfair law in British history, at the time they didn't say "Well that's the law, just get on with it" that is such a defeatist attitude and doesn't get you anywhere.

4) I know someone who was in the away end at a Southampton game last season, thier fans stood all game and no ejections were made.

5) Clubs rarelyb get fined for pitch invasions, Brentford ran on after they scored last year and nothing was done, we ran on at Rotherham and nothing came of it. I thought that 9 year old running on the pitch was very funny, outrunning a half hearted steward and doing the Ussian Bolt celebration, I think it would be a bit OTT if he was banned.

 

[greenawayr]

Just got back.

My take on the game.

Jones played well in general, could possibly have stayed on hi line for the winning goal but that would be a harsh criticism.

Duffy was excellent

Golbourne was much better than in pre season

Taylor was excllent in the air as was Seaborne although they were carved open by Beckford a few times, but that was a combination of Beckford playing in at least one league lower than he's capable of.

Edwards and Russell were appaulling for the first 30 mins, but Edwards slowly got into the game although still think there's only space for one of them in the team. Other than the sublime free kick I don't think Russell was that great.

Harley worked hard and showed some nice touches, and Bertie grew into the game.

Corr worked hard whilst he was on the pitch, and personally I don't think the punch had anything to do with the sending off as the ref had a word with him when the foul (which was not) had been given against him, presumably for dissent. If the ref had seen the punch (or lousy excuse for a punch) then he wouldn't of allowed City to continue with possession and win a corner.

Stewart seemed to do ok getting into some good wide positions but perhaps lacking the sharpness that pre season would've given him.

Norwood was a revelation and look forward to seeing him get some more action.

Mac worked hard and showed some nice touches and of course won the free kick for the goal.


Overall, we were obviously nervous and poor for the first half hour but we grew into the game, and basically gave me huge encouragement for the season ahead.

The ref was appaulling I don't recall a team ever having to wait 40 mins for their first free kick whilst the opposition have had 10 or so. The sending off, well it depends on what was said and done but it basically seemed very harsh with no yellow card coming before hand.

It was sad to see yobbish city "fans" on the pitch and it makes us look very tinpot and I'm not going into the debate, but if the Leeds kid and his Dad are not given a season long ban or similar treatment to the City fans then there must be questioned asked.

It's a sad indictment of some people nowadays that you would actively encourage and defend your 9yo or whatever to break the law, and no doubt had a good laugh about it!

Anyway, on to Tuesday, I'd imagine a weakened team as this would've taken it out of them. But I hope to see Dunne and Norwood play and given a chance to stake their claim against Norwich.

For Norwich, we have to fancy our chances now.
Poor old Gilly!

P.S. My brother in law is a Derby fan and was at the match on Saturday and confirmed what we all knew. Deano is a proper footballer. He said he looks a quality, solid left back and made one brilliant goal saving block. He reckons he'll have a great season for them!

All in all a great weekend despite the result and I'm now looking forward to getting some deserved points on the board.

 

[greenawayr]

Josh, We were closer the front and the atmosphere from City fans was excellent. Being at the back always means you lose some of the effect of having a couple of thousand voices behind you.

Thought we gave a good show, although the "you're not famous anymore" is a bit tired I suspect.

Other than the few numpties on the pitch we did ok.

We left soon after the whistle and had no problems with any fans although there was one particularly sad looking Leeds fan who cheered Cheerio in our face. I offered to shake his hand and said "Congratulations on narrowly beating 10 man Exeter City, who've you got next week, Liverpool?" He declined.

 

[Bexster]

It's one of those things that depends on the way the stewards are trained. I worked at Swansea for a while, and we rarely ejected anyone for excessive standing. Most people were quite happy about to work with us. Also, we didn't often get pitch invasions, but that was one of the things we were asked to watch for a lot.

Just got a lot of problems with kids spitting, and drunk people swearing at kids

Back to City, I'm quite excited now for the rest of the season - I admit, I was praying yesterday that we weren't gonna get tanked, but after the reviews and the highlights from yesterday, I'm much happier. We held our own when nobody expected us to do well against Leeds, and they may not have been at their best, but you can only play the team in front of you. Good ole City [y]

 

[Anonymous]

My view:

Police were being arseholes about the whole standing up thing, one or two of them were alright about it but the guy in charge (bald headed bloke) was being a complete pain in the backside. he took my name and address and made a big song and dance about the whole thing.
I had actually gone out of my way to find a spot where I could stand up and not block anyone's view or any walkways but this apparently was not good enough for them so they booked me.
anyway enough of that nonsense...

taylor was looking pretty good despite having to try and keep tabs on beckford (who was easily leeds best player imo). i felt that rob edwards and alex russell were pretty anonymous throughout the first half but improved at half time. ryan harley looked alright as well.
i was furious with corr getting sent off, maybe it was undeserved but i feel that any player sent off in that manner is guilty of unprofessionalism to some degree.
the man of the match for me was james norwood. the lad looked class. hopefully tis will play him a lot because i think he has the ability to absolutely destroy defences. his cut inside on the wing would have had tv commentators running out of superlatives if this had been a premiership match.
russells goal was superb as well, if he can do that week in week out he deserves his place in the team, no question. i just wish his game was as solid as his second half performance all the time.
overall we did not look comfortable throughout this match, but on the other hand leeds were very lucky to get away with a win here and i imagine we will do quite well this season if we play like this every week.
i'm happy. just hope norwood becomes a first team regular!

 

[the dog2]

egg?
why would you like to see footage?
or is it so you can make sure hes banned from sjp which should be the case, there are no excuses for his actions.