Nice simple pass by Aaronson for the goal. NBC has "vertical" highlight out there if you search but I can figure out how to link - and am too lazy to keep trying.
Leeds are up 1-0 at the half. Aaronson with one good chance from the top of the key off a corner, but hit hard at the keeper through bodies.
And they lost 2-1. Aaronson almost with a few good plays, then gets pushed off the ball or trips over his own feet. In other words, a typical Aaronson game.
Leeds a little hard-done by the reffing I thought. BA was flagged for OS on a clear break where it looked from the (bad) camera angle like AVs RB kept him on. Leeds had a tying goal called back on a tight handling call, and the AV go-ahead was not so much a ref issue, as poor communication in the Leeds backs/Keeper. CD cut out a ball he could have left for the keeper or at least shielded, and his awkward clearance just fell in dangerous no-man's land, forcing a clumsy challenge that resulted in an FK just outside the 18 that deflected into the net. Leeds went up early and don't have the horses to protect the lead. Need a player or 2 who can hold the ball and break the pressure. With Forrest' shock win there's a bit more pressure on them than they hoped, with a couple of tough games ahead.
aaronsons spastic style is catching a lot of flak from leeds faithful lately....and I get it. its so annoying to see a player get into good positions and flail repeatedly...esp when its really just decision-making that is the issue maybe he needs a sports psychologist to help him with staying calm in big moments
Leeds United has a sports psychology team (as does every big club i would think), so I'm pretty sure he has worked with them.
well its not helping!!! BA is more spastic than hes ever been in his life id love to hear an interviewer ask him what happens to him mentally in those big moments in games when he has an opening/chance./////and wht he thinks about why he always seems to blow it
He is technically bad. It’s not more than that. His stamina and positioning are excellent. He can’t kick the ball well.
Leeds manager Farke once again defends Aaronson against fan abuse {edited from a longer piece, link below} Farke is under increasing pressure as he tries to keep his job and prevent his side from dropping straight back down to the Championship. Aaronson has started the last nine matches for Leeds, tallying one goal and one assist. The American has been a lightning rod for abuse as fans demand better end product and more strength on the ball. “I have to say Brenden is a player who polarizes and can be annoying even for me,” Farke said after the Aston Villa match. “Sometimes he’s not clear enough and can be a bit hectic. But I have to say what we’re doing in criticizing this young man — then we don’t have to do all these mental health awareness days. "He represents so many skills we want to stand for as Leeds United. He works his socks off, gives everything, is relentless and leaves his heart on the pitch. It’s more than unfair at the moment. “In the last three performances he was always there covering 13 kilometers per game. Why we’re looking so solid on our right side — with all respect to Jayden [Bogle] — Brenden is so crucial to protect him.” Farke added on Sunday that fans' abuse of Aaronson is indicative of larger issues within society. “I could make my life easy and also slam him and then everyone would say, ‘Yeah, Daniel, tell him, great, we don’t like him anyway.’ But I protect human beings. This is what I do. “I work with human beings, I don’t work with robots. I also see what this lad is doing. And he is always a fantastic teammate. He works his socks off. https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/...fends-aaronson-against-fan-abuse/87451809007/
Jesus this are honestly brutal. Sure it's a defense but it's also a tacit acknowledgement that he's probably ultimately not good enough for this level. Gotta feel for Brendo. Maybe he'll take the money and run back to MLS like his brother
He doesn't have the chops to be starting in the EPL and he is American so he has to expect abuse. You add in that his main weakness is how easily he gets pushed off the ball and the target becomes that much larger.
Of course, the other problem is Gnoto, Beverly and Piroe have exactly... 0 goals and 0 assists combined - in about as many league minutes, combined, as BA. At least Nimecha has been scoring a bit, and Okafor has a pair as well, but it's not like Farke has some mad marksman he's not using cause he thinks BA is a nice guy. If Gnoto is recovered I can imagine him getting time, and he's not easy to push off the ball, but I'm not sure he'll be much more effective. AV was the better possession team but Leeds' press, defend deep and counter strategy almost paid off. They were unlucky not to get out with a point and the play that gave up the AV freekick - and the deflected FK itself, as well as Leeds called back goal were all just bad footie breaks. Leeds is not a good team, but with just a bit more luck they could be a "not in the drop" team. But I'm not sure there's magic formula for them with the players they've got at the moment. BA's energy is pretty useful as they have to work extra hard for their money.
How much did they cost? The transfer fee is a big deal, especially when you haven't invested in the rest of the squad. Yorkshiremen are very careful with money. It's a stereotype but it's true.
At this point who cares? The question is who Farke thinks most helps Leeds stay up. I think of the 4 it’s most likely to be gnonto but he does not have BAs work ethic. They need to grab a point here or there. Not likely in the next 2 games but hope springs eternal. And I’ve never met a happy Leeds fan and have no hope of that…
I wouldn't mind having Aaronson sit out the next three matches (Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool), then riding to the rescue (Brentford, Palace, Sunderland). Come to think of it, those three matches don't look that easy. Maybe just keep starting and playing hard.
Erm, nope, that's the Scots. Yorkshiremen are famously rude. "If tha wants to know tha faults, take a Yorkshire room mate."
Leeds have been are a yo-yo team at best for the last 5 years so relegation anxiety is inevitable but the real problem is their fans remember the glory days, not of the noughties, but the 60s and early 70s. The sense of frustrated granduer around Elland Road is unusually intense and such fanbases look for a scapegoat, targeting not the genuinely bad players but the decent ones who make mistakes in promising areas. IOW the players who build up their hopes and then dash them. The truth is, Leeds aren't a very good club and can't afford better players than Brenden, not to mention several other guys who offer far less than he does even on their good days. Put that on top of the fact that his game is well-suited to the Prem but he lacks the physical qualities for it and you have a recipe for trouble from the terraces. I think he'll move on in the summer whatever happens, but I'd like to see him move to the continent. He'd do quite well there, especially in the still physical but less frenetic BL
"Direct", not rude. They're the ones that will tell you that your baby isn't that cute. It's just honesty.
Never understood the Brenden Aaronson hate. He is exactly what he always was. A pressing machine and not a goal scorer. The boy only scored 9 goals total in 2 seasons at Austria. He also is pretty flexible positionally and can play about 3 different positions.