Leeds United 1-1 Manchester United: Hype down, pipe down
This was frustrating because Leeds could have won, and because Leeds are still a team stuck at could.
This was frustrating because Leeds could have won, and because Leeds are still a team stuck at could.
The relaxed bonhomie got too much for some youngsters, who ran on for selfies with Bruno Fernandes. I hope that, since they saw him preen his penalty hilariously wide in the shoot-out, they will always look at their pictures of him with shame and remorse.
Nobody respects their old myths anymore. In West Yorkshire, nobody ever did. We just needed a team to go there and show how we felt about it on their pitch, while their captain was tantrumming on the grass, nothing wounded but his maloriented pride.
In the end Leeds United won a valuable point that could be important for the longer term progression of the club against its key performance indicators on and off the field. But this was one occasion when fans wanted more than that Premier League routine.
Leeds scored their third goal while Cantona was off the pitch, having stitches. When he finally reappeared on the touchline he was no longer Elland Road's king in absentia, but a fallen one. Tomas Brolin had taken his crown.
This game was important for the players to build up their fitness, and then fans are encouraged to treat it that way, watching carefully to see if the players are getting their sprints in. Never mind expected goals, give me the expected Body Mass Index and a trophy to go along with it.
After torrid months since August trying to decipher what Jesse Marsch thought this team could be, since he's been gone we have found out that it can be a good one.
A key phrase of Angus Kinnear's programme notes, introducing Jesse Marsch last year, said Marsch was coming earlier than planned as part of 'the acceleration of the coaching transition', post-Bielsa. Later than planned, Leeds might have finally made a start.
What was simple was promotion and staying up and annoying people. Those ambitions generated their own momentum and gave Leeds ample opportunity to piss people off. But what are we even doing now?