Leeds United: New boys are looking good – Gray

Everyone has got to be happy with the situation at Leeds United since Neil Redfearn came in.
Mirco Antenucci celebrates Leeds second goal against Huddersfield Town.  PIC: Bruce RollinsonMirco Antenucci celebrates Leeds second goal against Huddersfield Town.  PIC: Bruce Rollinson
Mirco Antenucci celebrates Leeds second goal against Huddersfield Town. PIC: Bruce Rollinson

We had three points when he took over and now we have taken 10 points out of 12.

Neil has done very well and I am sure the president will be happy with the way things have gone and delighted with Neil’s efforts.

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But he seems to think Neil is more important in the academy, but I do think he will still have involvement with the first team whatever happens at the football club.

Neil has done extremely well and knows the players and maybe has that little bit more self-confidence now. He has been there and done it and knows what it is all about.

I have got to say that the imports are really showing what they can do as well.

I know it was a derby, but the foreign lads had probably not even heard of Huddersfield before they came here. That is no disrespect, but maybe that expectation level which surrounds Elland Road does not affect them yet.

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It might be different once we get into that top six when expectation levels will be higher. But now it does not seem to bother them and they are just playing their football.

It is six goals in two games and we are playing good football, that’s the main thing.

The whole make-up of the team has changed. The young lad Lewis Cook is sitting in the midfield area with Tommaso Bianchi, which is giving Rodolph Austin the chance to do what he does best, which is running all over the pitch without being tied down. That suits him, he is not the same when he is told to sit.

He is better being just allowed to play and show his running power.

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He is far more effective when he is bombing forward and supporting the front players.

When all the new players were coming in, you were a bit wary, to be honest. But in the last two games, the foreign lads have scored the six goals between them.

I must say I have been very impressed with Mirco Antenucci. I think he has done very well.

He makes good runs and links play up and makes good touches on the ball. He is strong as well and brave. Souleymane Doukara took his goal well as well and things are looking up.

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Bianchi and Cook also played well and passed the ball around well, while Cook has that touch of pace and even though he is a young boy, he is looking an experienced player.

I also thought the boys at the back did well, although Huddersfield were disappointing. I don’t know what their goalkeeper was doing for the first goal, let’s be honest.

Austin hit it well, but the goalie should have been catching that and the centre-back should have cleared the ball first anyway. Knock it out for a throw-in and start again.

Then the goal just before half-time killed it for them.

Harry Bunn did well down the left side, but that was it. Nahki Wells was up front on his own and needed a partner.

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I have got to be honest, I think Huddersfield are in for a tough season.

Maybe Neil will look at the situation with Gaetano Berardi and think he maybe should have brought him off earlier before he got his second booking and he got sent off. It was always going to be on the cards with the way Bunn was skipping by him and he produced a mistimed challenge and he could not have any qualms about the sending-off. That was the only downside to the day.

Other than that, it was terrific. It was the first game for a while in which our goalkeeper has not had much to do. All credit to the players.

With our centre-half Bellusci, you don’t really know what he is going to do. But what a wonderful free-kick he scored at Bournemouth and what a tremendous chip on Saturday!

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For a centre-back to support Antenucci for the goal just before half-time showed a lot of confidence. It was also a great finish by Antenucci.

It looks like it suits us playing on the counter now. And what we now have is that bit of pace and we are capable of breaking quickly now. We also showed that at Bournemouth.