Chapter 115 The beginning of the great collapse?

In the next half month, the "Young Guards" have always been trying to make the devil's schedule starting with the "Gunners" Arsenal on March 9. Simon Grayson also racked his brains to arrange the team's lineup so that he could maintain his team's combat effectiveness through rotation.

To this end, Leeds United defeated Stoke City at home with only 2:1 score on February 18. The players insisted on implementing the head coach's tactics and did not lose. After 20 minutes of the first half, they began to save their energy after taking the lead with Bentley and Nelson Oliveira's two goals. Even if Stoke City scored a goal in the second half, they did not panic at all, because they were firmly in control of the initiative of the game, and their opponents only got this opportunity to shoot in the whole game.

In the first round of the Europa League knockout match, the "Youth Guards" who encountered Porto Porto were unanimously considered weak, and Leeds United did lose 1:3 at the Dragon Stadium and returned to Leeds with a loss.

This failure seemed to stimulate the "Youth Guards". In the next fifth round of the FA Cup, Leeds United defeated Bristol City with a score of 4:0.

Immediately afterwards, Leeds United, who welcomed Porto at home, beat their opponents with a score of 5:0, and advanced to the next round with a total score of 6:3.

Just three days later, Leeds United, who was in a state of strength, went away to play the 27th round of the English Premier League against West Brom. After leading 2:0 with two goals from the Beast Tevez in the first half, Simon Grayson began to prepare for the game against the Gunners six days later. He replaced Tevez with Nelson Oliveira and Snold Grays with Zach Thompson.

Simon Grayson's original intention is good. He thinks that playing mid- and downstream teams like West Brom, even if they are playing away, since they are leading two goals, there will be no problem at all.

However, Leeds coach did not expect that the reason why his team could become a strong team was because Zach Thompson used the teammate skill bonus attached to the "Black Feet" system on the court, and after Zach Thompson got off the court, the "Black Feet" system no longer worked.

then…………

Leeds United is in a tragedy!

The "Young Guards" seemed to have become an amateur team in the last thirty minutes. Under West Brom's crazy counterattack, they lost three goals in 61, 72 and 87 minutes respectively, and lost a good game while leading 2:0, but in the end they lost with a score of 2:3.

Even Simon Grayson used Whitehead to replace Bentley when the score was tied 2:2 to strengthen the defense, and it still couldn't stop his team from losing in the end.

Zach Thompson was extremely anxious when he watched off the court, but he couldn't help but stare at him. He could not ignore the head coach's arrangements, and this "black foot" system is a secret that cannot be told no matter what. Seeing his teammates suffer a defeat, he could only sit off the court and shake his head helplessly.

After the game, Simon Grayson masked cold frost. He was not angry about his team's performance, but was angry about his wrong decision to substitution. He found that his team had suffered from "Shack dependence". As long as Shack was on the court, the team performed very stably. But once this kid was no longer on the court, everyone seemed to have no backbone. One by one, they could not find the feeling of the game. Even captain Jonny Hausen was like this.

Now, an unexpected defeat has occurred, especially the cooked ducks that are so hard that they fly away. This may have a certain blow to the team's morale and confidence, but it is very unfavorable to the next strong conversation.

At the press conference, Simon Grayson was a little regretful and didn't have any good temper when answering reporters' questions: "Although we lost the game, the team's performance was still good. We just relaxed a little after taking the lead 2:0, which would not affect the morale and fighting spirit of our team."

When the reporter wanted to get entangled again, Simon Grayson had already gotten up and left, and he was really not in the mood to talk about the game again.

On the second day of the game, Simon Grayson did not give his team a holiday, and directly closed the Thorpe Arch training base for special training. He lost to a team like West Brom before meeting the Gunners in the second round, and was reversed by his opponent while leading two goals. This is really hurtful!

If the players' nerves are not tightened through training, it may really lead to a big collapse, because the next schedule is really too serious for Leeds United.

First, he played against the Gunners Arsenal in the league, then the first away game against Leverkusen in the UEFA Cup, and then immediately the sixth round of the FA Cup, the second round of the UEFA Cup, and then the second round of the UEFA Cup with Leverkusen. The next league schedule is against Manchester City, Liverpool, and then the "Blue Army" Chelsea. If he passes the UEFA Cup, he might meet some powerful teams.

Simon Grayson had already adjusted the team, but he was waiting to win West Brom and then use this energy to improve vigorously, but he didn't expect that he would lose in the gutter.

Currently in the English Premier League standings, although Leeds United still tops the list with 21 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses, Manchester City behind them is only one point behind, and Arsenal behind them is 63 points, but the goal difference is less. Then Tottenham Hotspur Hotspur 59 points and Manchester United 58 points. Liverpool, the sixth-ranked "Red Army" Liverpool has only 53 points, and is no longer in the No. 1 group.

Everyone thinks that even if the "Young Guards" just get the top six this season, it is already over-completed. But when a team really sits at the top of the standings, even if they don't have the strength to win the championship, who will have a balanced attitude and not want to work towards higher goals?

Zach Thompson was really depressed for two days. He played football and no one wanted to lose. Even the straitors who played wild football on weekdays, no one lost. A competitive game is a competitive game, and the winning or losing is a win or loss. If you lose in a team like West Brom, it feels so cowardly.

Simon Grayson was really desperate to defeat Arsenal this time. He made further adjustments to his team's tactics, especially for Zach Thompson. "Professor" Wenger once defeated himself 1-0 at home because he saw through his team's tactics. Now Simon Grayson is about to turn the old fox with his backhand, and the "Youth Guards" are no longer a team that can only rely on the "Three Leeds Musketeers" to attack from the left.

Everyone knows that Shaq is the core figure of the "Youth Guards". All the tactics of this team are centered around Shaq. Simon Grayson believes that his opponent is very clear about this. Even if he adjusts Shaq's position, he cannot escape the opponent's strict defense. So this time Simon Grayson simply makes a strange move. Don't you think you can see through Shaq? This time I'm going to make a fuss about him.

In the past, Zach Thompson was used by Simon Grayson as an all-round midfielder. Now Zach Thompson is used as a front midfielder who plays the role of a free agent, but this time Simon Grayson put forward a very clear requirement for Zach Thompson...... Goals!

In the game between Leeds United and Arsenal, Zach Thompson will no longer be a midfielder or midfielder, but a real shadow striker. His task will no longer be to organize his own team's offense or help midfield defense, but to be required to participate in every goal of the team.

There are many players in the Leeds United team who can organize offenses now. Captains Jonny Hausen, Altentop, Bentley and others are all competent for this job, and even young players Ashley Hood can provide some help. So there is no need for Zach Thompson to organize offenses.

Simon Grayson really racked his brains to deal with this game with Arsenal. He tried his best to do it, but he never expected that the old fox, "Professor" Wenger, would actually play a new trick.

At the Elland Road Stadium on March 9, the Gunners actually gave up the flowing offensive football they had always been good at, and instead played a tough style of play, focusing on fouls and offside defensive counterattacks.

Just 6 minutes into the game, the Gunners won a corner kick through a defensive counterattack. Will Sher made up Leiden Bynes' long shot into the goal. The Gunners who played away were simply led 1:0.

The "Young Guards" who play at home seem very uncomfortable with the "Gunners"'s defensive counterattack. Their training in the past few days has been aimed at how to attack Arsenal, so Leeds United's sharp straight passes disappeared. Almost every straight pass can only cause Tevez or Zach Thompson's offside, and then it's Arsenal's turn to attack. Moreover, the "Gunners"'s offense is different from the past. They don't go to the ground, but threaten Leeds' goal by directly encircling the cross from the diagonal line.

At 37 minutes of the game, Arsenal's right forward Arteta followed up on the right. Leiden Bynes received a pass from Willshere and then hung the ball in a diagonal line to the right post of Leeds United. Arteta ran to this position and shook his head lightly, and the ball flew into the Leeds United goal again... 2:0!

After leading two goals, Arsenal played more conservatively, often leaving only one Chamake in front, and the others retreated to their own half to compress space. Leeds United's offense was almost completely paralyzed in this situation.

Simon Grayson made continuous adjustments in the second half, allowing Jonny Hausen to dribble the ball into the inside, and Nelson Oliveira replaced Pivkowski. Tevez pulled the ball into the right to move and dribble the ball into the inside. On this basis, the crosses of the two full-backs during the attack were strengthened. Finally, Zach Thompson took over the cross from Parker in the 81st minute, and scored a score of four meters in front of the goal and broke through Arsenal's goal.

It's just...it's too late.

In the end, Leeds United fell at Arsenal again, and just lost one goal just like the last time they played against Arsenal.

However, the "Gunners" Arsenal has demonstrated a way to defeat the "Youth Guards" for other teams. If other teams follow suit, Leeds United lost 2:3 to West Brom and 1:2 to Arsenal, maybe it will really be triggered to have a big collapse.
Chapter completed!