Jesse Marsch feels stress of Leeds' relegation fight after Forest defeat
- by Kieran Canning , Feb 5, 2023
Brennan Johnson scored the winner as Nottingham Forest beat Leeds 1-0.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch admitted time is running out for him to avoid the "stress" of a relegation battle after a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Marsch's men have not won in the league since November and sit outside the drop zone only on goal difference.
Brennan Johnson's stunning strike in the 14th minute earned Forest victory as it moved six points clear of the bottom three in 13th.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, Leeds dominated the majority of the game after falling behind early on.
But they could not find a way past the inspired Keylor Navas on his Forest debut.
"It is my responsibility and I understand their frustration and I accept it," said Marsch of calls for him to go by some section of the Leeds support.
"I have to find a way to turn a lot of the good things that are happening into results or we find ourselves in a stressful situation."
U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie, who arrived on loan from Juventus, made his Leeds debut when he came on in the 57th minute. American Tyler Adams played the full 90 while the Leeds' third U.S. player, Brenden Aaronson, stayed on the bench.
The arrival of Navas on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, alongside Jonjo Shelvey, Felipe and Andre Ayew this week took Forest's total of new signings this season to a remarkable 30.
However, it is a player born and raised in Nottingham that is edging the two-time European champions towards survival on their first season back in the top flight since 1998-99.
Johnson scored twice in the 2-0 win over Leicester in Forest's previous Premier League game at the City Ground.
The Welsh international crashed home a volley from outside the box for the decisive goal after just 14 minutes.
Navas then took center stage as the former Real Madrid goalkeeper stood tall to deny Luke Ayling and Wilfried Gnonto an equaliser, while Luis Sinisterra also blazed a glorious chance over for the visitors.
"You don't need me to tell you about his experience and about the success he has had in his career," said Forest manager Steve Cooper.
"Brilliant in the first half, outstanding and composed. The obvious talking points are the saves, and rightly so, he deserves all the credit for that, but I loved his composure and game management and decision making, I really enjoyed that part of his performance."
kca/dj
© Agence France-Presse
Jesse to USMNT, please.
Why? J Marsche has not been succesful. He coaches the same way he played -- run around tirelessly and kick everything that moves. There is so much more to soccer than that, especially if you want to win.
Dang Donald; We actually Agree, 2 Times in A Row.!!!
'Santi, 'Me Three'
Not surprised what's happening to Leeds. In order for Leeds to move up a division to the PL took some doing and under the conditions that Mario Bielsa was given, he took this team under the most 'base' methods, lots of TURBO, Lots of EFFORT and Fight, methods that were far from playing good soccer, but effective to get Leeds in the PL.
The problem is that the team had nothing to build on other than run, gun and fight and that is far from adequate for having continuity of play in the PL. Leed's soccer is just not good enough. Notice nobody wanted the coaching job at Leeds for it meant lot of investment if Leed's were to play 'real soccer' building a good playing team. Only Jesse Marsch, an American coach, was willing to take the chance for American coaches are not respected in Europe. This is what to Bob Bradley at Swanson. He was willing to take a chance, after all, what has an American coach got to lose in Europe.
Fortunately, or unfortunately , Marsch is the type of coach and was the type of player that identifies closely to Leeds 'Brainless' style of play . You watch that team play, it looks like a 'Chinese firedrill' out there..."It's 'Bang, Boom, Thank You ma'am". Leeds type of soccer is not PL worthy. That American players can fit in right away says, 'volumes'.....I watched Marsch with Chris Armas next to him, another who played and thinks just like Marsche....This is quite 'braintrust' Leeds has with these two...
In a way, I hope Leeds stays in PL only to give the opponents a game, a fight, a way to just make it tough on them and also to enjoy watching aspects of the game about what you shouldn't do and how to do it better..
Very difficult for a 1 dimensional coach to succeed in the Premier League today. Not looking good for Jesse. Soccer is a game that, at the margins, other things being equal, that is not won with brawn and effort, but with guile and skill, on the pitch and the sidelines. We are still learning this as a nation and there are many who think they know far more than they do, one of the biggest dangers in soccer. Look at Ancolotti as an example, always listening, learning, growing, never bragging. Great players, great coaches, always evolve, get better. We are slowly learning here that athleticsm and effort, remarkable as they may be, only get you so far in this sport. It will take a while. It is not simple and the solution cannot be diagramed on a napkin. It is like this, the best GK in the world is not the best athlete, he is an athlete, sure, but he is the best not because of his leap or height or wing-span, he is one who is able to anticipate where to be and is able to communicate to his defenders on where he needs them to be. This idea can be extrapolated to each position on the field. Then, there are many configurtions and tactics that can be deployed and then require different features from the player - or - even - eliminate the position. #9, right? So imagine if American Football, a team won the Superbowl with no quarterback? So this is the challenge of soccer. Have a nice day.
and - let me add - I wholeheartedly agree with Frank. The dude knows the game and, further, he shares his knowledge, frequently and in depth. So many secret keepers in my soccer space. Parents training kids, hush hush. Club coaches, training players on the side, hush hush. Secret moves to other clubs, hush, hush. The silence in youth soccer is sometimes deafening. I was warned about this about mid-way in my journey by one of my son's coaches. Since then, I confirmed it's exists, this silence and the secrets, so many times and places emperically, I am convinced it is a stumbling block across our youth soccer landscape. That's why I especially appreciate Frank. Further, Frank goes into detail on tactics and tequnique that few are able or willing to. For me, it's a gift. Keep it going Frank!
Humble, Thank You , I'm blushing....The reason I tend to get into the details of the game is that I don't see much of this in American soccer journalism. I like to make sure that whoever reads my posts at least will learn something interesting about the game.
Humble; It's done on a Napkin In Argentina and a Lab in Barcelona.!!!
Humble... Navas sure Proved your Point with his Performance versus Leeds... Singlehandily, Got Marsch FIRED.!!!
Blah, Blah, Blah... Frank this and Frank that... Don't you know it's all about Santi.,!?!?!?{just ask Donald and Beautiful Game.!!!) Love ya Frank ... :)
Santi, Good to hear you're back, I was beginning to wonder where you were.....Hey, have you checked the expiration date on those blowup dolls of yours, yet. :)
Santi, I know how they are in Argentina and Uruguay, and yeah, you are right, there, they can do it on a napkin, but, that is b.c. they are literally steeped in soccer since the day they are born. Same in Spain, except, they will have a bit more structure being in Europe, and from that context came Guardiola, who is meticulous in planning trainings to simulate game actions he wants. For Messi and Aguero - the two Argentines, Guardiola's structure was anti-soccer, and the source of stress we read about between them. On the other hand, Guardiola's structure was not tight enough for the German's and they rebelled. That part of Argenina and Uruguay, and Germany for that matter, we can never replicate here, no should we want to. The challenge for us, is to take the best from each, and find our own way. Not so simple. Need more than a napkin.
Santi - Navas - el gato Costariqueño - one hand save - he has so many of those. Forest will hurt a lot teams with him between sticks. Piss poor set piece D by Leeds allowing - Johnson - big threat - free in box - unmarked - for rebound. Not cool. Bridge too far.
Humble, you may have Missed my Sarcasm on the Napkin thing...
Messi Contract with Barca was Signed on a Napkin in Argentina,
When Barca agreed to give him HGH Injections, if he would come and Play there.
True Story.!!!
Apparently Frank is not happy if football (soccer) players actually run fast to create space, score goals or to defend. If players have days to recover and 5 subs are allowed, it is silly not to employ tactics that take advantage of the ability of these athletes to use speed and to close down space. Is speed and quality of decision making, changing the point of attack, understanding space and making the ball do the work the most effective way to unlock a defense and create scoring opportunities? Yes. But to suggest that closing down space and playing quickly to exploit space on a counter is bad soccer is just football arrogance. Leeds is having trouble solving teams that play narrow and keep numbers behind the ball. The absence of a proven central target/scorer only makes that challenge greater. In this regard, they have a lot of company. My problem with Leeds is that Marsch is that his primary tactic seems to be overloading the attacking side of the field rather than rapidly changing the point of attack to find space for less complex combination play. It only compounds the ability of the defense to disrupt forays into scoring areas.
David, you are so far off base. Where did I ever state that players shouldn't run or not run fast for the ball or space. Where did I state "closing down space and playing quickly to exploit space on a counter is bad soccer". Get a hold of yourself. I'm not a fan of the counterattacking style soccer. Don't interpret this as me not liking to counterattack or I don't like long ball style soccer but that doesn't mean you shouldn't kick a long ball on attack. I expect the readers of my posts to have enough brains to understand that there is nothing wrong with counterattacking or kicking a long ball to attack but if your style is that ...it's not good.
The object is to keep the opponent guessing but if your style is predictable and the players who are bought to follow this style make it also worse for they as a result play predictable , which will cause problems. The problem with Leeds United goes deeper, it has to change its style which is of a low denominator that can't survive with consistency in the PL.
You mention that Leeds has difficulty against teams that play narrow and keeping numbers behind the ball. Of course, Leed's style of play requires space to maneuver...THATS' MY POINT. They are a one trick pony and therefore they can't counter attack without space. The GOLDEN RULE in soccer is that a player is only good in small spaces or in large spaces, but they can't be in both. Leeds has invested in players who need space, 'lebensraum'!!! Good soccer requires a mix of players in manner that supports other players strengths but if they are all similar then you a problem.
Lack of space forces the players to tax their THINKING ability, and their TECHNICAL SKILL abilities ,which they are weak at anyway that all comes under a characteristic headed under TURBO SOCCER. In other words YOU FORCE THE OPPONENTS TO RELY ON THEIR WEAKNESS NOT STRENGTH TO PLAY.
This ,I hope, gives you a better picture of the situation....It's not about overloading here or there ,its lack of space to players who are not good on the ball in small spaces....Leeds need to invest and change their ways of playing..
Frank, The Style is Good at Leeds, Individuals ( Especially the Left Defender) Are Bad.!!!
Marsch Bought the Wrong Americans for What He Needed to Succeed:
Leeds Needs:
Lft DEF: JEDI
RCB: CCV
CtF: BALOGUN
Only would have Cost 30 Million according to Website Transfermarket.
Instead they Spent 100 Million on Wrong Players
Also those 3 have British Passport.. (Could have Gotten Musah also, Another British Passport)
Then in the Summer; You go for McKenNIE, Pulisic, Dest, Weah, Sargent(or Dike or Pefok)
Santi, you've got to be kidding, Leeds plays a good style of soccer....even the Cro-magnons society were above this garbage level of play....
Let me Re-Phrase Frank,
It's AS Good as anyone else is playing right now.
That game today versus ManU was INCREDIBLE.!!!
Fun to Watch...
Not a Lot of the Beautiful Game, but it was a Beautiful Game.!?!?!?
Santi, turned to the game in the 65min. I was shocked it was 0-2. Well sh*t happens. I notice some players on United I wasn't familiar with. Watching Leeds play in the second half was a joke, that United tied the game was not surprising to me; I was waiting for a 3-2 game, but time ran out.
Frank... Leeds had to "Back Down" some as Adams and McKenNie got Yellows at 53 and 56
That ManU team was pretty "Questionable" to me also.
What do you think about the Feyenoord Coach.??? I haven't really been following them, because they got No Americans.
Confirmed, Marsch got the hook today. On the 11th month of 36 month deal. Opportunity knocked. He answered. Gave it his best shot, in the biggest stage. Time for a trip to the beach. He can take his time, catch his breath, no rush to decide his next move.
JM looked like A Deer In The Headlights in that Last Game... Bizarre Behaviors ... I hope He can "De-Stress" on that Golden Parachute... The PETER PRINCIPLE became Reality ... He Rose to The Level of His Incompetency... (Actually, Leipzig was "Real" and he Got Lucky with the Big Contract at Leeds)
Not ready, yeah, not sure he reached his max level. He is young. Backing into the Prem was not the way to enter. He probably to reset after exit from RB L, not dive headfirst into prem. Esp considering he proabably left money on the table. When a manager looses job, they get paid, until next contract. Signing with Leeds would have stopped payment for RB L, unless he negotiated pay-out, which is unlikely and unusual. Sometimes, ok to take a break and just watch, learn.
UPDATE -- Jesse shown the door. It's a shame he couldn't physically go out and finish the sitters his team created. The three USMNT lads need to rep us now.
It's kind of a shame they pulled the plug on Marsch. He got them through the relegation battle last year. However his style of play doesn't appear to measure up long term in the PL. I hope he stays in Europe and continues to evolve his tactics under an accomplished manager.
I don't think the Man is Well... Some Strange Behavior, and Odd Mood Swings.!!! Hope he can Overcome It.
Santi, Leeds does not have the wrong players. These are the right players for the style Leeds play, that's why they brought in also McKennie . They certain wouldn't pick up Ziyech from Chelsea who obviously has a brain and has skill. This is why if Leeds decide to change their Cromagnon style of play the investment could be large. BTW, Leeds is looking at a Dutch coach