re: Leeds United 2023/24 Season-long thread: All aboard the HMS Piss tLeague

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Dan James’ relentless performance, particularly in the second half when he almost scored from a shot that was tipped away from the top corner, when he kept good quality on his crosses, and when he kept running at and between defenders inside and outside, was a reminder that we still don’t know what he’s really capable of. Leeds still don’t have a league win since the start of April, but in the second half they started looking like a team remembering what to do to do it. Illan Meslier fingertipped a close range shot from Wallace onto the post, the sort of thrilling save he used to be making three times a game. Jamie Shackleton, who was an attacking midfielder in the youth teams before his energy made him a box-to-box player with right-back tendencies, refound some verve for taking defenders on and getting into the box. Rutter, playing as a striker and struggling for most of the night to shake off the idea that he’s anything more than a boutique Jay-Roy Grot, had his best moment – a shot just wide – at the end of the first ninety minutes he’s completed since 5th November, back when he was playing for Hoffenheim. The squad needs more. But there’s more to be got from the players already in it, if they can start remembering more consistently what they used to do that got them to where they are.

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