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Newcastle striker disagrees after what he’s heard Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch say recently
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has admitted he disagrees with Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch’s comments on timewasting.
Marsch was serving a touchline ban during his side’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday and criticised Steven Gerrard’s side for their approach.
He said: “Villa slow the game down. Now it’s two or three opponents there that just want to throw the ball away, take a minute in every goal kick, and we need some help to manage this. We can’t do it alone and the sad thing is, (Elland Road) is the best environment in the league and our fans don’t come here to watch a snail-paced match.”
“I almost feel we have to apologise to our fans. They got a match that was slowed down by an opponent from the first minute and don’t get to enjoy coming to Elland Road as much as they should. I will be speaking to someone from the league and already spoken to the referees’ committee.”
Wilson on Marsch comments
But Wilson discussed Marsch’s comments on the and made it clear he disagreed:
“At the end of the game, if you have won the game or lost the game, the fans are going to be happy if you have won. How you have got that win, are they going to be bothered? Probably not,” he said.
“They are going to be more bothered about how you have climbed up that league and got three points.
“I just think professional game is a very tactical game nowadays and you need to do what you need to do to win. If that is sometimes slowing the game down or speeding it up, it’s football.”
With all due respect to Marsch, his comments show exactly why opponents are using the tactic of slowing the game down at Elland Road.
It clearly frustrates the Leeds boss, who has also endured a learning curve with his antics at Brentford which earned him his touchline ban for this game.
It is common for visiting teams to a variety of stadiums to slow the game down, frustrating the home fans and stopping their opponents getting into a rhythm.
It is not Steven Gerrard or Aston Villa’s responsibility to put on an entertaining game for Leeds fans to watch; it is all about three points.