16 Apr 2026 08:24:58
Bit my tongue since our glorious win cause I didn't want to sour the moment. And bang the well worn drum. But I'm not one to shy away from my at times upsetting opinion. Soooo
I thought dcl was rubbish against Devon. Apart from the goal line clearance which I appreciate likely saved us some points.
He missed two sitters and fell over more times than prob every other player on the pitch. Including ba who was also poor. At one point he was put through in the penalty area and chose to lean back on the Devon defender rather than make any attempt to get the ball. Very poor.
1.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 09:22:54
Oh my word, just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water! I think we are gonna need a bigger boat.
2.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 09:33:14
Funny vid. Bring it on.
I was a real estate agent back in the day, and a guy who had a huge 5m high garage wanted to sell his house. I pitched "I think we are gonna need a bigger boat" to him as a heading. He just looked at me blankly. Didn't get the gig, lol.
3.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 09:39:27
You are wrong on so many levels, Aus.
For me, that was an archetypal centre-forward match. Yes, he didn't score, but his presence meant others did.
He occupied the defence. He held the ball up well. He started and helped continue attacks.
For the first goal, if he had not challenged Yoro and got his arm across, then it would not have been a chance.
For the second, he backed into their defence and helped keep the ball alive.
He got Martinez so frustrated that he ended up fouling him and getting sent off.
Playing centre forward is not just about scoring.
Plus, he is still getting on the end of stuff, which is where you want him to be. If your centre forward was not getting those chances, that is when you worry.
4.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 10:19:22
Why do we buy goalkeepers? To score? No. We buy strikers for that. But, he didn't and hasn't much at all this year.
5.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 10:46:59
It is a team game, Aus. They all contribute. Yes, I'd love DCL to score more, but if he bagged 20 a season, but he never came back and defended, causing us to let in an additional 30, would you be happy? Did you happen to notice his goal line clearances, by the way? Useless he is. ?
6.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 11:38:49
So you didn't read my post, Canada, but thought you'd comment on it anyway. Okey dokey.
7.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 12:04:04
You need a bigger wooden spoon, Aus! Forget the boat!
8.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 12:20:47
On balance, I agree with Ben rather than Aus. Yes, DCL was wasteful with his finishing, but he kept their defenders occupied for 90 mins, got Martinez so frustrated he got himself red-carded, and produced a goal-saving header at the end. A good old fashioned No 9 performance.
9.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 12:31:30
I know that's your opinion, Aus, but that's absurd to think he played rubbish. If it wasn't for Calvert Lewin's contribution in that game, we would very likely have lost.
If you want to complain about DCL's missed opportunity, why not complain also about Tanaka's chance?
It's what you will get with Calvert Lewin; he will score you goals, but he will also have sometimes long dry periods.
But don't underestimate what he's doing when not scoring goals.
Like in that game with Man Utd, this season without his very valuable contribution, we would be relegated, I have no doubt about that.
He is not the future for us and that's pretty obvious with his age, but so long as he remains fit I would definitely keep him for another two seasons.
10.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 13:06:06
I read it, Aus, and it's poor and nonsense tbh. Surprised you didn't blame Struijk for DCL's perceived issues though, that at least was a nice change.
11.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 13:14:12
Pin, say goodbye to Grenade, thought he was ok to be fair, Aus, although surprised Namecheck didn't swap with DCL for the final fifteen minutes.
12.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 14:40:22
U mean swapping a quality Namecheck prem striker for another prem quality striker DCL class?
Watch the game again, chaps. Then tell me I'm wrong. Bloke lays on the floor half the time. Obviously, so out of shape, he tries to fake fouls. Watch the game again. Disgraceful player.
{Ed025's Note - now im not DCL,s biggest fan Aus but i have probably seen more of him than anyone on this forum mate, he leads the line very well and is very good in the air...but his finishing is not what it should be and he gets more than his fair share of injuries, but you have to realize where you are in the great scheme of things and at the moment hes about as good as you can get i would say, in the future when hopefully you establish yourselves in the prem and get better players then you will be able to upgrade, but dont try and run before you can walk is my advice and instead of slagging off your players and manager i would say stick with them and build gradually...but of course this is just an opinion my friend..
13.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 14:53:36
I personally like BA and what he brings to the team. He moves about so much they don't know where he is, and that makes more room for others, far better than Harrison, but that ain't hard. DCL had a dry spell, but we knew that, so can't really moan about it.
14.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 15:16:29
Aus, tell me you don't understand football without telling me, etc.
Probably the worst take of the season.
15.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 15:33:55
I'm not sure this is a wind up or pot stirring, Aus?
But, I'll bite anyhow [where's Baz when you need him].
Personally, I thought this was one of DCL's best games; he didn't score, granted, but boy did he wreak havoc with their back line. He 100% exploited the fact that Maguire wasn't playing; had he been, DCL would have likely lost every header.
Let's be real here, we don't have a triple A striker, but DCL is a pretty good B+, touching A at times. He was "free" and supposedly never going to play due to being injury prone. He has surpassed most fans' expectations.
16.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 15:49:34
DCL does lead the line well, and gets in scoring positions, usually around the six yard box, but isn't as clinical as he should be. However, I think he, combined with Okafor, is the best duo.
Comment has been made about his injuries, but he's been involved in 28 of the 32 league games this season, and that's far better than I expected.
I think Leeds have managed him very well this season, and maybe, with a bit more guile in an AM, we might get more out of him next season.
17.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 15:56:57
Au contraire, Ani, uber positive Baz is a DCL fan!
DCL has far more positives than negatives, that's for sure!
Very few strikers are even:
- leaping high enough
- getting their head on the ball
and
directing it with any type of force
for the second chance he fashioned vs Man U for starters.
18.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 16:25:31
Don't forget, Aus, we got DCL for nowt!
He's a player with double figures in goals in the prem, in a newly promoted team. And Nmecha as well cost 0.
How many has Bowen got, 8? England forward?
DCL has done well for us, and don't forget it's his first full season for a while.
He will have a dip, but so did the rest of the team.
Will he be up to standard going forward? Maybe not, but I think he has been quality.
A bit like Bamford, he brings so much more than goals.
19.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 16:52:28
I know you're a DCL fan, Baz, hence "..where's Baz when you need him?"
I knew you would come out defending him!
20.) 16 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026 17:24:19
I think DCL has done well for us, and for me, he played well on Monday, and did the same against Wet Spam. He is a bit Bamfordy, missing chances, but, as Wayne Rooney said on MOD, he is a real handful to play against.
So, overall, a good signing for a free transfer, and who knows, he might contribute a fair bit more for us in the run in.
21.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 10:26:07
He's also got lovely hair, so leave him alone. ;)
22.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 01:17:37
Fair point Ed. Spose I'm just greedy. Bit old fashioned. Like strikers to score regularly. 8 in 32 isn't a good conversion rate in my estimation. Let's hope we get an upgrade in the summer.
{Ed025's Note - its just what you have at the moment Aus, im sure in the next season or two you will get an upgrade mate but for me DCL is doing a decent job and leading the line well, it could be a lot worse...you could have Beto or Barry..