Good Morning. It's Thursday 22nd October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Defensive headache for Bielsa. During Marcelo Bielsa's pre-match presser yesterday, the Argentine revealed that England Midfielder Kalvin Phillips may be out of action for more than the six weeks. The 64yo went on to say recovery time for a shoulder injury was undetermined. It could quite possibly be shorter than 6 weeks, but it may be greater. Bielsa also revealed that Pascal Stuijk would replace the Yorkshire Pirlo in front of the back four. With Cooper doubtful and Llevente unfit, that would leave Robin Koch as the only recognised centre back in the squad. Unsurprisingly, it caused all kinds of negativity on social media, with hundreds questioning Bielsa's tactics, with some even calling it suicidal! What De Bruyne told Wolves ace what to expect from Leeds Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker has revealed what Kevin De Bruyne told him what to expect from Leeds during the recent International break! "We knew before the game that it was going to be a very, very tough game and we felt that, especially in the first 20 or 30 minutes, we suffered a lot,” Dendoncker said. "That’s just the way they play. They go man against man and I don’t we or any team is used to that. "Kevin De Bruyne told me they played them before the international break and he told me you will see that it will be very hard because they go man to man. "But he also said that after 30 minutes they leave spaces and I think that’s what you could see. "I know the first half wasn’t really good from our side because we were looking how to find the spaces, how to deal with them and I think in the second half we managed it way better. "To get three points there is really difficult and I don’t think a lot of teams will do it.” please log in to view this image Bielsa rubbishes small squad claim Marcelo Bielsa has rubbished reports that Leeds do not have enough strength in depth in his squad to competitively finish the season. He said: “The squad is not small because we have two players per position and there are not big difference between the two players who occupy each position. “Just to make a reference, for example we have Bamford and Roberts up front, Rodrigo and Pablo in attacking midfield. Poveda and Costa, Raphinha and Harrison. “At the moment we currently have injuries in all of the same positions, so that doesn’t mean we have a small squad. It just means if we have six players for three positions and have four out, it doesn’t mean we have a small squad. “When you have these six players, they are all of a similiar level. When you are missing players, there are obviously going to be some issues. We also have players from the academy who deserve their spot in the squad. “As a result we feel we can manage the necessities of the team.” please log in to view this image
Morning all. Roberts as an option up front? I don't think so, he's not PL standard in my opinion. Re what anyone says on social media or here for that matter re Bielsas squad and tactics, they are only opinions and may be right or may be nonsense, time will be a good indication. What some forget is although the PL season is eight games shorter than the Championship, almost all pl players are internationals and will play those eight games for their countries, often with a ridiculous amount of travelling involved. No surprise really that many of the injuries we will pick up, same as every other team, will likely be when on international duty. Just a fact when you move to the top level, you have to get on with it
Morning all. I'm just starting a six week lock down. Anyway, I don't as you know read the ****e on the social forums because the stuff that's said is absolute bollocks at times. Yes everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it makes me think at times are these people actually Leeds Utd supporters and have any of them actually been to ER. I'm not going to critisise Bielsa because he knows what he wants and he got us into the Prem. He is not beyond cristism, but it's a bit harsh seeing what he's done for the club. I got the BT sports pass through Now TV, but I don't know if I can get the PPV channel as well. I've a Virgin box and they don't deal with BT here. I thought as I've a Samsung TV that I might be able to download the app on it, but I'm not sure if I can. So it'll be a dodgy link on my PC hopefully and the Rhinos game on the TV.
Morning all In Bielsa we trust........... seems obvious doesn't it and guess what, he knows his players and being a bit of footy geek he will already have worked up plans for different scenarios covering any eventuality. Still confident. Eire called it right when he said every team in the prem will have problems with International call ups and potential injuries. I would also add that having hardly any time off between one season ending and another starting, plus 3 International breaks making it stop start stop start into November, will probably mean even more strange results to come
Ive also wondered how switching to another coaches tactics and training for up to two weeks at a time will disrupt our players. Given the extraordinary lengths Bielsa and his team of coaches go to, it seems we could be impacted more than most. Certainly Kalvins exploits for England in a load of nothing matches have done nothing for his club performances in my opinion
I was thinking the same. We have 20 -30m pounds worth of talent between the two positions, then we have Bamford and Roberts in probably the most important role in the squad.
Anyone else feel sorry for tory MP Chris Clarkson who was called SCUM by a thick bulimic idiot Angela Raynor. Call him a cnut if you want but to call him a red fan
Well at least we will see someone else taking them phillips was dire. I have a funny feeling it may be harrison on the left but who on the right.
Jack rarely puts in a decent cross.....fannies about with the ball too much, if he took them he have to dribble around the corner flag three or four times!
Southgate ruins all our young players. Kalvin must think he's on a holiday when on international duty
Can't remember that one 64... It wasn't just the last game though that Imo his corners weren't great, low and hard and hitting their first defender. The law of averages he'll obviously get some decent crosses in.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t make more runs into the box and take on defenders. Given how easy it is now to win a penalty with slightest of touches, Harrison should be able to win one in every second game at least
He infuriated me the last game i was thinking run at them jack you are a superstar but sadly he reverted to the harrison of old never able to put two games together