The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 8th December)

[ellandback]

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Good Morning. It's Tuesday 8th December, ad here are the latest headlines from Elland Road.

Hernandez' days are numbered at Elland Road

Brentford, Huddersfield and Swansea City are waiting to pounce on out of favour Pablo Hernandez. The 35yo fell out with Bielsa for over reacting following been subbed against Leicester City last month and has not played since.

Since then, Hernandez has apparently been out injured!!! We have seen what happens when players challenge Bielsa. It rarely ends well for the player - just ask Pontus Jansson!

Former player, now journalist Danny Mills believes the attacking midfielders days are numbered!

“Time caught up with him a little bit last season,” “There were times when he was out injured for periods and when he came back in it was off the bench. “It happens to us all, unfortunately. As you enter the twilight of his career, injuries get harder to get over.

“The game isn’t slowing down in any way shape or form at the moment. The game is constantly getting quicker and quicker all the time. “That’s just how it is, you have to deal with that accordingly. “As you get to that age it does get harder and harder in those situations.”

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Bielsa to revisit former target

South American media outlet El Intra Sports are reporting that Leeds have turned their attention back to Uruguayan Nahitan Nandez.

The central midfielder is currently at Cagliari where his performances have earned the 24yo many admirers.
e could in fact let Nandez go for a figure in the region of just €20 million (£18m). He joined from Boca Juniors August 2019 for just over 16m.

Do Leeds need a decent central midfielder? Should that be their top priority when the transfer window reopens?

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Should we be worried about our defence?

Eleven games in, to our return to the big time, and Leeds have already conceded twenty goals in eleven games. Only fellow promotee's from last season, Fulham and West Brom have a slightly worse goals against ratio.

Is it the way be play? Does it make us too vulnerable to the counter punch? Do we need somebody with years of experience between the posts? Should the blame be laid at our centre backs? Is Cooper good enough for the top flight? Is Koch hard enough to endure the physical side of the Premiership?

Will Llorente be the answer? He is a Spanish International, and our second highest transfer!

With Aylings forward runs, does it leave Leeds vulnerable at the back? Is the answer a decent lleft back, instead of relying on Alioski and Dallas?

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[hemase]

Morning all,

Shame about Hernandez but he should have expected this to be his role this season so to fall out with Bielsa over it is just silly.

For me a new central midfielder in January is needed and then worry about left back in the summer.

Dallas and Alioski are capable in that position. Get a good central mid in and Dallas only has to think about that role.

Wouldn't surprise me to see us playing 3 at the back more once Koch, Cooper and Llorente are all for at the same time.

 

[Botev Bielsa]

I really hope that isn't the end for Pablo.
He's still one of our most gifted players, a good finisher and a winner. If he's fit I would play him, as we other wise lack creativity.
I'm also puzzled as to why Bielsa persists in leaving Rodrigo on the bench?
Rodders has looked brilliant when he plays, strong, direct and creative. He always looks a threat and brings others into the game.
Our record singing needs to be on the park every match.
Yes, it would be great to get a creative CM/number 10 in. But I expect Radz will want to see us secure our PL status before further recruitment, so expect this to happen summer 2021.
Our defence is a concern, Chelsea could have had a bagful on Saturday. Good that we've got a great goalie in Meslier.
Why Leif Davis is not playing at LB I don't know?
Alioski, Dallas and Harrison are exposed every match down that side.
We're also dreadful at defending set-pieces, how many free headers did Chelsea have from corners?
At the other end we pose absolutely no threat from set-pieces, the opposition can get their pipe and slippers out when we roll up for a corner.
I just wonder why MB has been completely unable to address our frailties at set-pieces and LB?
He's supposedly the best coach in the world ain't he?
The likes of West Ham, Burnley, Newcastle, Brighton, WBA, Fulham, Blunts, etc, will absolutely bombard us with corners and crosses after seeing how weak we were at defending these at Chelsea.
It's a massive concern that we haven't fixed this.

 

[Doc]

Morning all
Looks like Koch is out and Llorente in fir Friday night as Koch is struggling with a dead leg. Lets hope the wingers do their jobs this week which will ensure the ball doesn't come straight back at the defence like it did against Chelsea. West Ham will get rolled over.

We obviously still need a creative AM and Bielsa has said so and Nandez is a player Bielsa admires and he was talked about in the Summer, so lets see what happens. Almada is another one we have talked about and a conversation has happened already, so lets see and hope we see no more silliness regarding Cantwell.

In the Paddy Bamford interview (posted link in yesterdays thread) he says Bielsa keeps sending him Haaland clips to study as he wants Paddy to learn something different and his goal against Chelsea was typical Haaland...

 

[FORZA LEEDS]

Morning all
Looks like Koch is out and Llorente in fir Friday night as Koch is struggling with a dead leg. Lets hope the wingers do their jobs this week which will ensure the ball doesn't come straight back at the defence like it did against Chelsea. West Ham will get rolled over.

We obviously still need a creative AM and Bielsa has said so and Nandez is a player Bielsa admires and he was talked about in the Summer, so lets see what happens. Almada is another one we have talked about and a conversation has happened already, so lets see and hope we see no more silliness regarding Cantwell.

In the Paddy Bamford interview (posted link in yesterdays thread) he says Bielsa keeps sending him Haaland clips to study as he wants Paddy to learn something different and his goal against Chelsea was typical Haaland...

Morning Doc,

With all the wingers we have do you think Harrison will eventually be played at LB? He's been tried in that position for the u23's.

Great work rate and engine on him, and never shirks his defensive responsibilities. Can see him bombing up and down the left flank and linking up well with Raphinha on that side.

 

[FORZA LEEDS]

Koch is to undergo knee surgery today.

 

[Doc]

Morning Doc,

With all the wingers we have do you think Harrison will eventually be played at LB? He's been tried in that position for the u23's.

Great work rate and engine on him, and never shirks his defensive responsibilities. Can see him bombing up and down the left flank and linking up well with Raphinha on that side.

Thats not a bad shout mate as he was tried at LB for the 23s recently. My view on Leif Davies is that he seems to have gone backwards. We know Bielsa thought the world of him and put him on the bench but something went wrong. He has played a couple if halves at LB for the 23s recently and has been found lacking especially in end product. Another Aidy White who runs into a dead end, but he could be following instructions on changing his game? If so lets hope he gets it sorted soon. My fav LB at the moment is Niall Huggins, so much pace and skill and a carbon copy of Bryce Hosannah who plays down the right. (loaned out) Huggins is on the verge of breaking through.

i think Bielsa may wait and see how things progress before buying a new LB because if Huggins can make it you have a powerful Danny Rose type player already on the books?

 

[hemase]

Koch is to undergo knee surgery today.

Bugger

 

[FORZA LEEDS]

Thats not a bad shout mate as he was tried at LB for the 23s recently. My view on Leif Davies is that he seems to have gone backwards. We know Bielsa thought the world of him and put him on the bench but something went wrong. He has played a couple if halves at LB for the 23s recently and has been found lacking especially in end product. Another Aidy White who runs into a dead end, but he could be following instructions on changing his game? If so lets hope he gets it sorted soon. My fav LB at the moment is Niall Huggins, so much pace and skill and a carbon copy of Bryce Hosannah who plays down the right. (loaned out) Huggins is on the verge of breaking through.

i think Bielsa may wait and see how things progress before buying a new LB because if Huggins can make it you have a powerful Danny Rose type player already on the books?

Davis' drop in form coincides with his interview with Heidi must have affected the lad badly as he hasn't been the same since

 

[ellandback]

Koch is to undergo knee surgery today.

Koch has had his leg amputated. Out for the season....

 

[FORZA LEEDS]

Koch has had his leg amputated. Out for the season....

What a wimp.

 

[Irishshako]

Thats not a bad shout mate as he was tried at LB for the 23s recently. My view on Leif Davies is that he seems to have gone backwards. We know Bielsa thought the world of him and put him on the bench but something went wrong. He has played a couple if halves at LB for the 23s recently and has been found lacking especially in end product. Another Aidy White who runs into a dead end, but he could be following instructions on changing his game? If so lets hope he gets it sorted soon. My fav LB at the moment is Niall Huggins, so much pace and skill and a carbon copy of Bryce Hosannah who plays down the right. (loaned out) Huggins is on the verge of breaking through.

i think Bielsa may wait and see how things progress before buying a new LB because if Huggins can make it you have a powerful Danny Rose type player already on the books?

Huggins has fantastic feet, tricky fecker when ever I've seen him play.

 

[Irishshako]

What a wimp.

Norman would be turning in his grave Seen a nice piece in one of the papers pre chelski game between Chopper Harris and Sniffer Clarke discussing todays players etc. Basically they both agreed that footballs gone soft.

 

[1964white]

We are cursed with injuries, unbelievable these injuries are occurring to our new quality signings & in positions where we lack the necessary quality required in the premier league.

So Leeds not only risk a player ( which I can just about accept) but ALLOW him to go on International duty twice carrying an injury?

Totally reckless from our management

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We must be on a suicide mission

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[FORZA LEEDS]

Norman would be turning in his grave Seen a nice piece in one of the papers pre chelski game between Chopper Harris and Sniffer Clarke discussing todays players etc. Basically they both agreed that footballs gone soft.

The game would've been stopped every 2 minutes with this VAR **** 'investigating' their 'antics'

 

[1964white]

Oh ffs the news gets even worse

What with Koch's injury & Llorente not match fit, let have a triple whammy to savour this morning

Pablo is a fit classy player despite his age, he's works harder than some of the current X1 we've fielded this season

Seems to me we want to get shot of another quality player, our only proven goalscorer in our midfield & Leeds want to get rid.....madness!

 

[Botev Bielsa]

From what I read in an article Koch had picked this injury up against Liverpool in the first match, he was supposed to have missed training last week and was doubtful for Chelsea. They then took the gamble of playing him and aggravated the knee injury which now requires surgery. So MB saying it was a new injury, and other reports that it was just a dead-leg were BS.
If it's ACL that could be him for the season?
Lad's not having much luck since he came here.
Good we've got a few options at CB
Bit of info from Koch here: http://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-robin-kock-surgery-andy-williams-london/

 

[1964white]

The current trend for team selection is :

A) Run around a bit & you are in the First X1

B) If you possess quality you are on the bench or binned altogether it would seem

It will comeback to bite us badly if we continue in a similar vein

 

[1964white]

From what I read in an article Koch had picked this injury up against Liverpool in the first match, he was supposed to have missed training last week and was doubtful for Chelsea. They then took the gamble of playing him and aggravated the knee injury which now requires surgery. So MB saying it was a new injury, and other reports that it was just a dead-leg were BS.
If it's ACL that could be him for the season?
Lad's not having much luck since he came here.
Good we've got a few options at CB
Bit of info from Koch here: http://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-robin-kock-surgery-andy-williams-london/

Reckless management imo!

 

[Botev Bielsa]

Reckless management imo!

Absolute madness
Especially when he's been playing for Germany with this injury too.
We had to use a sub right away against Chelsea, so ended up throwing a non-match fit Llorente in at the deep end.