In a strange way even though Forshaw (or anyone of similar mindset, maybe even Shacks) is more defensive than a Klich or Dallas or Rodrigo it might just help us going forward. He tends to win his duels and can nip in and get a toe on the ball by reading the game. He plays the easy ball and tries not to do anything above his station. That might just stabilise that midfield area and make us more of a solid unit and keep possession longer.
I'm not sure they will, who is going to want to sell, they may sign a few but whether they are able to greatly improve them is another question because I honestly don't see them signing quality players in January. Llorente had his first average game since coming back from injury let's not write him off for that just yet,also we have Bamford back soon. Phillips will recover his form too
Problem a new Newcastle manager has is that he has to agree to be on trial until the end of the season. Hence why they cant fund a new boss. His trial job is to stop relegation, if he cant he gets sacked. So why would any top manager take the job. Then you have the problem with new players. Which top player is going to leave a top club to come and fight a relegation battle in -15c northeast winter. Hope they go down
Apart from Raphinha it's difficult to see goalscorers in our team at the moment. Klich and Dallas at least occasionally hit the target whereas Phillips and Forshaw will likely always draw blanks. It's all about getting the balance right between possession, chance creation and goals scored, versus opportunities conceded. At the moment the blend we have is not quite right, hence we're seeing Bielsa tinkering both positionally and with formations to try and crack the code. Maybe as you say Forshaw is the missing link that brings it all together, time will tell obviously.
I think that’s exactly it. When bielsa goes all Steve McLaren playing too many attackers to ‘unbalance’ the opposition as he calls it, we struggle to get the ball to them. It may be coincidental, but when we played a more conservative line up (on paper) at the end of last season it coincided with less entertainment for the neutral but better results.
With Shackleton going off injured does anyone else think that may be the last time we see him in a Leeds shirt ?
Not sure, was it a groin or thigh problem he went off with, either way he'll miss the next game , then we have the break, could be back after that, because from what I understand, Ayling won't be back until after Christmas, at the earliest
Seems to have gone under the radar but wasn't that Cody Drameh's PL debut today ? Looks the real deal to me for one so young.
Yes it was, I know Doc's a big fan, a great, not sure if it's what you'd call a tackle or interception in the box near the end of the game
Not sure anyone mentioned it but anyone see the volleyed 40 yard pass from Struijk to Raphinha in the first half? If David Silva played that pass they would be showing it on a loop on sky sports.
Yep did notice that and it was superb. Struijk is playing himself into the starting eleven as he's starting to look undroppable.
What a nice kid, no billy big bollux even though Shaks got picked ahead of him. Ayling is going to have to fight for his place
I think he could be absolutely fantastic for us, not only does he seem grounded and possess the skill sets needed, he has that tiny bit of nastiness on the field, that bit of hardness that’s just on the right side.
I've noticed he hasn't scored for ages, if he could pass the ball into the back of the net it may help his and our cause
