Good Morning. It's Tuesday 9th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Rodgers speaks about his admiration for Bielsa Leicester City Manager Brendan Rodgers has spoken of his admiration for Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, following a meeting at Leicester City's training ground at the end of last season. The foxes had just missed out on Champions League football having lost to Spurs on the last day of the season, and the Leicester Manager was beside himself. The two had decided to meet up, as Bielsa had expressed a desire to view Leicester City's training ground. According to Rodgers:- "It has a real numbing effect on me, not qualifying for the Champions League," "I spent a couple of hours with him and it was a breath of fresh air. He’s a great man. "He arranged to come in, take a look at our facilities and speak about football. It felt good. "I came out of the conversation having lost the day before and before I went on holiday it was really great to chat to him. I had a great morning with him." "I’ve followed his career from the days he was in Argentina. I’ve seen lots of sessions of his. "He has an unswerving commitment as to how he wants to play. That takes a lot of courage in this game at times. "You’ll have heard it yourselves, that they are too open. But his commitment, he has an inherent belief in it. But he has values as a person. "When you speak and listen to him — he’s had a fantastic career. He’s hugely influential in his methods. You see his enthusiasm. "He loves football and that really shines through." please log in to view this image It was very intense - Struijk With Firpo, Shackleton and Ayling all sidelined for the visit of Leicester City last weekend, Pascal Struijk was asked to play in the unfamiliar role of left back, switching Stuart Dallas to the slightly more familiar role at right wing back. Although the former Ajax youngster had filled in at left back for the U23's, the Premier League is a totally different kettle of fish as the 22yo recounts:- "It's very intense," "I had to go very high up the pitch and get back quickly. I had to get used to that, so at times I was a bit sloppy. I think I did alright. I did play a couple of times for the Under-23s there but it's nothing compared to this level [in the Premier League] "I'm happy to get minutes in. I think I would do things better in the game if the opportunities came again." "I think we deserved a bit more," "We created so many chances. They did as well but I think we were dominant. To concede however many seconds after we scored was a bit unlucky. "We've been getting our old form back. We haven't been picking up the wins but the football is getting better along with the effort the team is putting in." please log in to view this image Leeds give trial to 15yo ace Leeds are set to award a trial to Belfast School boy Cormac Austin. The news comes after it was announced in assembly at St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School that the 15yo could follow in the footsteps of Charlie Allen who penned a deal with Mark Jackson's side in the Summer of 2020. Just like Allen, Austin is also part of the Linfield FC set up, managed by former White David Healy. According to the 42yo:- "Cormac’s been in and around the Academy for the last few years. I saw the three games Cormac played for the Northern Ireland Victory Shield team a few weeks ago,”. "I don’t think he gave the ball away tonight. He’s got a bit of quality about him. He’s at the age where clubs are pushing to sign him. We will lose Cormac, no doubt about it, but we will try and give him exposure around the first-team squad where we can. "He’s finished with the Northern Ireland Victory Shield team, so that will help, and hopefully his progression over the next three, four months will stand him in good stead at whatever club he goes to.” It was revealed in the Summer that Stuart Dallas has taken on the role as mentor for Charlie Allen. Perhaps he will do the same with Austin? please log in to view this image
Good morning all Bielsa is truly a footballing legend, not only admired by players but by coaches as well, we are so lucky to have him, i know we all moan sometimes (me included) about his formations or substitutions but that's just football talk. I as well as possibly all Leeds fans wouldn't (truth be known) want anyone else, i just hope he is around for a good few seasons yet, to see the overall project through.
Bielsa is unique and no other coach could do what he does because Bielsa is so single minded. He has a “moneyball” mentality and therefore is convinced that the easiest way to play and win is by using his doctrine of dont let them have the ball, keep the ball in their half because they cannot score a goal from there. Attack fast and unbalance them and create chances, the more chances you create the more goals you should score. Lots of top coaches are disciples and all use his bielsaball as the basis of gheir own tactics. Some like Diego Simeone use low block and build into Bielsaball, while Pep goes full Bielsaball but has high quality players so his chances are capitalised on more than ours. I remember an interview where he was asked by a player in the dressing room, tongue in cheek, how many goals it was possible to score in a game, he came back very quick with 63. He said it takes just over a minute to win back the ball and transition into attack and score so its possible to score 63 goals. He had obviously given it thought. Yes Bielsa is on the spectrum and thats why he doesnt leave a club unless they lie to him and he always honours his contracts. He is a legend and will never be forgotten when he decides to call it a day. Remember his family is in Argentina, a wife and 2 daughters, yet he rarely goes home due to covid and worked flat out through the summer.
Charlie Allen is starting to bulk up and do what he was brought in to do and hes now starting to prove his worth in the 23s and alongside Lewis Bate he looks really good now. He was a bit small and lightweight at the start of last season but growing into his body now. The young lad when he arrives will be mixing with top kids brought in from Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City as well as the young keeper brought in from Bradford City who has had everyone talking about him. He will get a good football education and hopefully thrive
We haven't conceded more than once with Diego Llorente on the pitch in any of his last 17 Premier League appearances. Only conceded 18 goals in total with him on the pitch in his 22 league games.
Yet there are things he does which make me want to hide behind the sofa while watching. I mentioned yesterday that if Cooper made some of the passes he makes or attempted some of the turns the Leeds universe would be in meltdown. On Sunday Cooper got a few pelters for not controlling on the edge of the area and allowing Leicester thru on goal only to be rescued by Meslier. No one talks about llorente selling Cooper short with the initial pass, something that happens a few times. Don't get me wrong I think Llorente is class and we are most definitely better with him than without but my point is he should be held to the same standards as Cooper. The big difference is, I suppose, that so far his mistakes haven't cost us a goal but if he keeps making them eventually they will. The one on Sunday would definitely have been put down to Cooper as well no doubt.
More lazy journalism as it seems that just because the Huddersfield Town owner has personal financial problems, that Victor Orta will get Lewis O’Brian on the cheap. A bollox made up story and the dogz owners problems are not the clubs problems, both separate as was demonstrated by the club last week. We knocked him back in ghe summer so why would be go for him now when we only sign starters not bench warmers
I totally agree he is a great player and said that but my point is there are things he does that sometimes are more risky than they need to be and as a fan base we would rip Cooper to shreds for. Cooper was brilliant against Wolves but was still criticised and called to be dropped. People can't see beyond their preconceptions
So the main stream media are bigging up the idea of Frank Lampard for Norwich manager. Norwich game are calling talksport and saying they would love him. Now looking beyond mine, and most other Leeds fans, bias what about Lampards managerial career so far makes them think this is the best idea? On evidence what makes anyone think that Lampard had a better chance of keeping them up than Farke?
My thoughts on this. Llorente tends to have his scary moments because he tries to play through teams. He sometimes takes too long due to his reluctance to just lump it. That comes from Bielsa's methodology. This should improve when midfielders and wingers show for him more often or maybe when Bamford drops short. Cooper tends to have his moments due to bad decision making or poor touches. He doesn't execute his play with the same quality. More unforced errors. More passes go astray when playing forward. Individual unforced errors happen to everyone but out of the 4 centre halves we have Cooper and Koch are far more likely to make then than Struijk and Llorente. I personally believe Llorente or Cooper HAVE to start. They are both leaders and organisers on the pitch and that's hugely important. I do think Struijk should start with Llorente but if Llorente isn't available then Cooper has to come in. Koch with Struijk would be our weakest pairing because they require managing on the field but Llorente and Struijk our best pairing with Llorente talking Struijk through.
Great points and fully see Struijk & Llorente being the first choice CB pairing next season. I don't see Koch being here next year. Nothing against him but due to injuries he hasn't been able to establish himself. Meanwhile Struijk has played himself into first/second choice with Cooper an able back up and Cresswell taking the young up and comer berth. Don't know where Koch will come into the side unless Bielsa thinks he can become that extra cm player.
Tbh that dose not only apply for Cooper. It is the same for Klich and Rodrigo and is was the same with Alioski. Usually the ones that get the most criticism is Copper, Rodrigo, Klich, Roberts and Harrison. Other can do more mistakes and you hear nothing and they still get high ratings. But I agree with you regarding Cooper.
Food for thought: We have Cooper, Struijk, Koch, Llorente and Cresswell=5 CBs We have seen Struijk and Koch playing at DM we have also seen Struijk doing a good job as a LB Assume we still have all 5 next year how do we fit them in and lets assume Koch is back to his best
Agreed, I also think it is strange that they would want Frank Lampard as manager. For me it sounds like they have given up on staying up and are preparing themselves for next season in the Championship. I think Farke would have a better chance of keeping them up than Frank.
Norwich seem to have no ambition and prefer to bounce. Nothing Phil Hay says convinces me that they want to stay up Lampard did nothing at Derby and most of his players were on loan from Chelsea. Ope he gets the job so we can batter them at ER later in the season. A story earlier had Dean Smith walking back into a job with Norwich? Villa are supposed to be going after Gerard but fans and some pundits screaming for John Terry. This is going to be fun and wonder how long before Paulo Fonseca or Martinez are in the frame again, as both lost out on Wolves, Spurs, Newcastle……
For me the biggest problem we have is in the centre of the field. I think most fans have been screaming out for a quality midfielder. Think we would need 2 CM, maybe an AM and a box to box CM. And I also think we need a quality ST that don’t need a gazillion with chances to score a goal.
