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The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 29th November)

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by ellandback, Nov 29, 2021.

  1. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Good Morning. It's Monday 29th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


    Dire performance ends in stalemate

    A combination of poor finishing, fine goal keeping and sturdy woodwork spared Leeds blushes on Saturday evening following their trip to the Amex Stadium. Their performance was reminiscent of their last outing to the South Coast where they were torn apart by Southampton, but Brighton proved to be a different beast.

    Prior to Saturday's game, Brighton had not won in seven attempts, and confidence was low. Graham Potter put together a starting line up full of guile, creativity and more importantly balance; all the things the visitors lacked in abundance. Even the normal reliable Kalvin Phillips looked lost at Sea, and was substituted at half-time, much to the bewilderment of 3000 travelling Leeds fans who braved the torrential weather conditions to make it to West Sussex in time.

    Whilst Phillips performance was well below par, that is nothing compared to Junior Firpo. The former Barca left back was an absolute liability during the first 45 minutes, and duly made way for Pascal Struijk in the second half.

    Although severely outclassed throughout the game, Leeds never gave up. Whilst outclassed in every department, the efforts the visitors made were plain to see. Had they been offered a point before the game, I'm sure they would have taken it, but only because the home side wasted a hatful of chances in front of goal.

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    What does Gelhardt have to do?

    It's fair to say Bielsa's decision to play Daniel James as a centre forward, and drop Gelhardt to the bench clearly did not pay off on Saturday. Instead of realising his glaring error, the stubborn 66yo persevered with his disjointed formation, and when it came to substitutions, theusual suspects got the nod.

    Let's be honest, the only reason Gelhardt was named in the starting XI last week was because both Rodrigo and Bamford were injured. During his limited appearances the youngster has not disappointed. His close ball control, intelligent hold up play, running at defenders, and deadly strikes have already made the 19yo a household name in West Yorkshire, yet Bielsa decides to play more square pegs in round holes.

    Bamford is approaching ten weeks on the sidelines, and the 19yo has started once. What does Gelhardt have to do? Perhaps he should hand in a transfer request?

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    A week that could define our season

    Leeds need points on the board in their next two fixtures, starting tomorrow night with Crystal Palace at Elland Road. Whilst it's too early to say it's a must win match, both Burnley and Norwich are breathing down our necks, albeit Norwich have a significantly poorer goal difference.

    Our displays against Leicester and Spurs (in the first half) show we have what it takes to put distance between us and the bottom three, but it has to start now!!! According to Leeds journalist Phil Hay:-

    "Saturday felt like a very square pegs in round holes day. Which can’t help a side who are reaching for form anyway. We said on the podcast that you’d know after 10 minutes how the game was going to go and that’s how it turned out. Brighton on top for most of it".

    "There was a big problems with players bringing the ball out or intercepting it in good positions and then giving those positions away cheaply with a poor pass. Happened repeatedly and didn’t help. If they are on 18 points at the end of this week then there could well be a wide gap to the bottom three, in which case the pressure lifts significantly".

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    #1
  2. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    Morning,

    Just to inject a bit of positivity <whistle> Meslier is proving to be a superb keeper, and he gets better with every game he plays.

    What a difference from Coco.
     
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  3. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Morning all

    After the game Bielsa admitted he shouldn’t have started with James up front, it was a hard decision to leave Joffy out. The key part though was Bielsa said maybe I should have left (started) James out wide. I’d assume by that James is ahead of Harrison.

    The downside to Tyler having a couple of shots on target is will Bielsa now start him ahead of Joffy. Bamford is very near to returning so we really need Joffy to get another start and game under his belt.

    The entire football community from Sky to BBC to social media to ex footballers are all focussing on problems between Bielsa and Phillips and that Raphinha is off in January. It feels like we’re not in a great place at the moment, too much speculation, too many poor performances.

    I read Bielsas interview on Phillips yesterday, he said Phillips wasn’t injured, he felt Shackleton was better suited for the second half. Another pundit noticed Phillips was pushing forward into midfield in the first half and Bielsa was gesturing for him to get back. It does feel like something is a bit wrong.
     
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    Last edited: Nov 29, 2021
  4. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    On the subject of Coco, Firpo is proving to be the outfield version. Terrible signing.

    Who at the club scouted him and thought he’d be an upgrade on Alioski <confused> ffs <doh>
     
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  5. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Apparently Orta provides Bielsa with at least three options on a position, Bielsa says yes or no. Another option was definitely Maxwel Cornet winger turned defender like Alioski, I’m not sure who the third was but Firpo was Bielsas first choice…

    A few names mentioned in here https://www.not606.com/threads/summer-transfers.391599/
     
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  6. oldschool

    oldschool Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps his name gives a clue that we at this present time where done...rip-of
     
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  7. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    To think he had a £200m release clause fee, I just don’t get how a player can look so poor yet impressed Barcelona enough to feel the need to put one in, then you question £200m release clause but you can have him for 15m euro…

    Just reading up on him, a 4 year contract, transfer fee has add ons, Barcelona to get 20% of future sale money
     
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  8. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    Morning all,

    Firstly I think any stories of a rift between Bielsa and Phillips are just media bollocks. Phillips may not be 100% comfortable playing as a CB as often as he has been asked but that does not automatically mean he and Bielsa have fallen out.
    As for Bielsa to keep shouting at him to drop back- Phillips natural instinct would have been to play further forward, he clearly needed reminders to stay further back. A manager telling a player what to do during a game is not evidence of a falling out.

    Him being subbed isn't the shock that it is being made out to be either. He wasn't at his best Saturday and he has been hooked earlier in games when that has happened. We looked better when Struijk came on for him.

    Look for Phillips to come back better tomorrow.



    For whoever wrote the news stories Ell uses the idea that Joffy needs to ask for a transfer is laughable.

    He is 19 years old and is just breaking into the first team. Would he have expected to have had this much exposure this season? Most likely not.

    Yes he had looked very good and he will continue to get more minutes but the idea that because he isn't starting every game while Bamford is injured he should be looking elsewhere is just click bait bullshit and now I'm angry with myself for even talking about it.
     
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  9. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    I'm gonna focus on some positives.

    1. Meslier is a great keeper. Two absolute belters on to the post. Comes for crosses. Good hands. Good distribution. Nobody seems to mention him or give him praise. Good on @FORZA LEEDS for doing so.

    2. Struijk is a beast. We can talk about Phillips and Bielsa all day but Struijk came on and had a far more significant impact than Phillips had done. Turned out to be a decent sub by Bielsa in the end.

    3. We played poorly. Bielsa admits he made mistakes. The team have said they have to improve. We reacted strongly after the Southampton game. I expect the same reaction.

    4. Played about as bad as we can away against a team sitting top 10 in the table and still came away with a point. These are important points to pick up.

    5. Forshaw played another 90 minutes and will be approaching full fitness.

    6. Ayling and Bamford confirmed to be playing for the 23's today in this mornings press conference. Koch is also recovering well and is back in training. Ayling and Bamford back for the weekend?
     
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  10. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    TBH, I can't think of many games when Bielsa hasn't admitted to cocking up the line up.
     
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  11. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Struijk came on for Firpo <ok> and I hate to say this but we didn’t look any better until Harrison was swapped for Roberts. Just re scan through the match day thread, you’ll see clearly where the sentiment started to change
     
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  12. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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    Romain Perraud
     
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  13. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Morning all :emoticon-0148-yes:

    Bielsa said this morning that no problems between Phillips and Bielsa lots more detail but in a nutshell bollox as we guessed.

    Bamford and Ayling start for the 23s later

    The James decision was the wrong call and Joffy had earned another start. The problem with the James decision was if you play him wide left you drop Harrison, yes I get that, but surelyBielsa must have thought about moving Rodrigo to 9 and moving James wide right and trying our No10 at No10 because Im sure Raphinha on a more direct role would scare defenders to death just a thought but it allows Bielsa to play his 3 wingers better than having James as a 9.

    Bielsa also said this morning that Firpois improving and was coming good before his injury lay off and now having to start from scratch again. He was sorry for him on Saturday and the early card didnt help, but Struijk and Firpo were not fit enough to play 90mins
     
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  14. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    He may have come on for Firpo but he played the central role while shack went to RB and Dallas to lb. This worked as Dallas dealt with Lamperty much better.
     
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  15. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    You don't think we looked better after half time?

    Also, Struijk did not play left back so was not a direct replacement for Firpo.

    Come on @ristac, I thought it was @ellandback job to try and get a reaction.

    BTW @ellandback , cheer us up on a Monday morning will ya.Its ****ing icy and cold and Monday. We know we were poor, lighten it up a bit. :emoticon-0148-yes:
     
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  16. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    For ****sake Ell. It's called taking the pressure off your players.
     
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  17. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    I'm probably not gonna be thanked for bringing this up but I think Roberts deserves a bit of credit for his performance when he came on. Looked better than nearly all around him.

    He got himself into good positions and got some good shots off forcing saves from their keeper. I think he would have had a good chance to score late on when James chose to blaze over when he could have played it to Roberts who was in a better position.
     
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  18. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Honestly not until half way through the second half, I distinctly remember the commentary team also stating Brighton have started the second half how they played the first. I’ve just scanned through the match day thread, not a single comment about improvement, just that the inevitable is on the way regarding Brighton will score.

    Yes we stopped Lampety second half but how Firpo never got pulled off in the first half is beyond me. I’m really trying to not make this sound like a defence for Phillips, he wasn’t at his best, nobody was but Bielsa started with Dallas at RB and Firpo left.

    Second half he took the completely out of sorts Firpo off, played Dallas at LB where he played most of last season and Shackleton a RB at RB. It’s how we should have started the game. Struijk played central, he is a great player and I’d start him ahead of Cooper every day myself but it was the swapping of Firpo that improved the back line not Struijk for Phillips. I say improved, they still cut through us and we still should have gone behind.

    Roberts for Harrison was the major turning point, James went out wide, 10 minutes later Lampety was spent and he came off, we got our only corner of the game in the 83rd minute. When I say turning point, we had a couple of chances, Brighton were the better team both half’s, just one half was a bit closer than the other
     
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  19. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    We were being slaughtered down the left, Firpo and Harrison were shocking. James was poor but better than Harrison, Dallas was better at LB the pressure of Lampety making his runs went when he was subbed on 70 and Roberts is a better striker than James, it was Bielsa finally getting round to balancing the squad out with his final substitution on 60 minutes. Agree though Roberts is the only outfield player who could take any credibility from his performance
     
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  20. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    I said as much onnthe Tyler Roberts thread and have said so on other threads on here. He isnt good enough for this club in my eyes, but his performance on Saturday says different. So that makes a total of 6 decent performances out of 100. He really needs to string a few good performances together now or I fear he will be for the off
     
    #20
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