Do we? Look at Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe tearing it up and they’re the same age. Jude Bellingham is playing for England and he’s younger. The U23s are not the priority.
The talk about Bielsa crippling his players is way way off the mark. If a sicknote whos over 30yo can get back to full Bielsa fitness after 2 years out, you got to say firstly very well done Adam and well deserved…..
I totally get where Drameh is coming from. he wants to play football and probably thinks his time had come when Ayling was injured but it didn't happen for whatever reason. I think in a ideal world a loan is exactly what he needed, but the timing and bailing of ship on a injury wreck first team is slapping the club in the face. As someone said above he defo went self before side. As Bielsa said he didn't grasp at his chance ok Drameh could say he never had a good go at it but he looked very raw like a rabbit in the headlights if I'm being honest he didn't look ready to jump straight into Premier League football. The lad looks like he has ability and a good engine but still needs to learn the knowhow. As Doc said if Bielsa is here next season I don't think Drameh will be after this episode. seems to have let the Manager down but you never know but I totally get the kid he just wants to play football. As on transfers I doubt any of we know who or if we are chasing anyone I'm just hoping we do.
yeh happy for Forshaw and the club. Players hate not playing so it must have been really tough for him. And he's played great since he returned. All things considered, his age and injury record, this seems about fair/right. Its possible he could have run the clock down and got a longer deal elsewhere so, think both parties have got this about right
Sorry, I still think there’s mixed messages. If Bielsa said he hasn’t grasped his chance then I understand his choice to go. The option is he stays and when Struijk is fit, the pack is shuffled and he sits on the bench again. He wants to make a career in football and thinks it’s in his best interests to do that at a lower level playing first team football. Why should we moan about that when we have the “deadwood” out on loan because it suits the club. Side before self works when you’re established but lots of youngsters fall out of professional football at his age.
I'm sorry but Bielsa said he wanted him to stay because he needed a strong squad. Then he basically said that he doesn't want players at the club that don't want to be at the club. There's a time and a place to jump ship and it ain't in a relegation battle with covid ripping through the sport and a ridiculous injury list.
A bit of double standards springing into view here. Why should Bielsa expect a player to be loyal to the club when he's only prepared to commit 1 year at a time himself?
Just read this post on FB: Sounds like Cody’s gone then eh? Seems like he pissed Bielsa off, and showed the “typical youth immaturity” behaviour of unfollowing every Leeds page on social media. It’s a shame as he seemed to have the potential to develop into a top player, but now it seems like the only way he can force himself back into the fold at Elland Road is by having an outstanding half season with Cardiff and shows humility by issuing some form of apology to Bielsa and his staff. MOT
This season I fully expected us to be battling past these teams to ensure safety and show progress, even if that meant not reaching 9th in the league. But we are on the back foot now simply because of injuries, form or whatever reason, we dropped too many points and most of the following teams have eclipsed us Wolves 28 points Brighton 26 Saints 24 Brentford 23 Paalace 22 Villa 22 Everton 19 Leeds 19 Watford 13 Burnley 11 Newcastle11 Norwich 10 We need the teams above us to start dropping points and we need to increase that gap back to the bottom 4 but annoying that those teams above us made us look like newly promoted and them experienced prem clubs
From my quick scan I would say he is the longest serving manager since O'Leary i.e. in the last 20 years. So on a rolling 1 year basis we aren't doing too badly and if we ever parted company we wouldn't have large contractual obligation to pay out.
Say no and have a player skulking around the first team squad for the rest of the season? That's just what a manager needs in the first team squad. At this point, everyone should be pulling in the same direction. That direction is doing whatever you can to help the club that pays your wages (and a significant fee) for your football talent. Like I said...if he wants more football then he needs to force it by making himself undroppable or at least have the respect for the clubs position and wait until the end of the season. Then he can discuss leaving or going on loan for a season if he isn't going to feature. Leaving at this moment, weakening the squad, and possibly causing unrest in the club is a ****house move. It shows a lack of respect for the club, fans and his fellow teammates. When the going gets tough, Dramah gets on his bike... I wouldn't want him in the trenches with me that's for sure.
