Good Morning. It's Thursday 24th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds concede six in midweek massacre Leeds dropped to within three points of the relegation zone as Liverpool ran riot over them last night in front of a crowd of 53, 018. Few Whites fans would have expected much change from a visit to Anfield, but nobody was prepared to see such a vulnerable Leeds side, devoid of ideas and rudderless in midfield. With one eye on the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, Reds Manager Jurgen Klopp made five changes to the Liverpool line up. In truth, he could have made eleven changes, and it may not have changed the outcome of the game. Leeds showed plenty of effort and willing, but looked jaded and lacked the confidence and belief in their own abilities; a start difference to the line-up that went toe to toe with the Reds on the opening day of the 20.21 season. Bielsa's one dimensional tactics were heavily criticised all night by the pundits with comments such as: Leeds are too easy to play against The players have been 'over-used' and 'over-loaded'. Man for man marking does not do them any favours. They are too easily dispossessed Unable to defend set pieces Carved open at will. It is now up to Bielsa to show the World his metal. He needs to pick his players up (mentally) and prepare to go into battle against Spurs at Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime. Tottenham showed their vulnerability last night, losing 1-0 to Burnley. If Burnley can turn them over, so can we! please log in to view this image We are fighting relegation - Bielsa Speaking at his post match Press Conference last night, Marcelo Bielsa praised his Leeds squad for their dedication and intensity they have shown this season, but has admitted that they are in a relegation fight. The Argentine professed to questioning his own tactics and was concerned about relegation:- "The only response I can give is the players give their maximum. You can see it in the intensity and all the data that comes up in the games. So if a coach has this at his disposal the effort that [this] team gives it's very clear that my responsibility increases and I can't redirect it towards any side that's not myself. And I'm giving you an argument that has weight". "The players the dedication to what they do, the players are in agreement at what they do, they express it through their effort and their intensity. And that's a value that up until now the team conserves. What I achieve through a long time through the effort and the willingness and win games on an even keel I haven't been able to achieve it". "Of course how am I not going to question what I'm doing. Of course I question myself. When you ask yourself why the things that are happening to us, are happening, the question is I don't think a change of style is going to change what's happening to us". "We are fighting relegation. Of course it worries me, how is it not going to?" "The distances between the two teams, we were never able to reduce them. "In the second half we thought it would be difficult to play an even game but we wanted to prevent or avoid what ended up happening." please log in to view this image What is the answer In the last four games, Leeds have conceded sixteen goals, one less than Manchester City have let in all season. They are three points from the drop zone, and have not won in over five weeks! During last night's post Press Conference, Bielsa was quoted as saying "I don't think that the change of style is going to change what’s happening to us". In other words, he is going to keep doing the same as before!!!!!!!!!! We have thirteen games left. Do we have time to bring in another Coach, or do we put our faith in Bielsa? Let's remember that Messrs Bamford, Phillips and Cooper are on the road to recovery. We should be seeing them back in action in the next two - three weeks. It's too late to strengthen our squad now, we only have two alternatives. Keep faith with Bielsa, or replace him! please log in to view this image
Morning all I’m reading reports that Bielsa avoided answering what was wrong with Llorente? The only time he usually does that is when it’s covid related but I’m wondering if there has been a falling out after Saturday or if it is injury related. Burnley had a huge win, I’m feeling pissed off, non confident about our chance of staying up and think we’re just living in a dreamworld if we think having Cooper, Bamford and Phillips back would have changed much. I think some are forgetting how many chances Bamford needs in order to slot one away or how many fouls Cooper gives away. No point changing the coach now. Next season if we’re in the PL Bielsa has to go
****ing shambles. I'm sorry but he cant turn this around. Get someone in who plays players in the right positions and hope the injuries lay off. Do nothing and we go down
Hi everyone As I said last night, I don’t think Burnley will go down. We may not like Dyche for his tactics etc, but he has a way of adapting to work with the limitations of his players and limited funds at his disposal, I guess that sounds a bit like bielsa’s dilemma, apart from we have had more funding, Difference is Bielsa is purely one dimensional and is unable to make his team hard to beat, unlike Dyche. It saddens me because I never thought I would ever doubt Bielsa, love the guy, but to me the well being of Leeds United FC are top priority and should take president. Such a shame that after all the progress we have made over the last couple of seasons under Bielsa, will be all undone if he is not careful just through sheer stubbornness. To late now to change anything, but to progress we need a new coach with fresh ideas next season wherever we are, as Bielsa’s coaching has gone a bit stail now.
Bielsa keeping faith despite the doubts Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds "I don't think a change of style is going to change what's happening to us." The words of Marcelo Bielsa after his side's 6-0 crushing by Liverpool. The Leeds United head coach is clearly not for turning and is wedded to his philosophy which has brought unbridled joy, as well as demoralising defeats. What is happening to Leeds is a deluge of goals being conceded - 16 in the past four games alone - leaving Bielsa frustrated by the continual struggle "to sustain what we want to do for the duration of the game". The Whites started brightly enough at Anfield before going behind to an unfortunate penalty, and even with the game gone at 3-0 down at half-time, they still managed to fashion several chances. But their porosity is alarming, especially when one opposing centre-back is given the freedom of the pitch to score and his defensive partner gifted a free header from yet another corner. United are in a relegation scrap and at this rate not even a free-falling Brentford and a struggling Everton are going to rescue them from dropping into the bottom three as Burnley stage a revival. Confidence is draining with every puncture of the defence and, although the owners have yet to specifically voice their concerns to him over the results, Bielsa admits that "of course it awakens doubt". Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, he added: "I don't need them to give me conclusions on the result of the team I manage." He stresses the responsibility for the solution lies with him as he prepares to take more of the burden on his back, and he cannot be accused of shirking.
Phillips could be the answer Since the start of last season, Leeds have lost 16 of their 22 league games without Kalvin Phillips (W4 D2), compared with just 11 of the 41 matches in which he has played (W19 D11).
Difference between last season and this is ,last season i was half expecting a tonking in certain matches but it never happened,players put in jaw dropping performances which culminated with a win at city incredible performance full of energy and a never say die attitude. This season the exact opposite even with nearly a full compliment of players, the matches i expect a tonking is exactly what we are getting, to me culminating with that shambolic performance at Everton, which gave the impression that Everton were a Barca in the making.(Southampton soon brought them back down to earth) The energy and never say die attitude has been replaced with an i can't be bothered with putting in a performance and a can't be arsed attitude today, all down to Bielsa im afraid. NB If you have not already guessed i am Pi**** off at the moment with what's gone on this season.
Good morning and no matter what Bielsa thinks it will not change a thing. I am sick of hearing about data this and data. Just open your eyes mr bielsa and what a mess you have made of the tactics and how it affects the players. We looked short of confidence last night. But more than that just not athletic enough and jaded. We can avoid relegation but it may not be in our hands. Cooper would have nade no difference last night he's not quick enough. Bamford would have given us more possesion but goals?. This season he has hardly scored. Kalvin would have helped a little and maybe conceded a couple of goals less. Bielsa will not change his ways so maybe some games we play luck will go our way. Too many players now past it at this level. Next season could see a mass exodus of players from u23s due to wanting to play more and increase their wages. Who thinks spurs will rollover on Saturday? After losing to Burnley and seeing how garbage we are they will go for it. It's not a question of us raising our game and fighting for the points. We need better players and a bigger squad and a new coach.
Spurs on a bad run i see, lost four from their last five bet they think never mind, Leeds next they will sort it for us and will probably do our goal difference some good. Christ Kane & Sohne will have a field day against our shambolic defence if that's what it is called.
Bielsa doesn't need the money, he will IMO see out his contract because he's an honourable man. I don't think the club will sack him either. I'm as pissed off as the next supporter, but we were playing the second best team in the Prem away from home, we played well for the first 15 minutes, but gave away two sloppy penos and that was it. Second half I was hoping just to lose 3.0. I have blind loyalty when it comes to the club and there are still enough points to play for. I'm not or never have been a coach at any level, so it would be wrong of me to talk tactics and have ago at Bielsa. I have a long memory and he has turned this club around and we've seen some great football(not lately) but I believe the players bar Raph are trying. I'm not going to tell you all to back Bielsa or the players because that's your choice. I am and will until the last kick of the season and if we are relegated I'll be over to watch them as well. Spurs at home is winnable.
I don't think their manger is happy there at the moment and has more or less offered to quit. We might surprise a few people.
From what I was told yesterday pre game, there is trouble at mill, after that performance and the showing of who was named it made perfect sense.
Being made to look a khunt by the coaches tactics and affecting their careers may not suit some players.
