Good Morning. It's Tuesday 8th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Roberts season over after surgery Tyler Roberts season, and possibly his Leeds Utd career, could be over, after it was revealed that the Welsh International underwent surgery yesterday on his torn hamstring. Roberts appeared to be struggling after a collision with Leicester City's Daniel Amartey last Saturday. He saw out the remaining 15 minutes of the game, clearly in a lot of discomfort. The 23yo signed a contract extension at Elland Road last Summer until the Summer of 2024 after some impressive displays during the latter part of last season. Although nobody could fault Roberts effort and commitment, his goal scoring contributions have never really been up to par. In a hundred appearances, Roberts has scored nine times. please log in to view this image First-team squad and U23's will be less integrated In his first official capacity as U23s Head Coach, Andrew Taylor spoke of a more traditional set up at Thorp Arch, intimating that the first-team squad and U23 group would be less integrated as it was under Bielsa's tenure. Taylor, previously the 'Loan Manager' at Elland Road, filled the Developmental vacancy after Mark Jackson was promoted to Jesse Marsch's backroom staff. "From a selfish point of view, I'd love to have [Crysencio] Summerville, Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Cressy [Charlie Cresswell], Lewis Bate, Nohan Kenneh but at the same time from a club's point of view, the whole aim is to have a pathway and show that progression. "The fact they're involved with the first-team, okay it makes it difficult for us, [but] fantastic for them, and gives younger players the opportunity to go and step in." "There might come a spell when they need minutes, or need to play; we'll welcome them back with open arms, but at the same time if they're in with the first-team and involved there, then so be it. "I'm still fresh into it after a few days," "We're all trying to learn what's going on from the first-team down. "I think we'll probably see a little bit more of a traditional model, that's my initial view - in terms of: if they're playing in the U23s, they're in the U23s." This seems to tally with what Marsch was saying in his pre match Press Conference last week: "In the moment when I talk about prioritising what we need to do, that [U23s] connection is probably a little bit on the back burner." please log in to view this image Should the worst happen, whose to blame Should the worst happen, and Leeds are resigned to another stint in the Championship, where can the majority of the blame be laid? Here are the candidates:- Radrizzani Ultimately, the buck stops with owner. If a decision is made that is not in the best interest of the club, he has the power to overrule. Perhaps he put too much faith in Orta and Bielsa. Questions may arise about how committed the Italian businessman is, since the proposed takeover was leaked in December! Did he give too much power to Bielsa? Orta His role is to find the right players. If they are not performing on the pitch, or if the squad does not have adequate strength in depth, should he take responsibility. Bielsa Small squad, one dimensional tactics, and a refusal to accept players in January, or so we are told! However, it was working for the previous three seasons, so why has it turned out so horribly this season? The Players Of course, injuries have played their part, but can anyone really say the remainder of the players have performed to capacity. After three seasons of SAS style training, perhaps their bodies could take no more? Marsch Marsch has 11 games left. Is that enough time to implement whatever changes he see's fit! In truth, when you consider goal difference, Leeds are only a point clear of 18th place Burnley, who still have a game in hand, whilst Everton (directly below us in 17th) have played two less than us. Should 19th place Watford beat Wolves on Thursday, and Leeds lose against Villa, they two would leapfrog the Whites! please log in to view this image
Morning all As long as we survive, the last few months could be a good building block as to the way forward. If we go down the only one not at fault is Radz he spent the money, I couldn’t have asked for anymore. Who’s to blame, the inquest would need to go deep, before pointing the finger I’d need to know the following… 1) Was training methods the root cause of any injuries or were we unfortunate. 2) Did the team do there job properly in assessing new players medical history this includes Augustin 3) The most important, who were the signings we did make and the signings we could but didn’t make down to? Did Orta present the right kind of player to Bielsa, did Bielsa make it an impossible task. Look at Newcastle, Eddie Howe has now found his feet but it didn’t look great at first. Did it take a few weeks to implement the necessary change or was it the transfer window that made all the difference? Sadly for Jesse he doesn’t have a transfer window and if we give him the luxury of 4-5 games we’ll come unstuck as we’ll be into the back end of the season facing the likes of City, Chelsea and Arsenal
Roberts Hard luck for the lad and wish him a speedy recovery but have to disagree about his effort, few times this season he's lost the ball and give up, that I can't forgive. One of Bielsa's biggest mistakes for me was persevering with him. U23's When are these lads mentionef, going to actually get a game of football , you can train as much as you like, which makes you an athlete it's games that make you a footballer. Blame Without knowing any real facts it would be hard to direct blame on one person, mistakes have been made by all, looking from the outside with what we are told . One thing I'm certain, if we do go down, you will get 'snippets' from within where Bielsa went wrong to divert the blame from the hierarchy Should 19th place Watford beat Wolves on Thursday, and Leeds lose against Villa, they two would leapfrog the Whites! Should the opposite happen, we're 3 points furthur ahead of those two teams
The blame stops with Bielsa I’m afraid. Hate to say it and wish he was still here, but the squad size, the not using the window to bring in anyone to help. Lets face it a midfield specialist would be better than a square peg playing out of position. So the idea that anyone coming in must improve the team is bollox when faced with we had. Continuing to use Roberts instead of allowing Joffy more time, playing James up front, not letting Raphinha move to 9 or 10, never complaining about refs and VAR…..so if we drop it must be down to Bielsa and if we stay up I would also say Bielsa and Marsch did it. Eddie Howe spent £100m in January and looks like its paid off Everton spent big too but looks dodgy for fatwank Burnley spent £20m so made a profit and should be relegated Watford brought in 6 players then sacked Ranieri and gave Woy a nice pension, gone Orwich spent zero really except in loan fees, sold Cantwell and are gone
Good Morning to Matt and co from a sunny Bardsey I believe that there are many factors to apportion the blame to not just one source.Should we got rid of Bielsa before the new yearthus giving the new man time to bring in some fresh faces We still have a chance to stay up thanks to some poor teams below us and now Everton are feeling the heatand showing signs of buckling To me its anyone 3 from from Norwich Watford Everton Leedsand Burnley lets hope we are saved
As much as Im a big fan of Gelhardt I would love to see Harrison, James supporting Rodrigo and Raphinha in a front 4. The two R’s should scare Villa to death supported by the pace of James. I also think its the only logical way of playing 3 wingers in yhe same team. Koch and Forshaw behind and Ayling, Llorente Struijk and Firpo behind them. Dallas, Gelhardt, Bamford, Klich on the bench gives us options to change things
Sorry Doc but cant buy fully into that, Harrison, cant beat a man and cannot cross a ball above shoulder height. Raphinha has been poor for last 6 games or more, needs a rocket, maybe a one on one chat session. Koch, would like to see him and Llorente play side by side, Ayling RB and Struijk LB , also good height there for set pieces. Gelhardt up front from the start, Mings is a very poor defender and would have a nightmare against him.
Augustin was a desperation signing after we failed in our bid to sign Che Adams. We should have gone up a year previously. We were 6 points or so clear of Sheffield Utd who leapfrogged us with their league 1 side in tact. If we hadn't had gained promotion when we did, we would have been in all sorts of problems. Jansson should have started the second leg of the play off final. He was our best defender.
I was reading what Johnny Giles had to say. His connections at the club told him that Orta had offered Bielsa several players during the transfer window but Bielsa rejected all of them. He didn't name the players but it seems like a mistake on Bielsa's part.
If true that’s precisely what we needed, both of them. Cover / competition for KP and an attacking upgrade for Klich.
When we wasted 3 transfer windows as the Cuisance deal fell through and we watched Pablo leave. I say that that was almost criminal. Forshaw was still i jured through all that period until just before the window opened for the 3rd time. Phillips out injured for months and we knew it would be March before back.
Can understand people wanting to see Koch and llorente as a cb partnership. Personally I would never want to see struijk at left back. I like him but he has the turning circle of an oil tanker. I completely get the desire to play joffy from the start… if we can create chances I’d probably rather they fell to him than anyone… but I don’t think his all round game is there yet at this level, so would prefer him brought in when the pace of the game has dropped. We all see these things differently… let’s see what JM comes up with. Crucial week.
Good afternoon, everyone. What to say about Roberts? I think sometimes I can see that there is a player in there somewhere and he do some nice stuff, but then that player just disappears just as fast as it appeared. It is really frustrating to watch. He is still only 23yo, but I think he should have showed something more by now. Anyway, did not want him to get injured and hope he will get a speedy recovery. If you read between the lines of what U23 head coach Andrew Taylor is saying about a more traditional set up. It can only mean that he (that is Marsch) wants a bigger first team squad, witch I think only can be a good thing. I think Bielsa must take the brunt off the blame if we go down. But I would also blame the owner for not sacking Bielsa earlier, so they would have a large part of it. All of this is water under the bridge now and we must look forward and do everything we can to make us stay up this season. Just hope that every Leeds fan will get fully behind the team and will them over the line.
Its been a great week so far for me and the lads at TA as Marcelo started giving us 2 murderball sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. So we are all a bit more relaxed and some of us are getting a few zzzzz’s in the sleeping pods Marcelo installed. Everyone smiling especially when Diego Llorente drops one as loud as hell in his sleep. i think we will be ready for Villa as Jesse is reading us some nice bedtime stories and Kalvin chuffed as it had pictures. Roll on Thursday to see a rejuvinated team with new enhanced tactics to steamroller Villa
Anyone else asking themselves the question: "Will Kalvin be the same player in this new formation"? Remember, he was considered by most to be absolutely average at best before Bielsa converted him to his quarterback role. He was the master of 60yd scoops to the wing, which was the extra ingredient he provided, one that no other CDM could come close to, far less match or beat. Will he return to being Mr Average? Who knows? I must admit to having some concern about this, as so many people are placing their hopes on Kalvin playing a major part in avoiding relegation.
