who leaked 79 goals last season… so this ‘Internationals’ strategy is no guarantee of success [/QUOTE] Selective memory you lot, tell me how many of those internationals were on the pitch at the same time
Selective memory you lot, tell me how many of those internationals were on the pitch at the same time[/QUOTE] it was a joke Doc, as you’d pointed out our apparent riches at cb, yet we had by some distance the worst defensive record in the league. Obviously One of those internationals spent most of his time in midfield and our injury woes are well documented. Cooper and llorente as a partnership has done ok for us. But whilst we’re on the subject, llorente is statistically the worst defender in the air in the premier league, and Koch is a good footballer but has never demonstrated that he’s a good defender in a Leeds shirt. In fact he admitted himself he wasn’t up to the physicality of the pl and had to hit the weight room. Now llorente is in the Spain squad and Koch has historically made the Germany squad, so they can both play, but being an international doesn’t guarantee premier league success. Ask World Cup winner roque junior.
it was a joke Doc, as you’d pointed out our apparent riches at cb, yet we had by some distance the worst defensive record in the league. Obviously One of those internationals spent most of his time in midfield and our injury woes are well documented. Cooper and llorente as a partnership has done ok for us. But whilst we’re on the subject, llorente is statistically the worst defender in the air in the premier league, and Koch is a good footballer but has never demonstrated that he’s a good defender in a Leeds shirt. In fact he admitted himself he wasn’t up to the physicality of the pl and had to hit the weight room. Now llorente is in the Spain squad and Koch has historically made the Germany squad, so they can both play, but being an international doesn’t guarantee premier league success. Ask World Cup winner roque junior.[/QUOTE] Last season was an abomination mate on every level. Not just injuries which were exacerbated by only having a small squad, square pegging father than use kids in correct positions so that fit first teamers could do their job in their own positions. Couldnt have been worse than what happened. Refusing international midfielders i January, the impact on the U23s which then got relegated, the lack of leadership from the board, did anyone dare ask if Bielsa was well or cracking up because we all knew there was a problem, every one of us knew right from August. Worst season I can remember and we have had some bad seasons.just think its too easy to blame Firpo, or Rodrigo or anyone else because none of us were in the camp
[QUOTE Not just injuries which were exacerbated by only having a small squad, square pegging father than use kids in correct positions so that fit first teamers could do their job in their own positions.[/QUOTE] Playing Robin Koch as a full back in the last 2 games kept us in the division Doc. Square pegging it worked
Does anyone have the slightest idea of what formation Jesse will play ? Most pundits seem to think it's going to be a 4-2-3-1 .........................Kalimuendo .................. de Ketelaere.......Aaronson.......Sinisterra ......................Roca............Adams............ Firpo....Struijk...Llorente/Koch...Kristensen ...............................Meslier........................ Or will it be his supposed favored 4-2-2-2: ...............Bamford..........Kalimuendo ...... ...........de Ketelaere...........Aaronson....... ......................Roca............Adams............ Firpo....Struijk...Llorente/Koch...Kristensen ...............................Meslier........................ Or something else ? What do you think ?
I think… you’re right I keep seeing a lot of ‘my teams’ with struijk in. Can only assume no one watched him play last year. To clarify, I like him but his confidence was completely shot. Will likely be a good test of Jesse’s fabled man management skills to get him back to his best.
Thought Struijk was exceptional until around Christmas. The pressure of the situation started to get to him after that and he started to make mistakes.
i do like him, but it wasn’t just the odd error creeping in after Christmas - his head had gone completely. All character building, there’s a good player in there and I’m sure he’ll come again, I’m just surprised to see him inked in at left cb by so many… it’s like last season didn’t happen. I guess it also reflects Leeds fans continual under appreciation of captain coops.
Agree re Struijk. Hopefully he can reset after the summer break. My favourite quip which I use for Cooper is that he is a Championship defender but a world class organiser. Without his leadership and drive at the back we seem to concede far too many cheap goals. He makes those around him better players. Koch, Struijk and Llorente are all better defenders but not one of them is a "talker". Now hopefully Cresswell can shine at Millwall and come back to take on the captains role from Cooper when he moves on. That lad never stops talking.
Agree on coops, to a large degree. He’s not as easy on the eye as our other centrebacks in possession but his actual defending is good.. also despite not being a unit he’s the only cb we have who relishes the physical stuff and competes in the air. downside is we still see red mist moments in big games
****ing hell Wakey, can you read? Struijk was one of the few players coming out of last season with any credit up until Christmas. After Christmas he was poor, really poor. Therefore he looked good under Bielsa until Christmas. One of the few that actually performed well. You said it was Bielsa's headless chicken tactics that did for him which is clearly untrue as he had done OK under "headless chicken" coach. ****sake Wakey! please log in to view this image
Cooper is our best defender by a mile and he’s our only leader, you can see we missed him when he was out of the side. I do wonder who will captain the team once he leaves.
