Good Morning. It's Wednesday 9th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Bamford picked up hip injury taking a penalty During yesterday's pre match presser, Jesse Marsch disclosed Patrick Bamford's absence from the team that beat Bournemouth 4-3 at the weekend - he picked up a hip injury after taking a penalty in training. I'm not sure what's more astonishing; the fact that Bamford injured himself taking a penalty, or that Marsch actually disclosed it. How easy would it have been to say Bamford picked up a hip injury in training? Is this Marsch's way of telling the board 'I urgently need another No 9'? Bamford can't be happy! Leeds fans have been on his back for the last 18 months, accusing him of stealing a living, and this latest disclosure will certainly not help his PR. It's been almost 14 months since Bamford last completed a full game for Leeds. According to Marsch:- "He took a penalty literally in the last action of training yesterday and then felt something in his hip. So they think it's like a seven-day injury and then we'll see how it pans out for the week and if we can get them ready for Tottenham." please log in to view this image Ayling set to lead the Whites out at Molyneux tonight Luke Ayling is expected to lead the Whites out this evening at Molyneux, as fringe players from both teams are given an opportunity to impress. ER sources hint that Jesse Marsch may make as many as nine unforced changes with Meslier and Summerville likely to be the only survivors from Saturday's 4-3 win against Bournemouth. This being the case, the line-up should look something like this:- Meslier, Ayling, Firpo, Llorente, Hjelde, Klich, Gyabi, Greenwood, Summerville Gnonto, Gelhardt. please log in to view this image Leeds line up bid for Dortmund defender Several media reports are claiming that Leeds are preparing a contract offer to lure Portuguese International Raphaël Guerreiro to Elland Road in the New Year. The 28yo left back has only six months remaining on his contract with Borussia Dortmund, and as such is available at a knock down price. Guerreiro likes to get forward down the flanks, and also has an eye for goal. In 145 appearances for the German giants, he has netted 27 times. Whilst Struijk has done a stirling job filling the void, the role does not come naturally to him. It is hoped that he will switch to a centre back role. please log in to view this image
Morning all Jesse clearly wants Bamford out and better brought in. Who can blame him, he’s not sure how to judge the Leeds fans mood so put a few stories out like this and it justifies his selection I guess
We were linked with Guerreiro in the summer. One of Europe’s best attacking left backs. Loads of goals and assists. Maybe not so hot defensively. Basically what firpo was supposed to be. Junior only seemed to manage the ‘not so hot defensively’ bit. Marsch likes attacking fullbacks. It’s where the width is supposed to come from with the narrow attackers. Down to last 6 months of Dortmund contract. Still plays regularly for them. Not sure why they’d want shot. Or why he wouldn’t get better offers than us.
Regarding the narrow attackers Jesse seems to operate a split system. On the left side our wide player hugs the touchline (Sinisterra or Summerville recently), whilst on the right side the winger (Harrison) is tucked 20 yards inside. This is when our defence have secure possesion of the ball and means that Rasmus has to hug the right side touchline to try and get us forward, whereas Struijk doesn't need to as he can feed the wide player. This seems to be the reason Harrison is struggling on the right side to impact the game, whereas the left sided player is in his more natural position and can take his full back on either on the outside or by driving inside. Now the question is why ? Answers on a postcard to Lionel Blair at ' I haven't got a bloody clue ' please. My best guess is that Jesse wants to create space for Kristensen to get forward, but possibly doesn't feel that Struijk is as mobile on the left side.
Morning all Think Marsch has now had enough of Bamford. He’s tried to stay loyal to him but his job depends on results all the time has been wasting on Bamford he could have played Rodrigo more or used Joffy more or Gnonto. Bamford hasnt been a Leeds player for 18 months and he hasn’t scored a goal for a year. Sorry mate but we cannot afford passengers
God i hope, Meslier,Somerville & Gnonto don't play tonight, could do without any of our three, possibly most influential players getting crocked, in a competition no one realy cares about any more. And a very good morning to you all.
Morning all been out for a three mile walk keep the blood pressure down. As for wolves our squad is not like the top six able to field a second team of internationals. Spurs game we will just have to go with who is avaliable. Besides having won the last two a point would be a bonus and failing that a good crack at them would do me. Bamford is finished at this level and needs moving on. We would need to just let him go for free as his wages on top of a fee would kill any deal. The left back mentioned on here is a no goer for me as his wages would be too much at 28 years of age. We need a younger left back and why can't drameh have a go tonight? Is he injured?.
Genuinely dunno. Milky clueless as usual The narrow thing for marsch is maybe more about transition than building from the back... eg Gnonto and Jimmy both quite central when breaking for the 4th. He does actually want his fullbacks to provide width and put crosses in behind the defence. The 'half winger' thing is about guys cutting in onto their favoured foot - which we've seen sini and jimmy both do, jack doesn't seem as comfortable with it. Re fullbacks, in general it's not unheard of to unbalance full backs in terms of one forward one back - liverpool do it, so one (TAA) can hit a crossfield ball to the other. We seem to like to hit that crossfield ball to Kristenson if he can get him in space. Marsch has also sometimes sets up to counter a perceived threat from a particular opposition player. Maybe he didn't think Tavernier was a threat... given by the freedom of leeds we gave him! But my guess would be the same as yours. With a centre back at left back, we're simply not planning on him marauding forward too often. So we only do it one side and maybe Harrison just struggles with the role change.
Just a couple of observations from Saturday, that i haven't heard mentioned. Firstly. What a great run by Adams for the 4th goal. That's a DM charging up the pitch, pulling the defender wide to cover him and helping create the space for Jimmy to nip between and Willy to make the pass. 2nd goal from Greenwood - outstanding technique. Technically, he's right footed, but scored that with his left. He's known for being two footed, but some strike with his 'weaker foot'. Great asset to have a player that is comforatble with both feet. Look at the those chances missed by bamford trying to take with his left when it fell to his right. Koch's own goal stretching to play with his favoured foot when he should be clearing with his left... etc etc. Anyone remember other genuinely 2-footed players. I recall both yeboahs's worldies v wimbledon and liverpool being scored with his right... when he was actually left footed.
Definitely a relief to finally have a player on the pitch who can shoot from outside box. I mentioned it at the weekend. Never mind having two feet, most of our squad can’t really hit the ball from distance hence the fascination we seem to have to walk the ball into the net
Just thought I'd mention it as a lot of fans have been crying out for Jimmy to play on the right but it's a different role. However it worked against Liverpool as Gnonto came on wide left and yet somehow Jimmy turned up on the left side of the box as well so who knows. Maybe Jesse's a genius
They were both back defending like the rest of the team. A simple breakaway counter attack not seen since the brilliant Ayling to Raphinha one.
