Good Morning. It's Thursday 6th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds keeping tabs on Real Madrid striker Spanish media outlet 'Fichajes.net' are reporting that Leeds are one of several clubs keeping close tabs on Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz, and may may West Yorkshire's finest should Bamford leave in the Summer. The 29yo has spent much of his career at the Bernabéu Stadium, albeit representing their 'B' and 'C' team. He joined Lyon in 2017, after agreeing an €8m move, only for Real to buy him back again for three times the amount twelve months later. Since return to Spain in 2018, Diaz has netted six times in 49 games. His five year deal comes to an end at the end of the season, after which he'll be a free agent. West Ham and Nice are also reportedly interested in the Dominican Republic International (one cap). "Another Premier League club looking to add powder to their attack is Leeds United. They have Rodrigo and Bamford, but the latter has many proposals to change the air and go to a club with more sporting aspirations. If he finally leaves, the English will make a proposal to Mariano, who would arrive with the letter of freedom." please log in to view this image Leeds are less predictable and more adaptable under Gracia Elland Road journalist Phil Hay has penned an interesting article in the Athletic this morning, suggesting much of Javi Gracia's early success is down to adapting tactical changes each game, depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition; something his predecessors refused to do! Bielsa build an exciting Leeds side to dominate possession at all cost, press deep and operate a man to man marking scheme. Under the Argentine's tenure, the ER faithful were treated to some of the finest football, the club has ever seen. Unfortunately, when Leeds weaknesses were exposed, his refusal to deviate, ultimately cost him his job. Much of Marsch's undoings, were down to his narrow 4-2-2-2 formation. In many ways, his stubbornness to change tact, especially when it obviously wasn't working, ultimately cost him his post. One unnamed player in the Leeds ranks has even commented that the players feel that the tactical changes Gracia has made, are 'more realistic' than Marsch's 'fixed style' "Gracia, on the evidence, is far more willing to cut his cloth, to give up the ball on certain days, to go after it on others like Tuesday night, to attack in moments, to retreat when he has to, to deal with what is in front of him. Leeds swung from 33 per cent possession at Arsenal to 63 per cent against Forest and not by chance." "Overnight, they have become less predictable and the adaptability has gone down well with the players. One said the squad saw Gracia’s approach as “more realistic” than Jesse Marsch’s in accepting that a fixed style was not necessarily a virtue, particularly if it wasn’t working. Under Gracia, individuals have improved quickly. The performances show trust in his ideas. As starts go, it has gone well." "The irony of Marsch, in painting him as a suitable transition from Bielsa, is that he was as fixed on one specific style as the Argentinian. The pressing, the counter-pressing, the system without width, the high line: it was the shield Marsch came in on and the one he went out on. But Gracia, the pragmatist, feels more like a natural step forward from the Bielsa era, by no means an identical coach and in no way certain to deliver the same things but a smoother gear change that rocks the boat less." "It is the type of safer bet that, on reflection, Leeds should have taken the first time around. Bielsa was a one-off, unique in a way few managers can mimic. It was tempting to think that one sensation could inspire another but really, an out-there appointment was hubris and inviting trouble. Gracia seems normal and effective and Elland Road, in its reaction to him, is appreciating the normality. Sometimes normality is no bad thing." please log in to view this image Llorente wants to stay at Roma Italian media outlet 'CalcioMercato' claim that Leeds Utd centre back Diego Llorente is desperate to stay at Roma beyond his loan spell. The 29yo joined the 'Giallorossi' during the January transfer window, but has been limited to just four appearances thus far. He put in an impressive display for Jose Mourinho's side last weekend in a 3-0 win over Sampdoria last weekend, but will need to continue to back that up, if they are to exercise their right to trigger his £15.8m release clause. A recent article suggests that Llorente's valuation is around £13m, which in all honesty,would still be too good to turn down, should Roma decide to negotiate. please log in to view this image
Morning all that striker sounds a right dud. We would be signing someone worse than Roberts. The coach is doing well and on Sunday i hope to see his tactics bring us three points.
Morning all Llorente can go and will go and we will get back what we paid for him. The Madrid striker has scored 1 goal last season from only 13 appearances and no goals this season from 8 appearances. Yes he would be a freebie but I would use Mateo Joseph ahead of him, never mind Georginio. Lets see what happens with Bamford and Rodrigo first
I guess there's some method in this madness. With Lampard's record of finishing in exactly the same position he started in at least Chelsea won't get relegated, then they can go out and get a proper manager.
Such a success so far, Derby, Chelsea (first time) and Everton. How will the big names at Chelsea react to him and Cheryl's ex?
Bielsa had us playing wonderful football, but I think he became predictable, with both his line-ups and same tactics week in, week out. High press, possession football, pass out from the ball, 99% of the time through Ayling, man to man marking, and 4-2-3-1. That was great, but he never deviated from that, even on accessions when it wasn't working. I think that was the nail in his coffin at his post match presser (I think against Spurs) when he said he would continue doing exactly the same.
2 problems with that Ell Massive injuries in season 2 back in the prem meaning lots of kids and square pegging. Lots of the players were Championship quality still, meaning they lose the ball more than top players and miss passes better players make.
Two very valid points, but I felt that at times he was sending out bplayers like lambs to the slaughter, especially when it looked it Meslier was being forced to play out short to Ayling. At some points, he had 3 or 4 players marking him, waiting for him to receive the ball
That’s true and I’d never diss the great man but above is possibly why you need a coach who will adapt to the situation he finds himself in if you don’t have the standard of player to play the way you want. You have to set up differently according to what the players can do.
Bielsa being so pedantic was his own worst enemy. Yes injuries and players not been good enough at prem level, but exacerbated by him only having a small squad. This league is so tough he would have to have a rethink on squad size
On the theme of adapting, I'm wondering if one of the reasons that Javi hasn't started Willy for a number of games is to make the players think a bit more. The team seemed to get into a rut of 'Pass it to Willy, he'll make something happen', when he already had two defenders on him.
Nothing like making the opposition think that Gnonto will drive down the left, but can see him playing behind Rodrigo and then how will opposition try and deal with that as well as Sinisterra and Harrison covering the flanks. I believe we have too much in attack because forgetting the crock Bamford we would still have Summerville and Georginio available
I suspect that he was never going to play, either because he wasn't fit, or he needed a bit more time to get over the injury. Now if it was Hank the ****, it would be getting announced from the treetops that he was unable to play, but our Javi is a clever & devious old sod, so he covered it up. Easy done these days with a bench of subs like a peak time bus queue. And a clever return to managing norm ...
