please log in to view this image Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds Utd Saturday 26th October 2019 12.30 | Hillsborough Garry Monk pits his wits against Marcelo Bielsa as the White visit their South Yorkshire rivals at Hillsborough on Saturday lunchtime. Monk of course enjoyed a twelve month tenure in the Elland Road hot seat during the 2016/17 season and were 11 points clear of 7th place towards the end of March. However, keeping up with tradition, Leeds form in the second half of the season dipped and they found themselves in 7th place, overtaken on the penultimate game of the season. Monk then quit, deciding that Middlesbrough offered a better chance of promotion. Things have not worked out the way the 40yo would have liked and he now finds himself at Sheffield Wednesday after being relieved of his job at both Middlesbrough and Birmingham City. What kind of reaction will Monk get from the Leeds Utd faithful? Bielsa has some big decisions to make. Dallas's form has dipped since moving the Northern Ireland International into midfield, but with Shackleton, Hernandez and Forshaw still on the treatment table what will he do? We all know that he will not tinker with his starting line up, unless absolutely necessary, but the Argentine is suddenly under pressure to mix things up! Should Dallas be dropped in favour of Tyler Roberts who has impressed in recent games having come off the bench? If so, would you rather see Dallas or Ayling at right back? Can Leeds play two up front? If not, will Bielsa persevere with Bamford, ahead of Nketiah? Is it time to drop Costa?
Dallas should be moved back to RB and Ayling benched.......Ayling showed against PNE he goes too far forward and can't get back, he can't shoot either, Dallas can. Bamford dropped and Nikita to be given 3 to 5 games to mould himself in and get use to playing with players playing Bielsa ball, and vice versa. If we play two up front, it means taking an AM out, this would leave us more wide open in midfield and we'd get pounded. Who would be taken out the AM's, Klich? I think not. Forshaw? I think not, Pablo? I think not, Costa? I think not.
costa out starbucks in.wake up and smell the coffee bielsa it's time for a new game plan for this match.monk will already have sussed us out.
Casilla Dallas Cooper White Alioski Phillips Costa Klich Bamford Harrison Nketiah Give it a go, lets see how we do.
He won’t go for it because as he has already said you sacrifice a midfielder so it would have to be. Presuming Cooper is still injured, Casilla Ayling/Dallas White Berardi Aloiski/Douglas Phillips Costa Klich Bamford/Roberts Harrison Eddie
Can’t see a Bamford playing well like a number 10. His strength is holding ball up well and laying off, as a front man. Problem is he does not score much and nor do most of the rest of them. Nketiah can score, Bielsa appears to believe he does not do the rest of the front man role so well as Bamford. The sort of player who combines both is very very expensive. Maybe Nketiah can learn it. I understand why people not fans of Bamford (I’m groaning a lot at his misses too).
At this stage I tend to agree with you nick. Fans will eventually get on Bielsa's back and call for him to leave. Last season was great, but Bielsa couldn't get us over line, he hasn't done that with any team apparently. He's becoming very stubborn and arrogant, I'm beginning to think he's starting to believe he's bigger than Leeds United. He told the press as he walked away "Bamford plays". I said a while back Bielsa needs to be carefull not to let his stubborness become his own worst enemy, he ain't far away. Let's take a look at previous stubborn coaches who were also one trick ponies and got us nowhere. Grayson, Monk, Higginbotham, Christian and that joke of a coach Redfearn.
It will be the same starting 11 Bielsa has already stated Bamford will be starting, for me Dallas and Klich are weak together. Calling for Bielsa to go? Some of us have very short memories. We’re second in the table can you hear yourselves?
The word I used was "eventually" Ristac, I also added if Bielsa doesn't turn things around. Second in table at this stage doesn't mean much, we've only played 13 games, it's going to be a long season, even longer if Bielsa doesn't turn things around. The way we're playing, and Bamford not scoring can be seen as a sign of things to come, it doesn't look like promotion football, that's for sure, and fans see it too..
Wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular on here although a few on social media are also edging towards the same Bielsa out attitude, I just find it staggering myself