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The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 21st December)

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by ellandback, Dec 21, 2020.

  1. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    Can we afford to keep playing someone who has gone missing for 4 games in a row?
     
    #21
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  2. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    A few others have raved about Klich so I’ve focussed my attention on him for the last three to four games and I have to agree, he hasn’t looked that great. It’s a tricky one as you don’t know what he has been asked to do.
     
    #22
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  3. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    It was said for a while watch the game and you won't see klich. Watch klich and see the game. Now it's neither.
     
    #23
  4. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    This because when you throw in Harrison’s ability to have 3-4 bad games and Bamfords ability to go a couple of games missing sitters and Coopers ability for a mistake or two a game it all mounts up.

    It’s okay this season as it’s about survival and seeing what key areas we need to address next season. We needed to replace Saiz and we never have, we need to replace Pablo and we haven’t, Rodrigo was supposed to replace Bamford but his start to the season has caused a Bielsa headache.

    Poveda, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Koch, Llorente - I expected them to start slowly this season and I look forward to seeing what they can do next.
     
    #24
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  5. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    My take on last night and more.

    Critical and silly mistakes cost us. Klich, Raphinha, Rodrigo & Phillips all lost markers or made poor passes that lost us possession in dangerous areas. We can not afford to lose possession in our own half against class players especially when they have pace.

    We cannot abandon the way we play. We have come this far and are currently in a much better position that the other promoted teams who don’t play as nice football as us and are still getting beat. If it wasn’t for a makeshift defence, silly mistakes and having a mostly championship side we could have got something out of last night.

    This season is about staying in the league and then going again in the transfer window and improving the team. As Bamford said last night if the team followed Bielsa’s plan perfectly we’d win every game. Don’t change the system, just improve the players in it. Why come all this way and then change, it makes no sense.
     
    #25
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  6. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    I know what you’re saying but also what does dropping him achieve? Who do we bring in that can do a better job there? People were calling for Alioski, Cooper, Harrison etc. to be dropped before the Newcastle game and then they all have decent games. It’s one of those things that Bielsa doesn’t often change and we can reap the rewards of this commitment.

    If you question Klich you need to question Rodrigo as he is also playing in midfield and making silly mistakes with possession. When it was Klich and Dallas in the middle we didn’t concede against Arsenal and Everton.
     
    #26
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  7. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    On Klich nobody is a bigger fan than me, but yesterday was his worst game and just maybe he was aware if his surroundings and it got to. All those players wanted to go to OT in their careers and maybe a few it got to.

    Rodrigo missed a chance, Bamford missed 2, Harrison missed a sitter and Raphinah made De Gare pull off a couple of top saves. Even if Bamford and Harrison had tucked away the easier chances it would have been 6-4 which is a result as not many get 4 goals against them at OT.

    This isn't apocalyptic
     
    #27
  8. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    Watch the first 10 games. He was our most consistent player. It's no coincidence that when Klich has been asked to change position to fill in for Phillips or has been off form that our performances have dropped as a team.
     
    #28
  9. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    Nailed it.

    This is where recruitment becomes so important in the next couple of years. We need players who have more consistency and are more consistent in their performances. That takes money. It's a slow build as we have missed approximately £1.6 billion in our PL absence. Many teams have had access to that money and yet we can still compete with them.
     
    #29
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  10. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Last season how many of us would have accepted having 6 Premiership teams being behind us in the table and be 3 points in front of Arsenal
     
    #30

  11. CreativeMenace

    CreativeMenace Active Member

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    I would like to see Phillips used in a more static role in front of the centre backs, particularly against the top teams or until we have found our rhythm. He could be the calm, in the storm that our games can be like. Alternatively I think he could do a great job on the right of a midfield 3, spraying Beckham-like passes and crosses.
     
    #31
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  12. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    #32
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  13. blonogasoven

    blonogasoven Well-Known Member

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    Morning all. I onlyngot to watch the first ten minutes or so but from what I saw they came at us straight away, hunting in packs and closing each player in possession down causing us to rush our passing. With quality you grt composure and they exposed us.
    They robbed us and punished us. At least, from what I've heard, we continued to compete so the heads didn't drop.
    I don't want to question Bielsa but maybe when we come up against a team like Man Utd or Chelski we should look at strengthening our midfield, for example putting Struijk in with Philips. It may also help to have a couple of genuine full backs in.
    It could have been completely different with Llorente and Koch but the gung ho attitude would be the same.
    Even last night would it have been better to have Struijk at CB with Ayling at RB and Dallas at LB?
    I know Bielsa won't change but against the better teams I think we need to grind out results
     
    #33
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  14. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

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    On a positive note i thought Struijk liked good when he came on. Calm and effective in the Phillips role
     
    #34
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  15. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
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  16. milkyboy

    milkyboy Well-Known Member

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    Klich was outstanding earlier in the season but he’s looked jaded this month. I’m sure he still cover’s the ground but half a step slower. I’ve noticed this in the last couple of seasons too, he seems to have periods where he looks leggy. Not surprising as he’s ever-present and covers more ground than anyone pretty much every game.

    That said I think the issue may be related to Rodrigo’s role. I’m not sure they know who is covering who and I didn’t notice klich dropping deep to be first receiver like he often does and act as the glue of the team.

    On that subject, I like Rodrigo and Raphinha but not sure either understands yet when to try the back heels and when to give the simple pass. In this side ball retention is critical in that ‘first receiver’ role because everyone else is bombing forward to create overlaps... possession lost then and we’re really exposed. They do it too often at the moment.
     
    #36
  17. Leedsdude

    Leedsdude Well-Known Member

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    The fact remains that we've been taken to the cleaners by Manure, Chelski, Leicester (and WHU should have scored a hatful too), these are teams in the top six. We've given as good as we got against everyone else and I am only interested in results from the bottom half of the table. We are in a relegation battle, have no doubt about that. Having a seven point cushion is very little considering how we always seem to finish a season badly. We need to take points in our next two games, I won't be dwelling on yesterdays fiasco.
     
    #37
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  18. Normanbitmyleg70

    Normanbitmyleg70 Well-Known Member

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    Roy has gone up in my estimation. Got it spot on.
     
    #38
  19. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    3-0 up at half time for the 23s and could have been many more. Top of the league and a game in hand isnt too shabby. Report in the 23s sticky above
     
    #39
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  20. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Just to cheer everyone up after yesterday, watch magic being created

     
    #40
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