The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 6th January)

Good Morning. Its Wednesday 6th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Mateta in Orta's sights

The Daily Express claim that Leeds are closing in Mainz centre forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. The highly rated 6ft 4' colossal joined the Bundesliga outfit from Lyon in the Summer of 2018. Since his arrival, he has netted 24 times in 66 appearances.

His recent tally of 10 goals in 16 matches this season, including a hat-trick against Freiburg back in November has put the 23yo in Victor Orta's sights.

Mateta was born in Sevran (North of Paris) to Congolese immigrants, and is a former French U21 International. Various sources value Mateta at 13.5m Euros.

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Pundit questions whether Meslier can play the Bielsa way

Former Republic of Ireland International, now Soccer pundit Tony Cascarino has claimed that Leeds shot stopper Illan Meslier ‘overplays’ and feels he isn’t capable of playing the Marcelo Bielsa way.

Over recent weeks Meslier’s wayward passes have been a cause for concern. On Saturday, it resulted in Leeds having to give Spurs a penalty (even though replays show the foul was not in the area).

“I am not sure about the Leeds keeper,” said Cascarino. “He overplays for me. I think sometimes ‘wow, you really want to take a risk with that pass?’

“But the manager wants them to play. I’m not sure he is capable of actually playing the way Bielsa wants him to do. “He does a lot of passing, so he’s nearly like a centre-half in the final backline.”

Do Leeds need a more experienced keeper between the sticks?

Meslier has made the second highest number of saves in the Premiership this season, but would they benefit from a veteran, someone like John Ruddy?

Former Citeh defender Micah Richards leapt to Meslier's defence: “No, no, No, I am not doing that,” “Meslier rents one of my houses in Harrogate, so he will be getting no stick whatsoever from me.”

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Which player would you choose?

If you could bring one of these former players back as a 26yo, who would it be and why?

Ian Harte

Lewis Cook

Patrick Bamford

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Morning all
Seems a lot of fake news about because of transfer window. On the transfer sticky yesterday I mentioned Mateta coming but last night clarification from the CEo of Mainz 05 who stated Mateta is going nowhere and nobody had asked about him anyway.

Also last night it was confirmed Rodrigo De Paul would be moving nowhere this winter and also Riqui Puig had signed a contract extension to 2023, but maybe loaned out. So 3 tranny rumours killed off last night.

 

Liam Cooper should be fit for this weekend after his abdominal injury. I would leave him on the bench and play Casey and Cresswell. I would also start Greenwood and Gelhardt as well as Pablo, Costa and Poveda. Would also be great to see Dramah and Huggins as LB and RB. This could be brilliant for these kids who get the chance to show Bielsa what they can do against seasoned pro’s

 

Bielsa has said he has confidence in Meslier, so Cascarino is talking ****e.

 

If Casey and Cresswell play then Caprile should be in goal as they've built up a good understanding with him. Coco would totally **** with their heads.....and ours

In fact anyone in goal but the Spanish clown.

 

agree totally with Coco, we should pay up his contract and call it a day, he is unreliable for such an experienced keeper, put caprille in with Casey, cresswell,drameh, geldhart, greenwood with Pablo,poveda,costa, alioski, struick as for the Mainz guy probably be 1 of many to be linked.....Harte for me

 

Sorry Doc, I can’t buy into that, I say put a strong side out, hammer them and change it last 20 to 30 mins, we need a descent cup run and not a Newport on out hands.

 

That may well be exactly what Bielsa does mate, but if any regular first teamer gets injured how would you feel. Lets say Cooper plays and gets hurt, or how about Rodrigo or Bamford? This season is all about survival in my opinion, plus be good to see if we can save many millions in transfer fees in the Summer if any of our kids shows character and flair

 

Agree 100% this time round I think we should go for all we can get

 

Agreed with this. I think we need a good look at the 23s with 4-5 first teamers like Pablo, Poveda etc. If they’re good enough we should go through and we’ve started to put money into our 23s. I remember that Wenger used to play a lot of youth in the cups and get to the final, that’s how you bring them through otherwise we’ll end up seeing a lot of the good youngsters move on if they aren’t getting chances. Sam Greenwood has had 3 different clubs since 2018 so will want to develop.

 

I mentioned yesterday that Fast Eddy looks like being sold by Arsenal this month. How would this board feel about buying him? Especially if we’re selling Roberts

 

“Sam Greenwoodhas had 3 different clubs since 2018 so will want to develop”

This from foolee is a good shout because the facts are these: he was in the Sunderland Academy as a kid but because hes ambitious he had the chance to go to Arsenal and as Sunderland were in freefall he went to London. Even when he was scoring bucket loads of goals for Arsenal at all age groups, including England. He realised that Arsenal had plenty of young strikers and was going to be hard to get given a chance, so came to Leeds. He carried on where he left off at Arsenal and indeed for England, and if he doesn't get a chance here he will go elsewhere at the end of this contract but his next move will be to a club who play him as a starter or 1st team squad player.

Why I believe our best kids should be given a chance in this seasons Fa Cup

 

In the cup teams are allowed 5 subs, so there is an option of giving game time to the youngsters.

 

No to Nketiah. Didn't fit the system first time around and if we buy him it would push the likes of Greenwood and Geldhart even further down the pecking order.

They deserve to be next in line.

 

I'm not too fussed about going all out for the cup this year, i'll probably be more interested in a couple of years when we're an established Premier League side, but I do want us to field a team that should easily beat Crawley.

I'd go for a mixture of established players (Costa, Pablo) fringe player (Shackleton, Poveda) and youngsters (Geldhardt, Greenwood) I'd rather we had atleast some experience in the back four just to help the youngsters who aren't used to this type of opposition but obviously that's the area we can least afford injuries. Phillips will miss the Brighton game through suspension so we might see him play here just to keep him ticking over. What we can't do is put a majority youth team out and expect them to win, that's been proved in the EFL trophy. Better to target the four or five who are likely to be breaking through into the squad soon, and those already there who need more minutes.

A big no to Nketiah for me. He might be a good fit for some but he just doesn't suit our style and he's not done anything to prove he's good enough at this level yet.

 

If Cooper is fit I would play him and Phillips at the back with one of the kids coming on for Cooper after an hour.

Is Forshaw back training? There is talk of him going on loan. If he can, give him half a game with Shacks and Pablo in the middle with him.

Roberts up front with Poveda and Costa filling the wings.


Should be good enough to beat Crawley.

 

Roberts isnt anywhere near as good as Gelhardt or Greenwood, sorry just a fact. So for me these 2 should play at No9 and No10 alongside Pablo at No8 with Costa and Poveda on the flanks

I hear the calls for a stronger back line and Phillips being out for the next league match could maybe play in his own position and have Struijk with Cooper but also have Cresswell and Casey do the 2nd half. Yes play Alioski but not Dallas and Ayling

 

If he is going to push them down the pecking order? then they are not good enough then in my eyes.

 

I want to see Greenwood and Gelhardt as I don’t think Roberts has it in him at PL and doesn’t seem bothered. Think we’ll be parting ways with him soon to make way for the 23s or another first team player either in Jan or the summer.

 

Was just thinking - if Kiko +/or Roberts don't line up for Crawley, then it's clear they're history & may be leaving very soon (hopefully).

For me, the u23 priorities for this match are the 2 combis - Casey & Cresswell, plus Geldhardt & Greenwood. From what I've read, they play best in combination, so should start together. Wish I'd been able to watch them up at TA.

I don't think we should overload the team with u23s. Start the 2 CBs as a priority, but surround them with experience. Kiko, if he's staying - if not, Meslier. Ayling & Dallas as FBs, with KP in front of them before his wee holiday.

I'd like the 2G's to start too, & again would surround them with experience.

I suspect that this is one match in particular that the fitness levels will be miles apart, so the last 20 mins should - should! - be a doddle for us to win the match if we've not done so well earlier. The last thing we want to do is start with our strongest team - we need to give these kids a real test. No point in giving them an easy last 20 mins.

That's the priorities for me, but we don't know what Bielsa is thinking, so God knows what'll happen.