Our players all man Mark, Rogers tried to outsmart Bielsa today tweaking his players around overloading areas to leave those gaps, Phillips was following team orders. In the second half a couple of times players looked to Bielsa to see if they should continue man marking and the instruction was yes. I remember one free kick on the right for Leicester (our left), I thought where the hell is Alioski, then I saw him roughly where Struijk was playing just arms length from Struijk himself. It was Rogers ploy to move us out of position
Rather worryingly, he slowly left the field holding his quad & grimacing. Seemed to be ok for the interview, but until I see him line up again, I'm concerned.
Glad that it is working out for him, he's had a few clubs in the past but he is settled here with the system and team mates and mainly bucket man who really believes in him, he is still young enough to have a big impact....11 to his tally of course he maybe could have had a few more already but is all round contribution adds a lot to the way we play....if he is out we will see how much we could miss him, maybe we won't but at the moment I don't really wish to find out
I think we are somewhere near the same page. His man was Maddison. My issue with Phillips, especially the first 25 minutes, was that he let Maddison dictate the game. He didn't defend him very well (Maddison got the assist) and not only that didn't impose himself on the game. Maddison basically realised that Phillips was going to stick to him so ****ed off up front and out wide to leave a big gaping hole in front of our defence. Rodrigo isn't going to track back that much and Dallas can't cover all of the middle. I'm sure someone told Kalvin to push up 10 yards at the 25 minute mark. Maybe it was the presence of Klich? Either way Kalvin played a more prominent part after that and we became dominant. 2nd half they flooded midfield and negated the influence Phillips had on the game. He was far more combative in the 2nd half. The first 25 minutes were a disgrace from Phillips, Rodrigo and Dallas. We got fortunate that Rodrigo went off meaning we got a bit more discipline in there with Klich. The Evans chance is down to the two main culprits for letting their man go at set pieces and they are Phillips and Ayling. Two Leicester players were given 5 yards of space at the back stick because of it.... again.
Imo I think it's far too early for us to be playing European football with the squad we have, we've seen over the years teams unexpectedly making the Europa then struggling in the league that and even the next season, Burnley, West Ham immediately spring to mind, as where Wolves coped last season, it seems to have taken its toll on them this. I think 2022/23 is about right to be considering it. small steps for now. Not that I think we are capable at present to achieve it anyway..
But was it the players fault, they’re told to man to man Mark without the ball... Leicester know that so had a game plan to pull them out of position, they look over to Bielsa and say do you still want us to do this and the instruction was yes still do your man to man
I take your point. You could say that the coaching staff instructions were the reason that Phillips had a poor first 25 minutes. Personally I think it was a collective thing. The coaches didn't tell him to ball watch on corners for example. Either way, something happened around 25 minutes that brought Kalvin in to the game. It might have been Klich coming on or even Maddison dropping deep. I don't know but it was like flicking a switch....and when Kalvin plays well then we start to get on top.
Ask lanky OLOF how short of breath I was when walking between early houses, the ****s wouldn't serve me in the first one.
All the bollox aside well played Leeds. Can't help but like the football you play That fcking hurt. ****s!