Guest breakfast debate 05/02/21

Pablo Hernandez - Should he stay or should he go?

Signs are that Pablo will be leaving us in the summer to go to his own club of Castellon. It is sad that we would not be able to see him play in a full Elland road in the Premier League. Do you think we should have a friendly against Castellon in the summer as a type of testimonial/goodbye?

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Departures - Auf Wiedersehen

Who else do you think will be leaving in the summer? Who else is surplus to requirements or needs replacing for a better player?

Alioski?
Costa?
Roberts?
Klich?

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Liam Cooper.

Our captain came in for some stick after Wednesdays match from fans unhappy with the teams defending.

Where does/should Cooper sit in the history of players/defenders & Captains?

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Thanks @hemase

Morning all

I remember saying at the start of this season I’d not have offered Pablo a new contract, I think we allowed sentiment to rule our heads.

Bielsa doesn’t seem to want to allow anyone to leave but I’d agree with your four suggestions but with a question mark over Klich, I’d give him the rest of the season and maybe keep him as a reserve. I have a feeling Bielsa wants a new LB and he sees Dallas as the answer to replace Klich. If Bielsa is genuinely interested in the De Paul guy I’d imagine that’s to replace Rodrigo.

Cooper doesn’t stand out as an individual, he isn’t better than Bartley or Pontus, he isn’t better than Ayling who covers the position but he is a cog in a good team effort. I’d say equally as important as the next player when they’re all doing their job.

 

I'd put Hernandez in the top group of our best ever signings. Unfortunately time is catching up with him. I still think he is our most creative player at the club. The friendly is a great idea if fans are allowed back in.

In the summer I would listen to offers for Roberts, Costa, Leif Davis, Shackleton, Kiko and possibly Alioski, Edmondson, Stevens, Gotts. Its harsh on the young lads but they don't look like they will break in to the first team and need to play games at this stage in their career.

As for Cooper, he sounds like a good captain. His attitude is top notch and people like that are the glue that holds the squad together. I'd keep him at the club. Unfortunately I think the jump up to the PL is a bit too big for him and is probably 4th in order behind Struijk, Koch and Llorente now ability wise. Not a bad reserve though.

 

The thing with Cooper is he captained the side back to the Premier League. While that is not just down to him I think that should buy him a seat at the top table of players we will always love. I think it would be unfair to diminish his achievement just because some fans do not like him.

 

Morning all

For me Pablo is a player who deserves a fantastic send off. Out of all the players who have gone in the recent past Pablo’s last game at ER deserves to have 40,000 fans there to send he and his family off in style, but covid looks to have killed that off. I think he will go home to Castillone this Summer and I reckon a great little pre season game should be a Leeds 11 V Castillone. It would make a great trip for fans to go over and show their appreciation and have a few foaming ales with the Hernandez family and locals. On the day the transfer window closed Ma Garcia posted a photo of Castillone, so it looks like she was hoping to go home then.

Players leaving really means how many are going to come in. I think Romain Perraude at LB and looks like Rodrigo De Paul or a player like him is coming to be Klich and cover for Phillips, and I think we will bring in one more top player. This means with Pablo going two more should go. Roberts still isnt cutting it for me and where will Alioski fit when Perraude arrives because we have Dallas and we have Huggins. Kiko should also be gone and that leaves Costa to leave and business sone

 

We need to somehow offload Forshaw when he finally (if ever) returns to fitness. Waste of a wage and taking up a valuable squad place.

Maybe Bielsa is hoping he can compete for the Klich role but what's the point when with his history he'll be back for a few games, break down again, and out for a year?

 

Looking at this seasons performances so far I think the step up is too much for Pablo. He will always be a legend and deserves a good send off. I think Rodrigo was seen as a younger replacement. In my eyes I think Bielsa wants to have Rodrigo and Klich fighting for the attacking midfielder spot. Klich is a very good player and feel we should keep him if it's to start or as a squad player, he's a good asset to have as he's an intelligent player. I think Dallas is a good squad player and I think what we've seen having him in midfield is that we need a more defensive CM to partner our attacking players so a CM is also a must.

I think if Alioski wants to stay he is a great player to have as back up, in the squad and when injuries hit so is a keeper for me but if he does decide to go I think Huggins will be pushed into back up LB but we definitely need to go out and get a starter LB and it looks like we're already on the case.

I think Costa has to go and we need to get a new winger in to fight Harrison and Raphinha for their places. I've said this before but if Reading don't go up they have two good attacking wingers in Ejaria and Olise that would be good squad signings to push the current two and not be overly expensive.

If we can get someone to buy or pay the wages of Kiko then we should offload him and buy a good back up keeper which I think is probably easier said than done so I think we may be stuck with him as no.2 next season.

I think Cooper has done well this season. Hasn't made loads of mistakes and been pretty solid. I'm not sure he's going to be first choice forever but in Cooper, Koch, Llorente and Struijk we have 4 good CB's which is more than enough. Bielsa won't buy anymore and when he decides Coopers time in the first team is over we have a very good CB as a squad player to play in cups etc.

Regarding the rest, if the players out on loan have not done enough to impress we need to get some money for them but with the one's that have done well they need to have another season out on loan to Championship sides to improve their levels again if they haven't shown enough in pre-season training to push the team. I don't think Roberts is good enough so if we can get some money for him that would be ideal but possibly a loan to add to his value and Shackleton or Drameh could probably do with a loan depending on who is pushing Ayling for his spot. I think Casey needs to go out on loan. Davis and Forshaw either need some loan time or to be sold.

If we can go into next season with our first 11 as Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, New LB, Phillips, Raphinha, Rodrigo, New CM, Harrison & Bamford with subs of New GK, Struijk, Koch, Alioski, Dallas, Klich, Poveda, New winger and either Greenwood, Gelhardt or a New ST I'd be happy.

 

Agree with this so for me players we can do without and improve on are:

1. Roberts
2. Kiko
3. Forshaw
4. Alioski
5. Pablo
6. Costa

But we know we wont be buying 6 new players but will deffo buy 3 maybe 4 max.

Players from the 23s who could maybe do a job next season:

1. Drameh (LB, RB, CB)
2. Greenwood (8, 9, 10)
3. Gelhardt (8, 9, 10)
4. Cresswell (5)
5. Huggins (LB) Alioski with top pace top skill and can tackle
6. Summerville
   

 

Bielsa will let Alioski leave. Getting rid of Costa would mean he got it wrong spending £15m on him, but thems the breaks, all clubs buy players who don't quite cut the mustard. Pablo is a legend and deserves to do whatever he wishes to do. I'd keep Klich and I think Cooper has played very well in the PL. Not sure why we keep conceding from corners though. And finally I think Bielsa has a soft spot for Roberts, unsure whether he'll sell him.

 

I must be the only one who thinks Hernandez has looked ok when coming on as sub yes he's misplaced passes but so have all of them - it's all part of the risk and reward strategy - but because people seem to fixate on his age he's deemed to be 'past it', 'too old' etc.

He must still be fit enough and meet all the targets required otherwise Bielsa wouldn't have him anywhere near the squad, let alone the subs bench.

Very useful squad player, and let's face it we're a bit short on experience. Keep him if he wants to stay.

 

I think you're right he seems to like the lad,I know where Robert's soft spot is and where to kick him up it....he has got talent but he hasn't got the right attitude or application to bring it out.....look in the mirror Tyler and wake up or you will probably regret it down the line son

 

This exactly. Pablo has done very well when used off the bench. He has regularly come on and ran the midfield for us. Misplaced passes from him have always been a thing but as you say the risk vs reward is worth it.

I think his wife wants to go home and he has a stake in Castellon and has said in the past that he wanted to finish up there. He has earned the right to do what he wants. I can't think of a better player for Leeds since we were last in the PL. He is a pleasure to watch.

 

Heard a story earlier today and if true explains a lot and why the players and management at Leeds still have a lot if time for Costa. Apparently he has family problems back in Portugal and I think he has someone close who's very ill. Covid means he cant get home and hasn't been home in months?

 

One player coming in is already here and it will be £10m well spent. Jack Harrison

 

10 million seems a snap for Harrison when you look at his goals and assists this season. How much would we be looking to bring in a player with his age and stats?

 

Good morning everyone
Ok if true sentiment is fine, keep him on the payroll sure ? But and i know this sounds harsh, no place in the starting eleven or on the bench till he sorts his head out. Because he's more of a hindrance than an asset on the field of play at the moment, as we need eleven players with the right attitude in a game not ten.
And a big thank you to hemase for kicking off the breakfast debate (your all doing very well starting it, but let's hope Elland will be back soon).

 

Feel a bit sorry for Costa. He takes alot of flak. Some players need to play every game to hit top form and I think Costa is one of them. He has no impact from the bench and needs a couple of games in a row to hit form. When he plays a few games in a row he always looks decent. Unfortunately he isn't good enough to dislodge Harrison or Raphinha so never really gets there.

I think he is a good player but might need to move if he wants regular football.

I hope he resolves his problems and comes back stronger for it.

 

When there are European matches or international friendlies players have no trouble flying out and back again despite restrictions so I can’t see why he can’t pop back to Portugal tbh.

Didn’t Arsenal’s Aubameyang just fly to Germany and back for similar reasons?

 

Dont think its that easy tbh. Espirito Santo at Wolves is almost slashing his wrists because he hasnt seen his family for nearly a year, as there are sheilding restrictions overseas too. I think Pep has a problem as he aint seen his wife and kids for months. Portugal is now a red zone because of being the main European hub fir Brazil and South America, so no flights in or out from UK?

i think we are all to blame for the abuse we give players. This season my anger is aimed at Roberts. I think we were all slagging off Bamford last season and the season before we found out about the way the club had treated Grott because we all forgot about this 18yo kid ho was thrust into first team action first time away from his family, living abroad in digs and he knew nobody and spent some nights in tears.

 

That’s the reason I never pass derogatory comments on any player. I/we just don’t know what goes on behind closed doors so to speak