Match Day Thread Leeds Utd V Crystal Palace

I should have read further down before replying myself.... Agreed

 

I reckon another season at Leeds for Bielsa, as long as he can have 3 or 4 top players to add to the 4 brought in this season. I reckon next season we wont be far off top 6

 

I understand now why some of his shots went high.

 

Have you seen the new Rhinos shirt, I like it

 

No wonder we can't get rid....waaaaayyyy overpriced, reality check needed

 

No I'll have a look Ristac..........yes it's nice, so is the Leeds Legends one as well.

 

If nobody leaves I think two signings, a LB and CM player. If we cut our losses with Costa then maybe a third, that doesn’t include signing Harrison.

My concern is the fringe players and the U23s how long do we give them before saying yes they’re good enough or no move them along. Take Shackleton, I like him but is he ever going to replace one of the first team for a start?

Bamford won’t be dislodged other than an injury, then we have Rodrigo, is Tyler Roberts ever going to take the next step up, is Geldhart going to over take him?

I know it takes time to replace a Championship team with a PL team that can push for a trophy but surely now it is nearing the time where we say lets explore if we need a purchased replacement for the likes of Alioski, Pablo and Roberts or if we already have someone able to step up.

 

Don't worry....about a thing.....coz every little thing, is gonna be alright..

 

Cue marcos

 

you won't see him till lunchtime......................maaaaaaaaaan

 

Great performance tonight by all. Few little mistakes that could've cost us against better teams and quite a few chances missed, could've had around 6 or 7 tonight. Bit more composure around goal, cut out the silly mistakes, get a few new additions and we'll be up there next season. A lot of players were slipping around tonight but we played much better passing football so the pitch is definitely an improvement. On a side note I thought the sky sports commentators were a lot better tonight.

Player ratings:
Meslier - 8 - Not sure he has a save to make. Handled everything well, passed around the defence when needed and got a clean sheet. Improvement needed in his distribution but I'm sure he's working on that.

Ayling - 7 - Thought he did much better than the last few games at RB. Lost Batshuayi when he thought the ball was going out and they had a chance from it which goes in on another day. Overall good performance and got his head to the ball a number of times.

Struijk - 8 - Pretty solid. Not much more to say but think he'll become a mainstay in this team. Should've probably scored 2 or 3 tonight.

Cooper - 9 - Probably his best game this season, composed in possession and solid in the tackle. My man of the match last night.

Alioski - 6 - For the most part he did well but there were still a few points where he lost the ball or got out muscled that would cost us on another day. Good squad player but definitely somewhere we need to improve.

Phillips - 6 - I don't feel he's been at his best for a long time this season. Think he did well marking Ayew for the most part as he is a handful but there were a lot of misplaced passes tonight. Feel he needs to do better and we know he can. Hopefully he won't be out Sunday. Our defensive positions have taken a hammering this season.

Raphinha - 9 - Class. He's just always threatening and can make things happen. Got an assist and a lot of the good stuff we do he is involved in. My only gripe is him giving the ball away occasionally and there was one point where he didn't track a player Ayling pointed too and Palace had a chance from it so I think he's still learning the system. Need to keep him in the summer if we want to improve on this season and compete with the top 6 next season. If we sell him that'll really show our ambition.

Dallas - 8 - I feel Dallas in the middle with Klich looks a lot more solid and effective than Klich and Rodrigo so Bielsa has a dilemma on his hands when Rodrigo is back fit as he's too good to be on the bench. Got an assist and always looks lively.

Klich - 8 - Played some clever passes. As above I think he looks a lot more comfortable with Dallas in the middle. Hopefully getting back to his best and probably should've had an assist.

Harrison - 8 - Good goal and movement. Should've scored his shot that hit the bar but doing very well this season. Just something that annoyed me tonight was something he does every game when he keeps the ball too long and is crowded by 3 of the opposition, he loses the ball every time and we're then under threat. Just needs to be aware of this and pass the ball when he has a simple pass as does this nearly every game.

Bamford - 8 - Calm and composed for his goal. Ran and pressed everything. Putting in 100% every time and is having a great season. Should've scored his golden opportunity and think he should've took it with his right foot.

Subs:
Shackleton - N/A - Didn't have long enough to rate and didn't do loads on the pitch.

 

I felt Phillips was solid I’d have given 7 he would have had a great assist had Struijk headed on target and Alioski 5 but pretty much agree with most of this. I’ve got to say our passing between the back line and Meslier had me unnecessarily worrying at times. It’s the way we play, it’s a joy to watch but I’m waiting for the costly mistake.

 

I think Pablo, Roberts, Forshaw Berardi and Alioski are all on their bike this Summer which allows another 3 or 4 top signings to come in and also make sure Huggins Greenwood and Gelhardt become oart if the first team squad. By the way Roberts is way behind Greenwood and Gelhardt in my opinion, so you have 2 players who can both replace Bamford and Rodrigo when required, as long as they get some minutes this season

 

Usually when you see someone else's payer ratings there's a couple you disagree with, can't disagree with any of the above though Foolee.

Klich definitely back to his best, some of that is form, but certainly there seems to be a balance issue when rodrigo plays that effects him too.

Alioski is a tryer and was generally fine with the ball, but gets turned, rolled and skinned by better players at this level too easily, he's not the only on, it's just how it is. We need a left back in the summer and a midielder, because dallas can't play both positions at the same time and someone will always be injured.

The Ayling one with Batshuayi was weird... he was trying to block the pass back seemingly without any consideration for the fact that Bats could just run unhindered into the box. It was cold, must have been a brain freeze.

 

I don’t mean this in an argumentative way and I agree with you but... Bielsa doesn’t agree when it comes to Roberts and I have to question why

 

To be clear I don't watch much of the 23's so you and others on here are better qualified to judge the kids, but the 23's is a huge step up from a pace and physicality perspective. I know gelhardt got game time at Wigan and good reviews, I was excited by the signing and both he and greenwood are young and exciting prospects... but then Greenwood looked a fish out of water against crawley (they all did to be fair!). I have hopes for them, like all of us do... but then everyone gets excited at Arsenal's academy kids but they normally release the right ones and how many make it elsewhere?

Roberts hasn't progressed like many hoped, but he's actually done ok when brought on these last few games. He may well be on his bike in the summer and it would be great if greenwood or gelhardt are ready to step up... but it's not a given.

Glimpses I've seen of Huggins he looks a real talent... bit lightweight still?

 

Dont disagree with any of that, but to see if the kids can make the step up you have to give them a go. Rooney and Milner 16yo and made it big. Look at Eze for Oalace, we trued to sign him in the Summer but what a talent and a kid. Wolves have Fabio Silva 18yo striker, Greenwoods 19 now, there are plenty of young kids getting game time in the Prem. If you have top young talent they have to get a go?in my opinion Gelhardt is different gravy and will scare defenders to death. I rate him higher than Greenwood

 

... true about giving them a chance (genuinely I'd like to see them get some pitch time, and now we're looking secure, maybe they will in the second half of the season) ... however, the Rooney's of this world picked themselves. If these guys were knocking over trees in training against the first team, they'd maybe have been getting more bench time? Gelhardt has something, don't disagree from what i've seen.

Certainly true that Bielsa is loyal to his squad, sometimes it seems overly so, but you can't argue with the results of it.

 

Agree....you ain't going to know if you don't appear on the show, isn't the scum greenwood a kid and he gets enough minutes......milner,Smith,Connor etc have all been thrown in and swam ...and geldhart has played against seasoned pro's for Wigan albeit lesser quality but still....one or two need an audition