Good Morning. It's Friday 19th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Team news for tonight Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo have both been ruled out of tonight's mid table Premiership clash at the Molineux. Pascal Struijk will drop back to defence to partner skipper Liam Cooper, allowing Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling to revert back to their natural wing back positions (thank goodness). Stuart Dallas has the unenviable role of marking Wolves power house Adama Traore. Diego Llorente has returned to training and he is available for selection. Due to his recent injury issues, he is likely to be used sparingly. It's Mateusz Klich's turn at defensive midfield as Bielsa tries to find the best option to temporarily fill Kalvin Phillips boots! Out of the five games Phillips has missed through injury, Leeds have won, just once (home v Crystal Palace). Shackleton keeps his plack in midfield, and Alioski drops to the bench. Nuno Espírito Santo's team are looking to complete the double for the first time this season! please log in to view this image Kinnear plans to turn ER into World Class Stadium Leeds United Managing Director Angus Kinnear has been talking on the Leeds Utd podcast about developing Elland Road and making the venue a world-class Stadium. Andrea Radrizzani has been eager to develop the facilities of the grounds, whilst obviously improving the team on the pitch. Kinnear said: "That process started prior to promotion. It's now accelerated with some pace. "There's a clear vision from Andrea [Radrizzani] and the 49ers that we should have a world-class stadium for a world-class team." Regarding the substantial investment from the 49ers, Kinnear added: "It's going to strengthen the club at all levels. "Andrea has been very clear and very selfless in his principle that if anyone wants to come in and help make Leeds United stronger, then he will welcome them with open arms and allow them to have a piece of the pie. "With the 49ers, having known them now for two years, we found a group of people who not only have really great financial resources, but also have excellent operational and technical skills in terms of elite performance and running a sports organisation. "So there is a lot of empathy with the challenges we face and the opportunities. "But more importantly, they have become friends. Paraag and Jed [York] are now huge Leeds United fans. They are making this investment more through passion than any economic advantages. So with Andrea's vision and their capabilities, I don't think Leeds has had a stronger ownership group for some time, and I think we will see the benefits of that on the field and off the field." "I think there is a good chance of potentially something happening at the end of the season, for the cup finals," he said when asked about the prospect of fans returning. "But I think most of the Premier League is focused on ensuring that we get a full return to fans at the start of next season. "I think the learning across everybody as we've looked at all of the operational requirements, it's actually just better to get everybody back. Rather than have half or 25%, we just need to get back to full stadiums." If the plan is to turn Elland Road into a 'top class Stadium' to compete with the likes of the Emirates or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, surely Elland Road needs to be flattened, and start again, or accelerate the plans and designs to try and incorporate both training facilities and new Stadium on or around the Matthew Murray site where Leeds new training ground will be? please log in to view this image Liam Cooper Leeds skipper Liam Cooper has certainly had his ups and downs since his 1m transfer from Chesterfield in 2014. Seven years on, Bielsa has molded the Hull born centre back into the best player he can be. Will Cooper ever set the World alight in the same way that the Chief did twenty years ago - No! We he always have a mistake in him - yes; but we know what to expect from the 29yo who has just completed 200 caps for the club. There is no secret that Leeds need to improve significantly in defence. The extraordinary bad luck Leeds have had this season regarding Llorente and Koch have not helped Leeds cause but it has highlited Leeds frailties in defence. To have conceded 42 goals in 23 games is shocking, and it needs addressing urgently. Whilst we can point the finger at Cooper's defensive partner, we have to ask the question whether Cooper will be good enough next season when Leeds start to build a stronger team? If not, who would be a natural Captain? please log in to view this image
Morning all Our defence has been makeshift all season so find it amazing that we are comfortable in mid table. We are comfortable because we have a great coach and a bunch if players who buy into Bielsa’s ethos. Cooper is known as League 1 Cooper and with good reason until he met the guy from Argentina and then he grew in skill level and also the muscle between his ears as he grew into a confident very good CB that got him into the Scotland team. We have been found wanting at the back at times but having played with 4 different partners at CB and not having had our best team on the pitch once all season, amazing. Cooper has thrown himself in front if countless shots that were destined to go in and so for that I would say he alone has saved us conceding at least 10 goals. Never going to be a worldy but a genuine do or die player who will do whatever the team need. Yes he is captain material but if we have a new captain next season he wont be too unhappy
Is it true that Alioski is being dropped and Klich playing CDM? Seems very un Bielsa like to change the team in that way, especially considering the performance in the 2nd half. I didn’t think he was naming the team in his presser anymore either? Not sure what to expect from tonight but we should have enough to win as long as we keep Neto quiet and don’t give any easy goals away. Cooper has been a fantastic captain and if you look at all the games this season he’s been our best CB. I can’t see him being dropped next season or the armband taken off of him tbh and I think he’ll still deserve his spot. Struijk will be waiting in the wings for the season after imo. Koch and Llorente will then battle it out for the RCB. So next season if everyone is fit I think the two CB’s will be Llorente and Cooper. Once Cooper is no longer in the starting 11 I’m not sure who would’ve captain, natural replacement would be Phillips but I’m not sure he’s as loud or has he leadership that Cooper does so we’ll see, it’ll probably go to Ayling as he’d be the next most senior that’ll be in the starting 11.
No doubt Bielsa has done wonders with Cooper, and has made it for difficult for the opposition to take advantage of his frailties whilst making the most of his attributes.
Bielsa has been experimenting with square pegs in round holes all season. What he won't do, is drop his favourites. Take Klich for example. He has been off form for the last 10 games. Why has he not been dropped. Any other Manager would have!!!!
Morning all, Next season when Koch and Llorente, barring injuries, will most likely be our first choice centre back pairing. This means Cooper will most likely just be back up. Along with Struijk I think it is going to be one of our stronger areas. Cooper for me should remain as Captain, clearly the squad like him in the role. As he will most likely be back up I think it is more important to find a good vice captain. Someone who can be the leader on the pitch when Cooper is not playing but still be the example when Cooper does play. Ayling to me is best choice. We do not know enough about Koch or Llorente to see their leadership qualities.
Elland your team selection is rather worrying. You've dropped Alioski to the bench but haven't brought in anyone to replace him...would Bielsa really choose to start with 10 Oh and Klich was dropped last month against Leicester...he got lucky though as he came on after 21 mins for Rodrigo. As we then went on to win the game 3-1 he retained his place next match with Rodrigo sidelined due to injury.
You mean the same Shaks that started against Arsenal ? Oh and Dallas and course. Feck me which game were you all watching
Cooper is a left side CB which is a tough replacement as not many around, however Struijk is also a left sided Cb so we are covered now with 4 CBs. heartbreaking this so lets hope the lads do it for Kal and Val
I agree to a certain extend but he’s dropped both Costa and Klich this season. A lot of other decisions have been based on us having injuries. I think if a player shows enough in training and appearances they can displace a main stay in the team but this doesn’t happen too often as Bielsa has his core players that he trusts and for good reason. I also don’t think any other player e.g Shacks, Davis and Roberts have shown enough when they’ve played to displace main stays in the team. Possibly. If it’s performance based on this season I’d say Cooper and Struijk have been the best two CB’s. Llorente is hard to judge but I’d assume being a Spanish international he’ll be a class act so will be a starter and Cooper is club captain and shown enough this season that he’s been capable. I’d say Koch and Ayling have made more mistakes at CB than Cooper, he’s been really solid so far this season.
The U23s are down in Norwich and guessing that we will field a very young team as I suspect Gelhardt, Cresswell or Casey and Huggins will be with the first team tonight. So going to be a tough ask against Norwich but we are 10 points clear at the top so fingers crossed
llorente will be a defo starter somewhere in this side, what bit we have seen of him he has looked composed and class...i think struick could well be his partner if it is at c.b. he is coming along exceptionally
The thing about Llorente was Bielsa saying back in October, that Llorente is the player he will rely on to cover for any absences Phillips has simply because he has played DM for his club for over a year and also for Spain. So I guess in his eyes he would always have cover and never expected Llorente to break down. I also hear an interview with a Spanish journo when we bought him, and he said his club have changed the way they play and made Llorente a DM and hes been great there. He said Llorente over the last 2 seasons had played RB, RCB, LCB, LB & DM but more effective as a RCB, DM & RB. So basically a great defensive utility player and we aint seen hm all season, frustrating
Afternoon all So, several years ago some friends of mine gave me some boxes and bags with Leeds Programmes and a few pennants in. They were collected by their disabled daughter who had sadly passed away and they wanted to give them to a Leeds fan. Anyway, I am no collector and never really looked except to lend them to another Leeds fan who was terminally ill in hospital with cancer. They came back when he died and have sat in a cupboard since although I did say to 1964 on a post a few years ago his friend that sells programmes could have them if he wanted for free. I was told he had more than enough and wouldn't be interested so fair enough. Ben has the teenage bug for trying to make a fast buck and asked me if he can sell them on eBay a couple of days ago & I said yes but didn't really think he would do it. I sat in the kitchen last night and he came in and said this one is worth £ 200.00. Eyebrows raised, I looked and it is the 1975 European Cup Final (WACCOE) in mint condition. Flippin heck I thought and went up to his room with him to look at the others - 75 EC Semi Final, 74 Charity Shield, 70, 72 & 73 Cup Finals, League Cup Final, Southampton 72, Kilmarnock Cup Semi Final and loads of league games that I haven't had a chance to go through yet but will over the weekend. The really cool bit is we really got into looking through them (cigarette advertising in all of them and the smell of an old library) and Ben became more fascinated with the sense of history and has decided he would rather keep them out on display in his room rather than selling them - some things are more important than money dad. If only I could thank that young lady now, she certainly knew what she was collecting
