Pick the strongest 11 from the start but include youngsters in the squad and try and give them more game time each week. If this means the likes of Pablo do not feature in the squad then whilst sad it is the right thing to do.
Or look at it another way If we play them when we are mathematically safe, maybe we could establish a value on our assets which could far outweigh any positional money. Better to do this at the end of the season when you know you are safe rather than at the start of a season when you don't know what the future holds, however we are not in that position yet
Istanbul is 500 miles from where he was born. That would be some stone throw! You're right in one respect that you may not have realised, as there is a heavy Turkish presence - & influence - in Macedonia.
Agree wholeheartedly. If we don't start blooding kids now, it's either because we've got a (forlorn) hope that we'll qualify for the Europa League, or we've recognised that our kids just aren't good enough. Could there be another reason? As for the Alioski situation, let's assume that there are only 100,000 Leeds supporters worldwide (very, very conservative). Count the number of rabid dissenters on social media, say 1,000 (let's be generous). That means that 1% of our support are fervent enough to voice their negative & silly opinion. 1%!! That's me being extremely generous to the dissenters (being polite here). Why should Alioski listen to such a tiny number of noisy, hate-filled lunatics?
exactly doc... we had this discussion last week I think. 3-0 up or 3-0 down between now and the end is the season and joffy gets his debut... maybe 2-0 if it’s injury time and bielsa’s feeling lucky
Agreed. A few good performances by some u23s in the 1st team might find their values soar, which would cover some of the 'point income' losses. But it seems to me, that playing them enough might even result in us not signing a £20m player, as one of out u23s is just about as good, & has more potential to develop.
Yes that was the question fella. The club has to take a view on whether the game time benefit is worth the ‘risk’ - and there are a few factors at play. The club needs to decide whether to stick or twist with them for next season... first team squad/loan/23s. How much 1st team game time do they need to help with that? Only the coaching staff know that and it’s not an exact science.
Jack Clarke and Jordan Stevens demonstrate that even appearing for the first team doesn't guarantee anything. I remember we all thought Clarke was the real deal, but at least it added £10m value. Jordan Stevens will probably be binned in the Summer. However playing first team prem football is probably easier than Championship? i just have a big feeling that Drameh, Gelhardt, Greenwood and Summerville are a bit special and will make it and remember Struijk was playing 23 football last season until the end, and now hes managing pretty well playing for the 1st team and dine it 17 times in the prem
I remember Struijk having a mare off the bench in the 3-3 draw with Cardiff and not really standing out in the 23's too much. I think everyone expected him to be moved on but he came back from lockdown on fire and got his chances through injuries and took them. Now look at him. Maybe there is another Struijk in the 23's waiting to get a chance. Leif Davis has had a few more promising appearances lately after his form dipped earlier in the season. Maybe with a handful of games he could settle in to a solid LB for us. We won't know until we try. Alioski has made it clear he doesn't want to be here next season so let's have a look at options even if it is to find out that they aren't quite good enough. At least we will know.
Sadly I came across Chris’s body in a photo last night. I was supposed to go on the trip but I was too scared to go as their reputation preceded the game. All my fears came true in the most horrendous way and those memories come to the fore every year with our tributes to the lads. I will never forgive or forget what happened to them and there is no way he should go there in my opinion. I’ve always liked Alioski but this would definitely change my perception of him.
Afternoon all... I’m surprised that Bielsa wants to play a player who isn’t committed to the club. Forget for a moment if you believe Alioski is right or wrong, the moment he says he isn’t signing a new contract he is leaving then surely it’s time to drop him? Bielsa has shown before that he only wants players who are 100% committed so I find it staggering he is making an exception for Alioski
Alioski, can do what he likes, people always do anyway. You can't expect everyone or anyone to have the same outlook as you. But he should never play for this club again.
It's all about the money,if someone else offers him more than gala and a longer contract then he wouldn't give a toss about the Turks.....agree he should now be sidelined and someone else given a go now that we are all but safe..... didn't Ian rush join juventus after heysel
By the time we play the blunts we will have a full fit squad except Forshaw. Blunts under Eckythump will play 2 up top so we will play Cooper, Llorente and Koch or Struijk and have Dallas and Ayling helping out. No need for Alioski Klich now hasnt got Covid as he had a negative test this afternoon, they reckon because he had covid last year it showed up as positive yesterday. So hes back with Poland so he and Rodrigo, Harrison and Raphinha all available along with Bamford. if we can blow them away we get the chance to pull Bamford and Klich off and use Gelhardt and Greenwood later