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Weekend Discussion

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by Doc, May 7, 2021.

  1. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Weekender.jpg
    This week something simple yet going to be the most important thing about this Summer; transfers and Academy. No facts, no ‘in the know’ stories, just plain old common sense, a lot of gut feelings and some views. But obviously I will bow down to the man that has a better idea of what he wants, Don Marcelo.


    We all think we know that we should see the likes of Douglas and Alioski leave the club, even though Douglas hasn’t been with us all season, he’s still on our books until June. We also expect to see Pablo and Kiko go as well as Berardi and could also be Forshaw but in fairness we just don’t know what plans Bielsa has. However what nobody has thought about yet is if we see some unexpected players decide to leave for more money, or more first team time on the pitch. Unthinkable to lump Kalvin Phillips in here, but will mention Klich who has given 3 seasons of fantastic service for Bielsa, after having been dumped by Thomas C. So its possible Klich may see greener pastures elsewhere? How about Pascal Struijk who has broken through late last season and has now found some real form and is someone who should keep Cooper on his toes, but could be 4th choice CB, so what happens if a big money offer comes in for him, even from back in Holland. Worst of all would be if we were offered some serious cash for Raphinha and he wanted to leave?


    Then we look at options in different positions, should we buy or should we promote or re-train an existing player to cover for a first team regular:

    DM is the role that’s done us the most damage this season when Phillips is missing. Lets face facts Phillips has been injured a couple of times and also suspended. We need to cover that better next season as we all know we lost too many games without Phillips starting. Watch what happens when Kalvin comes back from the euro’s, he will want a holiday and to start back later than the rest of the players? The options are Struijk, or do we use Koch or do we go out and buy a player who can play DM as well as AM because we wont find a top DM specialist who is willing to sit on the bench.


    At RB we have Ayling who has in the main had a great season but who do we have as cover. Berardi should be gone but we have had Shackelton having a go, but we also have Cody Drameh. We need a new LB as we all expect Alioski to leave, but lets face it Alioski isn’t a LB, so do we revert to Dallas, Huggins, Davies or do we buy?


    Out wide we have Raphinha on the right and so far his cover has been Costa and Poveda. I think Costa needs to go and Summerville moved up the ranks. Summerville has played regular for Feyernoord from being 16yo, and has skills and pace to burn and shows more end product than Poveda. On the left we assume Harrison will be bought but who do we have as cover besides moving Raphinha over or Costa. I hope we buy another Raphinha and have Harrison as cover.


    In the middle we need Rodrigo back fully fit and firing as No10 and we need a top No8 and I think we need to buy a top midfielder and have Klich as cover but we also have Roberts or not, and also Greenwood and Gelhardt who can play there and cover. So some decisions need taking I believe.


    Up top you will not be able to buy a top striker to sit on the bench, unless you decide to sell Bamford, so for me the options are Gelhardt and Greenwood in that order. Why not develop them now as part of the first team squad as well as play roles in the U23s and to be frank I would play Gelhardt ahead of a fast Eddie Nketia and Eddie would cost £20m


    There will be serious planning going on right now, and I bet Roberts, Costa and Poveda are pencilled in alongside the players who are inked in to go. 4 games left to shine and we already know Costa will not shine anywhere now except a seat in the stand?
     
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  2. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    Costa gets a bit of a rough deal on here imo. He has had a few good performances this season. Saying that I don't think there is too much between Costa and Summerville. It could be that Summerville is slightly ahead.

    We definitely need a LB and another CM to free up Dallas if we need to. Roberts has done well in some games but he hasn't got anywhere near the consistency that is required. Klich has mysteriously dropped off massively too. Rodrigo can fill one position but I'd like a new signing to improve on Klichs position with Dallas backing up at full back, central midfield and out wide.

    Gelhardt looks like he could save us a fortune up front.
     
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  3. SIDDAS

    SIDDAS Well-Known Member

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    There are so many if's or maybe's regarding in's and out's The club have some big decisions to make throughout the playing staff from the 1st team to Development youth squads.
    First and most important for us is to keep hold of our spine. well the ones I personally think are.. Meslier-Llorente-Phillips-Raphinha. I think these are the key Players we need to build a team around.
    I honestly think we will be tested in the market for everyone of them.
    I would like to think we can keep a hold of the majority of what I call our Best 11.
    Even though I say I hope we keep the majority of our best 11 I think if we are to improve as a team some of these have to be moved to more of squad rotation players for next season.
    Players who are not featuring all have big doubts for me because bringing in new players obviously has a knock on effect, you buy 4-5 new first teamers in hindsight they take 4-5 first team places ,moving 4-5 current regulars to the bench who oust the deadwood.
    Davis-Shackleton-Roberts-Pablo-Klich-Poveda-Costa all regular or out of favour bench warmers are the obvious ones to make way. as we can't keep them all.
    Then you have Berardi-Forshaw who's time look's to be up. along with Alioski who seems to want away. Casilla who won't budge while sitting on a hefty wage.
    You can even throw Rodrigo's hat into the ring not that he's a bench warmer it's just not happened for him so far for different reasons. who knows what he or the club is thinking might want a fresh challenge or he might want to stay on to prove a point.

    Then you have the u23's. which of them move up on the ladder and challenge the 1st team or bench. which ones go out on loan? which ones will be told thanks but no thanks making way for the new batch to arrive. There also will be some who think look its time i pushed my career on and won't want to play u23 football if they don't get their chance in the 1st team.
    not forgetting everyone who is already out on loan all decisions have to made on them too
    Lots of work to do but all positive work!
     
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  4. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    I give Rodrigo the benefit if the doubt because Spain doesn't select crap players to represent it at International level. Here you have a gifted, cultured player who can play anywhere on the front line or behind. This is why Bielsa raved about getting him and praises him so much. Next season we should see what we bought. But you are correct about keeping the spinebut needing to cull some players named.

    The way I look at it is to ask myself how many of our players would get into a prem team. O improve we need to keep the spine and to add 2 or 3 players who would get into other prem teams. Last seasons 4 signings all would walk into other teams, and players like Ayling, Meslier, Dallas, Klich Phillips , Harrison and Bamford would also be in other teams or on most benches. So you have 10 or 11 there who are the new spine and adding a couple of top players to that means you have Bielsa managing a very good team.

    fringe players then would be fighting to prove they can get better but maybe they cant. The new fringe would be Alioski, Costa, Roberts Forshaw, Berardi, Kiko and Poveda
     
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  5. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Bielsa as we know will put out his best 11 to play these last 4 games, but last nights freak result between Newcastle and Leicester makes a joke of integrity. Leicester are in 3rd place and in Champions League form all season. Newcastle have been crap all season and fighting relegation. Last night they were gifted safety which should upset some teams at the bottom. Leicester put out a decent team but they didnt play well so why didnt they play well? Its because nobody wanted a yellow card or to get injured because they have the FA Cup Final coming up. What other excuse for allowing a toothless Newcastle attack to score 4 goals
     
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  6. Gessa

    Gessa Well-Known Member

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    Ahead of their relegation face-off today, a reminder that neither Derby County (28) nor Sheffield Wednesday (27) have won more Championship matches than Leeds United (28) since the start of last season, despite both playing 45 more matches than Leeds in that time

    Come on Rotherham !!
     
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  7. SIDDAS

    SIDDAS Well-Known Member

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    Rodrigo has just had one of these season's to forgot. You see a player in there and when he's about to show you sadly some silly niggle stops him straight in his tracks.
    I hope he does stay and we get to see the real Rodrigo next season.

    I'm interested in how many new players come in, because the Club motto is anyone coming in has to be better than what we already have. This current squad have taken us to 9th-12th which is fantastic but if we want to push further we have to improve again. that's when it gets to the nitty gritty in player squad selection because you then start dabbling with regular first 11 players.
     
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  8. leeds down south

    leeds down south Well-Known Member

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    Scum away, chelsea away and tottenham at home is Leicester's finish. Top 4 not secured yet!
     
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  9. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Our first season in the Prem was easy in some respects as we had far fewer games than the Championship and no midweek games. Burnout bollox. But we were also lucky as we went out of every cup in the early stages. Next season we do need any new player to be an improvement on the player replaced and that will give Bielsa more chance to rotate and use cup games for using the whole first team squad. We cant get ourselves into the Klich situation again where he starts over a hundred games on the trot because its broken him. Bielsa just didnt have anyone he trusted to replace Klich at the time. We now need an uograde on Klich so we have 2 solid choices for that No8 role. We need another player capable of playing midfield and holding midfield unless Koch is going to be Phillips stand in? But Koch wants to fight to play alongside Llorente at CB, but at least we have choices there now. We need a Harrison upgrade or another as good on the left wing and we need a solid left back
     
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  10. wakeybreakyheart

    wakeybreakyheart Well-Known Member

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    Ahh the old fa cup pre league game. That scenario has been around forever it's well known teams do not try just before a cup final. Its not just in football as well
     
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  11. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    Great thread and some good responses on here.

    I think Rodrigo will come good next season, we’ve seen flashes this season and he’s had an awful time with injuries etc. this year. He’ll be in our starting 11 next season no question.

    I fully expect Berardi, Hernandez and Alioski to leave. I would put Kiko in this list but I doubt we’ll get rid due to his wages so I think he’ll be our no.2 next season for the cup games etc. I don’t think we’ll see Forshaw in a Leeds shirt again either.

    Regarding the players out on loan I think we’ll see Gotts and McCalmont go out to Championship clubs and see Douglas, Bouy, Hosannah, Bogusz, Stevens, De Bock, O’Kane, Edmondson, Mújica and Temenuzhkov contracts end or sold by the club.

    I think the positions that we’ll be in for this summer will be a CM, LB and winger. CM for the position Klich and Dallas have been playing this season to then leave Klich and Dallas as 2nd choice on the bench and used for cup games, Klich in CM and Dallas as a full back. The winger will be to fight for Harrison’s place or an improvement on Harrison as he can be inconsistent but he’s proved he can do it at this level with the amount of goals and assists he’s got this season. I think Costa is good enough for the cups and a player to bring off the bench, he can be frustrating but he’s shown that he can have something about him as he’s got a few goals and assists this season too. Saying that I wouldn’t be surprised or too gutted if he were moved on and Summerville the replacement. I could be wrong as not seen loads of him but I think Poveda doesn’t bring anything to the party, looks great and then does nothing is all we’ve seen from him. I don’t think we’ll bring in cover for Phillips, I think Koch will be that player as why did Bielsa buy 2 new CB’s when he always wanted 1.

    Agree with most of here that we need to build around our best players Meslier, Llorente, Phillips and Raphinha.

    So saying all this my squad next season would consist of Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, New LB, Phillips, Raphinha, New CM, Rodrigo, Harrison, Bamford in the starting 11 and Kiko, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Costa (or Poveda or Summerville), Klich, Roberts, New winger and Gelhardt on the bench which gives us a strong bench. I then think it’s possible we’ll see fringe players such as Poveda, Costa, Summerville, Shackleton, Davis, Drameh, Greenwood, Jenkins, Casey and Huggins either stay in the 23s and used for cup games, sold on or loaned out to lower league clubs.
     
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  12. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Had to put Klich back into the really good midfielder again. Koch had a great game as DM, Rodrigo scores......a bloody good day
     
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  13. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Looking at the player ratings from various outlets plenty of stand out performances from Leeds players and even Alioski getting rave reviews. The only downer was Roberts who yet again failed. Not just my view but the view of 6 different media outlets
     
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  14. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Very happy to have the following players in next seasons first team squad:
    1. Meslier
    2. Ayling
    3. Llorente
    4. Koch
    5. Struijk
    6. Cooper
    7. Raphinha
    8. Rodrigo
    9. Phillips
    10. Klich
    11. Harrison
    12. Bamford
    I can cope with having Poveda, Costa around backed up by 3 or 4 U23s, but leaves room for up to 4 new players. Will be good to have a fully fit team fighting for places, as we havent really had a fully fit team at all this season and still could finish in the top 10.
     
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  15. SIDDAS

    SIDDAS Well-Known Member

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    I thought Koch was excellent today I know it's only 1 game but he defo got me thinking "you know what he has got what we need in that position."
    Defo another banging on the door to be a key player at the club he's another who's had a stop start to his Leeds career but if he keeps showing performances like that wow what a team we could be building.
     
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  16. SIDDAS

    SIDDAS Well-Known Member

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    Bang on that's defo what I see to Doc.
     
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  17. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    I think Dallas deserves to be in there too.
     
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  18. stonkin

    stonkin Well-Known Member

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    I'd like to keep Alioski and see the back of Roberts
     
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  19. wakeybreakyheart

    wakeybreakyheart Well-Known Member

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    I would rather not see any of him to be honest.
     
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  20. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Agreed missed him out by accident, but in fairness he can be a great asset for a few positions when needed and from what I understand he will be there as he is signing a new deal.
     
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