I have a team of spooks already camped at Leeds/Bradford airport with cameras, in the trees at TA waiting for the first signing. Ronaldo is a bit too old though isnt he.
Good show! Perhaps I should remove all my bugging devices, as I'm pretty sure Marcello will take a dim view of my style of spying. (If caught, of course).
I don’t mind the one year at a time contracts, they’ve worked okay so far. Bielsa won’t go to any other PL team, he wants to keep it short, he’d be off the moment Rads sold a controlling stake and new owners tried to interfere, I’m sure that’s the kind of reason he does this
I think one of the reasons is that he doesnt want to have long protracted arguments and court cases about his contract being paid up when he decides to walk. He is still fighting Lazio in court and he walked after 3 days because they reneged on promises. He also feels that if you sign a long term contract then you must stay and see the contract out. He lives with honour which is unusual, so a year at a time allows both parties to change their minds without massive damage on either side. Look at Garry Monk who never needs to work again as he had over £8m in wages due to him within a year as he signed 3 contracts with leeds, Boro, Birmingham....
It's been a fantastic return to the top flight. I've been warned, by the same people who told me that Leeds would go straight back down, that it's the 2nd season where it gets difficult. I don't think we're in the same position as Sheff Utd. They showed in their first season that Championship players could compete in the Prem but was there any long term plan? The players we've brought in, when they've been fit, have been of a certain type. There's no big superstars in this team, just hard working, extremely fit athletes. Bielsa has a certain requirement for his players and Victor seems to understand what it is. We've all questioned his methods at some point but he's proved to us that he knows exactly what he's doing. Looking at the final 10 games, when we had more players available, we were showing title winning form. I just wonder how we would have done if we'd had more of our defence available earlier. Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Meslier, Struijk, Alioski and Harrison have all surpassed my expectations. Bamford is a better goalscorer than he was last year. Phillips has grown to a whole new level. Even Roberts has shown promise is some games (there goes my like) Klich has been up and down but has improved of late. Finally our new signings have given us the edge we needed. Llorente is World Class, Raphinha has enermous potential, as does Rodrigo, and to have a player like Koch ready to cover several positions is a luxury that many of the "bigger" teams would like. I cannot wait for next season. MOT
Meslier Ayling, Llorente, Cooper xxxx Phillips Raphinha, Rodrigo xxxx, Harrison Bamford bench Koch, Klich, Struijk, Roberts, Dallas, Gelhardt, Greenwood, Summerville, Drameh, Huggins We have 14 or so players that are the spine of this team as well as some U23s pushing. At least 2 top signings required to make sure Klich is upgraded and a new LB and we have a stronger team next season
Dallas will start in the middle I’m sure, I’d like to see Rodrigo start up front Bamford on the bench and a new CM and LB
Seems that Kalvin Phillips could be ok for the Euros but feel for Rodrigo who has been left out. Llorente selected but been brilliant since getting fit, Rodrigo however has had a tough season but only just coming back to fitness. At least he can have a holiday and come back fit for a full pre season would prefer none of our players away on International duty
