Absolutely agree that a signing of a 30+yr old back up keeper to pass on that sort of experience is important. Someone who has been around the premier League for a few years, much like Scott Carson has been doing at Man city.
These stats put Joffy as the top teen in top flight football in Europe as he is involved in a goal every 75 munutes
Llorente will miss the Hammers PL game, I hope Struijk is back by then. We looked much more comfortable with Ayling at RB and Llorente/Koch in the centre. Firpo was solid, no complaints whatsoever. And yes it was Burnley but these are exactly the games we need to be winning.
Doc should like this comment. So when Roberts was getting treatment the call went down the touchline for Joffy to come back and get stripped. Well the roar that went up from the crowd was unbelievable, honestly it was like we'd scored a goal and a few Leeds players looked round to see what was going on, not many get that reaction from the Elland Road faithful and it's obvious we have a player on our hands. Must say also that I think Bielsa is managing him brilliantly at the moment, by giving the lad the best opportunities without heaping too much pressure on him we're seeing a talent emerge and grow every time he comes on the pitch.
Then Orta’s needs to be pulled, he has not got a great track record with goalkeepers? kiko springs to mind for starters.
Meslier lined the wall up with Tyler and was happy enough, obviously with hindsight he should have had it half a yard further over as it was a left footer taking the free kick . He'll learn from that but it was also a very good free kick and sometimes we should realise that and not look to apportion blame all the time.
Totally agree Jammy, we did well. but, let's face it we probably played one of the crappiest teams currently in the Prem. Not knocking the performance but Our Players should be having good games against dross and you would have to be very worried if they didn't. Firpo and Klich had better games yesterday but so they should. Still think neither are 1st team starters in the Prem but we all have our own opinions on players. Signing new players is also problematic as what do the board and Bielsa see for the future? Will Bielsa be here next season? somehow I have massive doubts. Bielsa may be playing the respectful card I don't need any new faces as I won't be here next season I will leave that for the new coach. I see a big shakeup come the summer I don't see Phillips or Rapha here if I'm being honest. I defo see us losing one and fighting tooth and nail to keep the other but Money and Agents will pull the strings to it. I always believe in keeping a spine and believe we have a good one when everyone is fit but Phillips has massive question marks now on can we keep him. Keeper -Meslier - Two CB's Llorente,Struijk - DM/CM Phillips? - Striker Bamford. My personal view and question marks for next season Cooper,Dallas,Forshaw all the wrong side of 30 as Doc said. I'd be willing to keep Dallas but put to him he would be a squad player and let him decide his own future. Cooper probably give the same question as too Dallas but he always misses chunks of a season through niggles I wouldn't go as far as injury prone but he will always miss a quarter of the season with injuries and can't settle into a run of games. I like him he gives his all. he plays for his shirt but I wouldn't like him to be a first choice CB next season. Forshaw needs to run his season out and see where he is. He's probably now playing to his match fitness and you see the improvement. how much further can that go who knows. Shacks,Firpo,Klich,Roberts,Rodrigo. All to go for different reasons. Shacks,Roberts are Championship players. Klich is a intelligent player but sadly age is upon him he never was the quickest and sadly his legs have gone even further from him especially for our system. Firpo I've probably been unfair to him but I just don't see anything in him what are his strengths? What does he bring to the team? I'm not anti Firpo but He's a poor defender tactically and doesn't seem to have a engine or any pace. everything you want to see for his position. Rodrigo has quality I just think he's the wrong fit for our team he's like a jigsaw piece we try him in many slots but doesn't fit. what is his best position in this side? does he have one?
Orta takes stick after every match for something a player did wrong? I had a look at Abad because I found out hes not a goalkeeper or a goalkeeping coach, hes a fully qualified sports scientist and EUAFA badged football coach. At Leche he was employed as a coach and then specialised in improving the keepers (Kiko is now at Leche thanks to Abad) when you look at his history he is pretty highly regarded in football. Meslier is a find and a kid but worth a fortune. Elia Caprile is winning plaudits in Italy and tops the clean sheet league. Danny Van Den Hueeval is having a great season for both Holland U20s, Leeds U18s and 23s. Kleasson is having an up and down season as reserve and U23 keeper he is either brilliant or clumsy but is getting better. We also have a baby who is expected to be Englands first black International keeper since James we brought him in last summer from BCFC young Aboo.
You can only beat what's in front of you, the things this win gives us is, 8 points above the drop, confidence boost for the players and a bit of the pressure lifted off us lot.
Burnley are poor, I'll give you that. However I was very worried after the Arsenal game. The look on the players faces as the goals went in was one of total hopelessness and dejection. When that settles in during a relegation fight then it's pretty much over. The fact that the lads came out and just smashed in to the Burnley players and played Bielsaball the way Boelsa wants was a huge relief. It showed that Bielsa still has the players with him. The other huge positive was the free kick wrongly awarded against Llorente and Burnley equalising from it. That could quite easily have demoralised the players but they dug in, ran harder and went on to dominate again. I'm quite happy with the attitude at the club as it could easily have gone the other way. I'm confident of moving up the table from here on in with the attitudes shown. It wasn't ever about the quality of Burnley, it was about our reaction physically and mentally. We passed with flying colours.
I think the Summer will see Shackelton, Roberts, and Klich gone. I see Dallas, Ayling, Forshaw and Cooper fighting for a place in the starting 11 but great players for another season and top subsfor a much stronger bench. I see Firpo nailed on for LB with Llorente and Koch/Struijk at CB with probably still be Ayling and Cresswell will also be pushing
Ayling was right centre back it was dallas at right wing back. We did not play a back four it was to combat burnleys two up front.
Roberts i agree is dire and klich is so slow and as you say rodrigo looked good in the end of season games against sides not fully committed.
