Good Morning. It's Monday 28th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road In the end, did the players lose faith in Bielsa As a tearful Marcelo Bielsa packed up his things, and said a final goodbye to his squad at Thorp Arch, rumours of a player's revolt had already surfaced Daily Mirror's Soccer correspondent Dean Jones revealed that a group of players collectively met with Bielsa in private to suggest he should change the style of play, but a resolute Bielsa refused point-blank. According to Jones: “Bielsa was a bit too stubborn for his own good – I was told a group of players approached him about adapting the style of play, but he wouldn’t listen to them. Moments like that go against you if results are bad.” It wasn't just the scorelines that cemented Bielsa's departure. The player's ratings hit an all-time low. Players who were averaging 6.5 - 7.00 back in the New Year were now averaging three's and fours, as you'll see in the data below provided by the BBC. Most players took to social media to thank Bielsa, and wish him well for his future endeavours; but that is to be expected of any player who works under a Manager for almost four years. In the end, whilst injuries played their part, few players have been able to replicate the same kind of form they showed in 20/21, and if truth be known, all can accept partial blame for a shambolic season. Obviously, Bielsa must share that blame. His insistence on a wafer thin squad, not strengthening when he had the chance, and his point-blank refusal to change a single thing, even when his back was against the wall, may have contributed to the Argentine's departure. Yet, Bielsa bought a solidarity to Elland Road, never witnessed before, and unlikely to be seen again anytime soon. The football was as exciting as the results were unpredictable, and in the Premier League, money talks. please log in to view this image Jesse Marsch expected to be named Manager today Jesse Marsch is set become head coach of Leeds Utd later today after the 48yo held talks with Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta regarding the vacant Elland Road hot seat. Marsch played for DC United and Chicago Fire winning the MLS Cup three times. He began his coaching career in 2010 an assistant coach of the US national team. After leaving the National scene, Marsch spent a season at Montreal before joining the New York Red Bulls in 2015, where he remained until 2018. He left to join up with Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig as Assistant Coach, helping them achieve a third place finish in the Bundesliga. From there, he joined their sister club Red Bull Salzburg as Manager. He won successive back to back doubles in the Austrian top flight, and was recalled to Leipzig to take the reins at the start of this campaign. Unfortunately for the American, things didn't work out, and they parted ways in December. please log in to view this image Spurs defeat proves final nail in the coffin for Bielsa Boos rang out across Elland Road for the first, and last time under Bielsa's tenure on Saturday afternoon, as Craig Pawson bought the Spurs game to an end. Leeds had been soundly beaten, by a Spurs team who had been embarrassed midweek at the hands of Burnley. Conte roused his troops, and produced a masterclass first half hour that would see his side take a 3-0 lead. Unknown at the time, but this would have monumental consequences on the Whites less than 24 hours later. Leeds created good chances throughout the game. They rattled the woodwork on two accessions, had efforts cleared off the goal line and to make matters worse, Dallas fluffed his lines with the keeper already beat. Both teams missed guilt edged opportunities in the second half, but it was Son Heung Min who would add a fourth, five minutes from time. This would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Bielsa. please log in to view this image Fans lay into journalist Like him or loathe him, but Phil Hay has proved to be a reliable source of news when it comes to Leeds Utd. The former Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post is the current go-to man if you need an update on the goings-on behind the scenes at Elland Road. He came under criticism back in December when he infuriated Andrea Radrizzani by leaking details of the proposed takeover by the 49ers; but this time he has enraged the Leeds Utd faithful. Fans took to social media in their droves to lay blame at Phil Hay's door for reporting that Bielsa would be sacked, following their seventh defeat in ten games, as in some way the Scottish journalist had some kind of control over the situation! In truth, Hay is doing his job, and whilst many of us don't like the way journalists operate, we become privy to the goings-on at Elland Road because of him!
Morning all I’ve got to firstly say I disagree 100% about Hay being the go to man. He is NEVER first with the news, he just adds a slight spin to news that’s often 48hrs old. I just don’t get this “we are privy” thing, honestly the guys a joke but I don’t hate him, I wish I could make a living rehashing old stories. Onwards we go with the new guy, I’ve got concerns about him but I did with Bielsa too so we need to give him a few games to settle in. Let’s look at the obvious positive, he has a few games and a couple of months to see where we are short, he gets to evaluate for himself, players like Raphinha and Phillips might warm to him and sign new contracts. He’ll have the same support from me that Bielsa had but it might take him a lifetime to earn the same respect
"In the end, whilst injuries played their part, few players have been able to replicate the same kind of form they showed in 20/21, and if truth be known, all can accept partial blame for a shambolic season. Obviously, Bielsa must share that blame. His insistence on a wafer thin squad, not strengthening when he had the chance, and his point-blank refusal to change a single thing, even when his back was against the wall, may have contributed to the Argentine's departure. Yet, Bielsa bought a solidarity to Elland Road, never witnessed before, and unlikely to be seen again anytime soon. The football was as exciting as the results were unpredictable, and in the Premier League, money talks."
Phil Hay is a media whore and changes his views when his media mates change theirs, he follows the orthodoxy. I got sick of him spouting that we didnt need new players until it was obvious we did and then he ripped into the board and Bielsa. Phil has been good but hes never been in the know and even I get more insight than him, hes just a follower
Jesse M is getting a bad press for his 2nd stint at RB Leipzig, but behind the scenes it was a nightmare. Firstly he went back after Ralf Ragnick moved and secondly he had to fight with all the people Ralf left at the clu and the previous coach who went to Bayern Munich leaving all his coaching staff in place. Jesse M told them to fk off or he woulave and so by mutual consent he walked. This begs the question however who will be his backroom team as Bielsas boys have all gone, and we only have Jacko and the academy coaches at the minute? Nice to see Chris Sutton not following the media bollox by saying the new guy will have more pressure than Bielsa would have and Bielsa would probably have kept Leeds up. Yes I have the same opinion and appreciate many more on here wanted him gone, thats fine as we all have an opinion. Loads of sad videos of fans crying and saying goodbye to a brilliant man, and today he speaks to the players befor flying to Argentina
Seems to me the club is evolving so rads must be praised for that. So we move on and wait to see what the new coach brings to the club. I like the fact he is younger and wants to prove himself. The American connection was already in place and will become sole owners soon enough. I see this as a chance too grow Leeds United in the states. If this leads to more income and ground expansion then so be it.
We know the Wakey opinion but heres another view https://www.thesquareball.net/leeds-united/bielsa-leeds-sacked-the-company-parts-company/
Morning All So he's gone. I'm not gonna cry about it like the wet wipes on twitter did all yesterday. He was an employee of the club and at the end of the day he was not preforming at the club so he's gone. The **** I read yesterday on Social Media yesterday was beyond unbelievable. 'Leeds is Bielsa and Bielsa is Leeds' Seriously get real. Oh look at the fans who turned on the wrong people. It was Talksport who got the story first. So they can blame who they want. Who ever the board announces as the new coach then I will be 100% behind FOR NOW. He ****s up and I'll call for his head, he succeed and I'll carry on supporting him. I'm not playing loyalty to the manager just Leeds United. Spurs was the final coffin... It would have been Man Utd or Liverpool should have been the final nail again I say managers have been sacked for less... Look at Peter Reid and Kevin Blackwell.
Loadsa money bring it on. Tried reading it all but i got bored as it's drivel. No blubberfest going on here today just excited for the future. The king is dead long live the king.
A small budget and cheapo squad of too few players failed to succeed. So now we get the chance of big money taking over and the success supporters have been craving. It's either that or become like Norwich a yo yo club. In two years time and if Leeds are in the top six the cryfest will have been forgotten. We can't have it both ways it just does not work as this season proved.
Good morning all a new dawn is breaking in more ways than one Well said Wakey .I just hope the new coach can save us with such little time and same players, but hopefully he will at least start by playing players in their more natural positions. Relegation or not we will by the end of the season have a clearer picture of his capabilities and if he looks promising i hope the board will give him the full backing he might deserve next season. If he is able to save us he would take that important first step of getting everyone behind him as Bielsa did for such a long time.
If we go down so be it. The new coach will know who needs replacing and hopefully be able to enlarge our pitifully small squad.
