Good Morning. It's Tuesday 1st March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Cameron Toshack set to be named Assistant Manager Former Swansea City youth coach Cameron Toshack is set to be named Jesse Marsch's assistant in the next 24 hours. The Welshman (51) is the son of former Swans, Real Madrid and Wales Manager John, who currently is in hospital recovering from Covid 19. Cameron had a very brief playing career, before entering the World of Management, assisting his dad run the Macedonia National side in 2011. He joined Swansea City in 2013 where he was put in charge of the U18's / UU19's and was soon promoted to the U23's where he achieved a League and Cup double during their 2016/17 campaign. He takes credit for much of the development to players such as Joe Rodon, Daniel James, Oli McBurnie and Connor Roberts. Daniel James spoke of Toshack in the highest regard when joining Manchester Utd in the Summer of 2019. Toshack left the Swans to join Cypriot outfit Pafos in 2019. Even though he was only there for one season, he played a pivotal role in changing their fortunes around. please log in to view this image Something was broken - Radrizzani Leeds Chairman Andrea Radrizzani released a video message on social media last night paying tribute to Marcelo Bielsa, describing him as 'a true legend' but insists that 'something was broken at the club' and a change of personnel was necessary. The Argentine's sacking caused uproar, with thousands taking to social media to express their sorrow, anger and disbelief at his departure. "Dear Leeds United fans, it was a very difficult week for me, for all of you," said Radrizzani, in a video released on the club's social media channels on Monday evening. "I am very sad, as you are, for the departure of Marcelo Bielsa. "He was an icon for all of us, he is a legend, a true legend, the man that made us achieve the promised land, the Premier League and changed the history of this club. "I won't forget this, I am very grateful to him, I am grateful to all the staff that worked very hard for three and a half years and I have learned a lot from Marcelo and I hope one day very soon we will be meeting again as friends and chatting about our good time together. "Unfortunately the form of the team made me genuinely believe that we needed to have a change. "We were planning a successor for the summer and we had to anticipate this decision now because I could see something was broken in the club and I had the interest of the club and maintaining the Premier League as my first goal and my first interest so I took this difficult decision. "I take the responsibility of this decision and I am very confident that together with your support that, with the quality of our players and the commitment that they have to play for this club that we will able to stay in the Premier League and continue to grow in the following season. "I thank you for your trust and please support the guys because we have a lot of joy to still deliver to you from Elland Road. Thank you." please log in to view this image Now that the dust has settled, was Andrea Radrizzani right to let Bielsa go when he did There's never a good way to dismiss anyone, especially someone you care about. Bielsa had a bond with Leeds fans which elevated him even further into the hearts of Leeds fans everywhere. He would frequently be seen at the local supermarket or walking around town, and was happy to sign autographs or pose for selfie's without battering an eyelid. On the pitch, he will fondly be remembered for gaining promotion, after sixteen years in the wilderness. He believed in himself, and his tactics, which he refused to change. Whilst admirable, it also led to his downfall. Were Leeds right to get rid of Bielsa when they did? Should he have been given more time to turn things around, or was the writing on the wall? please log in to view this image
Morning all, As sad as I am to see Bielsa go it is time to look forward. The new guy has said all the right things so far. From what I've read I like his training and playing style. I like the same sort of press we have been used to but without the man to man. The change from man to man to more zonal could help some players. I see Firpo being one of the ones to benefit most. He has been made to look worse than he actually was by being constantly dragged out of position chasing his man. He may improve by being asked to cover an area instead.
Morning all Firstly hoping that Toshack isnt going to be the top assistant as he is exactly the same as Jacko, being an U23 coach, Yes he did a great job winning the Prem2 league and cup just like Jacko did but would be nice to see some grizzly coach to be able to deal with billybigbollox from time to time. My heart says Bielsa should have been allowed to carry on, but my head says too many stubborn mistakes made. Its done now but the new guy needs to smash it. Expect a difference on the pitch as he will already know we have too many wingers. Brendon Arronson says he played a “half wing position” meaning AMs play wide a lot and players like Raphinha are used as 10s or indeed 9s. Expecting to see Gelhatdt given his head and Rodrigo playing the half wing role he played back in Spain. We will see a front 2 and even a diamond midfield but the positions are fluid as the team attacks together and defends together. Will take a couple of weeks to get the new drills working I expect
Morning all. The appointment of Toshack does nothing to ease my worries. Neither him nor Marsch have any PL experience and they don't have much time to learn. He's up against 19 managers with at least as good a squad and much more experience of the toughest league in the world. The Austrian Bundesliga is probably a lower standard than League 1 and he had Haaland. Marsch learned his trade under Rangnick who hasn't really set the world alight at Manure with a squad worth hundreds of millions. I hope he's not another Hockaday.
'I got moulded the Swansea way': Manchester United new boy Daniel James hails former coach Cameron Toshack following big money move Manchester United new boy Daniel James has praised his former coach The youngster made a £17m move from Swansea to Old Trafford this summer Just one year ago James was considering a move to Yeovil Town on loan The 21-year-old officially becomes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first signing By DAVID KENT FOR MAILONLINE Manchester United signing Dan James has hailed the influence of Swansea City coach Cameron Toshack following his £17million move to Old Trafford. Toshack, son of former Liverpool and Wales striker John, has forged a reputation as one of the brightest coaches in the game managing Swansea U23s, and was on the shortlist for the vacant manager's position at Swansea prior to being pipped by Steve Cooper who led England to victory in the World Cup at U17 level. James is tipped to make a big impact at United yet just over a year ago he was considering joining Yeovil Town on loan. please log in to view this image 'I got brought in and moulded the ''Swansea Way'' and I will always be grateful for that,' said James. 'It was massive for me. 'The coaches in the academy helped to get me ready for that first team environment. 'That pathway was always there for me. Cameron and Gary Richards were a big part of that for me, as well as the guys in the gym helping me become more robust. Whatever happens I will always be so grateful.' Toshack, 49, has also overseen the development of such talents as Ollie McBurnie, now a target for Brighton, centre-back Joe Rodon, full-back Connor Roberts and Stephen Kingsley, who was sold to Hull City, all now full internationals. Jay Fulton, Courtney Baker-Richardson, George Byers and Cian Harries have also laid praise at Toshack's ability to prepare then for them for the step up after they made two successive Premier League Cup finals. please log in to view this image Indeed, Toshack has proved something of a revelation since joining the club's youth set up in 2013 also lifting the Premier League Division Two Cup and reaching the semi finals of the Premier League International Cup only to lose to Porto. A total of nine players, who all worked under Toshack in the youth system, played under Graham Potter in the first team last term. And many in the club believed he was the ideal candidate to take over as manager following Potter's departure to Brighton, having also gained senior experience as coach of Macedonia when his father was manager and working as assistant to caretaker Leon Britton in 2017. Swansea know they have a bright new manager in Steve Cooper but Toshack's continued presence could prove vital to any success.
Personally I've moved on and hopefully everyone else on here can do the same. It's absolutely vital that our new coach succeeds and we have stability for the next 3 years which allows the club to continue on it's upward trajectory. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him well
Morning all Latest update, still pissed off but what’s done is done just have to see what the future brings. Interesting times ahead
Will always have a bitter taste in my mouth for the way Bielsa left though. Yeah football is a results business, yeah football is all about the money blah blah bloody blah. Might need to change our motto/song, marching on together my arse. Anyway, that's how I feel but I'll support the new guy all the way. Sounds like he likes attractive, attacking football too. He certainly talks the talk so let's hope he can do what's needed to keep us up and go on from there. It will be a very different looking Leeds side next season though either way (bye Kalvin, just please don't go to THEM).
This may be a ridiculous analogy but if you've got someone fitting a kitchen, he's a really nice guy and his workmanship is excellent but he wants to put your fridge in the garage and the sink in the garden you've got to say something. Your kitchen might look fantastic but it doesn't work so, as painful as it would be, you've got to get someone in to fix it. It may not look as good but you won't be washing your dishes in the rain. I worry that our new kitchen fitter doesn't know what a fridge is though.
No offence Blono, but it is a ridiculous analogy. Here's another one - the guy who tried to relocate your sink didn't also spend nearly four years fixing literally everything else in your house after sixteen years of letting it fall into total disrepair and bad management, completely transforming it from a ramshackle shed into a plush apartment, upgrading every single appliance along the way, doing such an amazing job that you literally fall in love with the old guy (as do the kids and all the neighbours). Ridiculous right ? Football isn't the same as any other "business".
That’s more money spunked up the wall never mind we’ve got loads a money anyway Ortas been talking to him for two years so he must be the right man
Good morning all With a little trepidation i am now looking forward to how the season might unfold, where as before it was championship here we come, i don't know about all this high pressing etc, i am hoping he will teach them the basics of the great game, for starters defending, how and when to cross the ball, and most important where the back of the net lies in relation to a football field. Then and only then we just might be ok this season.
He was being groomed for the job for a while by all accounts, Bielsa no doubt would have assisted in that process. Just circumstances hurried it along.
What's wrong with toshak as assistant?. We know nothing about him really and the new coach has chosen him end of.
Yes i moved on on Sunday. I will give him all the time he needs and press conferences i may now listen to.
The problem with the kitchen fitter analogy is that Blano posted is probably nearer the truth for Bielsa. In his head he wanted James to play as a false 9 when in reality we had an International 9 and a proper 9 sat on the bench He hoped an AM could be a DM even though a DM or two were sat on the bench He wanted Roberts to show us skills and goals when the fact was he is a championship player at best. He thinks hes a striker but will never be prolific and as an AM he creates hardly anything, gets caught in possession, makes the wrong choice after holding the ball for too long. Roberts is a player Bielsa failed to improve He wouldnt budge from a small squad even when injuries were killing us,
So Mike Riley has personally called the Everton chairman and manager to apologise for the bad decision against them in their last match. What in the actual ****ing **** is that about? Id hate to be paying his phone bill if he is going to start doing that after every bad decision by a referee or var. I wonder what about Everton made him feel he needed to do it? Maybe someone with some feeling of privilege
