The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 7th October)

Good Morning. It's Friday 7th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

ER hierarchy happy with striking options

Phil Hay has penned an interesting article in 'The Athletic' this morning. He indicates that as the Summer transfer window slammed shut, the Elland Road hierarchy were content with their striking options, given much justification on being able to rely on Joe Gelhardt. Leeds went on to sign Wilfred Gnonto on transfer deadline day, with little expectation of getting anywhere near the first team.

According to Hay : "So sold are Leeds on him (Gelhardt) that he was used as part of the justification for the club’s inclination to let the last transfer window close without signing a forward. To quote their chief executive, Leeds were content with their choices up front because those choices included someone" "widely regarded as the best young striking talent in the league."

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Kristensen ready for intense battle to keep No 2 shirt

Rasmus Kristensen believes that competition for the right back slot will make 'everybody better' this season, though he admits that the battle is intense. The Danish International is currently Jesse Marsch's player of choice, but with Luke Ayling on the comeback trail from surgery, and the ongoing development of Cody Drameh, how long will his position be safe for? To give Kristensen his dues, he gave a much better account of himself against Aston Villa, has received a commendable 6.95 rating on 'WhoScored', that's not to say that there isn't room for improvement.

“It is definitely intense, quality. I mean it’s the way it should be at a Premier League club. Quality in every position, we can change, play with different types of players, we can do loads of things. “At the end of the day I think it’s going to make everybody better, it’s beneficial for the club which is always the most important thing so that we can do well, succeed and look up and not down in the table.”

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Is Bamford ready to start

With just 193 minutes of game time under his belt (out of a possible 630), Patrick Bamford can be excused for still being a little ring rusty. The 29yo has the second-lowest rating in Jesse Marsch squad (6.09) according to data from WhoScored. Only Joe Gelhardt, who occupies 22nd position has a lower score (6.05).



The importance of Bamford this season can't be underestimated, with many pundits suggesting he could be the difference between survival or relegation, come May. During his last outing (25 minutes against Aston Villa), he had just six touches of the ball, suggesting he may be a long way off from peak physical conditioning. As such, should he start on Sunday?

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Morning all

If Bamford isn’t ready now he never will be, he’s had so much time to get fit he should be able to run back to back marathons

 

Bamfords touches against villa isn't a fair assessment as we were down to ten and leaving him isolated. He needs to start and if he's not producing we have to invest in a striker in January. Although, we probably should anyway

Morning all

 

Sunday is an ideal time to play Bamford and Gnonto together. The Italian prefers to be support striker and could replace Sinisterra who’s suspended. If Bamford isnt fit yet, what good is he to this club. Plenty of options to use Rodrigo and Gnonto if putting Paddy in cotton wool. Marsch may yet surprise us all and bring in Joffy but getting the feeling Gelhardt feels shafted

 

I thought paddy did ok last week. Carved us a few half chances. Looked sharp enough to me.

Getting a bit bored of joffy this joffy that. He’s a 20 year old, we’ve done all the comparisons with other clubs young players etc.

There’s an argument that in lacking the pace/engine for the off the ball work/pressing that both Bielsa and marsch require, he may never entirely suit our system - especially as a starter - but if he looks good enough in training he’ll get game time. Like everyone else.

 

Agree on Paddy last week. One of the few positives in that fiasco but cameo appearance are no use. He needs to be fully fit. There's something not quite right re the Joffy situation

 

With Sinisterra suspended I would imagine it will be Harrison, Rodrigo and Aaronson with Bamford up front

Give Bamford an hour and introduce Gnonto, that's assuming he lasts an hour without breaking

 

that would be my bet if they think paddy can start. If not might be straight swap of sinisterra for Jimmy.

 

Agree there was something strange about sending him out to train on the pitch. Maybe he had a sulk at being dropped from the squad. Who fecking knows. There’s no conspiracy about his game time though. He’s just not as good YET as some like to think. Unlike other players he also only really covers 1 position and only 1 can play in that position with our formation.

 

Morning All

I've got to agree that Bamford needs to go in January along with Forshaw. We're now 2 months into the season and Rodders is starting ahead of Bamford after coming back from a dislocated shoulder. Forshaw spends more time injured than fit. However, I get the feeling that Marsch and the board want to find a replacement for Rodders this January as we're meant to be in for Kamada at Frankfurt along with every winger in Europe and let's not forget to the deal to bring in Wagner from Philadelphia when the MLS season is over.

 

Good Morning to all from a chilly but sunny Bardsey
I agree Forshaw and Bamford are not worth keeping
so sell them next window at a big discount

 

Good afternoon from a sunny zakynthos. Got such a good deal how could i resist. I can watch the game right here at the apts bar. He has about 17 Tvs with all games on.

 

Joffy looked a sharp as I've seen him for the U21's the other night and I'd fully expect him to be getting some serious minutes over the next few weeks.

 

Just spotted the avatar.

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touche

 

And In today's crazy football news... Nottingham Forest has agreed a 3-year contract with Chunk from the Goonies.

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he’d probably just been offered the Bournemouth or wolves job.

seriously it’s a sensible decision. He did a brilliant job last year. He has a completely new team to fashion in a hostile environment like the premier league. Who’d walk in and do better in the circumstances? Whether they Stay up or go down, it’s the right decision.

when they’re bottom in Jan they can sack him then, pay the comp and we can all have a good laugh.

 

Boro are looking for a new Manager too. They sacked Chris Wilder a few days back.

 

PRESS CONFERENCE

Jesse is here

Stuart had a procedure done this week and they think hes doing really well. He's still a couple of months away. Archie is healing well. Forshaw had surgey yesterday and he'll be out for about a month. Leo Hjelde had an appendectomy. Everyone else is OK.


Marsch on the last few days
We felt the first half was decent but we looked rusty. We went down a man and fought really hard. The spirit and mentality of this group is always strong. We've continued to build tactically. In the last few years I've worked in jobs where you don't get full weeks to prepare. We know Palace will be difficult.


March on Palace
It was a similar feeling last week, the difference between 3 points and 0 points is a lot. A lot of the mid table teams are close. We know there's quality in this league. For us we try and stay focused in the moment and if we do that we do as best we can to control the outcome. I have respect for Palace. We'll be ready.

Zaha is their number one threat but if you pay too much attention to him they have so much attacking talent. One v One duels will be important and we'll need to make sure they're not getting out of transition and hurting us


Palace's start
When you talk about the start Palace have had, you need to talk about their opponents. They’ve played pretty well through that phase. You can be fooled. It’s a hostile environment down there. We somehow got out with a 0-0 draw last year. We have to be better.


Wing options
We feel Cry Summerville is in the best form since I’ve been here. We have Willy and we want to find ways to get him going and Joffy made a statement that he should not be left out of the squad. We will miss Luis.


On the red card
We used it as an example. We have a young team and we like our group and it will continue to grow and get better. I’ve coached young players a lot and you have to be patient at times. It’s brutal but we’re going to help educate them and help them understand what their roles are. We still have more to do in terms of savviness. With Luis he knows it was a mistake


Jesse on returning to the touchline
I’ve been on the touchline for a lot of games. I’ve been given a red card a couple of times. I was in the press box and there’s clarity from that perspective but the reason to be on the touchline is to be there with your team. My plan is to not pick up anymore red cards.

I love this business and I respect this league. I want to do everything I can to help our team be the best they can be. I think It’s important to make sure I’m available for them. I try to calculate how I use my energy.


Marsch on Bamford and the importance of playing attacking football

Patrick will be ready to go.

I am focused on the team being effective in the football we want to play. If we score goals everyone has fun but we have to be stable. I know you can’t just take out the Brentford game but if you did we have been defensively pretty solid. I find players enjoy when they have a plan and the plan could be effective as individuals and a group. It’s one of the nice things about our sport that you do get different styles o


Marsch on Palace's injuries
In this league most managers have a best XI but normally what the teams have on the bench are not a big drop off. Andersen is a good player and Clyne being out is a loss for them.


Marsch on Palace's injuries
In this league most managers have a best XI but normally what the teams have on the bench are not a big drop off. Andersen is a good player and Clyne being out is a loss for them.



Sunday's frustrations with time wasting
We tried to have some open dialogue with the league. People are aligned that its not great for the game with time wasting. Our next home match is Arsenal and I doubt we’ll see time wasting.

 

TBH I would have held off a bit until they knew where they would finish in the table. If they go down they're gonna have to sell most of that squad however it would look a bit daft letting him spend £150 million on players then sacking him but TBH I would have waited the season out or renewed in April time.