The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 28th February)

Good Morning. It's Tuesday 28th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Tactically savvy Gracia making his mark

Phil Hay has praised Javi Gracia for his tactics against Southampton last weekend, describing him as being
tactically savvy and good at reading games. Leeds first win since Guy Fawkes night last year may have come against the poorest team in the division, yet a win nonetheless.

Hay complimented the Spaniard for giving Harrison and Gnonto licence to 'hug the touchline', and exploit the opposition by using width as an advantage (something rarely seen by his predecessor); as well being well marshalled, disciplined and difficult to break down, describing their shape as 'tight', throughout the game.

"Tactically, Gracia embraced the width Jesse Marsch tended to shun by asking Harrison and Willy Gnonto to hug the touchlines in possession. It was not immaculate or wildly sexy and for 45 minutes, the back-and-forth was mediocre; Leeds with most of it but the spectacle crying out for a goal and some flow."

"Their shape, though, was tight throughout, even after Southampton’s managerial roll-of-the-dice, Ruben Selles, tried to ambush them with Theo Walcott, Ibrahima Diallo and Sekou Mara off the bench, and Firpo had the licence to overlap and underlap, to be present offensively and gravitate towards the far end of the field. His advance on 77 minutes outnumbered Southampton and Southampton paid for it. They might pay more heavily for this result."

"On the downside, for as long as Gnonto was on the pitch, there was too much of the hit-to-him-and-hope routine. At least this time, Gracia was brave enough to substitute him with half an hour left. “It was the game we wanted,” Gracia said and, he admitted, the game he expected as he tried to piece a plan together while his visa was pending before Friday. Southampton were not set up to take risks. Leeds could do nothing but be patient. “We tried to be solid, compact, waiting for our moment,” Gracia said. “I think we did it.”

"What is said more often than not about Gracia’s last Premier League job, at Watford in 2018 and 2019, is that it showed him to be tactically savvy and good at reading games, understanding what they would consist of and indulging pragmatism if pragmatism was called for. It was worth the slog against Southampton on the basis that Leeds had it in them to force the issue and were organised enough not to concede. Only once did Walcott look like getting in behind and testing Illan Meslier’s agility. Firpo recovered from a ball over his head to stick a foot in and send it behind."

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Perfect time to test Rutter's attributes

Georginio Rutter is set to lead the line for the Whites tonight against an in-form Fulham side, flying high in the top six. Rutter, a £35.9m record signing, has been struggling for fitness since joining Leeds six weeks ago, but has the chance to prove his doubters wrong tonight.

In five substitute appearances, the Frenchman has accrued 110 minutes of game time, and a rather disappointing 6.28 'Whoscored' average rating, leaving Leeds fans anxious whether the Elland Road hierarchy have got this one right!

Since coming back from injury, Bamford has been disappointing. He has netted just once in 827 minutes of game time. It's as if his get up and go, has got up and left. With Rodrigo injured, Leeds need Rutter to step up to the plate tonight and justify the faith they showed 43 days ago. Is Bamford holding Leeds back? Is anybody else a little perturbed that Rutter is struggling for fitness?

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Is McKennie doing enough to secure permanent contract

Manchester Evening News correspondent Conor McGilligan has criticised Weston McKennie for what he considers is negative football. The USA International joined Leeds initially on loan during the January transfer window, but could make the move permanent, should he impress between now, and the rest of the season.

McGilligan, a lifelong Leeds fan, was talking on his 'One Leeds fan' Youtube channel, bemoaning that McKennie's style of football is counteractive, and rarely passes the ball forward. The 24yo has made four starts for the Whites, as well as one substitute appearance. I would have hoped he would have made more of an impact on the team. If Leeds want to make the move permanent, they'll have to fork out €33m (plus add-ons). Does he justify that kind of fee?

According to McGilligan “McKennie, I’ll be honest, I’m not convinced. I’ve never been convinced on Weston McKennie,” “I know he’s not been here long, but I think he struggles a little bit to get the ball on the back foot and move forward. I think he likes to pass the ball laterally and pass the ball backwards, he needs to get the ball and be a bit braver for me.”

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Far too early to judge Rutter and McKennie in my opinion while Bamford gets a free ride from the fans for some reason. He's contributing nothing. Sooner Rodrigo is back the better

 

Morning all from sunny Spain but a bit chilly.

I think Mark Roca will be a big player for us under Gracia as he knows all about him. I think we have in McKennie a huge talent who can play DM or Am and Adams buzzing about everywhere. Those three can give us the foundation to finish the season better than last season. Nobody even remembers Forshaw now….

Hoping Georginio gets a start tonight and you can almost guarantee Dan James will start as he hasn’t got off the Fulham bench for the last 5 games

 

Morning Doc, Dan James can’t play tonight.

 

Tonights game is on bbc1

 

Wayyyyyyy too early to judge mckennie and particularly rutter.

There maybe a decision to be made on mckennie though. I heard/thought/possibly made up that 10 games triggers the purchase. Whether that’s irrespective of the relegation clause or whether they are linked? if 10 games triggers the sale regardless of relegation, then you have to think what if we’re bottom 3 after he’s played 9 games?

 

McKennie has been great hasn't he? Not sure where the criticism is coming from tbh.

Must be watching a different game to other fans/pundits/journalists or wherever it has come from.

When Rutter was signed it was said that he was signed for his potential rather than an instant impact.

 

McKennie had his best game on Saturday.
Agree his passing could be sharper, he's not built like Adams, so will never be the duracell bunny type, just needs to get up to pace with the PL and he'll be fine imo.

Rutter will need time, my first impression of him when he got the ball was he is always looking out wide to play it, perhaps the game he played at his last club but here, no pass on, which was different on Saturday, where he looked more comfortable than in his previous outings.

 

McKennie's never been a great/consistent passer, it's not his strength. He's strong, athletic, decent touch, fairly versatile. Some seemed to think he was going to be a visionary AM, but he's more a box to box or holding type. He's looked alright to me considering the pace change from italy to PL, but early days. Fcked up for the mancs goal at ER, but hey that was just him learning to be Leedsy.

 

Good morning all
Gracia could be a very astute appointment, early days i know, one game in but it's not so much the way we played, but as Elland & others have mentioned his tactical awareness and willingness for change in a game, their was a huge sharp intake of breath by everyone as Gnonto was taken off, wtf was the general consensus, as we are not used to radical/ logical decisions during a game which is so refreshing. Bielsa & Marsche were so stuck in their ways that they could not/would not see the bigger picture on field.
Once again early days, but looks like he could do a great job for us, why he was only third/fourth choice i do not know, but i am sure as i can be, as luck would have it, we landed on our feet with Gracia.
Oh and BTW, nice to not have an almost cringeworthy post match interview after the game.

 

Morning all
Nothing to rant and rave about since Jesse went
That’s life can’t please all the people all of the time

 

Afternoon all, when’s the draw for the QF I’m looking forward to seeing who we’ll be playing

 

This Thursday @ 19.45

 

I doubt that Javi is going to play a full strength team. I’m guessing his chances of keeping the job permanently is by keeping us in the premier league.

 

100%. But he might also feel that winning breeds the confidence required, no matter what the competition. Go into the game against Chelsea having got thumped at Fulham and it might be a slippery slope. I hope we go for it.

 

Here's two statistics from the game on Saturday. Bamford had 27 touches of the ball before he went off in the 87th minute. Rutter had 21 touches and only came on in the 75th minute. You do the math!

 

it doesn't add up .......

 

He touched it more because he was chasing back more and getting tackles in, he was also lighting up the right touchline and his piece of skill by the corner flag and into the box was almost gold dust.