please log in to view this image Leeds Utd V Crystal Palace What are everyone's predictions? No new injury news for Leeds while Palace seem to be having a bit of an injury nightmare at the moment. When we played them at Selhurst we were missing key players and it showed. We see the reverse today, will this be reflected in the result? Klich or Roberts? With Rodrigo still injured a question was asked on Twitter for tonights game- Klich or Roberts? I was surprised to see a large proportion of answers were in favour of Roberts. Is Klich that out of form? Match Facts Crystal Palace have lost on each of their past five trips to Elland Road in all competitions. The Eagles are looking to complete a first league double over Leeds since the 1985-86 season. The home side has won eight of the past 10 meetings in all competitions, with the other two games drawn. Leeds have lost four of their past six fixtures in all competitions, winning the other two. The Whites are in danger of losing three consecutive home league games for the first time since October 2017. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their six competitive matches so far this calendar year. All three of Leeds' home wins have been against sides below them in the table. There have been 74 goals scored in Leeds' 21 Premier League fixtures - an average of 3.52 per match. Leeds have lost both of their Monday league games this term, with both coming at home. Patrick Bamford has contributed to 16 goals in 21 Premier League appearances for Leeds, scoring 11 and setting up five. Raphinha has contributed to four goals in his last three league games, with two goals and two assists. Palace are looking to win three consecutive league matches for the first time since a four-game sequence last June. They have been beaten just twice in seven league fixtures, winning three times and drawing twice. Victory at Newcastle in midweek ended a four-match winless streak on the road. Palace are winless in their past eight Monday league games, drawing twice and losing on six occasions. The Eagles are looking to make it four wins from four this season against last year's three promoted sides. They have won the previous matches by an aggregate score of 11-1. Palace have lost 16 of the past 18 Premier League matches without Wilfried Zaha, winning the other two. Eberechi Eze has been involved in three goals in six appearances in 2021, with two goals and one assist. Has Bielsa ruined football for us? I watched a lot of Premier League football this weekend and my lord I found so much of it boring, even the clash between the supposed best two teams in the league. It all seemed so slow and cautious. Has the football we have been given these last three years ruined our enjoyment of the game when others do not play that way, which most don't. What happens when Bielsa leaves us? Will football ever be the same? please log in to view this image
I think that if Rodrigo is missing we get the old Klich back so I'd definitely go with him to start. Hopefully some of the U23 forwards that Doc has been raving about can make the bench at least soon. I'm not looking at survival any more. The bottom 3 are adrift and none look like they have enough about them to go on the kind of run they'll need to stay up. For me it's a matter of where we finish and it would have been great to have a run in the Cup to look forward to. I'd like to see us challenging for Europe otherwise the last quarter of the season will be less than exciting.
Morning all and thanks to hemase for getting us up and running. Match day at last and for once we are justifiable favourites to win at home against an inform Crystal Palace minus Zaha. Not going to be easy by any stretch, but if we play well then hopefully the 3 points will be in the bag. After another wet weekend we'll have to see how the new ER pitch plays tonight. Seems we've had the worst weather possible since the pitch went down with either torrential rain or snow hindering the groundstaff in their work. Same for both teams and at least we've now had one game on it and know what to expect. Hopefully elland is still on the mend and that's more important than the football for now.
Good morning you are doing a good job filling in for Elland. Bamford is a really good player but i think he would make a better 10 and then i would give one of the u23s a go in front of him at 9.now i admit i only go with what others say about the u23s not having seen much of them myself.
Morning all I think we'll see Alioski continue at LB and Dallas will be used in midfield, I've knocked his performances in the PL so far but for me I'd like to see Dallas back at LB and Pablo brought in with Klich and Phillips behind him. We are probably going to need someone to unlock a 10 man defence. Echo what others have said thanks @hemase
None of the U23's are anywhere near good enough to be starting unfortunately. 10/15 minute cameos at best but too risky if the game is in the balance. Whilst some look quite good you have to take into account the level of the opposition they're playing against and it's mostly other kids with a few pros on their way back to fitness and you can always tell who the seasoned pros are on both sides when watching U23's football. Let's get PL safety assured and then maybe a few will get the opportunity to break through but not before then.
Personally I would like to see Roberts given a chance in the Rodrigo role. I still think he has what it takes but needs a run at this level. Playing in the U23's and cameo's in the Prem are not enough. Give him a go from the start tonight and then judge him.
Think that's a fair shout about Roberts. If it's not working then he gets the hook but at least we're finding out whether he can be the player we need for next season and beyond.
Pablo has always been the main man in that role (when fit) until Rodrigo arrived, so why not give him back his role and have Roberts waiting in the wings for when Pablo tires?
I just think we will not get our answer about Roberts until he gets more game time. Should we not now be looking to the future rather than the past?
As for my prediction for tonight- Leeds win. Palace will be tough to break down but will offer little in attack. 2 or 3 nil win tonight.
Tyler and Pablo were doing the job share thing at the end of last season and it worked well. Just feel Roberts needs to have the extra responsibilty of being a starter if he's going to have a long term future at the club. Can he play well enough so that Bielsa doesn't hook him at half time as usual ? Pablo also needs game time though to get up to speed...the short bursts of 15/20 mins are not enough and he's getting rusty. Happy to go with either, but slightly favouring the younger man as Tyler is only 21.
It must hurt if you’re Pablo and find yourself demoted from being Leeds best player for years to being behind Roberts. I have no time for Roberts because hes had countless chances, even this season and messed up. Headless chicken, panicked into missing simple chances, greedy trying to be Billybigbollox. On the plus side though I have seen him play for the 23s in the last 3 games (excluding yesterday) and he was effective and played well. He did upset Greenwood and Gelhardt in different games by snatching the ball off them as he wanted to take penalties. Not sure hes flavour of the month in the 23s and has he found his level?
Klich for me tonight. I'd keep it as Dallas in the middle and Alioski at LB as both did well against Everton and it's likely Bielsa will go with a back 3 as Palace play 2 up front usually. I feel Dallas keeps us a bit more solid in the middle and it's needed at this level where it wasn't as much in the championship. Wouldn't mind if Bielsa decided to go Dallas at LB with Klich and Pablo in the middle. Roberts is a no for me, needs to be offloaded in the summer if we can get a good fee or a loan to possibly increase his value. Yes, Bielsa has improved my football experience when watching Leeds but ruined most other games. Find football very dull these days and don't usually last a whole game unless it's Leeds.
So if Pablo isnt starting tonight what is the point of Pablo? Lets face it he has another 18 months on his contract as we renewed it in the Summer because he had earned it, but ardly seen this season because of Rodrigo. Happy enough with that but no Rodrigo tonight. So this seems to be a contractual problem that the club has at the moment: Pablo contract has another full season to run Roberts has another full season to run Berardi contract ends this Summer Alioski contracted until June this year We will be bringing in fresh blood this Summer and maybe time for these 4 plus Kiko to go
Can't believe people want Roberts to start. You'll be telling me next that you want Costa to start too. Bad enough being down to 10 men, but 9? Jesus wept! Until it's mathematically certain that we cannot get relegated, we should be fielding our strongest teams. And I believe Bielsa will do just that. We should only give these players runs in the first team if we absolutely have to (injury, suspension etc.), and definitely not until we are 100% safe. They should be delighted to have cameo appearances in our team & if they're not taking advantage, they know where the door is & shouldn't need directions. Given Bielsa's track record, we'll have the same starting 11 again, I feel. One exception, which is very likely, is if he decides to go 3-3-3-1 to match Palarse playing 2 up top. He may have to make a little alteration for that formation. Can't wait to find out!
Same team as started against Everton is almost a certainty, so no need to worry WJ. It was interesting though that Roberts for Klich (69mins) was Bielsa's first change last time out. That means Klich's role in the team is definitely under the microscope which clearly wasn't the case last season. Whoever plays that position needs to bring creativity, goals & assists to the party as well as link the play and work like a dog for the team...oh I see what you mean about Roberts
At least we have 2 players from our academy system starting for the first team in the Premier League. There should also be a couple on the bench too, so not bad going
I forgot to add Adam Forshaw who has a contract to the end of next Summer so thats 3 players who are adding nothing to the team and 2 who are out of contract
Because Hernandez is not up to speed and tempo of the Pl I am afraid, great ambassador for us n the championship but I feel his race is run...... hope I am wrong.
