please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Preston Round 2 Carabao Cup 28th August @ 7.45pm Hi Folks, Preston are the visitors to Elland Road on Tuesday night as Leeds aim to keep their unbeaten run going. Bielsa will have one eye on the top of the table clash against Boro on Friday evening, so would expect Hernandez, Roofe, Douglas, Peacock Farrell, Ayling or Alioski to be rested for the top of the table clash. Instead, I'd expect to see Shackleton, Baker, Blackman, Bamford, Pearce and Harrison all to start.
Me neither, but the big plus for me is that I get another opportunity to watch fabulous football. And it's my team that's playing it!!! Seriously, I don't care if we don't get promoted this season. As long as we play as well as we have for a chunk of games - like we've had in any season - I don't care what league we're in. If we manage to get to the PL & play a few games like this then that'll be a bonus on top of the bonus for me. If I had to choose between 10 great games in L1 and getting cuffed every week in the PL, then L1 it would be for me.
Expect something like this Blackman Shackleton Jansson Shaughnessy Pearce Baker Harrison Clarke Saiz Dallas Bamford
The Boro game is important, if we win then 3pts clear , the cup match with Preston is not important but we have enough class in the squad to brush them aside, then it’s the international break and Millwall to follow, just hope the break does not disrupt our form and we rip Millwall another arse like we did against Derby and Norwich MOT
Good stab at it, but is Dallas fit yet? Not questioning you, I really have no idea if he's back yet. But here's a googly for you - if he's back, do you think he might be in the centre of the park? Bielsa has tried him there. I think he's recognised that Dallas doesn't have enough pace on the wing for his style of football.
I thought I read before Norwich that he and Pontus were both fit for selection. Did think about him in a more central role, his lack of pace as caught him out for the wide roles.
I actually think Dallas could be a terrific central midfield player in this Bielsa system. Great engine, superb energy and desire to close teams down, very fit. Technically perhaps not in the same league as Forshaw or Klich, but he's more than capable. His energy alone in the middle would be interesting to see, and his lack of pace is less likely to cause an issue in the middle - a la one James Milner. I could definitely see this working, and if he is fit, wouldn't be a bad game to try it. Anyone know if Forshaw will make this one, too? I think he's back in training, but not sure how far away either of them are. For what it's worth, I wouldn't be surprised to see: Blackman; Shackleton, Jansson, Shaughnessy, Pearce; Phillips; Harrison, Baker, Saiz, Roberts; Bamford. Obviously if Forshaw and Dallas are fit, that changes things, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Shaughnessy plays the Phillips role with Ayling/Berardi at CB instead. Hopefully see Edmondson/Dalby on the bench.
I'm not so sure about Roberts. He's been sent back to the u23s. I'm guessing he's not been there long enough to work on whatever Bielsa's told him to work on. I'm hoping Jack Clarke makes the bench too. And Struijk.
Ah, I wasn't aware of that, but it makes sense given he didn't really take his chance at Bolton. Hopefully he works on whatever it is he needs to and comes back as a viable option sooner rather than later!
I always like us to still go for it in the cup but Friday v Boro is not great timing so I’d personally drop every player who started against Norwich. In case we need Bamford I’d only give him 45 minutes too, swap him with Tyler Roberts at half time. I’d even go as far as having Anita and O’Kane on the bench.
I wouldn't be against Anita playing. He was hung out to dry last season, to be honest - he's clearly not a LB which was where we often shoehorned him in, but he won promotion with Newcastle playing RB. Obviously that's not a position we need strengthening, but given he was originally a holding midfielder - and for a while he was very highly rated - I do wonder if he could potentially offer Phillips cover, if only in the cup games. Bielsa doesn't seem to rate him though, and he knows far more than me! On the other hand... the less said about O'Kane, the better...
Personally I wouldn’t have Jansson playing, can’t risk getting him injured before the arial bombardment hoofball that Pulis is going to serve up.
O’Kane and Anita are history I’m afraid as Bielsa has said he cannot have 3rd choice players for positions as it means they never get a game and reduces his time on players who will not play, hence idaguchi being let go and LDB and Bhoy all going Roberts not with the 23s tonight so maybe he will get a chance against Preston? I expect to see Blackman, Harrison, Bamford, Nessy Shaks, Baker and Pontus
Good point. Even if flippant, there's a grain of truth about it. I wonder if Berardi with will play alongside Nessi, to break him into the system. I've no doubt that Shackleton will play as RWB, so that would leave the right side secure. Although Pearce has had some game time, I'm not so sure it would be enough to secure the left with Nessi being a newbie to the system. But then, who knows what's been going on behind the scenes. They may have been practising in these positions for weeks, for all we know.
Evening WJ. Not flippant at all. Haven’t seen Boro at all but if they’re a usual Pulis team they’ll be land of the giants. Jansson is really our only height in the team
