Good Morning Everyone Phil Hay has told Leeds fans that he does not expect Bielsa to sign any free agents. Jerry Mbakogu, Lacina Traore, Darren Bent and Robbie Keane have all been mentioned on social media as being a possible solution to our striker problem. According to Hay, Bielsa believes he doesn't need any other players, yet just a fortnight ago the gaffer dropped Roberts (currently our only fit striker) to the U23's. Is he going to introduce Jack Clarke or Ryan Edmondson? Clarke in particular has been on fire for the U23's this season but bearing in mind the hostile nature of the crowd and the scrappy temperament of their players it may not be the ideal baptism of fire for the 17 year old. You expect players to get injured, but surely six games in, Leeds have had more than their fair share. Currently sidelined are (These are the up to date expected times the players will be out of action for):- Jamie Shackleton (ankle) 2 weeks Patrick Bamford knee) 4 months Gaetano Berardi knee 3weeks Kemar Roofe calf 3 weeks Pablo Hernandez 5 weeks Lets also remember that Jansson, Cooper and Dallas have already picked up injuries this season. Bad luck or something else? What is more important to you - club or Country? Have you always felt that way?
Club, its always been club. Although the last WC did reunite my passion for international football. Morning all Dont think I'd take any of those on a free transfer either
Good morning Matt & everyone A ridiculous amount of injuries that's why a club requires a sizeable amount experienced back-up players that can handle the pressures of championship football Clarke who is one of our own looks a more talented player than Harrison, the scenario is can he sustain the his great form at championship level? Wouldn't be surprised to see Edmondson introduced as he is a massive unit who could handle himself v a team like Millwall CLUB every time for me
Morning all. The club gambled with a small squad, the next few games will be an acid test of whether that gamble was sensible or foolish
A very good morning to one and all. Ell, old boy, are you really asking me to choose between Leeds United, Partick Thistle, and Scotland? It's like telling me that one of my children had to die & I have to choose which one! I love them all! That's the teams & the kids, btw! I don't see why you feel that you have to choose - it's not as though they play each other, is it? And it's not as though they play on the same day and you have to choose which one to watch. Perhaps it's an english thing that you feel that you have to choose? I'm more interested in the reasons for your choice, rather than what you choose. I truly can't imagine what those reasons might be.
Morning Matt and all. Club, by a mile. Bad luck, real bad luck, Roofe will be a big miss, Clarke seems to be a lad oozing with confidence, not sure about Harrison. I think I'd go with Edmondson he has the physical attributes for this game. It will only make the victory even sweeter
Good Morning to Sherriff and his posse from a dull Bardsey Edmundson for me and I put club before anything Lets hope this gamble pays of having a smaller squad
Bielsaball requires a player spending up to 4 weeks learning his role and getting fit enough to carry it out. None of the players mentioned will ever be mobile enough or fit enough to do it and besides by the time they would be able the injured player would be back. (Not Bamford) Its frustrating I know but we just have to hope Bielsa knows what hes doing and so far he has made every Chippy/Glory shut the hell up. Thought it was funny that even Lamrani the interpreter was injured too as he had a cast on his right arm. Strikers who could do a job: Roberts Harrison Edmondson Clarke Dalby Alioski Brown Midfielders available: Saiz Baker Stevens Klich Forshaw Phillips Defence Pontus Cooper Douglas Ayling Pearce
Morning all I think Bielsa will play Alioski in the Roofe role Peacock-Farrell Ayling Jansson Cooper Douglas Phillips Klich Saiz Harrison Baker Alioski
I’m wondering it he’s tempted to play Klich up front (arbitrarily) or essentially Klich and baker interchanging from the forward midfield role. He seemed to be implying though it would likely be Roberts for Roofe as a straight swap
Not a lot wrong with that team but just like Milky says we may end up seeing something out of the ordinary and dont think Bielsa hasnt thrown a keeper on as striker because he has. Not going to happen tomoz but expect something you never imagined
So is Phillips going to drop into Berardi’s role of 3rd CB? Would that mean Forshaw in to play for KP?
I was thinking the same team myself. We are not reliant on a CF scoring or battering lumps out of their CBs. We need our CFs to pull defenders all over the place off-ball. This is one of Alioski's greatest strengths. We don't need him to score - we need him to make space for others to score. Hasn't he also knocked in 2 in 2 for Macedonia over the weekend too?
Roberts has not impressed me one bit, throw Edmundson into the fray tell him to throw his weight around. Might be tempted to put a middle five of Saiz, Phillips, Klich, Forshaw and Alioski, this would kill there MF and we would take them apart on the counter attack, just on the way out I would tell Cooper and Jannson to clatter Morison in the first 5 mins and nulify him totally.
Not sure if the injuries will force Bielsa to change his mind but this week he has said the following: Forshaw needs to win his place back and prove his fitness by playing well in the U23s Roberts is now the holder of the main striker role
Morning all... I never realised Roofe was injured, I missed that one, Izzy Brown to step up and make the position his own
