Good Morning. It's Friday 15th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road It’s unfair to expect too much too soon from Marsch Delivering his latest podcast, Leeds Utd journalist Phil Hay believes it's far too early to expect too much from Jesse Marsch. The American arrived at Elland Road six weeks ago, and to his credit has delivered ten points from the last four outings. Whilst the points are most welcome, the team has been criticised by some Leeds fans for showing a lack of quality, contrary to his predecessor's reign. Whilst Hay accepts that Marsch needs transfer funds, and time to be able to put his stamp on the squad, he feels it's important to give the likes of Greenwood and Gelhardt more game time, though bringing a centre forward to the club, should also be a priority. “It’s unfair, I think, to expect too much too soon,” “You do see a lot of that discourse about how good has the team been so far and how good the performances have been. “I did ask Marsch on Saturday, ‘the results are there, how do you go about putting more quality into this team?’. “And I think the answer, from his point of view with that, is time. I think it’s recruitment as well, I don’t think anybody can deny that and I don’t think anybody should. “If you want an example, we spoke afterwards about needing to use Sam Greenwood more and [Joe] Gelhardt and players of that ilk. “And I totally agree they should but in this summer coming up, of all summers, that should not be allowed to distract from the fact Leeds are short of centre-forwards and do not have another proven option there.” please log in to view this image Supercomputer predicts Leeds safety Data experts at FiveThirtyEight, have predicted that Leeds will comfortably avoid the drop this season, and will also finish above Everton. FiveThirtyEight are the hosts for the Supercomputer, which calculates data based on probability. They have calculated that the Whites should gain a further five points between now and the end of the season, leaving them 16th in the table on 38 points Although they rate the chances of relegation at only 11%, Leeds remaining fixture list doesn't look particularly favourable. They face Citeh, Arsenal and Chelsea, two trips to London (Palace and Brentford), and a tricky tie against Brighton. They estimate that the bottom three will remain the same, with Burnley occupying the final relegated place on 33 points. please log in to view this image How different would this season have been... When looking back on the achievements of last season, and compare them to where we are now, it's surprising to see how small some of the margins actually are, especially when you take into consideration the injury crisis we've endured this season. Being without our most influential stars like Phillips, Bamford and Cooper for two-thirds of the season has definitely destroyed our chances of repeating a top half finish. Every team will have their fair share of ailments over a gruelling nine-month campaign, however, for such a small squad to have had 31 injuries (to date) totalling 1,284 days missed or 10.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes is still difficult to digest. Prior to Bielsa's departure, Leeds conceded 24 goals over a six game period. Had Leeds not endured such a torrid glitch, their goal difference would certainly be more favourable, and perhaps Bielsa would still be in a job! Where would Leeds be in the table if it wasn't for their injury crisis? please log in to view this image
Morning all i see so many posts on social media saying bielsa would have turned things around. The reasons given are the players returning from injury. Bamford is crocked and contributed nothing for months. Phillips has had two second half appearances and Cooper one full game?. 24 goals conceded in 6 games is truly awful and just proves what a joke we had become. Bielsa led the resurgence of Leeds Utd and then caused the demise and his own downfall.There was no back stabbing or conspiracy theiry. The man fell on his own sword in the end.
Ive also seen the comment many times that we should have Kept Bielsa even if it meant relegation as he would have got us back up. I find that a strange one when you consider a. how long its taken us to come back after relegation and b. Bielsa wasn't going to be around next season by all accounts. Anyway, gather up another three points and planning for another season in the cesspool of money that is the pl, can begin in earnest
Given, the amount of injuries we've had, its amazing that we have only scored 12 less than this point last season.
There's no guarantee that Bielsa would have got us back up, especially with players leaving. They do say its the hardest league to get out of, although Barnsley are making it look easy this season!
Whatever happens this season there is going to be a debate around Bielsa and Marsch and one thing that Matt didnt mention from Hays podcast was about exactly this a “culture war” and Hay said Marsch would need to have a full pre season and some new players and then we can compare styles, once he has had time. He said it would be difficult for Marsch to play the brand of football that Bielsa gave us, but he should be able to give us a brand of football that gets results and good to watch. He did say that Marsch has caused a problem with his comments on overtraining, but he knows what he said and is media savvy. He will need to justify/clarify his comments next week. Its caused lots of upset and the reality is what he said is nuanced and can be explained if thought through properly. Johnny Giles has taken the opposite view to wakey and said he thought Marsch was being outrageous in what he said about Bielsa. It showed a lack of respect and was absolutely wrong ……. Giles it can be said was fuming.
Not really bud it just shows the lack of quality in the squad. How many mids have scored this season?. Without harrison and raphinha we would be going down.
By the way I am sitting on the fence about Bielsa keeping us up this season. Nobody can know and pointless pretending otherwise. I will not disrespect Bielsa by blaming him for the problems, even though some do seem to be self inflicted. You also have to say that Marsch has taken 10 points from 12 and has us in a relative safety zone. Nobody can play the brand of football Bielsa served up so pointless ever expecting Marsch to do that, therefore pointless having a culture war arguing about it. We are where we are and hopefully will still be in the prem next season. Somecash, some new players, a full pre season and we go again and with luck Marsch gives us his own brand/style and results
Read through what you posted, or maybe read through before you post in future unless you just enjoy winding people up
spot on here doc, we’ll never know. Players back and friendlier fixtures are obviously a factor on one side of the scales.… however on the other side was the manner of those defeats the ‘here we go again’ look in the players faces as sides walked through us so easily. when I did that ‘same 6’ fixtures analysis from earlier in the season There was little in it points and stats wise (although bielsa had a more complete squad for those games) - but those results didn’t come on the back of a terrible run with a demoralised team - marsch’s did. For me that’s the difference. Bielsa ‘could’ have turned it around - of course he could he’s a genius. But it’s only a could. When you look at the circumstances you have to give marsch credit for turning round a demoralised team. And by the way with the upcoming fixtures it could turn again!
I’m on the fence re marsch comments. If his motivation was defending his players - saying it’s not their fault, then it could be good man management. But it’s a Double edged sword in that he’s publically disrespecting a legend to do that. Personally i think he could have settled with making that point privately… but if it was the motivation I understand it. It’s possible, He may also be towing a PR line from above- radz explaining what ‘something was broken’ means, but you’d expect radz to be the fall guy for that not jm.
