Good Morning. It's Thursday 17th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Telegraph name trio in the running for the ER hot seat According to 'The Telegraph', Victor Orta has a short list of three Managers to succeed Marcelo Bielsa, should he depart in the Summer. It is understood that Messrs Radrizzani, Orta and Kinnear have a very close bond with the Argentine, and whilst they are in charge, have no plans to end his tenure, but at 66yo, he is likely to depart sooner rather than later. According to leading journalist Mike McGrath, Jesse Marsch, Ernesto Valverde and Carlos Corberán are all believed to be in the running for the ER hot seat should Bielsa depart in the Summer. As we know, Carlos Corberán was Bielsa's right hand man, headed the backroom staff at ER and looked after the U23's. He departed in July 2020 to take over at the John Smith's Stadium. Under his leadership, Huddersfield Town currentlyfind themselves in the top five of the Championship. Marsch, 48, has a similar style of play to Bielsa developed over the last six years at Red Bull clubs. He started at New York Red Bulls before two seasons at Red Bull Salzburg, where he twice won the Austrian Bundesliga. More recently, he had a spell at RB Leipzig, but left in December. Valverde succeeded Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao in 2013 and spent four years at the club before heading to Barcelona, where he won two La Liga titles. The 57-year-old Spaniard was on the Old Trafford short list earlier this seeason. please log in to view this image Is Raphinha holding off talks over new terms whilst he waits for offers from Europe's elite The Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post Graham Smyth, has rubbished an article published yesterday indicating that Raphinha has rejected two offers of a new and improved contract at Elland Road. Media outlet 'Goal' claim the 24yo Brazilian is holding off talks over new terms whilst he waits for offers from Europe's elite! According to Smyth:- “The YEP understands that despite reports to the contrary, Victor Orta’s dialogue with the Brazilian winger’s representative Deco remains ongoing and the Whites believe that while an agreement isn’t imminent, the negotiations are in a positive place. “Raphinha’s current deal runs until 2024 so Leeds are well protected and if push came to shove this summer they could command an eye-watering sum for the 25-year-old, but a new contract would give the player a salary that would better reflect his importance to the side.” please log in to view this image Are Radrizzani's top six claims for next season realistic now Back in November last year, whilst on a Web Summit in Lisbon, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani claimed it was his ambition to break into the top six next season. Three months on, we ask how realistic this is, and whether the Italian will still be in charge next term? Radz claimed:- "Now we are partnered with 49ers, this is fundamentally very important because it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League, but if we stay in it this year I think we can go much more than last year and go into the top six". Looking at the magnitude of the task; it's not just about rebuilding, but moving on the players who are 'reaching maturity'. Leeds have six first team players who are 30 or older, and if Bielsa is to stay another season, it's these players who are likely to struggle with the physical demands expected of them. We must also take a harsh look at the fringe players like Shackleton, Roberts, James, Firpo, Harrison and Forshaw and ask whether they are the right fit for a push towards Europe? What about Bielsa? is he the right person to conduct the rebuilding process? At 66yo, he is the second-oldest Manager in the top flight, and like it or not, he is likely to move on sooner rather than later, so is it fair that starts something that he cannot finish? Whilst I can understand that talent is hard to come by in the January window but surely a top signing or two would have acted as a springboard for a better next season! please log in to view this image
A good read from Focus on Leeds and expands on my views of the problems at Leeds this season https://focusonleedsweb.wordpress.c...-united-is-there-a-pathway-for-young-players/
Couple of points picked up today in the media: Chris Sutton has said that Aaronson was MoM last night against Bayern Munich in the CL. Another assist and ran the show, this on top of an assist and a goal last weekend. Lets hope we are buying him. Kevin Sharpe who we know well, is Kalvins agent and has hinted that the new deal from Leeds is stalling because Kalvin wants Bielsa to say he is staying? Deco has also said Raphinha will sign a new deal but also wants reassurance on Bielsa and plans for next season?
Sell Roberts, Costa, Greenwood, Shackleton, Raphinha, Firpo, Klich, Rodrigo and use the money to bring in Aaronson, O'Brien, Charlie Taylor, Maxwell Cornet. Promote Summerville and buy another striker and a reserve keeper. We'd still have money left for potential stars to gamble on.
TELEGRAPH we all know that NOBODY knows if Leeds have a list of coaches, and if they did, who would be on that list ... the evidence that this is just another bulltwang story designed to try and cause division and disrupt Leeds is the fact that the hack has thrown in Corberan's name ... there is no way Corberan returns as head honcho, he simply doesn't have the gravitas to build on the Bielsa foundations and gain the trust and respect of the players this is the new anti-Leeds trope being rolled out, the "Bielsa is going" rubbish seeing as Bielsa Burnout isn't a thing to throw around anymore ... heck, one Scum loving Italian outlet even claimed that Leeds were going to sack Bielsa in January, but then decided to rather do it when his contract expires to save money ... what utter %#@£$ RAPHINHA Deco is a principled man, he's shown this throughout his career ... he has immense respect for Bielsa and Leeds, and his judgement in helping to persuade Raph to come here has proved to be spot on on on ... Deco is also not a fool, he knows selling Raph in July for, say £50-£60m is not the right thing to do ... better to sign a new deal on improved term with a fat release clause of £150m in it ... why? well, there's the small matter of a World Cup in November, the biggest stage where Raph is going to shine like your bishop after a nymph has had at it ... once Raph has displayed his skills on the WC stage, in the magical Brazil shirt, his value will rocket, and Deco knows this ... to sell him now for at least half of what he will be worth after the WC makes no sense at all ... why let him go to, let's say Real Madrid on a six year contract, then after five months see his value soar but not be able to cash in on it because he's tied down at a new club no, Raph will understand it's better for him to sign a new deal, insert a huge release clause, and cash in his chips in July 2023 after his stock has gone through the roof ... remember, this guy was insulted that Rennes only sold him for £17m, he will expect to go for over £100m when he leaves RADZ TOP SIX this one is getting old now, think it's either Radz talking in Italian grammar or people misquoting him, but here's the plan as has been made clear by Radz and Kinnear PHASE ONE: find a good manager, get promotion to the Prem - completed PHASE TWO: first two seasons in Prem, finish 17th ... simply stay in Prem to consolidate and get the riches that are needed to progress SEASON ONE - add players (up to £100m) to help team (Rodrigo, Koch, Llorrente, Raphinha, Harrison brought back, Meslier on a perm, Gelhardt, Drameh, Summerville, Greenwood etc in Academy) ... not just completed, smashed it by finishing 9th SEASON TWO - spend up to £30m to add to squad if Bielsa needed ... Pablo & Berra gone, in came Firpo, Harrison on a perm, James the signing not budgeted for but who became available last minute (£50m combined fees right there) ... also added to the Academy with Bate, Hjelde, Klaesson etc ... almost completed, in a strong position to stay up needing just 3 more wins PHASE THREE: start building a top ten team pushing for top six over next two seasons ... this is what Radz means by "going into top six", developing the team to get there over this period after surviving the first two seasons SEASON THREE - big July 2022 pre-World Cup window, sell players who won't be contributing and bring in talent to improve the team, Aaronson already a target, O'Brien probably also still in the frame, expect a striker to be a requirement as well ... keep Phillips and Raph on new contracts for one more season at least to maximise their value post World Cup (see above) SEASON FOUR - add one or two as needed, consolidate club in top ten, leaning towards top six PHASE FOUR: SEASON FIVE ONWARDS - now established as a major player in the Prem, time for another big window to push team into top six contenders, with challenging for Europe a club goal all this to be done within a financial model that doesn't put the club at risk but rather makes it financially stronger to really progress from season five remember, Leeds are at least 16 seasons of Prem money behind most clubs, we're still playing catch up and patient development is the right way to go ... the plan is still on track at the half way stage, looking good so far we supporters need to stay patient and focused on the prize ... our club is in good hands, in excellent shape and slowly but surely becoming a force to be reckoned with again ... we're better off than most, ask Sheff Weds, Sunderland, Pompey, Derby, Hull, Stoke, Cardiff, Swansea etc (all clubs that were in Prem not that long ago) whose shoes they'd rather be in
As Billy quite rightly says, this season is now turning into a Bielsa hate fest from some sections of the fan base and media outlets. Sick of seeing lists of names for replacing Bielsa. What we do know is that last Summer Bielsa, Orta and Radz sat down and put a list of names for when the time comes. Nobody knows who is on that list but what we do know is that the names on the list will not be stripping down the carefully constructed foundations built by Bielsa. The squad will not be smashed and the academy coaching ethos will also be used as is. We can also assume that a Conte type manager will not be arriving and require a war chest, it will be a coach who will require the odd player if replacing some of the old guard, but a coach who will improve the squad….. Mershe, Valverdi? You may get a surprise who it will be and before too long the club will have an idea on what Bielsa wants to do…..
Evening all If we stay up we have little to no chance of finishing top 10 next season. We have far too many players not performing and we’ve too small a squad to cope with injuries. We already need a midfielder and attacker and reserve keeper. Throw in Klich, Roberts and Shackleton need replacing, Forshaw, Bamford and Firpo made of glass, sorry we’re a long way short
My thoughts If Bielsa was leaving at the end of this season Radz would know by now I personally think he will be here for next season
I wouldn’t care if he called it a day however, if there is any truth in Raphinha and Phillips stalling until they see what Bielsas plans are then I hope he signs, the thought of replacing them as well next season doesn’t sit well
I want him to stay I love his brand of football when everyone’s on song. The only problem I have with him is the size of the first team squad
Like you I hope he stays but also like you if he wants to run a small squad then the U23s must be ready to step in, I mean really challenging a first team player for his place. I get frustrated when we shuffle so many into different positions just to accommodate one injury.
But will that ever change. Bielsa has a team who work for him. How would it be so hard to coach four more players and a better backup keeper. I honestly think if we sign some players we will keep some of the old guard for the bench.
On the same page as Wakey is scary but a fact that a small squad of 20 instead of 18 would make a huge difference because we would have had 2 more first team players to use rather than 23s. That would have given us 2 more 23 players to play a full match for the 23s too. In my view we have seen that Greenwood will not make it as a first team prem player at Leeds for at least another season. McKinstry not ready yet, McCarron now needs to go to the Championship, Davies cannot hold down a place at Bournemouth. Gelhardt, Cresswell, Hjelde have first team written all over themselves. Drameh is having a great time at Cardiff and the welsh fans love him, so for me he needs to be back up right back and Shackelton needs to go. Poveda Im afraid had a promising season cut short so falls behind Summerville but I dont think even Summerville has made it and needs to be sold. Lewis Bate will make it by the way
Burnley will go down. Logistics dictate it would be easy to cherry pick players from there with their location and wage structure making signings easy. Forget what happened in the past. Charlie Taylor is a massive upgrade on Firpo. Cornet is an upgrade on Harrison and/or James. Easy pickings imo. Instant upgrades. Also @ristac I genuinely don't think we are far off top ten. We are a ****ing country mile off top 6 though. A couple of decisions go our way, a couple of injuries averted and a couple of good midfielders and we are up there easily with the Southamptons and Palaces of this world. Top 10 is the easy bit.
It's crucial for the remainder of this season that there's no panic. Problem is if we were to fall into the bottom 3 sections of the media and some supporters would become absolutely hysterical and let's be honest that's not going to help anyone is it ? Support the team, support Bielsa and see where we are after all 38 games have been played.
The fan's never let up for the support for the team even when we go a goal behind especially our travelling army, I have travelled all over the country and haven't seen anything like it, if the players can't raise their game for that well.....
