That not quite true though is it. Summerville being the case in point. Bielsa agreed he could leave (because he'd asked to) and then explained that due to it being ultimately the clubs decision regarding terms/economics etc it didn't happen.
Just a point on Dramah. I think we are forgetting he looked hopelessly out of his depth when he played.
Totally agree. However players can make rapid progress at his kind of age and we needed cover at right back until Shacks was fit again. You could also make the point that we should have made it a requirement of his going out on loan that he signed a contract extension. Brighton did that with Ben White before he'd played Championship football and then reaped a massive financial reward for doing so 2 years later.
John Giles - January Transfers “I heard that Bielsa turned down players that they wanted to bring in, but the thing is, were they his players that he wanted? The Director of Football may have said ‘I’m going to bring Joe Bloggs in’, and he might not have wanted him,” Giles said.
Think we have 2 separate things here mate. Drameh happened and then a week later speculation about Summerville going to Rangers etc. Bielsa kicked off with agents trying to turn players heads. Then later in the same presser kicked off about the other 10 who wanted to leave…..all got a bit confusing
Regarding Drameh its all a bit academic now as we have a new manager. There is bound to be a lot of movement of academy players this summer and big decisions made on loaned out players. Marsch is a big fan of scouting youth and has his own ideas…
this he burnt his bridges with bielsa but I presume he hasn’t burnt them with the club, so like klich with bielsa it’s a clean slate in the summer. if his months in the championship are the making of him, great, but with respect to him, the idea that he might have saved our season or that it impacted on bielsa leaving both seem a little unlikely to me the ‘10’ was always a non story in my opinion, a throwaway comment, context lost
I love Bielsa, my heart would have allowed him to see the season out, he is a legend for the manner in which he got us promoted and his time for everyone. Thinking about things mentioned on this thread and Bielsas own words. He said “If anyone asks to leave, I won’t stand in their way, I’d say yes then it’s up to the board”. Could you imagine having/if 10 players all asking to leave when you are already down to bare bones? Throw in the discussion between Orta and Radz, Radz “why haven’t we strengthened, are you not doing your job”… Orta “Bielsa doesn’t want any of those I’ve proposed”…. Us as fans, we can all see where we are seriously weak, we can all see players out of position, Roberts looking out of his depth, the u23s filling the bench, Radz would have needed to decide is Orta failing or is Bielsa showing too much faith. Throw in players starting to question Bielsa, it was becoming a bit of a mess I’d imagine
Rich “I love Bielsa, my heart would have allowed him to see the season out, he is a legend for the manner in which he got us promoted and his time foreveryone.” i think the vast majority of fans and the people of Leeds would agree with this sentiment. The problem comes from some of the inexplicable things Bielsa has done and refused to do. This season has been a disaster which started with massive amount of injuries, which then led to square pegs which didnt work. The spine of the team still out injured and still a couple of weeks away from Phillips coming back. The way January was exploded when we are desperate for good players. Raphinha having his head turned and not played one game at the standard he is capable of since January….
Bielsa a genius without doubt. Bielsa made championship players into premier league players, but he needed to be god to make these players premier league quality in 2 or 3 positions. Therein lies the downfall
I’ve said many times, Bielsa has the ability to make any team top 6 but his beliefs, his humbleness, his stubbornness and most importantly the modern day footballer will forever prevent this from happening. On Marsch I like him, I just hope he is genuine and not trying to be Bielsa V2.0 There is a lot of team hugs, arm around players, he was doing the Leeds salute and thanking the fans, it’s all a bit too early don’t you think? You can’t force respect it has to be earned. I just hope he doesn’t over do it in the “trying to be nice stakes”. Bielsa never had to try, it was just him. He didn’t need to do the Leeds salute, being spotted in a supermarket, walking to the ground, stopping and coaching a local u11s was all far more important and what helped make him unique
I know I should move on regarding Bielsa, but I can't help thinking that if he had stayed he might have saved us. Like I've said before, I think he was unlucky having to play those top 6 teams. I know we ****ed up against Newcastle, but the side played well against Villa. I just think bar City and Chelsea, all the other sides are beatable or at least we can pick up some points from them. I do like the way our new manager goes about his buisness, but it'll be a while before I get used to him.
Watford v Arsenal today. Not a forgone conclusion this one. Spurs v Everton tomorrow. The way Everton played against Man City last week means they could win/draw this one. We really need both north London teams to be on their games and get the results we desperately need.
My heart says yes, my head otherwise. I meet lots of fans from various walks of life, they were all surprised Bielsa lasted so long. A Liverpool season ticket holder said to me on Friday that Liverpool is capable of beating any team 6-0 but the manner we handed it to them on a plate amazed him. Injuries, he said big deal we all have them, that’s why you don’t have a small squad. Lots of other similar stories, I do 100% believe Bielsa was unfortunate, I do also believe he was his own worse enemy. I’m not 100% sure of the new guy, I just wish he’d reel in the Mr Nice Guy a bit unless that’s genuinely him, something screams to me it isn’t I just hope I’m either wrong or he earns the respect with performances and knowledge. Very disheartening that Raphinha never turned on the style for the new guy, I sometimes pin my hope too far up the tree. An improved performance against Leicester but as someone else pointed out, still no points
It's easy for a scouse fan to say injuries big deal when you have the financial backing that they have and also the size of the squad and quality of players. I realise that Bielsa liked a small squad and in hindsight it worked against him. Only time will tell how the new lad does.
Our season summed up in 3 matches Newcastle should have been a big win as we were battering them, and then heads dropped. West Ham we outplayed and outgunned them and they are fighting for a European spot again. Villa, we allowed them to look like Liverpool, and then decided to star playing and came back to draw 3-3 If we had beaten Newcastle Bielsa would still be there. Possible 9 points instead of 4 and be out of danger and been around 11/12th. Wheels came off instead even after the great WHU result, why?
They struggled themselves last season compared with 2019, 2020 and this season, Van Dijk only playing 5 games. He did play the 7-2 defeat to Villa though in what was a very strange season so difficult to fully judge the impact.
