Weekend Discussion

[Whitejock]

Bielsa is on Football Focus this lunchtime interviewed by Caroline De Moraos. Apparently shes a former Brazilian synchronised swimmer. Yeah I know....

Short Bielsa clip from the interview, talking about our affection for him ..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/56219034

Interesting phrase for me was "... they're displays of affection that have nothing to do with results".

Football is a world that demands results. He's picked up on us loving him for a lot more than results

 

[oldschool]

Short Bielsa clip from the interview, talking about our affection for him ..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/56219034

Interesting phrase for me was "... they're displays of affection that have nothing to do with results".

Football is a world that demands results. He's picked up on us loving him for a lot more than results

Hopefully the adulation will sway him for at least another season, if as he says he feels the love is not just connected to the results and is based on his philosophy,style of play, willingness to keep pressing when all seems lost,and his humbleness.....then we have a chance of his continued stay, I think the chances are very good....jobs saved at Costa coffee

 

[Doc]

Short Bielsa clip from the interview, talking about our affection for him ..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/56219034

Interesting phrase for me was "... they're displays of affection that have nothing to do with results".

Football is a world that demands results. He's picked up on us loving him for a lot more than results

Its the change in ethos, the way its needed someone like Bielsa to actually change everything within the football operations. The way the Board allowed him to rip things up and make changes. He would be welcomed at many clubs but not if it meant handing total football control over. The whole place is now geared up to football and being better at football. Hand it to Radz for allowing it because he now gets his rewards for letting Bielsa take charge. I imagine its tough for Radz at times because Bielsa is right on the spectrum, almost a savant and a pedant but boy its what we needed. Whatever happens he will always be remembered and revered in Leeds

 

[Jammy 07]

The utter madness that is the international break will be happening late March.

Absolutely zero talk of postponing/rearranging these fixture is surely negligence from a health perspective. Who the feck do FIFA & UEFA think they are that they can blindly proceed when the world continues to face a deadly pandemic.

We are seeing some optimistic signs in the UK that the vaccination programme is starting to take effect but across the rest of Europe/World it's a very different story that continues to develop and change on a daily basis.

A one or two month delay to these fixture should be the absolute minimum action taken. Domestic fixtures could continue which would free up time later in the football calender.

Stop all this needless international travel now.

 

[Brizzlewhite]

The utter madness that is the international break will be happening late March.

Absolutely zero talk of postponing/rearranging these fixture is surely negligence from a health perspective. Who the feck do FIFA & EUFA think they are that they can blindly proceed when the world continues to face a deadly pandemic.

We are seeing some optimistic signs in the UK that the vaccination programme is starting to take effect but across the rest of Europe/World it's a very different story that continues to develop and change on a daily basis.

A one or two month delay to these fixture should be the absolute minimum action taken. Domestic fixtures could continue which would free up time later in the football calender.

Stop all this needless international travel now.

Greece wanted to start discussions about opening up to UK holiday makers using a vaccine passport but the EU have told them to get back in their box as its meant to be an EU wide agreement. So there's that to sort out first...

 

[Doc]

Marcos: “I would really like to see the very best of the youngsters (1 or 2 only) given four or five games on the spin at the back end of this season (assuming we are definitely safe) to find out if they are genuinely good enough. One of the things I love about Raphinha, apart from the obvious, is that he is a tough bugger. He has had some clatterings (not least from Ayling) and, although in obvious pain has dusted himself down and got on with it. The reason I mention this is Kalvin (I believe) said Davis could be a top player if he wanted to be. The inference being whether the attitude was spot on. I believe Kalvin has become a better player than he naturally is because he is so determined. The likes of Gelhardt, Greenwood, Kenneh need the chance to really prove they can grab the chance and not through a five minute cameo. This is all relevant to the plan because every great Leeds team has brought through great youngsters it is part of our fabric.“

100% agree and we know so far that Davies just hasnt been consistent enough and we may see him go. This means we need a LB and we also need a DM because nobody in the kids is ready to do it yet. So that means 2 signings requiredfor deffo, but back up striker cannot be Roberts which was clear the other night when he missed 2 or 3 simple chances, which then means Gelhardt and Greenwood need a chance to save the club a fortune in transfer fees. A back up Klich and Rodrigo yet again is possible to look at kids like Gelhardt and Greenwood as they have both been playing those roles for the U23s and you also have Huggins so its possible that 3 signings we dont need to make if a couple of the kids are given a go. They sink or swim but need a go. Nohan Kenneh is one to watch as he also models himself on Phillips but he can play anywhere in the back or midfield. Last few games for the 23s hes been CB or DM but maybe too early to understudy Phillips yet

 

[Jammy 07]

Marcos: “I would really like to see the very best of the youngsters (1 or 2 only) given four or five games on the spin at the back end of this season (assuming we are definitely safe) to find out if they are genuinely good enough. One of the things I love about Raphinha, apart from the obvious, is that he is a tough bugger. He has had some clatterings (not least from Ayling) and, although in obvious pain has dusted himself down and got on with it. The reason I mention this is Kalvin (I believe) said Davis could be a top player if he wanted to be. The inference being whether the attitude was spot on. I believe Kalvin has become a better player than he naturally is because he is so determined. The likes of Gelhardt, Greenwood, Kenneh need the chance to really prove they can grab the chance and not through a five minute cameo. This is all relevant to the plan because every great Leeds team has brought through great youngsters it is part of our fabric.“

100% agree and we know so far that Davies just hasnt been consistent enough and we may see him go. This means we need a LB and we also need a DM because nobody in the kids is ready to do it yet. So that means 2 signings requiredfor deffo, but back up striker cannot be Roberts which was clear the other night when he missed 2 or 3 simple chances, which then means Gelhardt and Greenwood need a chance to save the club a fortune in transfer fees. A back up Klich and Rodrigo yet again is possible to look at kids like Gelhardt and Greenwood as they have both been playing those roles for the U23s and you also have Huggins so its possible that 3 signings we dont need to make if a couple of the kids are given a go. They sink or swim but need a go. Nohan Kenneh is one to watch as he also models himself on Phillips but he can play anywhere in the back or midfield. Last few games for the 23s hes been CB or DM but maybe too early to understudy Phillips yet

Not sure I understand this inference that somehow Davis doesn't want it enough.

Can either you or Marcos give some examples of what you mean by that please ?

As he's on the bench most weeks he would seem to be doing reasonably well in Bielsa's eyes.

 

[Doc]

Not sure I understand this inference that somehow Davis doesn't want it enough.

Can either you or Marcos give some examples of what you mean by that please ?

As he's on the bench most weeks he would seem to be doing reasonably well in Bielsa's eyes.

In my opinion he isnt delivering on the promise he showed Bielsa 18 months ago. Never does a full 90 minutes for the 23s and Huggins seems to have moved ahead of him at LWB. Cresswell or Casey are on the bench too but unlikely to play? I watched him in the U23s match before last and he put in a great shift in the first half and looked pretty good, but taken off at half time for Huggins who had been with the first team. Jacko is in charge of the 23s and seems to be doing the biz being that we are 10 points clear at the top. Does Davies want it enough, I dont know, but Bamford talking about Gelhardt said he hoped Gelhardt carries on learning and wants it enough..... so maybe its a thing with kids who think they’ve made it by being withnthe first team and then not doing it in training?

 

[wakeybreakyheart]

Not sure I understand this inference that somehow Davis doesn't want it enough.

Can either you or Marcos give some examples of what you mean by that please ?

As he's on the bench most weeks he would seem to be doing reasonably well in Bielsa's eyes.

Could be he's a later developer and Kalvin is just giving him some encouragement.

 

[NostradEmus]

A few of the 23's could maybe be helped along once we are safe. Along with Gelhardt, Huggins, Shackleton and Poveda there is Kenneh and Summerville also. I know we can't play all of them.

I'd like to give Shackleton the chance of staying at Leeds by giving him 5 games at the end of the season.

We also have Gotts who is impressing at Salford. McCallmont who is playing at Oldham regularly too. Have they done enough to come back in next season and push on.

 

[Doc]

A few of the 23's could maybe be helped along once we are safe. Along with Gelhardt, Huggins, Shackleton and Poveda there is Kenneh and Summerville also. I know we can't play all of them.

I'd like to give Shackleton the chance of staying at Leeds by giving him 5 games at the end of the season.

We also have Gotts who is impressing at Salford. McCallmont who is playing at Oldham regularly too. Have they done enough to come back in next season and push on.

All good points but we know from the last 2 Summers we have released quite a few promising kids. We have Bogusz who was going to be a real baller but out on loan, will he be back, the same for Kun too, so we have 7 kids out and I bet only a couple are retained. Then you have Shacks and Davies who need to show something now because Drameh, Summerville, Gelhardt Greenwoodand Huggins are chasing. When just about every Prem team is fielding a teenager every week we cannot just say they need time, I would say they need a chance

 

[Jammy 07]

In my opinion he isnt delivering on the promise he showed Bielsa 18 months ago. Never does a full 90 minutes for the 23s and Huggins seems to have moved ahead of him at LWB. Cresswell or Casey are on the bench too but unlikely to play? I watched him in the U23s match before last and he put in a great shift in the first half and looked pretty good, but taken off at half time for Huggins who had been with the first team. Jacko is in charge of the 23s and seems to be doing the biz being that we are 10 points clear at the top. Does Davies want it enough, I dont know, but Bamford talking about Gelhardt said he hoped Gelhardt carries on learning and wants it enough..... so maybe its a thing with kids who think they’ve made it by being withnthe first team and then not doing it in training?

To me when the phrase ' wants it enough ' is used, it's usually a lifestyle thing...I'm sure all our players put it in during training as they wouldn't get anywhere near the 1st team bench if that wasn't the case.

Question is, can they make those minimal gains that living a monastic existence away from football may bring ?

Geldhardt being a prime example...apparently he's already leaner since joining the club, which shows he's trying. However is he ready, willing and able to fully commit for the next 10 years to get the most out of his career.. It's surely no coincidence that so many footballers who are teetotal (on religious grounds for example) have been successful in the PL in recent times.

 

[Doc]

Jammy has a point, but, well just to be awkward will Jammy say if George Best, Rodney Marsh, Frank Worthington, Franny Lee, Bobby Moore would make it today

 

[Jammy 07]

Jammy has a point, but, well just to be awkward will Jammy say if George Best, Rodney Marsh, Frank Worthington, Franny Lee, Bobby Moore would make it today

All great players, so yes of course they would have made it...plus they would have loved the imacculate playing surfaces and greater protection offered to flair players these days.

Shame though that so many British and Irish players didn't achieve their full potential due to off field shenanigans.

 

[wakeybreakyheart]

All great players, so yes of course they would have made it...plus they would have loved the imacculate playing surfaces and greater protection offered to flair players these days.

Shame though that so many British and Irish players didn't achieve their full potential due to off field shenanigans.

Only the irish were entitled to do shenanigans.

 

[Doc]

Edmondson has started up front for Northampton
Gotts has started on the right of a diamond for Salford
McCalmont has started for Oldham
Stevens is on the bench for Bradford
Hosannah hasn't made the bench for Bradford

WBA making Brighton look silly, Kyle Bartley puts baggies 1-0 up

 

[NostradEmus]

I've watched Fulham a few times recently and I wouldn't mind seeing Phillips holding with Lookman and Loftus-Cheek in front of him next season. It would be a lovely trio.

 

[Jammy 07]

I've watched Fulham a few times recently and I wouldn't mind seeing Phillips holding with Lookman and Loftus-Cheek in front of him next season. It would be a lovely trio.

So you want to sell Phillips ?

 

[NostradEmus]

Just realised Lookman is owned by RB Leipzig and Loftus-Cheek is on loan from Chelsea.

We have good relationships with those clubs though eh?

 

[Doc]

WBA looking like Big Sam has sorted it and should be at least 2 up. Brighton and Newcastle right in the mire here if WBA and Fulham carry on