Straight into the serious question from the start. Is our preseason already a debacle? Why, well lets start with the followin points.
- We are 6 days away from the first trail game an we do not have 60% of our squad in training yet.
- Rumoured that this could be the easiest preseason in terms of Fitness work that any professional players as undertaken. Heard from someone who was lucky enough watch 2 days this week that other then a light warm up and a beep test nothing else is done.
- Manager is actually partaking in training as one of the boys instead of demanding or coaching excellence. More a style of pub team training.
- Best performing player in everything are actually players who are either from 18's or being linked elsewhere.
- Clubs publications of squad numbers, player in coming & outgoing, team kit release is like s sunday league conference team.
Now of course other may not see it this way and maybe I am of the opinion that preseason should consist of a program of extreme hell week. Surely there still should be that loading stage to get miles i to the legs. Any how, what are others thoughts and comments?
Jimmy Summerville been given Raphinha no10 for the season.... surely he's got to be given a chance in EVERY squad for the first couple of months and given a run.... not just 10mins towards the end of the game.
I can't see him getting in with Harrison, Rodrigo and Aaronson being the first choice 3 behind Hattrick straight away but I'm sure Rodrigo will be dragged at half time a few times and Aaronson put in the middle....
While Sinesterra is out for a couple of weeks and then has to get match fitness, Summerville HAS to get a prolonged run.
He could be like a brand new signing....
So the bar for Harrison appears to be set at £39million ( if reports are true). Newcastle latest bid of £33million turned down. Assuming they can muster the additional £6million, are we really going to offload him to the barcodes?? I think he is an integral part of our team, but I suppose money talks. I'm just praying this is just a pile of clickbait sh*te!
Has anyone got info on the behind closed doors game that was played on Saturday? Some random rumour stated that those fit squad members who did not play Sunday play a full 90 minutes in the game. It has been near impossible getting info on it.
Overall this seasons pre-season was miles better than last years so there is a positive right there to start with
Yes we lost Rapha & Kalvin but lets be honest we cant compete with the big boys "if" they shine the spotlight on one of our talents, so good luck to them both.
Ive not seen too many of the pre-season games but listening to Jesse's interview after Sundays game im hopeful we will be well away from the dreaded relegation dogfight come March/April 2023.
The new guys seem to have made an impression and time will be needed fro them to bed in but Roca & Aaronson in particular have been impressive from what ive seen.
Sad to see Kiko go over the weekend again i wish him well but lets face it he would never have taken IM number one jersey.
Wolves next Saturday really looking forward to it, and for the fans that have a ticket i really hope they stick with the team, afterall mistakes will happen especially in the first game "real" game back, so patience and plenty of noise and im certain whoever JM selects as his starting xi will taste what its like to be LEEDS
MOT
Well we certainly looked lively yesterday. We won’t be given that much freedom to get at teams in the premier league though. Nice to see Rodrigo getting some goals, some nice touches and passes from him too. We all know he has it in his locker, he just needs to open his locker more frequently Than he haa over the last two years.
The new lads looked to have settled in. Aaronson Had a great game, the pass for Bamfords first was quality. As I’ve mentioned before, he gives us something we have lacked in the centre of park previously. Get on the ball and run with the ball being direct through the middle. Previously we relied on getting the ball wide to be able to run at opponents. This just gives us another option.
I know it was only pre season and the real test will be next week, but I’m feeling happy With the business we have done. We’ve lost two big players, but looking at The bigger picture , I’ve got a feeling/hope that we have got a stronger and better team and squad in return.
only time will tell.
Well, that was fun!
If we could defend we'd be unstoppable. Shades of Bielsa there....
Just willing the Lionesses on before our game 😃
what's our starting lineup?
Good starting X1 out for 1845ko but Costa and Poveda on the bench!
Look forward to seeing Sonny Perkins come on though....
Costa trained with the first team on Friday as did Sonny Perkins.
So a bit of comparison here in Australia for EPL training sessions. According to what was seen in the open Leeds 2 sessions and the one Aston Villa. Both clubs were doing very similar training but there was one clear difference between the 2. Leeds were conducting all training at about 60% with regular stoppage for coach instructions and explanations which is to be expected with new players. Aston Villa were going at 100% with players who were not up to task or slacking forced into what looked to be a "B" team. Regularly was the coaching staff giving instructions individually to B team players who then earn back into the A team drills. This continued all session. Gerrard was demanding perfection and pushing them.
Lets hope we can over come our injuries and squad new-ness so that we can push to that levels.
Didnt see any of the game so wont / cant comment, although reading your comments im getting the impression that JM still hasnt settled on his starting xi, ok pre-season friendlies are for trying out things and ive no issue with that but with the Wolves game only 2 weeks away now surely we should be more settled and aware of what the tactics are.
Not beaten which is a positive, but against a "b" team JM cant be pleased with that.
I see lumturd were thumped 4-0 before jumping on the plane back to england,
Everton at 4/1 to be relegated looks tempting as do Brum at 2/1 thats a lovely 14/1 double
The biggest thing i took out our preseason to date is that this season getting up at 2 and 3 am to watch leeds is going to see me need to buy a fair few more cases of Red wine, Jack Daniels, Crown royal whisky and something for the next afternoon hang overs.
Last years pre-season was a disaster. This year I am more optimistic although I can only see a mid table finish. There are too many team worse than us. A striker and LB would increase my confidence.
What I took from the game is that Meslier has a very odd shaped head.... it looks like he has turned up for the game on a motorbike and forgot to take his helmet off for kick off
Full Time 1-1
Match rating somewhere between "Meh" and "Pfffft".
Very few standouts for us - will let others give player rating I'm not enthused
Pitch crap
Opposition a clunking B team
Officials - more strict but still bang average at best
Greenwood is wasted that deep.
Klich is ahhhhhh.
Hjelde is good left CB.
66 mins - Palace Goal 1-1
Caught with our pants totally down from our own corner - if Klich is the last man back we're done for
60 mins - Klich and Gyabi on for Rodders and Roca
Roca showing signs of frustration coming off.... needs an arm round him
54 mins Summerville earns a mega-soft pen
Rodders! 1-0