It wasn’t just Roberts when Costa was here it was both of them.
It isn’t even the types of player.
It’s the manger’s narrow mindedness.
It’s obvious that both players were not the answer, and Roberts, for example, was not the answer in the Championship!
To me this a major weakness in the managers mindset.
Creswell is in because he’s a last resort, he wouldn’t be playing if he was midfielder.
I hope MB doesn’t leave a legacy of being too bloody minded to change things.
The last few games of the season were a wasted chance. Mollifying finishes against some top opposition but what did we learn? Costa and Roberts were his answer. A rubbish pre season and what did we learn? Costa and Roberts were the answer! He was even playing Costa when everyone knew he was leaving.
I really hope he can change this because I fear Roberts and Foreshaw will be the newest answer.
Yes Danish, it kind of defies logic doesn’t it?!
Playing Roberts either as a starter or his first substitution, game after game, is one of Bielsa’s most obvious mistakes. As a no. 9 or 10, Roberts scored one very scrappy/lucky goal in the more than 1,000 minutes of PL football he got last season.
He has no confidence in front of gaol he ain’t a 9
the Southampton goal came when he was trying to get it onto his preferred foot got robbed
I remember thinking when Tyler Roberts went to the Euro's and didn't really feature i thought why?
Why didnt Rob page use a PL player that plays regularly for a top half side ahead of championship players?
Going back on the recent internationals again TR wasn't really utilized, came on as a sub against the Czech republic and didn't play at all against Estonia. Why is this? What does MB see in TR that the rest of us don't.
The guy is still very young we must bear this in mind, 22-23 years old so he is still developing and learning i accept that but jezz LEEDS UNITED have invested heavily in this one player that his international manager doesn't seem to rate at all or if he does he is well down the pecking order in a Welsh side currently ranked 19th in the World ahead of Peru and Senegal.
I still stand by my comments earlier in this thread that TR played well and did improve from Christmas 2020 to May 2021 but like the start of season 20/21 he has again started this season extremely poorly and we are all back to square one on this lad.
What does he offer?
where are we going with him?
who does he improve us as a team?
all valid questions that fans are entitled to ask but now some of the fans are now beginning to question the manager and his team selections..
I fear if results don't improve on the field the boo boys will vent their anger and drag down team moral especially at ER a big 2 months ahead of TR, Marcelo & LUFC if you ask me..
Roberts has had a lot of chances and time on the pitch to prove his worth.
Think we have to aknowledge there has been very little result/end product.
In some games there has been the odd flash or two, a great pass, a nice control & swift turn. In truth they've been far and few between.
However (my) expectations have become such that anything that comes off is a bonus to me.
Big question if that's enough for a Premiership player.
Yesterday he wasn't the worst performer, but he went missing (like a lot of the team) for very long spells.
Without the ball he just adds nothing in terms of challenging for the ball, tackling, defending...
Said it before, would he get into any other Premiership side? Nah.
Perhaps being a bit harsh but the Premiership is not his level, think in futsal he would stand out.
A quick word about Rodrigo, again with a fee of 28Million, he offered nothing and was even worse than Roberts. If Barca come calling in January... by all means ... just cut our losses.
I think ‘Flogging a dead horse’ is the appropriate expression!
Not at the show v Saints. Not so sure I can keep defending him and his "potential"
Marcelo Biesla on Roberts after the Watford game - "I in particular have a lot of confidence in his resources. I feel he can unbalance. I hope he can evolve and take a leading role".
Agree Soopa. Out on the right up top he had more space to receive the ball so had time to think what to do and that scissor kick than cannoned off the bar - amazing athletic feat!
Maybe because he came on up front he looked better. It’s in the no 10 role he struggles with.
Very good cameo today. Maybe I will change my mind and keep sticking up for him. MB could turn him around like he has KP, Cooper, Ayling, Dallas, Klitch and others.
@Stevethemouse , I thought all footballers intodays games think it is normal to player away?
On Beilsa playing a front 2... umm not in his coaching career that i can see. Actually doing research on it his formation requires 1 up to and generally not a Bamford type but a Rodrigo or carlos tevez type. Smaller, fast and strong with high dribble ability. Gelthardt and Greenwood suit it and dare i say it Roberts.
What is shocking is tha Beilsa's normally like a back 3 which he has not done with us but when he signed Llorente, Koch i was guessing he planned to revert to this but both plus Cooper have been injured and not had the chance to play all together. Could see if happen in future. Imagine a fully fit 3 of Struijk (lcb), Koch (mcb), Llorente (rcb)
Bull the rumour is his wife has just kicked him out for playing away
While Klich definitely had a dip in form last season he seems to be right back at it again so far. Dallas unfortunately is nowhere near last years performances, maybe fatigue, maybe personal issues still not resolved, who knows but to be fair to Dallas season he was immense and to achieve that level of performance would prove difficult for most players, maybe some time on the bench / rest might "fix" things but id say MB is on top of things and if something was seriously wrong i would hope player welfare would take priority.
Kalvin had no real down time after the euro's and again maybe rest is what he needs but if Philips dosen't play well sadly Leeds united don't either we cant afford Kalvin out of the team.
I think trying 2 up front every now and then would at the very least keep the opposition manager guessing as things are we very predicable and throwing a curve ball every now and then would at the very least make the opposing manager scratch his head and work 4-5 hours more on his possible team selection.
I have given up defending young Tyler. After 80+ games for us now, I cannot really call him inexperienced or seek to defend his potential.
He plays for Wales as a No.9 and apart from running about and working hard offers them nothing else in a true footballing sense.
Only way to see if he can actually realise his talents is let him go out on loan in January to a Championship side, preferably challenging for promotion.
We then bit the bullet and get a proper No.9, not a false No.9 nor a deep lying No.9 (like Rodrigo)
I was giving the benefit of doubt to Roberts (last season) and i still think he improved around the christmas period to the end of the season but this year it looks like he has dropped back in form again sadly.
Is it cause he cant improve anymore?
is it cause the demands of Belisaball are very strenuous and its only human that the body cant cope ala klich last year?
Is it cause MB still sees Roberts as being the best we have despite the young lads doing so well last season and at the start of this?
I dont have the answers and i can and still do trust Belisa (not blindly) but he sees everything that is happening at TA and as one of the top 5 best coaches in the world who are we to mouth off?
However my view is Roberts performances lately dosent / shouldn't automatically give him the right to be 1st sub. To develop the squad and for the development of other players trying to breakthrough they need to feel that they can get an equal opportunity to shine / perform. If the fringe players feel they arent going to get a fair crack then, what is only human nature, they wont give it all in training and hence they dont progress at all. The result being LUFC dont improve.
As i say i trust MB and wouldnt want any other person in charge but the big picture has to be thought of and who knows maybe another diamond is in our squad, like philips was, and this person is waiting for the pressure of the PL to be forced on him for them to shine!!!!
i know deep stuff and i bet most of ye didn't think that kinda stuff was in me ;)
It is strange that Roberts came to us as a young (19) number 9 but has now played 3 games in that position. He has played as RW, LW, CM and ACM. For his development have we gotten best out of him? I have said it once before and that is 3 months of playing as a number 9 on loan and he will be good.
Look at difference playing Rodrigo in his position makes. He looks total different player.