So the new season is upon us and we start again from 0. Will this be a push on from 9th into European places, or is that wishful thinking, and should we be grateful for mid table consolidation and not worrying about relegation.
I am normally an optimistic fella, but I can’t help but think we don’t yet have the squad to break into the top 6 and another top 10 finish would be a great result. If we can strengthen on the pitch using some youngsters and a couple more purchases, and develop off the pitch with stadium expansion, the next few years look hopeful and we can really push on.
So, what has happened since I last put pen to paper (or finger to iPad I suppose) for the last thread. We have had a few signings … I am not sure Jack counts really, given he has been here 3 years, but at £15m from what I have read, that looks like a great deal and makes him ours. I have to admit having never really heard of Firpo, but a good left back will really help us and from what I have seen / read the link up with Harrison has started well. Klaesson looks like another good young keeper, and hopefully inspires more confidence than Kiko sometimes did…I was in the North Stand for the Derby play off semi final…. Plenty more for the U23s but I think we have an issue here…the jump from PL1 to the Premiership is a big one, and these boys have not successfully competed in PL1 yet, so I wonder if those calling for immediate squad inclusion are being over-optimistic, but I would love to be proved wrong.
So as we go into this new season I look at the table and can see a number of teams that we should comfortably finish above:
Burnley
Brentford
Brighton
Crystal Palace
Newcastle
Norwich
Watford
Then there are the teams that I believe we can finish above:
Everton
Southampton
Wolves
Then there are the teams I think we will finish amongst:
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Tottenham
West Ham
So, given that leaves some combination of the Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester that I think will finish ahead of us, it means as well as predicting a riot, I can see anywhere between 6th and 10th for us. Even if things go wrong, and we pick up some key injuries I just cannot see how more than 3 of those I think we will comfortably beat can finish ahead of us….so no relegation worries really.
So, where do I think we have gaps….
we have an excellent young keeper, and what looks like a great backup, no problems there
3 great, and 1 good centrebacks
Ayling and Firpo look like quality fullbacks to me, although not sure if we get a long term injury what we do, beyond the inevitable answer of Dallas, which then leaves us short in midfield
Phillips is world class, and really surprised (but delighted) we have not had a big offer made for him, but again, not sure we have back up there. Koch doesn’t do it for me (as they say!), and Forshaw not proven
Wingers, we have Raphinia and Harrison, both excellent, and Poveda as back up…I like him, but just wish he wouldn’t try too hard…always seems to want to do it himself. Not sure Costa is up to it, or rather not up to it consistently…on his day he can be very good. Do we need another one?
In the middle we have Klich, who seems to be getting back in the pace again, Dallas and Shackleton, although I am not really sure anymore what Jamie’s best position is, Bielsa seems to keep moving him around. We definitely need more creativity here.
Up front we have Bamford, who I will come back to in a minute, Rodrigo and Roberts. I think the later two haven’t quite found their place yet, but for both of them I think they will come good this season. Tyler improved hugely last season and I think will keep going, if anything he needs a more consistent run out, and Rodrigo is class and shows moments of brilliance. So, back to Bamford - I have a worry here. Not that I think he is a bad player at all, I am a huge fan, the work he does off the ball is immense and when we play without him we lose shape. But I am concerned, I think he played out of his skin last season, and I am nervous it was because the crowds weren’t there…so when we are back, will the pressure tell on him…I hope not, and I am probably worrying over nothing, but there you go.
All in all, not bad, but worried about depth and creativity…how will we break teams down when they park the bus…where does the magic come from?
Get on with it, I hear you cry! On to the game then…let’s talk about Manchester United. I am not going to get personal, I am not going to name call, I don’t really understand fans who refuse to wear red for example. But it would be great to start with a win wouldn’t it. Given that Ole appears to be under some pressure to perform this season, he has just signed a new contract after all, and spent rather a lot of money, it would be a fantastic start to beat them, even if it is 0-1 with a 91st minute goal that came off Rodrigos arse (I bet you would get 200-1 at Paddy Power for that…you heard it here first!)
I am not sure I really care about those glory hunter Man U fans, so I can’t even be bothered to research them, but I do know a few at work, so hoping Monday won’t be too bad in the office.
Also, if I start listing players who have played for both clubs we are going to wonder why we sold Cantona and argue about Alan Smith, who is still a childhood hero of mine, so let’s not bother. But coming the other way Strachan was a fabulous signing.
For them I am not sure Varane will be signed and ready, and Sancho won’t have trained much with them, so can’t see him playing. A lot of their team are only just back in training too. I see their key threats as Fernandes, so let’s hope Phillips can keep him in his pocket like he did at Elland Road last year, and not get dragged around the pitch like at Old Trafford, and Greenwood, who I would much rather be playing than say Rashford or Cavani (both of whom are unavailable). Don’t think Pogba will play either ...his move to PSG has fallen through, so what state will his head be in, and he didn’t play in either game last year…he can’t cope with our game.
With Llorente and Shackleton being injured I expect the Leeds line up to be:
Meslier
Ayling Koch Struijk Firpo
Phillips
Raphinia Dallas Klich Harrison
Bamford
With a bench of Klaesson, Cooper, Forshaw, Poveda, Rodrigo, Roberts, Costa. I can’t see the kids on the bench for this game.
On to the business end… I think we will start the season with more energy and a higher tempo and catch Man U out…I am predicting a 1-2 start to the season with Raphinia and Bamford scoring. The weather will be showery but not windy…still 18 degrees so only your kagoul needed….
I am predicting a win for two reasons. Firstly, I really think we can…we generally play a bit rubbish in pre season friendlies and then start the real thing well. More importantly, I have tickets for the Everton game so I really want to do the MDT for that one…so come on football gods…I will sacrifice a Man U supporting work colleague….
That’s enough football, we all know you have been waiting for a chart….
Here goes, let’s look at the power of civilisations over the last few thousand years in an infographic created in 1931 by John Sparks. It has some obvious flaws, there is definitely a Western bias to it, and given its age, some of the terms used maybe considered dated today, but it tells an interesting story or the rise and fall of powers.
MOT ALAW
I think there's a couple of hard decisions to be made. I don't think Rodrigo is ever going to fit in as a number 10. it's time Roberts earned his money with a prolonged stint in the team. Rodrigo can come in as sub for Bamford. Koch is the other one, he's just not working out as DCM. In fact he's also 4th choice CB in my book, possibly 5th given the ever improving Cresswell. But in the absence of Philips, I think Jenkins is well worth a shout, he is after all a natural DCM. Failing that, I've no doubt Dallas could make a better fist than Koch.
So happy my wife forced me to have a "family day". Cannot even find the words to write about our display.
We were well beaten and all of their goals were correct.
Cannot believe our apathy.
Cut through down the middle again.
All players totally off form whilst they guys were on top of their game.
Marcelo is God but perhaps it is time for square pegs in square holes and round ones in round holes.
Them where’t days. Tickets anywhere in the ground and………well, that was about it.
If anyone on here has any doubts about Marcelo Belisa and his current squad
this day 13 years ago
this is what LUFC were doing
16-08-08: Oldham Athletic (h) 0-2 : League One
Ankergren, Casper
Richardson, Frazer
Marques, Rui
Huntington, Paul
Sheehan, Alan
Snodgrass, Robert
Howson, Jonny
Prutton, Dave
Robinson, Andy
Beckford, Jermaine
Showunmi, Enoch
Once the dust has settled and we've seen a better benchmark against Everton we can assess where we really are. I'm not ready to throw the towel in after one game.
- I think this year's Manure are a massive uplift on last year - and they finished second....
- I think the crowd, and all that went with it, was a massive factor in how we handled their second goal and therefore crumbled a bit.
- We did lose in a silent OT conceding 6 last year, maybe because it's a terrible matchup playing a team that specialise on hitting on the counter?
- We were without Phillips and Llorente, clearly our 2 best defensive players
The worrying bit wasn't so much the score as the way OGS changed their formation and we had no response. Other Prem managers WILL be watching that.
I don't blame Koch - he's our backup CDM, I do feel we need more from Rodrigo but as posted above, he's not a midfielder he's a No9.
As for the lack of signings narrative, we spent £100m last summer and we upgraded LB so far this year, we also have an academy that's transformed from 3 years ago. Money doesn't grow on trees (especially post COVID) and I suspect we're due a quieter couple of windows - we have to accept our place in the cash pecking order even if we don't like it.
Picking up a really high class CM would be great but how much would it cost and where does the money come from?
We were outplayed and over ran in midfield from minute one, almost exactly the same as last seasons game in OT, when Mctommy ruled the roost. KP was a massive loss for us and when poobag was effectively given the freedom of the park from OGS i didnt think LUFC players had to obey that instruction.
5-1 didnt reflect the game imho yes the better team won but no tv pictures from VAR on fernandez "offside" no penalty for tyler were VAR even on duty???? would love to know if the shoe was on the other foot would we have seen the "evidence"???
Panic no whats the point in that ITS the 1st game? worried (slightly) as we cant be without KP at any stage this season, have we regressed? too early to say but Firpo must get upto speed quickly. Any of ye hear over the weekend that poveda is dealing with some personal stuff and maybe just maybe Costa was there to replace him???
So had time to watch it again.
Our central midfield needs pure athletes as Klich and Rodrigo could not keep uo with the Athletic power puduced by podgba and mctommly.
Koch did okay until you saw Fernandez or what ever his name is start to use off ball multi player screens on his movement to break open. Something that is very much basketball-esk.
Our wing players need that fraction of time because receiving the ball and having 2 players ontop of you before it even get to you is not doing them favors.
Rodi is a striker not a CM.
The result was very disappointing but remember it was:
(A) The first match of the season
(B) It was an outstanding performance by Man Utd
(C) It was an away game
(D) Despite the goal, there wasn't that much difference between the two teams in the first half.
(E) These freak results will happen due to the system we play.
There were still also some positives. Roberts looked sharp and caused some problems. Ok, that's the only positive, but remember the next game is a home game, let's judge things more after a few more matches.
Kalvin back and we'll obviously have some much needed quality back.
Not doubting either that with Llorente we'll also become a much better organised and far more solid side.
In terms of quality on display, yesterday was something of a miss match.
To go tow to tow with them, every Leeds player would have to play near the best of their ablility.
Both as individuals and as a team we came up short (by a lot).
Fact is we Just didn't perform, with perhaps only a couple of players reaching anything near their best level.
We also lost our head after Ayling's goal and just went for them, leaving acres in behind us.
Having 2 left footed CB's, Koch being asked to do things he simply can't, Raphina doing nowth & Harrison also struggling, no wonder they tore us a new one.
Danish, you're so right regarding Rodrigo.
He certainly looks a total misfit, not sure how we can fix that one.
Disappointing, but I think the scoreline could have been much different if Kalvin & Llorente had started for us.
So we move on....Upwards hopefully!
Very sensible post, Andyl 👍.
Now, I haven’t seen the statistics from yesterday, but it seemed that we were not only outplayed, but also outrun. Are we not as fit as we normally have been, under Bielsa?
Very sensible post, Andyl 👍.
Now, I haven’t seen the statistics from yesterday, but it seemed that we were not only outplayed, but also outrun. Are we not as fit as we normally have been, under Bielsa?
As a general rule if you don’t improve/invest, you don’t stay as you were, you go backwards.
For me we are treading water at best.
We are going to have ups and downs like last season, but because of the lack of investment, I expect a few more downs this season.
We need to beat teams who finished below us last season so losing to top six teams, however painful, is not the priority. The Everton game will be a more realistic test of where we can expect to finish.
The biggest worry for me is we have no replacements for Pablo and KP. It seems the manager’s current answer is Roberts in the attacking position and Koch in the defensive role. Aldi indeed.
I haven't been here for a while but we are still talking about the same people, So why hasn't anything been done about it?
And plz I don't want to hear about we are building for the future or looking for players that have potential. Radz has been brill but I look at our team and don't see where we have improved anything from last season to be honest. Maybe with Firpo we have a better option at LB but nowt else.
We have not improved the CB, MF or forward roles,and we def needed too
I was particularly disappointed with Rodrigo. He seemed to have very heavy legs, not at all up to speed. The same could be said about Koch and Klich, and whilst Cooper and Struijk also were out of their depth, the match was lost in midfield. Phillips will improve us, of course, but that‘s probably not enough, here’s hoping that many of today’s team just had a one-off stinker.
So many were off the boil, or were they just their normal Championship level? Crucial passes were missing up front from everyone. Was Harrison playing today? People knock Costa, but our Jack has just been signed up for a big contract and wage and couldn't even beat a man.
Shopping at Harrods compared to Aldi really tells on the pitch! We'll never compete until our little Italian sells up to someone with mega bucks. He has even recently tried to buy an Italian club to 'build an empire of clubs'. What planet is he on!
We've got the coach, but not the dosh. It's as simple as that. And today showed it big!
Has the whole VAR-stuff been made redundant/optional?
As at Brentford, today they didn't even seem to check if Fernandes was off-side + they didn't look at the clear pen. fault on Roberts either.
Strange!
Didn't like some our players staying on the pitch with that lot.
Not the result of perfomances to hang out there.
Effing s*it again like last season, thanks MB, thanks lads, second season syndrome, batten down the hatches, bottom four battle already. Our saviour, some lad from Huddersfield, ha, ha, shopping in lidl already, let's hope there are three worse teams in the league, top 6, top 10, delusional!
Well that’s a crap game passing and no speed was that plan b?
Said it before, the results (rather than the performances) towards to end of last season in a sense have done us no favours at all.