07 Feb 2021 13:29:08
Under 23s 4-0up against Bioro after less than 28 mins. The way Summerville is playing, Bielsa will fancy having him involved around the first team before year end.
07 Feb 2021 14:31:43
Indeed Spanish
Sommerville very impressive again, and equally impressive a superlative strike from Joe Geldhert for the 4th goal.
With Geldhert only playing the first 45 minutes today, really hope and have a good feeling Geldhert might be on the bench tomorrow against Palace.
07 Feb 2021 15:38:50
I don't what else he needs to do to get a chance. Seems like he is always one of the best at the U23 age.
I don't think Jimmy will make it until next year, it always seems a slow progress to integrate.
07 Feb 2021 15:48:03
Geldhert has the Xfactor ( far) more than any other Leeds U23 ; when he plays the team looks twice as potent and twice as confident.
07 Feb 2021 17:27:04
I for one really enjoy learning who's doing well from U23 from you guys much appreciated these posts. Assume we get to the end of the season and the last five games or so are 'dead rubbers' (maybe wishful thinking) which four or five players do you think would be the ones most likely to get some first team minutes?
07 Feb 2021 17:50:44
Cheers Ealing
Geldhert, Summerville, Drameh, Greenwood would be my 4.
07 Feb 2021 19:45:51
I too think Gelhardt is ready for the first team, just don't know where I would play him?
07 Feb 2021 20:21:59
Still a chasm of difference between the U23s and EPL
I agree with your four though BV and would add Huggins to that list.
That being said Bubs watches many U23 games and watches hours snd hours of video we also know he does not make changes lightly.
Then you factor in Gotts out on loan with McCalmot getting good reviews so are on loan players ahead of the ones in the U23’s?
Then we have Jenkins making the First Team bench regularly who wasn’t a stand out for me in the U23’s and not ahead of the four you’ve mentioned. It’s a tricky one to call I hope they all make the squad in time, certainly many have before them due to a run of injuries but I don’t think it will be many more before we are mathematically safe.
And worst of all are they actually good enough to make a difference to what we already have, When you look at likes of Raphinia and if true targets like Rodrigo de Paul.
Don’t get me wrong nothing I would like more than our whole team to be made from the U23s but i sadly we may be lucky if one or two make it at this level.
But it’s still exciting to see who does make it.
07 Feb 2021 21:41:39
Class, I agree! The jump now is enormous, but we are also spending more money on new under 23ers to match that. I would be surprised to see Geldhert on the bench tomorrow. Think the guys not playing today are the ones closer to being involved at the moment and that’s more based on position. Once we are safe from relegation, you might see some others give a chance, Geldhert, Summerville, Greenwood and Dramah . Max Dean deserves a mention, not because he is close yet, but he’s 16 and playing under 23s and scoring!
I think the under 23s for us are about having a pool of players to assist the first team and also for Bielsa, the emergency cover. We’ve had a strong under 23 team for the last few years but only, Struick and Shackleton have got close from those.
We’re building for the future and it’s good business because many of the players could well be sold on. If the above 4 we’ve mentioned make it to full first team level, that will be excellent!
08 Feb 2021 08:27:03
Nobody's mentioned Cresswell!
08 Feb 2021 09:52:47
Farsley, Cresswell making the bench already as are Huggins and Jenkins. Cresswell seems to have popped in front of Casey for the moment. He’s likely to be in the bench until one of Llorente or Koch back. Good example of how Bielsa backflills from the under 23s. I really like that approach, comes with risks but avoids having stacks of senior players doing nothing. I guess that’s the logic of paying more for youth as well, in theory better quality of backfill and hopefully of success.