11 Aug 2021 17:59:55
I just don’t get all this weaker squad nonsense.
We can assume to have a fit llorente Koch Rodrigo now all integrated into the team ethos.
Rafinia as well.
Plus a dedicated left back of quality.
Last ten games last season with this squad fit we were easily top 6 team.
Now we may get injuries or 2 nd season woes but we haven’t kicked a ball yet and I for one am very optimistic of our chances. Bielsa knows what he’s doing He wouldn’t be here if he thought he wasn’t getting support. Forshaw might surprise us and I think we will get O’Brien.
A good season coming and a secure financial footing (unlike some) . What’s not to like?
11 Aug 2021 19:57:24
Exactly my thoughts Trev, why all the pessimism before a ball has even been kicked! Yes we may get injuries, but also the world might end mid season as well!
I think a happy squad is much more important than a top heavy squad! I think we have some quality young players who have to step up at some point! Me I would like to trust in the guys who have got us to this point and some financial stability is very important! Spot on Trev.
11 Aug 2021 20:58:04
It's not pessimistic lads it's called game management . We are short cover in critical areas of the field that's undeniable .
The U23 myth has been peddled out for a good few seasons now but all to very very little avail as very little comes through
The window is open and now is / was the time to plan for a very very long season .
Not wait for something to happen then scramble to try and fix it .
11 Aug 2021 22:42:06
Agree Chris, if bamford, raphi or Phillips injured, we will struggle and don’t have fantastic replacements.
Rodrigo not a striker nor is Roberts, don’t think Koch a great DMF, I do rate him at CB.
12 Aug 2021 00:25:03
Chris - if we had not been promoted, a fair number of the u23s would already be in the first team squad, as they were recruited to play at that level. Some of the longer-established u23s will still make the required grade for our first team in the Prem, but not as quickly. Unfortunately, many of them will not, and they will be found appropriate clubs to further their football career at a level appropriate to their current standard. Some of these may still make the Prem in due course, as for example Ayling did with us having been released by Arsenal aged 18.
Given that we were promoted, there has a step-change in the quality of new recruits brought into the u23s. All of these players have apparently been chosen with the general expectation that they will be fully Prem-ready after a couple of seasons - the pattern being u23 in first season, some meaningful first team gametime in second and full member of squad after that. One or two may be fast-tracked a little, as may be the case with Lewis Bate.
12 Aug 2021 08:24:31
Chris
If Bamford gets injured then Rodrigo can play
If Raphinha gets injured then Costa can play
If Phillips gets injured then Koch/ Struik can play.
I don't see all this fascination by the myopic brigade with bringing in player after player after player? If they are better than what we have then, happy days. But if all they are is cover then your spouting on about expensive drivel. Who is going to come here to sit on the bench unless they are young, up and coming, and have time to play the long game.
Mshuter. Rodrigo is not a striker! . really?
I guess you need to have a word with the Spanish international manager about that. You seem to know more than quite a few UEFA B licenced managers on that one.
12 Aug 2021 09:04:14
Clue, my case in point would be Bogusz 2 pre seasons back he was on fire and was a banker to make the transition into 1st team . Fast forward to today he couldn't be further from a bielsa 1st team.
There are lots of others also with the same story .
Regardless of us being promoted if those lads were good enough they would have made the step up . Yet the majority won't really make it at Leeds when all's said + done .
IMO we really are playing a risky game if we leave our transfer biz as it currently stands.
12 Aug 2021 10:14:21
Axe you are just typing out names to fill in a sentence .
Seriously you genuinely believe Rodrigo will turn into a 15- 20 scorer this year?
And you believe Costa is on a par with Raph
If you answer yes to any of those 2, I am not even going to waste my time .
Costa = expensive drivel.
12 Aug 2021 11:27:38
Axe, He is not a out and out goal scorer, how many did he score last season
We need a forward that can get 15-25 goals to push bamford and before u say that bielsa didn’t play him as a striker, that answers it.