24 Sep 2021 07:49:32
If Bamford is injured and Roberts is playing up front I'm going to have to put a few quid on us losing 3-0. It's the only way I think that will stop it happening. Only plus side - playing up front is the only time I've seen him play ok but that was in the championship. Downside- Rodrigo had a decent game at number 10 so Bielsa might play him up front and play his favourite son at 10.
24 Sep 2021 10:08:25
Hess this is exactly the scenario that we are called dooms-dayers for, and it's now happening . It's amazing that as a premiership outfit we now have to rely on Tyler Roberts to score goals,
24 Sep 2021 11:47:42
Chris - we are not entirely reliant on Tyro to score goals. If it’s tried and fails, Bielsa will look for another solution. Previously he has put Rodrigo in at 9, and he proved himself to be quite proficient there towards the end of last season. Clearly not in his best scoring form at the moment, but the whole team is lacking confidence at the moment. Raphinha could potentially play as a false 9, we also have u23s who could could come in, as substitutes initially. Bamford’s current injury seems to be a short term one anyway. Bottom line is that no-one at the Club wants us to end up in a relegation scrap, and a solution will be found if some longer term injury occurs - even if (in extremis) this requires us to look to the transfer market again.
24 Sep 2021 11:49:14
The main issue is that we don't really have a proper backup to Bamford. I believe Rodrigo was brought in as that no9 for last season as nobody expected Bamford to have as good a season as he did (apart from Bermo) so that left us with a problem fitting Rodrigo in. With Bamford out he would be the natural choice for CF, BUT it makes more sense to keep him at no10 as that is clearly where Bielsa sees him long term therefore leaving a gap. The only other alternative Bielsa has named for Bamford is Roberts so for me that will be the line up. Alternatives would be one of the youth players with Gelhardt the obvious front runner (can see him coming in off the bench tomorrow depending how the game goes) or someone like Dallas who I think would do well up top. Harrison has been tried before with little success but he or James could also be possibilities.
24 Sep 2021 13:53:35
Clueless as much as I do enjoy reading your posts, you do have your head in the sand oblivious to the obvious in regards team strength
The point is at this point in our return to Prem, there should be no should, would, could, might, possibly, one for future, etc etc excuses
Yes we ain't got going yet, but that reinforces my point further, we don't have quality bench that enables dips in form / injuries / suspensions to be adequately handled .
Yes morale is poor but how do you think that's going to go tomorrow with quite possibly a pasting from Hammers
ER is going to turn nasty especially towards Ty, the crowd will crucify him in a few games time if this continues
The smart money would have been on buying a recognized no9 pre season and spreading the needs for goals out .
We are so basic currently, flat, laboured, devoid of the pass, touch to create chances
Yes no one wants to see huge sums of money paid out of club, but sadly this is our WORKPLACE NOW .
Youth is great for future, but youth need experienced pros to learn from day to day, seriously how is Joe supposed to learn from Ty or Rodi how doesn't really score much?
Please explain that 1 too me . Yes bubs is a wonderful coach who has forgotten more than I will ever know about football, but it's the top striker tips young players thrive on .
We needed CAM +a striker yet we got a wing back +a winger both of whom will take awhile to adjust, all the while the results are suffering on the context of
Oh we should be fine for season as we won't go down, my fear is morale will be very low if say after 5-6 more games like these we are still struggling to create.
24 Sep 2021 16:08:33
this season was VITALLY IMPORTANT for improving the QUALITY and QUANTITY of the first team squad in key areas midfield and up front especially ; it foolishly hasn't happened and the quality of the squad has worsened if anything
relying on the likes of Adam Forshaw and Tyler Roberts is mind boggling
so yes Chris you are correct and as for Clu he sometimes post some sound posts yet other times he borders on perversity
the folly of not signing a CAM, CM and striker ( either permanently or on loan ) is coming home to roost this season and sadly Bielsa is certainly to blame for that along with Radz and Orta.
boy I wish the likes of top 6 OP would actually be correct for once in his predictions
for me Radz is playing russian roulette with Leeds future EPL status not seeking better than than Orta of JKA, Costa, Roberts notoriety ; keep him and he will continue to buy duds with future transfer funds
and despite his faults does Bielsa stay next season? : I would still much rather he did because Leeds and Orta would likely recruit someone less able
anyway hopefully the sicknote players can get back on the pitch asap because our first 11 is decent to good and we can start hopefully winning EPL games of football.
24 Sep 2021 18:39:22
Chris - believe you me, I am not oblivious to the squad strength/ weakness. And neither are Bielsa, Orta, Radz and Kinnear - or for that matter the 49ers. This season was always going to be one of consolidation rather than significant progress. Last season we overachieved, which has clearly got us hoping for further progress towards Europe this season. Being four or five places higher than expected only earned another £8-10m more than the management team were budgeting for. There are structural issues within the squad which will probably need addressing next summer, with the likes of Coops and possibly Klich, Ayling as well as Forshaw possibly requiring replacement within the core group, due to decreasing capacity to deal with the demands placed on all the players, or in their specific role (s) . Exactly who will fall within that category presumably be reviewed throughout the season. They will obviously monitor the progress of the U23s, and their ability to step up to fill the gaps that will be created in the squad. They were clearly also going to have to review how Tyro is or isn’t progressing, and the extent to which Rodrigo can fulfil the n10 role and fallback/ sub striker when necessary. Obviously we would all have liked another CM to be brought in, but Shack is a very capable CM, and Bielsa clearly now trusts him in the CM/ DM roles, as well as RB.
There will be significant further investment next summer, the decisions on positions in which that is made will be informed by the constant reviewing/ monitoring referred to above, a d doubtless the players themselves will be involved in that. If Rodrigo doesn’t feel he is able to contribute as required, I’m sure he will not wish to stick around, as he’ll want to be playing. And if Tyro isn’t progressing as required he may also be added to the list requiring replacement in the squad, either by a current u23 player or by an incoming transfer.
No-one at the Club wants a relegation scrap, certainly not Radz and the 49ers, so if there is any prospect of that, and the only solution is a dip into the January transfer market, I really don’t believe they will fail to do that.
24 Sep 2021 19:30:03
Wouldn't it may sense to have added a few quality players in the key positions over the summer, rather than having to sign another 6 next season in one go? Imo Radz and Co have pinned all their hopes on the u23s making the grade so they can save a fortune and laugh all the way to the bank. If the gamble pays off we will be fine, if they don't make the grade we will be in trouble.
24 Sep 2021 20:44:07
Clue, the trouble I see with your theory is success on the field can have a positive effect on would be signings into the future.
If as you say a big tranche of players could be / will be shipped next season, what type of player do you think we will attract if say we finish 12-17th this season?
Nothing of much worth is my theory we will slip into mid/ lower table mediocrity without capatilzing on our return last term
Radz is aiming to high too soon IMO with his talk of 50+ stadium, surely getting your product the best it can be is paramount before you want increase the size of your workplace
There's no getting my mind away from the fact that we failed in the pre season window by not buying what we so desperately needed.
24 Sep 2021 21:35:35
Replacement for people most likely to leave next season weren’t brought in this summer as either they or the new players (or both) would not, in Bielsa’s view have been given sufficient playing time - putting squad morale/ cohesion at risk. With players likely to move on and some u23s being ready to step up, the gaps requiring transfers in could well be in different positions to those which might have been filled had the additional transfers been made this summer. It might actually make sense in terms of coherent squad development to wait, if possible, until the necessary transition of players has been made, to see where gaps still remain. If funds can be saved on the transfer side by promoting from u23, that money can go towards the necessary stadium infrastructure improvements etc, so it’s not a case of laughing all the way to the bank, as your evident cynicism suggests. As I said before, if it looks like a relegation battle would be possible if January investment was not made. I’m confident that they would do so. As things are currently, the injuries appear short term, and Bielsa will also want to give Tyro and Rodrigo a little longer.
25 Sep 2021 00:12:08
Chris - not my theory - just telling you my reading of how the Club apparently see things.
When Raphinha signed for us he will have been told what the Club’s plans were, and at the time there was no expectation of us finishing 9th last season and pushing on higher this season - the plan has always been to consolidate Prem status in the first two years and push on in the third season. Raphinha’s his primary aim is to be playing well for us and therefore continue being picked for the Brazil squad, and he’s just been named in their squad for the October games. If that continues, he’s young enough not to be in a rush for European games next season. KP will also know the Club’s plans, and seems keen to sign a new contract with us, and there’s a good chance he stays with us next season even if we finish significantly lower this season, so long as he is convinced that the Club’s plans are on track. Yes obviously a new contract will increase his wage, so of course he’ll be keen, and presumably there will be release clause in there, but that would be for a very decent fee and even if a club offers that amount it would be up to him whether he wanted the move.
There will be plenty of very decent players who would be keen to join us, in whatever positions are deemed necessary next summer, even if we finish relatively low in the table this season.