Backlash as Bielsa reveals who will replace Phillips

22 Oct 2020 07:55 am, by Ellandback1


Good Morning. It's Thursday 22nd October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Defensive headache for Bielsa.

During Marcelo Bielsa's pre-match presser yesterday, the Argentine revealed that England Midfielder Kalvin Phillips may be out of action for more than the six weeks. The 64 year old went on to say recovery time for a shoulder injury was undetermined. It could quite possibly be shorter than 6 weeks, but it may be greater.

Bielsa also revealed that Pascal Stuijk would replace the Yorkshire Pirlo in front of the back four. With Cooper doubtful and Llevente unfit, that would leave Robin Koch as the only recognised centre back in the squad. Unsurprisingly, it caused all kinds of negativity on social media, with hundreds questioning Bielsa's tactics, with some even calling it suicidal!




What De Bruyne told Wolves ace what to expect from Leeds

Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker has revealed what Kevin De Bruyne told him what to expect from Leeds during the recent International break!

We knew before the game that it was going to be a very, very tough game and we felt that, especially in the first 20 or 30 minutes, we suffered a lot. That’s just the way they play. They go man against man and I don’t we or any team is used to that.

Kevin De Bruyne told me they played them before the international break and he told me you will see that it will be very hard because they go man to man. But he also said that after 30 minutes they leave spaces and I think that’s what you could see.

I know the first half wasn’t really good from our side because we were looking how to find the spaces, how to deal with them and I think in the second half we managed it way better. To get three points there is really difficult and I don’t think a lot of teams will do it.




Bielsa rubbishes small squad claim

Marcelo Bielsa has rubbished reports that Leeds do not have enough strength in depth in his squad to competitively finish the season. He said...

The squad is not small because we have two players per position and there are not big difference between the two players who occupy each position. Just to make a reference, for example we have Bamford and Roberts up front, Rodrigo and Pablo in attacking midfield. Poveda and Costa, Raphinha and Harrison.

At the moment we currently have injuries in all of the same positions, so that doesn’t mean we have a small squad. It just means if we have six players for three positions and have four out, it doesn’t mean we have a small squad. When you have these six players, they are all of a similiar level. When you are missing players, there are obviously going to be some issues. We also have players from the academy who deserve their spot in the squad.

As a result we feel we can manage the necessities of the team.”



View all Showing latest five comments of sixteen...

Leeds1000 wrote on 22 Oct 2020 05:52 pm

andrewjohnsmith wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:39 pm Longer term, I'd rather see Davis at LB than Alioski. But I don't think he's quite ready yet. You never know though. He did put Davis on for the last 10 of the Citeh game. He clearly has a lot of trust in him.
I thought he looked out of his depth if i'm honest. Although some people thought he did well? Like Shackleton i guess he will have to bide is time. In his favour we don't have a recognised LB in the first team. Alioski is not the answer for me. We will find out.

andrewjohnsmith wrote on 22 Oct 2020 05:40 pm

mav wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2020 2:16 pm Bielsea is the only boss we have had in my lifetime where regardless of what I think about what he does, I KNOW he knows better.
Too true. Any question of what Bielsa does is blasphemy

andrewjohnsmith wrote on 22 Oct 2020 05:39 pm

Leeds1000 wrote: Thu Oct 22, 2020 5:08 pm Its like we never signed any CB's at all. Can you imagine :poorly: Dallas moves across and Alioski comes in. I don't think Bielsa trusts Davis for a full game yet. The left side will be a worry.
Longer term, I'd rather see Davis at LB than Alioski. But I don't think he's quite ready yet. You never know though. He did put Davis on for the last 10 of the Citeh game. He clearly has a lot of trust in him.

andrewjohnsmith wrote on 22 Oct 2020 05:37 pm

We have a big enough squad (we're not playing in Europe), it's just really unfortunate that Cooper, Llorente, and Phillips all got injured at the same time. 2 weeks ago, we were wondering where Llorente would fit in - hence suggesting we had plenty of options. Now it's a case too of where all the forward options fit in - Hernandez, Raphinha, Poveda, Roberts, Alioski all on the bench on Monday and we only play once a week. Our squad is plenty big enough - it's just sods law that all players of the same position get injured at the same time.

I'm totally happy with Strujik at DMC. But if Cooper doesn't play, Strujik is a better CB than Ayling and Ayling is massive at RB. Just not sure who'd play the Phillips role (Shackleton, Klich ?)

Another option is to go 3 at the back Ayling-Koch-Strujik, then Dallas and Klich in midfield.

Leeds1000 wrote on 22 Oct 2020 05:08 pm

Its like we never signed any CB's at all. Can you imagine :poorly: Dallas moves across and Alioski comes in. I don't think Bielsa trusts Davis for a full game yet. The left side will be a worry.