Have Leeds United improved this season?

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Cjay
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Have Leeds United improved this season?

Post by Cjay »



This summer Leeds United keept largely the same squad and the same manager. The idea was that we would improve and make up the little gap that we need to to achieve automatic promotion. Ignoring the fact our form after Christmas last season was mid table, do we look a better side now then last season?

We've scored less goals (quite a lot less) but also conceded less then at this point last season and have exactly the same points total but have lost more games. The bottom line is that because of the way we have gone this season, minimum first team signings, we are relying on improvement from the same squad as last season.

The same squad that was top at Christmas, but also the same squad that collapsed in the way it did. Personally I think that any improvement will be minimal as I don't think this squad can be better then last season. Most of the squad played at their absolute limits last season and if anything I worry they may regress. Marcelo Bielsa even said himself that it would be very hard for the players who were here last season to repeat last seasons standards.

Phil Hay discussed this and he doesn't think we have improved enough, standards are still high but its not enough to dominate the league in the way we threatened to at times last season. Defensively more solid but the biggest worry is these second half issues, last season we got stronger as the game went on, this season we seem to get weaker. We have conceded almost all of our goals in the last 15 minutes. All sense of composure and plan has gone missing a few times this season in the second half; West Brom and Birmingham for example.

So have we improved? If so, will it be enough to bridge the automatic gap?

If not why not? Whats going wrong in the 2nd half?

Will we ever have a nice comfortable win ever again?
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Sara
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by Sara »

On the subject of 2nd half issues, are we not as fit this season? Has Bielsa lightened the training schedule, perhaps, to help avoid injuries and burnout over the season?

We are unquestionably better defensively. Ben White is a revelation, Kiko seems to have settled into his game, Dallas has been in the form of his life at right back, Cooper and Berardi have been solid. Alioski looks like becoming one of our main attacking outlets. Apart from the second half against Birmingham, we have been denying teams attacking chances around the box.

The attacking edge has gone, but it's possible to see reasons for this, and potential solutions; Costa and Nketiah getting game time and finding their feet, maybe Roberts settling in as a no 10. Even Bamford can't be out of form forever.

I think I saw a stats thing that showed every player has improved in key areas, so that ought to translate into results at some point.
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YorkshireSquare
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by YorkshireSquare »

Better defensively but I think this means we are not as much of a threat going forward in the central areas. Bamford gets stick but he's often on his own in the middle.
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1964white
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by 1964white »

Cjay wrote: Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:21 pm So have we improved?
Defensively yes mainly due to Ben White & Stuart Dallas. Kiko is a better keeper too

If so, will it be enough to bridge the automatic gap?

Unsure :duno:

Lack of goals are a major concern

So far to achieve points we've relied on :

4 goals from our full-backs
2 own goals
2 late goals from our kid sub Eddie
1 penalty

We need a lot of luck without injuries to key players which has already occurred six weeks into our season

If not why not?

Failure will be due to a threadbare squad
Injuries/suspensions.....lose White & Phillips would kill off any promotion hopes
No prolific striker
Not enough goals from our midfielders
January window will no doubt be a damp squib

Whats going wrong in the 2nd half?

Under pressure due to all the missed chances in the first 60/70 minutes

Will we ever have a nice comfortable win ever again?

Yes but it will be a rarity
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dezzy
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by dezzy »

We are not better than last season, yet. I still feel our very unorthodox pre season has put us on the back foot.
We certainly look a more solid team defensively, but not as frightening, we’ll be in the mix for the autos, but should be further ahead than that. Can Ben white and Phillips play 46 games? I’d there came a day when we miss the two of them I think we would be a lot weaker, the two most important players in the squad, hopefully Pablo can put himself back into that bracket again. Surely it’s only a matter of time before we see the Costa that terrorised the championship before, we are so close to being that team that walks the league
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Irish Ian
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by Irish Ian »

I think we are worse overall..

Mainly because four of our "signings" have no place on the system or will just warm the bench.

The ugly.
Costa not a good fit
Clarke nuff said
Eddie not a good fit yet.
The loan keeper will just de a bench warmer unless Kiko gets a ban or is injured
Harrison a few green shoots this last few weeks but still way off where he needs to be creatively.
Klich not as creative but he plays better with Pablo around imo
Roberts finding his way back but still not the playmaker MB wants. He never will be. He is a centre forward being ruined by this system.
Bamford in front of goal.
Players playing out if position means two things, they wont improve their primary skills enough and they will be more mistake prone. We need excellence at best we have competence.

The bad.
Dallas as CM
Berra as CM
Douglas should have a choke chain on him once he crosses the halfway line.
Pablo hurting
Attacking set pieces.
Coop as captain.
MB announcing the team too early.
Not enough goals in the team, which cant change without a personal change.


The good.
Our energy our high pressing is so hard to cope with.We defend as a team too, much better than last season.
Kiko looks more sold.
KP
White.
Dallas as RB or WB
Forshaw as CM.

I think all our games will go the same way right through the season.
High possession
Lots of chances
Few goals

Plenty of 1-0s going either way meaning we probably make top 6.
'
"Football is about the people and the players,” he said. “Then there are those who will mingle in the middle: the coaches, executives and journalists. That last group represents the worst part about football" Marcelo Bielsa
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Re: Have We Improved?

Post by 1964white »

Now who thought of that idea ?

Signing players who will rarely start :? :shock:
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