Good Morning. Its Thursday 17th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road
Wilks rips Leeds apart
Leeds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup last night following a tense penalty shootout which the Tigers won 9-8. This was after Alioski spared Leeds blushes by scoring a last gasp equalizer, only their second shot on target against our League 1 neighbours.
Former academy player Malik Wilkes looked the most dangerous, and it was the 21 year old that put Grant McCann's side ahead in just 5 minutes, albeit from a wicked deflection off Cresswell which gave Casilla no chance. After the game Bielsa said...
It wasn't a very good game from our team, we didn't defend well or attack well. We would have liked to have continued in the competition, I am sad we were eliminated, I feel responsible for the defeat.
With our preparation for this game we thought that we were going to do more than we did. When a coach picks a team… I picked the team thinking they would have enough to beat Hull but when the team didn't have enough to beat Hull, I feel like I am responsible for the defeat.
The team was built with players that should have shown a better performance. The deficiencies in the team were because they couldn't gel together.
Phil Hay gives full transfer update
With 18 days until the transfer window slams shut, Former Chief Football writer for the YEP, Phil Hay gives a full update as to where Leeds presently stand in the transfer market!
Leeds like De Paul but you'll have noticed that since the name first emerged, they haven't piled in to get a deal done. They've been holding off and likewise with Gvardio.
The money is there in the sense that the budget would stretch but in both cases it's a judgement about whether the money is worth spending. De Paul will cost £35m unless Udinese lower their asking price. Gvardiol is £20m and he wouldn't be first choice (although that could still be an excellent investment for the future). Gvardiol is still possible but Bielsa was very taken by Struijk at Anfield.
As for Harry Wilson, Orta is always hugely keen on him but Bielsa hasn't sanctioned a move for him yet. I get the impression that Bielsa thinks more of Ryan Kent.
Is our young talent as good as we think they are?
Having been outclassed at home to Hull, obliterated by Accrington Stanley and embarrassed by Stoke; many Leeds fans raised their concern regarding the strength of squad at Elland Road.
We saw the Whites get ripped apart last night. Only Poveda, Shackleton and Aioski (imo) gaining any respectability from the game. Last Thursday we witnessed our multi million pound U23's get trounced at Stoke. Former Borussia Dortmund Gabriel Kyeremateng grabbing all four goals for the Potters - not bad for a freebee! Our worst defeat however was when Bielsa decided to switch our 23's for the u18's to give the more experienced players game time against the first team. Sure, their was an enormous gulf in age between the two teams but with the talent on display to conceded 7 without reply against a team tipped for relegation back to the fourth tier is unacceptable!
Thoughts?
Will it be Wilson, will it be Kent - You'll have to wait and see
Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta are at loggerheads as to which forward they should sign. We all know that Bielsa has had his eye on Rangers and former Liverpool forward Ryan Kent since he arrived at Elland Road two years ago! However, Leeds Director of football Victor Orta prefers Harry Wilson. Which one would you like to see at Elland Road?
Bielsa criticised for making Casilla Captain
Marcelo Bielsa has come in for criticism last night for making Kiko Casilla Captain for their Carabao Cup tie against Hull. The 33 year old shot stopper has been out of favour at Elland Road since he received an eight game ban for (probably) using racist language towards Jonathan Leko a year ago! Should Leeds have terminated the Spaniards contact when he received the ban or are you of the belief that because the guilty verdict would not have stood up in a British Court of law, people should get behind Casilla instead of criticising him? Phil Hay gave an update on the Casilla situation...
Casilla increasingly looks like he's staying. No offers of note, he's on a fairly sizeable wage (£35k a week or thereabouts). Also, there doesn't seem to be any rush on Bielsa's part to move him on and Bielsa has complete autonomy when it comes to managing the squad.