The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 24th November) - Club rebuff claims Martínez being lined up to replace Bielsa

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 24th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Club rebuff claims Diego Martínez being lined up to replace Marcelo Bielsa

The Daily Express have reported that Leeds have drawn up a short list of three Managerial candidates prompting speculation that this will be Marcelo Bielsa's last season at Elland Road. The Argentine, now 66, joined the Whites in 2018, and has been a massive hit both on and off the pitch. Whilst nobody wants to see him go, we should recognise that this is the longest he has stayed at any club since his opening role at Newell's Old boys back in 1980.

We have been told that should we survive the season, Radrizzani plans sweeping changes on the pitch,is Bielsa the man to see through that longer term transition? Diego Martínez is certainly a strong contender for the Elland Road hot seat, so much so that recent media reports suggest that Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta has already spoken to the former Grenada Coach about the role. These suggestion have however been rebuffed as 'Absolutely not true' by Leeds United's Head of Communications on Twitter.

Whilst the club are not actively looking for replacements for Marcelo Bielsa, should we have one eye on the future? Is Diego Martínez the kind of candidate you would like to see replace Marcelo Bielsa when the Argentine finally decides to call time on his spell at Elland Road?

Could Ross Barkley be the missing piece of the jigsaw

Forgotten Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has once again been linked to a January move to West Yorkshire. The 27yo former England playmaker enjoyed a short loan spell at Elland Road back in 2013, and if media reports are to be believed, he may be back, this time for good.

Having not strengthened in the middle of the park in the Summer has hit Leeds hard this season, fortunately (touch wood) it looks like Adam Forshaw's two-year lay off has finally come to an end, and is showing signs of settling in to Premiership life well.

Do Leeds need a new midfielder in January, or can they wait until the Summer? If they can't wait, is Barkley the right signing? Would you see him as a long term fixture?





Is the forthcoming Brighton game a must not lose?

Leeds loss in North London last weekend sent them tittering back on the edge of the drop zone, two points clear of Burnley. Their festive plight consists of trips to Stamford Bridge, The Etihad and Anfield, as well as a home fixture against Arsenal; surely Christmas looks bleak at LS11!

Recently we have seen back to back wins for Norwich, Watford beat Manchester Utd, Burnley drew at Leicester and Chelsea before beating Brentford. Even Villa got back to winning ways last weekend with Steven Gerard at the helm. Leeds face a trip down to the seaside (Brighton) this weekend, followed by home games against in form Crystal Palace then Brentford.

How important is it that Leeds don't lose on Saturday?

[Leeds1000]

Could Ross Barkley be the missing piece of the jigsaw:

Can't see it happening if i am honest. Too inconsistent maybe. He does need to do something drastic for his career tho. he's fast becoming the forgotten man. What was his name again?

Is the forthcoming Brighton game a must not lose?

Yes. We we need to carry on with the recent momentum. Potter does seem to enjoy the battle with MB, has he got Marcelo's number? I thought Newcastle may have gone in for Potter, Villa aswell. Every game is a different challenge but if we play like we did first half against Spurs we will get something out of the game. Its up to the players now to keep that standard up.

[WestgateRun]

So our Head of Communications replies to press speculation by sending a message with eight large red crosses. Like a 5 year old would.
A dignified silence would have been better.

[mentalcase]

As I've said many times before, why would Bielsa leave when the job is nowhere near finished ?
The footprint he's laid down needs seeing through by him and his appointed teams, he would feel like a fraud if he left on his own accord.
The set-up is not too dissimilar to the one Don Revie laid down in the 60's and to some extent what Wilko did later.
Don had a lot of faith in the youth set-up and quickly blooded them due to financial restraints (being skint) and buying a few experienced heads (Bobby Collins then Johnny Giles) , the rest were young lads with an average age of around 19, Lorimer was only 15 when he made his debut.
I simply cannot see Bielsa wanting to walk away with the job half done.

[White Riot]

So our Head of Communications replies to press speculation by sending a message with eight large red crosses. Like a 5 year old would.
A dignified silence would have been better.

There's as much chance of Orta observing a dignified silence, as there is of Radz keeping his phone in his pocket

[The Subhuman]

We get a lot of pointless emoji's on here too so not sure if it's a case of pot kettle black

[Carrick Dave]

We get a lot of pointless emoji's on here too so not sure if it's a case of pot kettle black

I agree.

[Cjay]

Diego Martinez

That's good, although the fact James Mooney commented on this is weird, he doesn't comment on every gossip.


Ross Barkley

No, talented but not the right fit.

Brighton.

Yes, we have to start winning matches, can't keep patting ourselves on the back for decades 45minuts and not much to show for it.

We need points on the board.

[BGwhite]

I worry about 2nd half fitness now whereas previously I'd be thinking this is where we tire them out and go for the jugular.

Sent from my moto g(9) plus using Tapatalk

[Ellandback1]

Could Ross Barkley be the missing piece of the jigsaw:

Can't see it happening if i am honest. Too inconsistent maybe. He does need to do something drastic for his career tho. he's fast becoming the forgotten man. What was his name again?

Is the forthcoming Brighton game a must not lose?

Yes. We we need to carry on with the recent momentum. Potter does seem to enjoy the battle with MB, has he got Marcelo's number? I thought Newcastle may have gone in for Potter, Villa aswell. Every game is a different challenge but if we play like we did first half against Spurs we will get something out of the game. Its up to the players now to keep that standard up.

What our team is really missing is someone that can turn a game, like a younger version of Hernandez.

[The Subhuman]

Bogusz

[Tozzy]

I, amongst many others were pleased to see that the club have done this. A post on motleedsnews on the 23rd went as far as saying Bielsa is leaving after this season and touted Martinez as his replacement. The article was clearly supposition and used an original spanish article which i translated with google translate as its basis. the rest was purely an opinion, posted as a fact. Trust me they have been told so by quite a fans and asked to publish a retraction. Thanks for your post.

[Overman]

We get a lot of pointless emoji's on here too so not sure if it's a case of pot kettle black

Along with a host of cliches.

[LeeBrook]

We need a proven goalscorer, a quality midfielder and a centre-back, and that's just for starters - we have to survive.

[LeeBrook]

We need to replace Bielsa now before it's too late - he's already lost the plot!

[weasel]

We need to replace Bielsa now before it's too late - he's already lost the plot!

Oh yeah I'm sure there will be a long line of better managers queueing up who will get more out of this injury depleted squad.

Fans need to be realistic. I really don't know where they expect us to be given the players we have available. We punched above our weight hugely last season, the last few matches elevating us above the position we occupied most of the season (which was around 11th to 14th).

[The Subhuman]

Oh yeah I'm sure there will be a long line of better managers queueing up who will get more out of this injury depleted squad.

Fans need to be realistic. I really don't know where they expect us to be given the players we have available. We punched above our weight hugely last season, the last few matches elevating us above the position we occupied most of the season (which was around 11th to 14th).

Defending the manager at the expense of the players... why can't you support both? We have as good a team and U23's as any outside of the top 8, most of whom have had multiple years of Premier league funds..

[weasel]

Defending the manager at the expense of the players... why can't you support both? We have as good a team and U23's as any outside of the top 8, most of whom have had multiple years of Premier league funds..

We do if they are all fit and playing to somewhere near the best of their ability. The manager, or a manger change, could account for some aspects of form but not for injuries.

1 player being injured can make a huge difference. Bamford. for example. is a big miss as regardless of opinion he scored at a health rate last season, approx 1 in 2. Nobody else has done that. Throw in a single additional goal in either of the last 2 games and we may have been 2-0 up v Spurs and go on to win or snatch the win against Brighton.

Just look at Liverpool last season without Van Dijk, imagine Man U last season without Fernandes.

I do support the players but Bielsa is the biggest single reason why most of the players are playing premier league football rather than being mid to lower championship level. Full credit to the players who have worked as ahrd as they have to improve themselves but why hadn't they done it under previous managers either at Leeds or other clubs.