Crystal Palace v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Bamford starts for Leeds

[Ellandback1]

Sunday 9th October 2:00pm | Selhurst Park


Leeds welcome back Patrick Bamford to the fold this weekend, making his first start since August as Jesse Marsch's side go in search of their first away win of the season. They face an out-of-sorts Crystal Palace team, whose only win this season, came almost seven weeks ago against Aston Villa. Bamford, 29, took a knock in training during the international break and dropped to the bench last weekend against Villa. He came on for the last 25 minutes unscathed. Leeds have not looked like scoring lately, and Marsch will be desperate for his leading marksman to get on the scoresheet.

Cody Drameh (knock), Leo Hjelde (virus), Archie Grey (toe), Adam Forshaw (ankle) and Stuart Dallas (leg) are out, though all are fringe players, and would not have expected to start. Jesse Marsch will return to the dugout, after serving a one-match bad for being sent off at Brentford last month. He will be forced into one change from the team that drew 0-0 with Aston Villa. Luis Sinisterra will miss the trip to Selhurst Park after receiving his marching order last weekend with Brenden Aaronson expected to start out wide with Rodrigo in the attacking midfield role. Jesse Marsch may take the opportunity to give either Wilfred Gnonto or Crysencio Summerville a run out later on in the game, both having impressed for the U21s. Joe Gelhardt is expected to return to the bench, after scoring a brace midweek against Tranmere.





Shot stopper Jack Butland has not recovered from his broken hand, so Vicente Guaita will continue to deputise for the hosts. He will be joined on the sidelines by Nathaniel Clyne (ankle), James McArthur (groin) and Nathan Ferguson (ankle). Joachim Andersen passes a late fitness test and will start. The Premier League have announced that Paul Tierney will officiate Sunday's game. Palace have not lost a game when the Lancashire based referee has been in charge, since 2017. To give Tierney his dues, he oversaw Leeds 2-1 win against Brentford on the last day of the season, to help secure Premier League survival for the Whites.



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[Irish Ian]

Leeds havent looked like scoring lately...

One game in 5 weeks

[Ellandback1]

Leeds havent looked like scoring lately...

One game in 5 weeks

Over the last 2 or 3 games, we haven't been unlocking defences like we should.

Are the new recruits as good as we think?

[Irish Ian]

Over the last 2 or 3 games, we haven't been unlocking defences like we should.

Are the new recruits as good as we think?

Yes (and I ignore the two children they are), none of them are out of their depth at this level.

[Ellandback1]

Leeds havent looked like scoring lately...

One game in 5 weeks

Its worrying, that we are not creating as many chances as we should imo

[Irish Ian]

Its worrying, that we are not creating as many chances as we should imo

I'd like to see a bit more creativity but let's see how we go now we have a month of games ahead of us with essentially a fill squad.

[Leeds1000]

Must remain positive. "always look on the bright side of life" we are going to win 3-0. My late Mothers crystal fruit bowl told me so.

[BlackHillsPaul]

With everyone healthy, but Sinesterra suspended, I expect our lineup to look like this:

.................................Bamford................................

Harrison..................Rodrigo..................Aaronson

.................Roca...........................Adams.................

Firpo...............Struijk..........Koch...........Kristensen

....................................Meslier..................................

I think this is our best starting group of attacking players. Each player in his natural preferred best position. The BIG key is to have Harrison in his preferred spot on the left. He has been ineffective in any other spot. Aaronson is more versatile, but more effective out on the right than in the middle where he get's physically brutalized. Rodrigo is better suited to be the CAM in this set up. And Bamford is clearly our best Striker. This group produced 4 goals in our first two games.

I have inserted Firpo into the starting eleven and moved Struijk inside. I'm not sure Jesse will do that. He may stick with the same back four that got us a clean sheet last week. But my gut tells me that JM still see's Firpo as the starter when healthy.

[The Subhuman]

Its worrying, that we are not creating as many chances as we should imo

That’s down to the manager

[Jaydog]

With everyone healthy, but Sinesterra suspended, I expect our lineup to look like this:

.................................Bamford................................

Harrison..................Rodrigo..................Aaronson

.................Roca...........................Adams.................

Firpo...............Struijk..........Koch...........Kristensen

....................................Meslier..................................

I think this is our best starting group of attacking players. Each player in his natural preferred best position. The BIG key is to have Harrison in his preferred spot on the left. He has been ineffective in any other spot. Aaronson is more versatile, but more effective out on the right than in the middle where he get's physically brutalized. Rodrigo is better suited to be the CAM in this set up. And Bamford is clearly our best Striker. This group produced 4 goals in our first two games.

I have inserted Firpo into the starting eleven and moved Struijk inside. I'm not sure Jesse will do that. He may stick with the same back four that got us a clean sheet last week. But my gut tells me that JM still see's Firpo as the starter when healthy.

Probably spot on bar Cooper. You have to feel a little sorry for Pascal in this scenario, he’s been solid if not spectacular in a very specialist position he’s not exactly built for.

[BlackHillsPaul]

Probably spot on bar Cooper. You have to feel a little sorry for Pascal in this scenario, he’s been solid if not spectacular in a very specialist position he’s not exactly built for.

Struijk has been very solid defending the left back position. All credit to him in that regard. But he offers very little going forward. And in this system we need our outside backs to be able to get up and down the flanks. Like it or not that's where the width mostly comes from. Firpo can definitely get up and down. But he is a piss poor defender from what I've seen. Having said that, in this system with Koch and Struijk as the two central defenders. And Adams covering ground as a destroyer it can work. For me Junior Firpo is the last big unknown piece of the puzzle in Jesse's system. How will it work? Maybe we start to find out this weekend.

[Jaydog]

Struijk has been very solid defending the left back position. All credit to him in that regard. But he offers very little going forward. And in this system we need our outside backs to be able to get up and down the flanks. Like it or not that's where the width mostly comes from. Firpo can definitely get up and down. But he is a piss poor defender from what I've seen. Having said that, in this system with Koch and Struijk as the two central defenders. And Adams covering ground as a destroyer it can work. For me Junior Firpo is the last big unknown piece of the puzzle in Jesse's system. How will it work? Maybe we start to find out this weekend.

What I mean is Paul that Pascal will not be a starter, not even in his favoured CB position. Cooper & Koch 100%. And I’m sure Firpo starts. That’s a shame for Pascal but hey ho. Palace at least aren’t Villa so hopefully no cheating. Although Zaha….

[BlackHillsPaul]

What I mean is Paul that Pascal will not be a starter, not even in his favoured CB position. Cooper & Koch 100%. And I’m sure Firpo starts. That’s a shame for Pascal but hey ho. Palace at least aren’t Villa so hopefully no cheating. Although Zaha….

Sorry, I misunderstood. So you think Struijk is the odd man out. I hope that's not the case as I see Koch/Struijk as the best and most natural central pairing. I like Cooper but think he struggles at this level.

[Jaydog]

Sorry, I misunderstood. So you think Struijk is the odd man out. I hope that's not the case as I see Koch/Struijk as the best and most natural central pairing. I like Cooper but think he struggles at this level.

That’s ok, Anglo American translation
Yes. He is the odd man out but I’d probably play him alongside Koch although Cooper seems a natural captain. Saying that I hope he gave Luis a rocket.
I read he followed Ayling down the tunnel after his crazy red last season and asked him why. Ayling said he honestly didn’t know why, pressure probably. Or words to that effect.
Btw as I said before I marked Marsch down to a 5 because I thought he was maybe the cause of some ill discipline. I’m not totally convinced now. He has a pretty low ish yellow count and when you read about the reds it’s more down to the incredible pressure of last season & can you really blame Luis on him this season.

[BlackHillsPaul]

That’s ok, Anglo American translation
Yes. He is the odd man out but I’d probably play him alongside Koch although Cooper seems a natural captain. Saying that I hope he gave Luis a rocket.
I read he followed Ayling down the tunnel after his crazy red last season and asked him why. Ayling said he honestly didn’t know why, pressure probably. Or words to that effect.
Btw as I said before I marked Marsch down to a 5 because I thought he was maybe the cause of some ill discipline. I’m not totally convinced now. He has a pretty low ish yellow count and when you read about the reds it’s more down to the incredible pressure of last season & can you really blame Luis on him this season.

I agree. The Sinesterra red card is 100% on the player. The last thing JM wanted was to have a player sent off in the first 5 minutes of the second half. To believe that it was somehow Jesse's fault is absolute madness.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Think Bamford for Sinisterra will be the only change to the XI

Harrison - Rodrigo - Aaronson as the 3 attacking mids. Not sure who'll play the right side between Aaronson and Rodrigo.

Marsch will be looking to get Fripo in at LB. But my guess is that Strujik will keep his place there for at least one more game

[danhirons]

Important game this weekend -

win and we start looking up the table again

lose and we're starting to get dragged down into the relegation mix already at this start of the season

[1964white]

[Pullhard]

Another fixture where we should be picking up points. Hopefully the London hoodoo is confined to history.
Surprised if Bamford has 90 mins in him

[1964white]

Another fixture where we should be picking up points. Hopefully the London hoodoo is confined to history.
Surprised if Bamford has 90 mins in him

Hoping for a point at the very least, Pullhard