Jean-Matteo Bahoya - Loan from Frankfurt

[weasel]

Yeah I've no issue with it.

It's probably basically an obligation in all but name but with a few little clauses making it legally not

Yeah I would imagine it to be along the lines of a fairly low amount of matches played (started). So it does give us the chance to not go through with it but highly likely the deal will be done.

[weasel]

I think with the addition of Bahoya, a healthy Okafor, and Wilson rounding into form James and Aaronson will be used more as subs.

Imagine being a defender who has been run around the pitch by Bahoya for 70 minutes and looking up to see a fresh Dan James or Brenden Aaronson coming on.

I don't see Bahoya starting too many league games. Think it will be more him working in tandem with Okafor starting, and then Bahayo coming on around the 60 minute mark. Probably works perfect for both of them and then if Bahoya really impresses then he maybe starts a few games and their roles are reversed.

[Lufc76Cor]

I will happily assert that both Dan James and Brenden Aaronson are better players. And I would simply point to the production of both players compared to Gnonto during the ONE season where they were all major contributors. Which was our 100 point Championship winning season. Dan James had 12 goals and 9 assists. Brenden Aaronson had 9 goals and 2 assists. And he provided relentless disruption in the final third while pressing. Willie Gnonto had a nice season with 9 goals and 6 assists. So a good season, but not "Better" than either James or Aaronson. But the final decision is always made by the Manager. And his choice is clear. So Wee Willie had to go. And James and Aaronson both got new contracts in the last year.

As for Balogun....I don't see Leeds pursuing him.

Going by that metric Gnonto is ahead of Aaronson, but actually ahead of both of them or certainly Aaronson anyway, when you look at playing time , Aaronson played over 1,200 minutes more than Gnonto and started 17 games more than him yet scored the same and had a lot less assists, Dan James started 4 times more than Gnonto and nearly 400 minutes more

[SG90]

Inverted left winger who can play AMF centrally, exactly like Okafor..

He didn't look like Okafor tbh, more skilful and creative. Whereas Okafor likes to cut inside and shoot.

[Cjay]

He didn't look like Okafor tbh, more skilful and creative. Whereas Okafor likes to cut inside and shoot.

Would agree.

Closer to Georgie imo.

Okafor is similar to James and Aaronson.

Bahoya seems to have a bit of skill and eye for a pass.

[DDB220]

Would agree.

Closer to Georgie imo.

Okafor is similar to James and Aaronson.

Bahoya seems to have a bit of skill and eye for a pass.

All players have an eye for a pass - successful completion is the key part.

[SG90]

I don't think he'll feature on Saturday, but will likely start v Chelsea in the cup.

[The Subhuman]

I don't think he'll feature on Saturday, but will likely start v Chelsea in the cup.

Should be on the bench Sunday

[Cjay]

All players have an eye for a pass - successful completion is the key part.

True I guess.

But some players see passes quicker, harder ones, and can execute them.

Some just run head down then toss the ball in the general direction of where a teammate may be

[weasel]

True I guess.

But some players see passes quicker, harder ones, and can execute them.

Some just run head down then toss the ball in the general direction of where a teammate may be

Would agree with this. Some players seem to know where their teammates are without having to look, or have been looking up prior to receiving the ball so that they can play a first time pass. Others receive the ball but have little idea of where their teamates are so the move slows down as they look up to see where to pass to, by which time the opposition have had chance to close down the player who had managed to get away from their marker and the pass is no longer easy.

I bet if you paused a match and told a player such as Pablo Hernandez to shut his eyes he could tell you where half a dozen of our players were and whether they were in a good position to receive a pass. Do the same with a lot of other players and they might have no or very limited knowledge of where their pass options were.

As a central defender I would continually be looking to see where my teammates were. This then meant that when I made a clearance, say something as simple as cutting a cross out, I could clear it in that direction so the clearance had more chance of being picked up by a teammate rather than simply blindly clearing the ball. It is all little things like this that can make huge differences - we get possession and maybe score rather than it going to an opponent who smashes it into our net.

[The Subhuman]

True I guess.

But some players see passes quicker, harder ones, and can execute them.

Some just run head down then toss the ball in the general direction of where a teammate may be

I'm not sure all players have an eye for a pass.. a lateral one or simple upfield one maybe, but it takes intelligence and talent to see the pass which doesn't exist when it's made

Stach's missed pass to Justin v Forest, Stach saw the pass needed to be to the outside because if Justin came inside it'd be defended, he plays the pass but Justin came inside and it went astray. .. But the pass was the right one and a good one. I marked it up, most marked it down

[Wes Lee Street]

I must be excited because I am refreshing YouTube looking for the first interview/welcome to Leeds United video......

[Carrick Dave]

I'm not sure all players have an eye for a pass.. a lateral one or simple upfield one maybe, but it takes intelligence and talent to see the pass which doesn't exist when it's made

Stach's missed pass to Justin v Forest, Stach saw the pass needed to be to the outside because if Justin came inside it'd be defended, he plays the pass but Justin came inside and it went astray. .. But the pass was the right one and a good one. I marked it up, most marked it down

What? How do you know? How did I mark it?

[Cjay]

I'm not sure all players have an eye for a pass.. a lateral one or simple upfield one maybe, but it takes intelligence and talent to see the pass which doesn't exist when it's made

Stach's missed pass to Justin v Forest, Stach saw the pass needed to be to the outside because if Justin came inside it'd be defended, he plays the pass but Justin came inside and it went astray. .. But the pass was the right one and a good one. I marked it up, most marked it down

All players can see an easy pass is what I meant as you say.

Any professional footballer will be able to do that. Most will be able to play the occasional difficult pass with varying degrees of efficiency.

Talented ones can see difficult passes, execute them with good weight and timing regularly

Exceptional ones can see difficult passes and execute them with excellent timing and weight regularly

And above that is someone like Messi who can see passes almost no other player can and execute them perfectly regularly

But the amount of talented ones is few and far between and it just gets fewer with each category.

We don't really have players in attacking areas in that category and it shows, the hope is this new lad can fill that gap.

But then as you say you have the issue of teammates not being on the same wavelength, we saw it with Georgie at times and Pablo.

So, a good pass becomes as wasted pass even if it was the right one.

That can be overcome to a degree with just repetition in coaching and patterns done on the training ground as we saw with Bielsa.

But it's not easy.

[The Subhuman]

What? How do you know? How did I mark it?

How do you know I included you in "most"

[DDB220]

What? How do you know? How did I mark it?

He is the forum 3 eyed raven.

[JoeDenver]

Watched the highlight video (thanks for sharing, Sean!). Anyway, you keep hearing his name being said by the announcers and it sounds super close to “Bowyer”. Seems like it was destined to be

[Aussieleeds]

I like a player with ‘quick feet’.

[DDB220]

All players can see an easy pass is what I meant as you say.

Any professional footballer will be able to do that. Most will be able to play the occasional difficult pass with varying degrees of efficiency.

Talented ones can see difficult passes, execute them with good weight and timing regularly

Exceptional ones can see difficult passes and execute them with excellent timing and weight regularly

And above that is someone like Messi who can see passes almost no other player can and execute them perfectly regularly

But the amount of talented ones is few and far between and it just gets fewer with each category.

We don't really have players in attacking areas in that category and it shows, the hope is this new lad can fill that gap.

But then as you say you have the issue of teammates not being on the same wavelength, we saw it with Georgie at times and Pablo.

So, a good pass becomes as wasted pass even if it was the right one.

That can be overcome to a degree with just repetition in coaching and patterns done on the training ground as we saw with Bielsa.

But it's not easy.

The key to making difficult incisive passes is knowing when to make them. They can often mean higher risk if not completed.

There is a distinct difference between being brave on the ball and recklessness.

For me the key component is decision making and intelligence to compliment technical ability.

Messi has all these attributes naturally.

All professional footballers can pass and have very good technical skills, football intelligence is what sets them apart.

[Sean_Nile]

Watched the highlight video (thanks for sharing, Sean!). Anyway, you keep hearing his name being said by the announcers and it sounds super close to “Bowyer”. Seems like it was destined to be

Yeah I heard that was well.
So I did a little chant
Lee Lee
Bowyer Jean
Jean Matteo
Bahoya Lee
Leeds Leeds Leeds