Jack Clarke and Oriol Rey

[Cjay]

Can see these two being the breakthrough players next season.

Was very disappointed Heckingbottom didn't play them at all, especially vs QPR.

Bielsa likes technical and tidy midfielders.

That certainly rules out Eunan O'Kane and imo Kalvin Phillips who is an all action but limited midfielder.

Rey is a Barcelona boy who came through there youth system, with that comes the technical ability Bielsa likes.

Bielsa also likes quick, tricky wingers who will play with intensity and flair.

Jack Clarke is certainly that, a very gifted young man.

Both players shone brightly last year.

Hope Bielsa gives them a chance over the old guard, many who have had plenty of chances now and shouldn't get more.

[Leedscowboy]

Bielsa by all accounts has been impressed by Phillips, who turned up to pre season a week before everyone else, would Phillips be the CM that is the one who coverts to play as the CB?

[Cjay]

Bielsa by all accounts has been impressed by Phillips, who turned up to pre season a week before everyone else, would Phillips be the CM that is the one who coverts to play as the CB?

Could turn up a month earlier, still never be good enough for a team chasing promotion imo.

Squad player at best.

Cant see him doing that role, to rash defensively and lacks the technical skills.

[gessa]

I think you look at some players and think, you'll never be good enough no matter what, others who are inconsistent or whatever, you see something, change of manager, system, position, maturing with age, Phillips is one of those for me, there is a player in there, just needs to find the right fit.

[The Subhuman]

I've seen too many players go from ok to very good under the right manager to discount anyone. Phillips has looked a player at times and that's enough for me. Hell I thought Weidwald could have been coached up, he just wasn't ready to be a starter last season.

[weasel]

I've seen too many players go from ok to very good under the right manager to discount anyone. Phillips has looked a player at times and that's enough for me. Hell I thought Weidwald could have been coached up, he just wasn't ready to be a starter last season.

Definitely. At lot of our players looked worse and worse as the season wore on, whether down to fitness, lack of confidence, change of manager or any other variable. It does show though that they have the ability but just need to be able to produce it consistently. Vinnie Jones is a great example of a player who was widely regarded as just a thug but under the guidance of Howard Wilkinson he showed that he was actually a decent player and if my memory is right he only picked up 3 yellow cards in our promotion season (and 0 reds).

[NorfolkWhite]

Could turn up a month earlier, still never be good enough for a team chasing promotion imo.

Squad player at best.

Cant see him doing that role, to rash defensively and lacks the technical skills.

Always been a fan of Phillips - seems to get a lot of undue stick to me, often for performing no worse than many of those around him. As for this season he has the attributes physically and has just about the best "engine" in our MF, I would think that alone qualifies him for the Bielsa style of high tempo, high press football, be interesting to see how he develops technically under Bielsa, hope the lad does well.

[Cjay]

Always been a fan of Phillips - seems to get a lot of undue stick to me, often for performing no worse than many of those around him. As for this season he has the attributes physically and has just about the best "engine" in our MF, I would think that alone qualifies him for the Bielsa style of high tempo, high press football, be interesting to see how he develops technically under Bielsa, hope the lad does well.

He has a great engine i agree.

But thats it for me, an average Championship midfielder, all effort and bluster.

To get promoted we need real quality in midfield.

Being a good honest pro wont cut it for me.

He is behind Vieira, Forshaw, Klich and Rey imo.

Vieira has more talent, Forshaw and Klich are technically superior and Rey deserves a chance.

[danhirons]

think we're strong in the centre of the park to be honest already and so can't see oriol rey getting an opportunity. Vierra, Forshaw, KP then saiz or hernandez ahead is a pretty strong centre of the park.

can't see jack clarke getting a chance either. Got to be about fourth or fifth choice for that central striker role. Needs to go out on loan to get some first team experience.

[hector]

To get promoted we need real quality in midfield.

that's Alioski out the window then....

[NorfolkWhite]

that's Alioski out the window then....

Glad you said that

[Cjay]

that's Alioski out the window then....

[The Subhuman]

Always been a fan of Phillips - seems to get a lot of undue stick to me, often for performing no worse than many of those around him. As for this season he has the attributes physically and has just about the best "engine" in our MF, I would think that alone qualifies him for the Bielsa style of high tempo, high press football, be interesting to see how he develops technically under Bielsa, hope the lad does well.

Again probably best suited in a more forward role, another possible number 10. Think he could rack up the assists in that position

[weasel]

Telling that Alioski was one of the few players mentioned by name by Bielsa when he mentioned about Alioski's ability to carry the ball over a long distance. Can see Alioski being a very attacking fullback or being one of the 3 up front if Bielsa wants them to also defend and play wide as well as attack.

[Genghers]

He has a great engine i agree.

But thats it for me, an average Championship midfielder, all effort and bluster.

To get promoted we need real quality in midfield.

Being a good honest pro wont cut it for me.

He is behind Vieira, Forshaw, Klich and Rey imo.

Vieira has more talent, Forshaw and Klich are technically superior and Rey deserves a chance.

Agree that Vieira and Forshaw are our best midfielders, but I have no idea why anyone thinks Klich is better suited to the Championship? He played for us 4 times last season and was pretty average in the game I saw him...

Agree that he and Rey deserve a chance, but Philips has a lot of strong attributes for the Championship and I feel like he gets a hell of a lot of stick from fans.

[danhirons]

Agree that Vieira and Forshaw are our best midfielders, but I have no idea why anyone thinks Klich is better suited to the Championship? He played for us 4 times last season and was pretty average in the game I saw him...

Agree that he and Rey deserve a chance, but Philips has a lot of strong attributes for the Championship and I feel like he gets a hell of a lot of stick from fans.

This!

Klich and Rey have barely played for us. Nothing to suggest Klich or Rey are any good at this level - though the only way we can know this is if they have a fair run of games in the team

[Cjay]

Agree that Vieira and Forshaw are our best midfielders, but I have no idea why anyone thinks Klich is better suited to the Championship? He played for us 4 times last season and was pretty average in the game I saw him...

Agree that he and Rey deserve a chance, but Philips has a lot of strong attributes for the Championship and I feel like he gets a hell of a lot of stick from fans.

Definitely, Vieira and Forshaw are first choice i agree.

Thought Klich was excellent vs Burnley, cup game but he was against good quality midfielders, better then your average Championship one and he stood out as the best of the cms that day imo.

Very calm receiving the ball from deep, ran with the ball, made intelligent passes etc.

He was brilliant in Holland on loan, properly brilliant by all accounts, creative and his pass completion and amount of passes was far higher then anyone we had.

He made a huge error vs Cardiff but he isnt the first to do something like that. You could watch 4 games of almost any player and think "well he isnt much good".

Phillips does have the good ole fashioned try hard and get stuck in attitude Bielsa will like, but technically do you think he is good enough? He needs to be able control a game if he plays in midfield next season for us, we need that if we are to play Bielsa's style.

On Rey i like him a lot, watched quite a bit of u23s, you can see the Barcelona education.

[Cjay]

Telling that Alioski was one of the few players mentioned by name by Bielsa when he mentioned about Alioski's ability to carry the ball over a long distance. Can see Alioski being a very attacking fullback or being one of the 3 up front if Bielsa wants them to also defend and play wide as well as attack.

Agree

Think Bielsa will love Ali, his work rate alone is something that will appeal to Bielsa, nobody works harder.

Ali will be a key player next season.

[Norm]

I like this thread, mostly positive and appreciating the strengths of certain players who arouse divisive emotions, yet trying to get the positive view of those players who could turn out to be great, given the new coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSWfArGITto

[Genghers]

Phillips does have the good ole fashioned try hard and get stuck in attitude Bielsa will like, but technically do you think he is good enough? He needs to be able control a game if he plays in midfield next season for us, we need that if we are to play Bielsa's style.

On Rey i like him a lot, watched quite a bit of u23s, you can see the Barcelona education.

Fair enough re: Klich. I'm happy for everyone to get their chance with a new manager as well tbf. If he can fit in to Bielsa's formation and bring his form from Holland then it can only be good for us!

I think the technical aspects of Phillips' game are there, but they just appear in flashes. Like you say, he's got the physicality and drive, so he just needa to combine them (or play a more limited role where he wins the ball and then drops it off to the more 'creative' players).

The u23's have some exciting looking prospects in general, so I hope they get game time through pre-season. Ideguchi looked exciting (from highlights), so will be good to see what he can do.