The LUFC Breakfast Debate (Mon 27th Aug)

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning Everyone, and happy Bank Holiday Monday!!!

Leeds moved back to the top of the table with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon.

Goal from Klich, Alioski and Hernandez gave the Whites a slightly flattering scoreline.

We may have mislaid our intensity that we showed in the first few games, but our free flowing football will surely set alarm bells ringing around other clubs in the Championship.





Leeds' possession this season has also dramatically improved:-

52% vs. Stoke

54% vs. Derby

57% vs. Bolton

74% vs. Rotherham

56% vs. Swansea

59% vs. Norwich





Surely Barry Douglas must be the bargain of the season. Look at his stats against Norwich:-

116 touches (most on pitch)

83% pass acc 57 successful passes (most on pitch)

20 successful attacking third passes (most on pitch)

8 clearances 5 tackles won (joint-most on pitch)

4 crosses 3 ball recoveries 3 aerial duels won 1 assist





As Bielsa pointed out in his post match interview, we have 90% of the season to go so lets not get carried away.

Preston tomorrow in the League Cup, what changes would you make? Lets bear in mind that second place Boro come to Elland Road three days after followed by a trip to the Den a fortnight later.




We have only four days left if we are to make any loan signings. Bielsa remains tight lipped but it is believed there will be at least one new addition to the squad, though its likely to be a holding midfielder as apposed to a central defender - we will have to wait and see!

[Silver Van Man]

Liam Bridcutt could do a job in this outfit.

[1964white]

Good morning Matt & everyone

I know we started Ayling, Jansson, Phillips & Saiz in the last round of the cup v Bolton, don't think it would be a wise move this time with the important Boro' game only three days later. If Bielsa mindset is on winning this game he may have to play some of his first-teamers as Preston will be no pushover, catch 22 situation for our coach.

We desperately require a couple of decent loan-signings, unconvinced it will happen though

I don't think the 3-0 scoreline was flattering if anything we could have scored again had we pushed on a bit more after Pablo's sublime goal, as it was we didn't need to use up too much energy with the three points in the bag. We were fitter, stronger, efficient & more clinical than the Canaries, Norwich's attack hardly troubled us for all their early possession.

[weasel]

Liam Bridcutt could do a job in this outfit.

I could probably do a job in this outfit such has been Bielsa's effect on players written off by lots of fans.

[Chilli D]

Good Morning Everyone, and happy Bank Holiday Monday!!!

Leeds moved back to the top of the table with a comprehensive 3-0 win at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon.

Goal from Klich, Alioski and Hernandez gave the Whites a slightly flattering scoreline.

We may have mislaid our intensity that we showed in the first few games, but our free flowing football will surely set alarm bells ringing around other clubs in the Championship.





Leeds' possession this season has also dramatically improved:-

52% vs. Stoke

54% vs. Derby

57% vs. Bolton

74% vs. Rotherham

56% vs. Swansea

59% vs. Norwich





Surely Barry Douglas must be the bargain of the season. Look at his stats against Norwich:-

116 touches (most on pitch)

83% pass acc 57 successful passes (most on pitch)

20 successful attacking third passes (most on pitch)

8 clearances 5 tackles won (joint-most on pitch)

4 crosses 3 ball recoveries 3 aerial duels won 1 assist





As Bielsa pointed out in his post match interview, we have 90% of the season to go so lets not get carried away.

Preston tomorrow in the League Cup, what changes would you make? Lets bear in mind that second place Boro come to Elland Road three days after followed by a trip to the Den a fortnight later.




We have only four days left if we are to make any loan signings. Bielsa remains tight lipped but it is believed there will be at least one new addition to the squad, though its likely to be a holding midfielder as apposed to a central defender - we will have to wait and see!

Morning EB1,
Certainly the stats are very impressive, long may they continue.
Whether they can continue in the same vein on a cold Tuesday night in January we shall see.

I've said all along 'what were Wolves thinking' selling Douglas but their loss is most definitely our gain.

MB will definitely make wholesale changes for the Preston game and rightly so.
I expect all those on the bench against Norwich to start on Tuesday as they need some game time.

It's seems obvious now that there will be no new central defender added to the squad before Friday so we walk a tightrope until January. Very strange IMO considering we're still in August and PJ and LC have missed games through injury already.

[weasel]

I know we started Ayling, Jansson, Phillips & Saiz in the last round of the cup v Bolton, don't think it would be a wise move this time with the important Boro' game only three days later. If Bielsa mindset is on winning this game he may have to play some of his first-teamers as Preston will be no pushover, catch 22 situation for our coach.

Always a tricky balancing act to get it just right and as shown several times in recent seasons it is easy with just 1 or 2 changes too many for it to go horribly wrong. I would expect KP to be given a rest this time (even though he got an hours rest last Tuesday....). Also with Saiz having played every game you'd fancy him to get a rest with Shaugnessy probably partnering PJ at the back so that Berardi and Ayling can be rested. Hard really to make a case for playing any of the regular starting XI with the Boro game coming up and for me PJ would be the only one to play so that he can continue to get match sharp and used to the Bielsa way of playing.

[Haighy]

I agree with 64. I don't think the 3 - 0 scoreline flattered!

As for the Preston game, I'd rest all of the starting 11 he's used virtually all season. Play the fringe players and youngsters. Yes i want to win, but at the same time losing it won't be a bad thing for me.

With Forshaw to come back, I'd like to see a quality centre back brought in. As much as Beradi has done a stirling job there, he isn't a c/b.

[gessa]

Morning Matt and all

Agree with him only 5 games gone, anything could happen, even though it has been a terrific start.

Preston I think we will see 9/10 changes from Saturday, CM is where we'll struggle to replace, see why he wanted to keep RV.

It is a little frustrating that we haven't got a couple of more players in, it's a long hard season, especially with the tempo we play at.

[Ellandback1]

Liam Bridcutt could do a job in this outfit.

Morning SVM,

With Bielsa's coaching I could do a job for this team (even though I'm 44 and 15 1/2 stone).

[Ellandback1]

Good morning Matt & everyone

I know we started Ayling, Jansson, Phillips & Saiz in the last round of the cup v Bolton, don't think it would be a wise move this time with the important Boro' game only three days later. If Bielsa mindset is on winning this game he may have to play some of his first-teamers as Preston will be no pushover, catch 22 situation for our coach.

We desperately require a couple of decent loan-signings, unconvinced it will happen though

I don't think the 3-0 scoreline was flattering if anything we could have scored again had we pushed on a bit more after Pablo's sublime goal, as it was we didn't need to use up too much energy with the three points in the bag. We were fitter, stronger, efficient & more clinical than the Canaries, Norwich's attack hardly troubled us for all their early possession.

Morning Leon, wherever you look at the stats, we're on top!!!!

Hav'nt had it this good since I weas in my late teens...

[rab_rant]

Preston tomorrow in the League Cup, what changes would you make? Lets bear in mind that second place Boro come to Elland Road three days after followed by a trip to the Den a fortnight later.

Sorry about the reddish T-shirt... I always use it when cleaning the toilets. Here is my team selection.

[Ellandback1]

I could probably do a job in this outfit such has been Bielsa's effect on players written off by lots of fans.

Morning Weasel,

Do you have an agent??

[Ellandback1]

Morning EB1,
Certainly the stats are very impressive, long may they continue.
Whether they can continue in the same vein on a cold Tuesday night in January we shall see.

I've said all along 'what were Wolves thinking' selling Douglas but their loss is most definitely our gain.

MB will definitely make wholesale changes for the Preston game and rightly so.
I expect all those on the bench against Norwich to start on Tuesday as they need some game time.

It's seems obvious now that there will be no new central defender added to the squad before Friday so we walk a tightrope until January. Very strange IMO considering we're still in August and PJ and LC have missed games through injury already.

Morning Chilli D, interesting what you said about whether the team could still hold it together in the same vein on a cold Tuesday night in January.

I bumped into an ex Leicester Pro (Ally Mauchlen) on Saturday night in Southampton City Centre. He had watched the Saints- Leicester match.

We had a beer and talked about Leeds. (He actually signed for us on loan in the 90's but had a stomach injury - Also best friends with our Macca). He was telling me that when Millwall found us out last season, we lost our confidence, and the frailties that we had in defence, gk, no goal scorer etc just escalated, but this season we have too much strength and intelligence with Bielsa.

[Ellandback1]

I agree with 64. I don't think the 3 - 0 scoreline flattered!

As for the Preston game, I'd rest all of the starting 11 he's used virtually all season. Play the fringe players and youngsters. Yes i want to win, but at the same time losing it won't be a bad thing for me.

With Forshaw to come back, I'd like to see a quality centre back brought in. As much as Beradi has done a stirling job there, he isn't a c/b.

Morning Haighy, not sure he'll make 11 changes, but I can see Berardi, Jansson, Klich and Phillips starting

[Ellandback1]

Morning Matt and all

Agree with him only 5 games gone, anything could happen, even though it has been a terrific start.

Preston I think we will see 9/10 changes from Saturday, CM is where we'll struggle to replace, see why he wanted to keep RV.

It is a little frustrating that we haven't got a couple of more players in, it's a long hard season, especially with the tempo we play at.

Morning Gessa, it will be interesting. In a way, shame we progressed in the Cup. It would have been nice to concentrate all week on Boro

[Ellandback1]

Sorry about the reddish T-shirt... I always use it when cleaning the toilets. Here is my team selection.

Morning Rab, you look a bit cold there pal. What's the weather doing?

[gessa]

Morning Gessa, it will be interesting. In a way, shame we progressed in the Cup. It would have been nice to concentrate all week on Boro

That's mixed feelings for me, you need these cup games to try out and give game time to the second string. As most of the first team won't be playing it shouldn't be a distraction, Boro have a game too. This cup is a pain if you progress to the semi's, 2 midweek games shortly after the busy Christmas period

[Muppet the Cat]

Good Morning Everyone, and happy Bank Holiday Monday!!!

Preston tomorrow in the League Cup, what changes would you make? Lets bear in mind that second place Boro come to Elland Road three days after followed by a trip to the Den a fortnight later.

Morning EB,
As has been said it's a difficult balance with the League Cup (not the reindeer like animal from the arctic Cup !) team.
Clearly, it would be beneficial, even at this early stage of the season, to rest some players, given the high intensity way Biesla has the team playing and the season long slog of promotion is absolute priority numero uno.
However, the League Cup probably represents a side's best chance of getting their hands on silverware given that even when they enter the competition the top Premier sides usually put out what in effect are second string sides. Just look at the fact that it was only a few years ago that you had a Swansea v Bradford final.
I know it was a completely different landscape in the earlier years of the Revie era, but winning the LC in 67/68 galvanised that team into the winning outfit it then became.
Having said all that we'd all take promotion over a LC win, so I'd expect 5/6 changes.

[1964white]

Liam Bridcutt could do a job in this outfit.

Personally, I don't think we need another midfielder

Welcome to the forum SVM

[1964white]

Morning Leon, wherever you look at the stats, we're on top!!!!

Hav'nt had it this good since I weas in my late teens...

A torrid time for fifteen years

I feel our fans deserve payback time, just hope we can maintain the intensity of the football we've witnessed so far, can't see us wimping out like an old dog as we did last season, Bielsa won't allow his players to show such complacency. We need some luck to steer clear of injuries/suspensions though.