Stan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 6:55 pm
Isn't that the managers/coaches job to identify areas of weakness and manage risk by ensuring we recruit appropriately, yes I agree we are missing Koch and Llorente and hopefully they will come good but never but linked with any full backs or defensive midfielders, only ever hear about wingers. We haven't even got a back up striker! Anyway we move onwards and upwards, bad day at the office.
I would have liked a LB personally but most people were happy with Dallas, Alioski, Davis, Ayling has FB.
MB sees Struijk has DM. Its a big ask for any player the way we set up. I'm not convinced.
I have to say watching the u23's they have the same problems. So its not like we can dip into that set-up with any confidence.
We have no choice but to hope we manage to outscore other teams.
Carrick Dave wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:01 pm
My honest opinion on the lack of variation in approach is that Marcelo doesn’t believe the squad have sufficient quality to be capable of assimilating two differing styles to the required level, so he focuses solely on trying to play one as well as possible.
Just my take.
Agreed, he plays the way that suits the players.
Un Marcelo Bielsa, solo hay un Marcelo Bielsa. Gracias Marcello. Marsching on together.
I think Newcastle fans should be more annoyed than us. They lost 5-2 against a newcomer and we lost 2-6 against a top team. No worries. Palace lost 0-7 yesterday.
City, United and L’pool have big ugly defeats this season.
Good to get this out of way, and focus on next games.
HarryofOz wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:03 pm
But when Bielsa started Dallas and Klich in the midfield and we failed to win, the fans were calling for Rodrigo to start.
We don't have to play the same way every game, but when a team pack out midfield maybe we need to tighten things up a bit. Play ourselves into the game then unleash.
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 6:58 pm
It's the midfield that's the issue. Rodrigo pushes higher leaving Klich and therefore Phillips with more to do. Last season we started with Klich and Forshaw in there to tighten things up, maybe we need more options in there.
We need to get over Forshaw, he's never coming back. We need a strong DM in January and a bit more height.
Bielsa is getting the maximum out of this team. Phillips is of top 6 team quality and no other players are. Rushing forward in attack is reliant on not giving the ball away cheaply but we have an abundance of players who do this - Raphinha being the worst culprit.
Last edited by pjbull on Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:05 pm
We don't have to play the same way every game, but when a team pack out midfield maybe we need to tighten things up a bit. Play ourselves into the game then unleash.
Exactly. You set up differently against different opponents. Even Ole knew to play James today with his pace on the counter.
Leeds1000 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:04 pm
I would have liked a LB personally but most people were happy with Dallas, Alioski, Davis, Ayling has FB.
MB sees Struijk has DM. Its a big ask for any player the way we set up. I'm not convinced.
I have to say watching the u23's they have the same problems. So its not like we can dip into that set-up with any confidence.
We have no choice but to hope we manage to outscore other teams.
We could never change the squad overnight but the likes of Dallas, Alioski,, Ayling nor Cooper for that matter are good enough for the top league, guess we do what we can and build but try and protect these weak links by being less direct all the time and especially against the top counter attacking teams.
In all my 56 years of following United i have never been so disgusted as a team in white shirts playing the manure.The players and the manager need to know what it means to Leeds fans this game.
SG90 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:08 pm
Why not give him a chance at LB rather than trying to turn him into a CB?
Do you worry that Marcelo’s penchant for trying to change players from being one thing to another doesn’t always work? You’re looking at Davis, I think Struijk is a CB rather than a midfielder, but it was a revelation for Kalvin.
What about Rodrigo, is he falling between two stools? He plays 9 for Spain after all.
But then he sees things we don’t every day, and has many years of experience to draw on.
eastyorkshirewhite wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:15 pm
In all my 56 years of following United i have never been so disgusted as a team in white shirts playing the manure.The players and the manager need to know what it means to Leeds fans this game.
I think they do, and they went all out to win it, we created plenty of chances!
I've seen far more abject performances against them that this one over the past 35 years.
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:05 pm
We don't have to play the same way every game, but when a team pack out midfield maybe we need to tighten things up a bit. Play ourselves into the game then unleash.
No we don't need to do that, but we don't need to change the team every time we lose either.
Un Marcelo Bielsa, solo hay un Marcelo Bielsa. Gracias Marcello. Marsching on together.
I was actually more concerned with the way we played West Ham and even Newcastle. A poor side, who given the breaks would have beaten us.
We have played 2 sides below us, Fulham and the blunts. True, we beat both of them, but we got the breaks. We were desperately hanging on against Fulham, and scored the only goal of the match late on in an even game against the blunts when either side could have scored.
We need the breaks in the next 2 games, both Burnley and the baggies are PL teams, Burnley having just beaten Arsenal and the baggies holding Man City
HarryofOz wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:21 pm
No we don't need to do that, but we don't need to change the team every time we lose either.
I'm not suggesting we do, I wouldnt change the starting XI for Burnley, injuries aside.
But both Chelsea and Manchester United have matched us in terms or energy and with their better players they win their 1v1 battles. Maybe against the top sides we need to be a little more pragmatic. Against everyone else in the league I wouldn't change a thing.
Ayling RB playing at CB
Alioski Attacking Midfielder Playing at LB
Dallas Winger playing at RB
Rodrigo Striker/Winger playing CM
Sometimes it works, other times we just collapse. Not one of those Leeds starting 11 would make it into that Man U team. Bielsa is fantastic, he works with what he has got and when he has us playing as a team it’s great but come up against 11 quality players who are on their game and this is what happens.
We need Bielsa as survival is the game this season, however I personally don’t believe any other manager would persevere with Alioski and Dallas at RB and LB
eastyorkshirewhite wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:15 pm
In all my 56 years of following United i have never been so disgusted as a team in white shirts playing the manure.The players and the manager need to know what it means to Leeds fans this game.
Did you feel Leeds didn’t want to win today? Was the gulf in quality/organisation/desire the greatest you’ve seen in 56 years? Why are you so disgusted exactly?
It’s 3 points, no more. We’ll beat them at home with a bit of luck.
