Leeds Utd v Brighton Match Thread - Casilla starts in net as Meslier missing for Leeds

[CHAPELALLMAN]

I am not overly convinced Sara, we are in a different league now and the gulf in class is beginning to show. The majority of the squad is Championship standard, clearly MB has worked miracles in enabling them to reach that potential. However, we are seeing the limitations of this in terms of player ability. I do hope you're right though!

Exactly. 'every time without fail the fans lose their s**t ' means every year that we were in the championship or league 1. Our last experience of the PL was 17 years ago.

[1964white]

I will be later

Jill offers me a cuppa

Asked her for something stronger I need it after that

[White Riot]

Each season with MB we have a rough patch around midway. Every time, without fail, fans lose their s**t and go into apocalypse mode. Every time, there are also reasons to see, with injuries, forced rotations, loss of form and, more rarely, superior play or tactics from the opposition. Every time also, we've shown the character, desire and quality to come through it and succeed. We are where we are for a reason. We have a superior coach, some excellent players, and a superb spirit and philosophy.

We were never going to win every game at this level. Is this the first time we've lost to a lower placed club? It takes us time to click into gear and build momentum. I feared a Cup hangover for this reason. We need games and continuity, not breaks and constant disruption. Players are returning to fitness and from suspension... we'll get it back.

A lot of wise words Sara and I agree with a lot of what you've said.

Apart from potential injuries, my biggest concern at the moment is that the state of our pitch is undermining our style of play. That pitch won't be relaid until the summer, so that's a huge concern.

Yes, there are limitations in this squad and unavailability that's hurting us. But I believe that pitch kills us.

Still think we'll be okay and at least we should have decent surfaces to play on away from ER.

I know the squad needs upgraded but that is gonna take time and big money.

Keep the faith folks.

[SG90]

Each season with MB we have a rough patch around midway. Every time, without fail, fans lose their s**t and go into apocalypse mode. Every time, there are also reasons to see, with injuries, forced rotations, loss of form and, more rarely, superior play or tactics from the opposition. Every time also, we've shown the character, desire and quality to come through it and succeed. We are where we are for a reason. We have a superior coach, some excellent players, and a superb spirit and philosophy.

We were never going to win every game at this level. Is this the first time we've lost to a lower placed club? It takes us time to click into gear and build momentum. I feared a Cup hangover for this reason. We need games and continuity, not breaks and constant disruption. Players are returning to fitness and from suspension... we'll get it back.

Why do fans always say things like this? No one on here has ever said we're going to win every game or isn't going to be hard. We are playing at a much higher level than the Championship now, so can't keep going on about what worked in the Championship. The fact is we have very little quality, struggle to create, concede loads and have too much space in midfield every week. We have no competition for places, so players can be keep coasting knowing they're never getting dropped.

[Peter in Blackpool]

Sorry but that is a crock of crap....

I was in the army as you know...
The harder we trained the easier it was in a war zone, and we were certainly beasted a lot back at camp, and we would never have survived a battle had we not been so fit.

So in summary, training hard does not make you loose fitness or stamina.

If you overtrain, it does. Marathan runners do not run a marathan as part of their training the day before a race.

In the Army, the training is hard, but i believe MB puts them through too much which is why they burn out long before the end of the season. All his club teams have suffered the same fate, which is why in 30 years of management he has won very little.

I too was in the services, royal navy for me....and yes i was involved in battles, but our skill was in using radar and knowing how to defend the ship and use the guns, not trying to run marathans in 2 hours

[Oats]

Harrison / Aloiski down the left has been successful most of the season - Raphinha scores coming in from the right - why change for the whole game!

[Allrounder]

I have alot of shares in Oslo stock exchange and what I'm thinking of doing is just to forget them and see what the result is in 6 months time, maybe I should just do same with Leeds, and see where we end at the end of the season?

[White Riot]

Jill offers me a cuppa

Asked her for something stronger I need it after that

I hear you mate. If we swallow the bitter pill now, it'll make our upcoming victories all the sweeter.

We'll be okay mate

[White Riot]

I have alot of shares in Oslo stock exchange and what I'm thinking of doing is just to forget them and see what the result is in 6 months time, maybe I should just do same with Leeds, and see where we end at the end of the season?

Like I've said in the past AR, it's up to the players, MB and the management team to prove we belong at this level.

Doesn't matter a jot what we think

[1964white]

Each season with MB we have a rough patch around midway. Every time, without fail, fans lose their s**t and go into apocalypse mode. Every time, there are also reasons to see, with injuries, forced rotations, loss of form and, more rarely, superior play or tactics from the opposition. Every time also, we've shown the character, desire and quality to come through it and succeed. We are where we are for a reason. We have a superior coach, some excellent players, and a superb spirit and philosophy.

We were never going to win every game at this level. Is this the first time we've lost to a lower placed club? It takes us time to click into gear and build momentum. I feared a Cup hangover for this reason. We need games and continuity, not breaks and constant disruption. Players are returning to fitness and from suspension... we'll get it back.

No excuse for that performance after a two weeks break for much of the squad

It doesn't help when Bielsa plays half the team out of their natural positions

[YorkshireSquare]

See some are going down the burnout route on here!

We still had more posession, we still cover more meters, we still make more passes. Today was about completing passes, better final balls and creativty, not fitness levels. Most of the team have had two weeks without a game and training will have been lighter given they haven't been able to get out on the grass.

[SG90]

It wasn't burnout or tiredness. I think it's pretty obvious we need 2 games a week, or at least one game a week to maintain the level.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Why do fans always say things like this? No one on here has ever said we're going to win every game or isn't going to be hard. We are playing at a much higher level than the Championship now, so can't keep going on about what worked in the Championship. The fact is we have very little quality, struggle to create, concede loads and have too much space in midfield every week. We have no competition for places, so players can be keep coasting knowing they're never getting dropped.

I agree - why are people banging on about fans panicking when we were playing in lower divisions ? That was then this is now.Some people have never mentally detached from the many years in the championship.

Talking about lack of competition for places - Bamford had 11 touches in 90 mins. Poveda in 15 mins had 13 touches...

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Burnout how does players out of position and not good enough on the day sound. Maybe it will improve next time

[SG90]

I don't think it's a fact we have very little quality, or struggle to create. We wouldn't be going toe to toe with teams like Liverpool and Man City if that were true, or sticking five past West Brom and Newcastle.

We have too much space in midfield when we have key players out, like Phillips and Most of the defence.

I think it's total nonsense that any players in this squad are coasting; they wouldn't be there if they were, as the one thing Bielsa doesn't tolerate is slackers.

We have too much space even with KP in the team. Look at McTominay's first goal for example. Bielsa has favourites. If you're a good boy and listen and behave, you'll be picked every week. Anyone who shows a bit of personality is in trouble, Pablo or Jansson for example.

[Carrick Dave]

Shite

Succinct.

[MightyWhites]

If you overtrain, it does. Marathan runners do not run a marathan as part of their training the day before a race.

In the Army, the training is hard, but i believe MB puts them through too much which is why they burn out long before the end of the season. All his club teams have suffered the same fate, which is why in 30 years of management he has won very little.

I too was in the services, royal navy for me....and yes i was involved in battles, but our skill was in using radar and knowing how to defend the ship and use the guns, not trying to run marathans in 2 hours

You'll be saying we only won the championship because of Covid next!

[Cjay]

Harrison, Klich, Poveda, Rodrigo, Roberts and Pablo didnt create a chance between them.

And that is our issue in a nutshell.

Lots of pretty well drilled paterns but actual quality in the final ball (that can't be taught and is purely talent) lacks.

Raph and Bamford our only 2 attacking players to create a chance.

Luke Ayling was the only other player!!!!

[Allrounder]

Like I've said in the past AR, it's up to the players, MB and the management team to prove we belong at this level.

Doesn't matter a jot what we think

If you look at the positives we are are still well placed at 12th, and only one point below Arsenal.

And injuries to Koch and Llorente haven't helped our cause either. This year it's all about surviving to be honest.

[Boo Radley]

No excuse for that performance after a two weeks break for much of the squad

It doesn't help when Bielsa plays half the team out of their natural positions

Totally agree ‘64.

I am convinced that the Crawley game is coming back to bite us. When you’ve an “easy” chance to build momentum, build confidence and settle people in a system you really should take it. Instead there was damage done, confidence dented and a certain amount of disharmony from such a self inflicted wound.

Today, playing on our own pitch, which is like a ploughed field, we play both our wingers on the wrong side all game, we expect a 21 year old who has around 10 starts for us to step into Philips boots and hold his own, we saunter around the pitch for 45 minutes as if it’s a warm up and we bring on three subs that haven’t even come close to scoring this season and think that it will all work out. Daft!

The pitch won’t change and neither will the squad but our attitude certainly can. There was no passion. We didn’t hunt them down like we know we can. There are stupid mistakes made far too often and we are not utilizing the players we have to their maximum putting then in new and unnatural positions. Players like Klich, Rodrigo, Dallas, Alioski and Raphinha all look incapable of catching up with opponents that go past them. If we’re so fit, what is that about? A full ER would have had something to say about all of the above.

Bielsa needs to sort all of what can be sorted urgently. We knew we’d lose more than we won this year, but losing through lack of effort, constant silly errors and daft use of the class we have, isn’t good enough.