Leeds Utd v Chelsea Match Thread - Cooper, Costa & Klich Out, Struijk, Alioski & Harrison In

[SG90]

They had decent situations, but no real clear cut chances.

Rodrigo had a free header middle of the goal.

Raph's turn and shot was the best save of the game.

Even the Robeets effort forced a far better save than Mendy had.

A draw was fair imo but we didnt deserve to lose, Chelsea had more shots but scoring chances? Not for me.

Their best chance came from Ayling clearing the ball into Llorente.

[Carrick Dave]

Struijk & Llorente looked good together at the back, it'll be interesting when Cooper & Koch are in contention too.

Roberts played better today but a generally poor touch still means he gives the ball away frequently.

If Bamford and Rodrigo are out for a while will he supply the goals we need? I'm not convinced.

[SG90]

I don't think Rodrigo is injured, he just got subbed off as he was playing sh*t.

[Cjay]

Bielsa praised Rodrigo for his display and said it was because of a lack of match fitness that he was subbed.

Not sure i buy that tbh.

[HarryofOz]

Costa played well again after a dip in his performance last week. Well done to him.

[Irish Ian]

I don't think Rodrigo is injured, he just got subbed off as he was playing sh*t.

Disagree,

1. He is building fitness and recovery and the longer the played the higher the chance of an injury. Bamford already subbed ( and maybe a doubt for the next game )means the need for a fit Rod was even more paramount.
2. Bielsa also was pragmatic and saw the wisdom of settling for a point, so took an offensive player off, Roberts perhaps would have been the obvious choice but he was playing well.

[Irish Ian]

Bielsa praised Rodrigo for his display and said it was because of a lack of match fitness that he was subbed.

Not sure i buy that tbh.

I do

He is looking further down the road. Two very winnable games coming up and Bamford may be missing

[The Subhuman]

We've not seen Rodders at his best yet, stop start season has been his issue. Nowhere near game fit.. You can see the quality though

[HarryofOz]

Oh and our defending of set pieces - after a dip last week time against the Hammers - was again competent enough to not be threatened.

[Cjay]

Costa played well again after a dip in his performance last week. Well done to him.

He did but never seems to build on his decent cameos.

What i want to know is what has happened to Harrison? The arse seems to have fallen out of his game and what little attacking threat he had has totally gone.

Was never particularly consistent or overly threatening most of the time but he rarely had multiple bad games.

I cant remember his last good performance.

[Smudge3920]

Amazing what some can read into something that is so obvious...now Rodrigo could be leaving us !...Why oh why always worst case scenario's.

[Cjay]

I do

He is looking further down the road. Two very winnable games coming up and Bamford may be missing

Why did we buy a 30 year old to try and retrain him to play a position he has never played before? Doesnt make sense.

I like him as a player, has quality but just doesnt fit the system imo, he always looks shoehorned in.

[Cjay]

Amazing what some can read into something that is so obvious...now Rodrigo could be leaving us !...Why oh why always worst case scenario's.

Spainish media have mentioned it to.

We know the club want at least 1 cm maybe 2, where does that leave Rodrigo?

He is to old to be a bench player.

It isnt that fanciful imo.

[The Subhuman]

He did but never seems to build on his decent cameos.

What i want to know is what has happened to Harrison? The arse seems to have fallen out of his game and what little attacking threat he had has totally gone.

Was never particularly consistent or overly threatening most of the time but he rarely had multiple bad games.

I cant remember his last good performance.

Raph happened, Harrison was the outlet but it's Raph now and Harrison is getting less chances. Two lovely crosses though and we'd have lost that if he wasn't there defensively ..Good game I thought, think 64 agrees

[The Subhuman]

Spainish media have mentioned it to.

We know the club want at least 1 cm maybe 2, where does that leave Rodrigo?

He is to old to be a bench player.

It isnt that fanciful imo.

If you want to be like any of the top 6 then 27mill on the bench is exactly where we want to be...Give him time.

[Smudge3920]

Spainish media have mentioned it to.

We know the club want at least 1 cm maybe 2, where does that leave Rodrigo?

He is to old to be a bench player.

It isnt that fanciful imo.

IMO he was taken off mainly due to Bamfords possible injury, Rodrigo will be needed if Paddy misses the next game or two...Rodrigo is still progressing to full match fitness, he had already had a yellow card in this game... MB was protecting a needed player...

[Irish Ian]

Why did we buy a 30 year old to try and retrain him to play a position he has never played before? Doesnt make sense.

I like him as a player, has quality but just doesnt fit the system imo, he always looks shoehorned in.

It is a good question.

Perhaps Bamford starting the season so well surprised Bielsa? But after paying so much he couldn't leave Rodrigo out of the side?
I think most of us expected to see Rod lead the attack with Bamford starting on the bench,

[Cjay]

Raph happened, Harrison was the outlet but it's Raph now and Harrison is getting less chances. Two lovely crosses though and we'd have lost that if he wasn't there defensively ..Good game I thought, think 64 agrees

No shots and no chances created, no successful dribbles either.

He is a winger, that isnt acceptable imo no matter how much defending he does.

[HarryofOz]

He did but never seems to build on his decent cameos.

What i want to know is what has happened to Harrison? The arse seems to have fallen out of his game and what little attacking threat he had has totally gone.

Was never particularly consistent or overly threatening most of the time but he rarely had multiple bad games.

I cant remember his last good performance.

I think Harrison's form has only really dropped in the last month or so. We have to remember that this is the first time in their careers that many of our players are playing at this level week in and week out. There are going to be dips in form.

Costa is our back up winger - we are not like the wealthier clubs who are going to be able to replace one elite player with another. For the role that he is required to play, he is good enough.

[Carrick Dave]

IMO he was taken off mainly due to Bamfords possible injury, Rodrigo will be needed if Paddy misses the next game or two...Rodrigo is still progressing to full match fitness, he had already had a yellow card in this game... MB was protecting a needed player...

He went straight down the tunnel apparently - that usually means injury or annoyance.