The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 21st April) - Forgotten man has a future at Elland Road

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 21st April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Forgotten man has a future at Elland Road

Marcelo Bielsa believes Leeds forgotten man Adam Forshaw has a future at Elland Road, as a back up for Kalvin Phillips! The news came from Phil Hay, replying to a fan about the 29 year old's future. We all know Bielsa has his favourites (like Roberts and Bamford), but we can include the former Boro man on that list too. When asked whether Forshaw will be at Elland Road next season, the former chief football writer for the YEP replied...

They would have to think carefully about that because Forshaw is competition for Phillips and Bielsa has always rated him extremely highly.

Brazilian Ace has 'decent chance' of returning against bitter enemy

Raphinha has a “decent chance” of being fit to face Manchester United this weekend according to Phil Hay. The Athletic journalist was replying to a fan in his Q&A session about the availability of the 24 year old!

It was a dead leg and heavy bruising from the Fernandinho challenge. Those injuries tend to heal in their own time - sometimes quick, sometimes slower. Fingers crossed, though. He’ll have a decent chance given that he wasn’t ruled out of this game as of Thursday last week.

Leeds more than held their own, and were unlucky not to defeat Liverpool on Monday evening. This, and the performance against Pep Guardiola's Champions elect, should install the confidence that they have nothing to fear against the red side of Manchester, when the two bitter enemies collide Sunday lunchtime. I can't help thinking that Leeds showed too much respect, especially against Liverpool in the first half.





Super League dead in the water

The European Super League appears dead in the water after all six English clubs withdrew overnight following threats from football authorities. Manchester City were the first to succumb to the pressure, followed quickly by Chelsea. Just like a domino effect, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal followed suit. All clubs issued statements trying to make amends, labelling the importance of their fans being the main excuse for exiting the competition.

This leaves Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. Should the English six be punished for their treasonous behaviour? Perhaps a 50m fine each would make them think twice in future?

[HarryofOz]

We all know Bielsa has his favourites (like Roberts and Bamford),

No we don't all know that. All I know is that Bielsa picks what he believes is our strongest team. Be it Phillips or Raphinha or Roberts or Bamford.

And how right he has been proven to be.

[Irish Ian]

Forshaw, well after the Bielsafication of so many of our other players who knows...

Super League. Not wanting to be too vindictive to the special six.

For me a transfer embargo would suffice. After all we dont want them losing any more money do we? And we can keep Raph and pick up Rodrigo de Paul into the bargain.

[Leeds1000]

Forgotten man has a future at ER

I guess that's true until is contract is up for renewal. After that and at this stage of his career, i would imagine he will want first team football rather than being stuck on the bench.

ESL.

Strange, very strange. No consultation with the lifeblood fans, players or coaches... just a case of "this is what we are going to do like it or lump it" is possibly the most bizarre thing ever to occur in football. Its another stark example of the elites being out of touch with reality and the common human. They can apologize all they want the intentions were clear for all from the off.

A closed shop monopoly to make has much money as possible and pick up the all best players to sell around the world.

Put in a simple English phrase they can all.... Get To Fk

[danhirons]

No we don't all know that. All I know is that Bielsa picks what he believes is our strongest team. Be it Phillips or Raphinha or Roberts or Bamford.

And how right he has been proven to be.

I agree

Roberts has also often had long spells on the bench barely featuring in games...

Whether it has been a direct result of him or not, we've gone on a great run of results since Roberts came into the starting eleven...

[mothbanquet]

I agree

Roberts has also often had long spells on the bench barely featuring in games...

Whether it has been a direct result of him or not, we've gone on a great run of results since Roberts came into the starting eleven...

A very good point, Dan.

[Ratscoot]

Morning EB et all

Glad to see that Forshaw is getting back to full fitness, hate it when injury ends a players career, but how many are never the same player after a long injury lay off. Hopefully he gets to be part of the squad for the remainder of the season and even gets a few minutes but going into next season we need someone younger, potentially fitter and hungrier so the U23s need to start stepping up.

Hope Raph is back for the scum game and he scores his first Leeds hat trick

You can't call anything the Big 6 when Spurs and Arsenal are included in it unless they are made to join forces and become one team

UEFA and the Prem will buckle now and not only not punish them but will contrive a way of giving them more money to keep them sweet

[mothbanquet]

Forshaw

Well, if Bielsa is insisting on standing by him then that's good enough for me. It's a shame about the injuries because Forshaw was really starting to show what he's capable of. He must feel like the luckiest player on Earth to have someone who believes in him so unshakably. Certainly after seeing interviews etc, I get the feeling that like Dallas, Forshaw is a consummate team player who will always do what's asked of him and won't spit his dummy out if he doesn't start ahead of Kalvin or Rodrigo every week.

Raphinha

Great to hear but I wouldn't want him rushed back. We took a point from Liverpool without him and could've won, so for me there's no fear. This team is above one single player.

Maybe we gave Liverpool too much respect early doors, just like when we played City the first time around. It's a testament to how much our defence has improved that we only let in one during all that early pressure.

Super League

Sort of sad to see it collapse in a way. I didn't buy into the whole 'it'll destroy football' thing, that's just hyperbole. English football has survived world wars, pandemics and everything in between. My hypothesis is it would've backfired on these clubs, at least the English ones, big time. In just a couple of short days we've had not only an affirmation on exactly why players play and fans support this sport, but an examination of the soul of football itself - and it hasn't been found wanting.

I honestly think that had it all gone ahead, droves of fans would've migrated to smaller clubs, local clubs, grassroots clubs and the core of the English game would've been given a big lift in the post-Covid world. Maybe it'll still happen now the true nature of what lies behind the richest clubs has been exposed?

[DDB220]

Interesting perspective on Forshaw. After such a lengthy period out there has to be question marks about whether he can return at the required level. The next few months of monitoring and assessment will undoubtedly answer that question.

Roberts has a huge amount of potential. I like many others often get frustrated by his lapses of concentration and awareness on the ball, as he is often dispossessed having played himself into a good position. This fine tuning will occur with playing, this is his first season at the club with a decent run of games. His time at the club has been rather stop start due to injury. I expect big things from him next season if he avoids injury.

Costa is the biggest cause for frustration. As a starter he struggles. Personally I do not feel he is equipped for the competitiveness of the EPL. With his pace If he has time on the ball and space to run into he can be a potent attacking player. But when closed down quickly he is rather ineffective and often looks to off load the ball rather panicked backwards or sideways. For me he is an impact player when the game is stretched with tired legs.

Will be interesting to see how the dirty half dozen’s attempted breakaway will shape the football domestically and in Europe.

[onemoreslogan]

What surprised me about the ESL debacle was that people were surprised. It's been an open secret that the big clubs have been discussing this for years. The only surprise for me was how ham-fisted their whole unveiling was! You would think if you had those resources and that much time to plan it, you could have mounted a better campaign. They should have bought allies within the EFL and tried to massage public opinion their way by villainizing the Premier League and selling merits of the Super League before going public with their plans.

I suspect they'll know better next time.

[Ron Swanson]

I thought the sight of arrogant elites falling flat on their faces was so 2016.

[mothbanquet]

I thought the sight of arrogant elites falling flat on their faces was so 2016.

[1964white]

So the injury-prone Adam Forshaw who has cost us an absolute fortune for a minimum return & is less skilful & slower than Pablo has a future at LUFC.

Really!

[Cjay]

Forshaw.

Has become a better player whilst injured, to hear people talk you would think he was prime Xabi Alonso. This is a guy that even before his injury in 2019 had missed 34 League games since 2017/2018 season.

The guy was injury prone before his hip injury, nothing about his career or the type of injury he has had suggests he will remain fit for long, neither is he likely to suddenly become a better player than he ever was before which he would need to be to be in the squad of a side with top 6 ambitions.

I am pleased for him that he seems able to resume his career but the idea that we should include him in what will already be a small squad as per MB's wishes is madness.

He has missed over 100 games since 2017, he cant be relied upon its that simple.

Raph.

I hope he is back, i think we would have beaten Liverpool with him.

ESL.

Buh bye.

[Byebyegeegee]

ESL.

Strange, very strange. No consultation with the lifeblood fans, players or coaches... just a case of "this is what we are going to do like it or lump it" is possibly the most bizarre thing ever to occur in football. Its another stark example of the elites being out of touch with reality and the common human.

Exactly, well said Leeds1000

I’d be very surprised if Forshaw is still part of the squad next season, even only as a stand in for Phillips, surely we would want someone more reliable and preferably younger - Ben White anyone (his price will be more realistic now)?