Pre-season Games - Villarreal v Leeds

[SG90]

Shacks is worthy of a first team spot.

Been saying that for ages. Willing to see though however if Bielsa will drop one of his favourites.

[SG90]

Still looking very rusty this pre season.

Passing is off, defensively all over the shop, poor in cm, its not great and Meslier making absolute howlers.

Personally i have serious doubts about our squad, i understand last season was great but we wouldnt be the first side to overachieve after promotion and then seriously regress to type.

Quality in the first 18 is lacking and stand by my original belief that anything less than 4 first 11 players would be a poor window, very concerned.

We can't keep relying on average Championship players forever. They are already playing well above their natural levels. We need more technical and intelligent players imo.

[1964white]

Still looking very rusty this pre season.

Passing is off, defensively all over the shop, poor in cm, its not great and Meslier making absolute howlers.

Personally i have serious doubts about our squad, i understand last season was great but we wouldnt be the first side to overachieve after promotion and then seriously regress to type.

Quality in the first 18 is lacking and stand by my original belief that anything less than 4 first 11 players would be a poor window, very concerned.

Still a month to go in the summer window Cjay.

[The Subhuman]

Good to see some things never change

Right idea though and he produced some of the best touches throughout the second half, all of which got wasted


Meslier - 6 - an error for the winner aside looks like he needs more playing time
Ayling - 6 - The positional change early didn't help
Llorente - 6 - Fingers crossed for the injury, beaten a bit easily for the first
Struijk - 7 - Good enough game again fingers crossed
Firpo - 7 - Great assist
Koch - 7 - Good game but to blame for the first, very good on the ball and good passing vision. He'll get there if that's what MB wants as a DMF.
Dallas - 6 - Rusty, not his usual self.
Rodrigo - 6 - Not a 10 yet for me
Raphinha - 8 - Great first half, frustrating second
Harrison - 7 - Not much to say, typical but not vintage Jack
Bamford - 7 - Nice finish

Klich - 9 - Best player on the park imo
Roberts - 7 - Some nice touches, strong on the ball
Costa - 7 - LW is his best position, he'd usually bury that chance even if he was offside
Shackleton - 8 - Faded but he can't be far behind Luke now, Luke can't afford any missed time or he may not get back in
Greenwood - 6 - No time but I liked the movement ..

[White Riot]

Been saying that for ages. Willing to see though however if Bielsa will drop one of his favourites.

If Shacks is not gonna get a look in we might as well send him out on loan.

We desperately need a playmaker.

Also, Costa n Roberts can go for me and get another winger in.

[MightyWhites]

Costa and Roberts can go for me as well if we're needing to sell to bring quality in.

[White Riot]

We can't keep relying on average Championship players forever. They are already playing well above their natural levels. We need more technical and intelligent players imo.

Yes, once those players have reached their potential you're then standing still and we can't afford to do that.

Angus Kinnear was talking about quality recruits, so let's have them and get the quality of our first team squad improved.

[Cjay]

We can't keep relying on average Championship players forever. They are already playing well above their natural levels. We need more technical and intelligent players imo.

I agree.

I mean this in no disrespect but everyone talks about what a great job BIelsa has done (and he has), but he hasnt made players more technically gifted or talented, nobody can do that including Bielsa.

What he has done is used a system that helps hide those deficiencies and concentrates on the things he can control.

Fitness, muscle memory, repetition in play, its a master class in coaching and getting the best out of people and the players deserve immense credit for it.

But Bielsa hasnt made them more talented, i think we have to be really careful because its very possible that if and when Bielsa goes then some members of this squad will be exposed in a different system in the same way a lot of them were before BIelsa arrived.

We need to bring in more talent to match the league we re in, cant keep relying on fitness and excellant coaching because Bielsa will leave eventually.

[White Riot]

Costa and Roberts can go for me as well if we're needing to sell to bring quality in.

Trouble is for them two you're only got get a Curly Wurly and a packet of Cheesy Wotsits

[Cjay]

Still a month to go in the summer window Cjay.

I know but its stilla worry imo, we kick off in 2 weeks, we are miles off it atm.

[White Riot]

I agree.

I mean this in no disrespect but everyone talks about what a great job BIelsa has done (and he has), but he hasnt made players more technically gifted or talented, nobody can do that including Bielsa.

What he has done is used a system that helps hide those deficiencies and concentrates on the things he can control.

Fitness, muscle memory, repetition in play, its a master class in coaching and getting the best out of people and the players deserve immense credit for it.

But Bielsa hasnt made them more talented, i think we have to be really careful because its very possible that if and when Bielsa goes then some members of this squad will be exposed in a different system in the same way a lot of them were before BIelsa arrived.

We need to bring in more talent to match the league we re in, cant keep relying on fitness and excellant coaching because Bielsa will leave eventually.

Excellent thoughtful post Cjay

% agree

[Prisoner37]

We have to remember that these players are in a phase where they are doing three physical sessions a day, including murder-ball no doubt. So difficult to judge where they are until the first Premiership game.

[Allrounder]

I am realtively new here and don’t want to be rude, but I see either knee jerk reactios or people have been caught sleeping.

We definatley need at least 2-3 additional PL quality players, no doubt about that. Gallagher was one of them so I don’t understand while people were saying he wont get much play time in Leeds, why not? He is a quality player. Even a loan for this season would have been great. Pity he wanted to stay in London.

Secondly some of our players are still rusty. They will play better the closer we come to Man U game. Already looking forward to Ajax game. We need to calm down and trust MB and Orta.

[Orange Box]

Trouble is for them two you're only got get a Curly Wurly and a packet of Cheesy Wotsits

Which one is which? Cos I do like a Curly Wurly but I’m not too keen on Cheesy Wotsits.

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Reasonable runout looked off the pace as expected.

[weasel]

We have to remember that these players are in a phase where they are doing three physical sessions a day, including murder-ball no doubt. So difficult to judge where they are until the first Premiership game.

I don't recall us impresing in any Bielsa pre-seaon games, generally looking a bit disjointed and often wondering why Bielsa is playing this player or that player in that position etc.
Pre-season is just fitness and match sharpness and a time for Bielsa to have a look at one or two players that he might be unsure about and try one or two players in different positions. Often it is more about ruling things out than ruling things in.

[weasel]

If Shacks is not gonna get a look in we might as well send him out on loan.

We desperately need a playmaker.

Also, Costa n Roberts can go for me and get another winger in.

No point sending Shackleton on loan when he has the versatility to come on in a few positions. He may not yet be first choice in any position but Bielsa will know he can bring him on and the team will not be weakened too much. A little bit like Dallas he will get the opportunities because of his versatility and it is then up to him to excel when he gets the chances and make himself undroppable.

[White Riot]

Which one is which? Cos I do like a Curly Wurly but I’m not too keen on Cheesy Wotsits.

Roberts would be the Curly Wurly

[White Riot]

No point sending Shackleton on loan when he has the versatility to come on in a few positions. He may not yet be first choice in any position but Bielsa will know he can bring him on and the team will not be weakened too much. A little bit like Dallas he will get the opportunities because of his versatility and it is then up to him to excel when he gets the chances and make himself undroppable.

But is he gonna get a chance when Roberts and Costa seem to be the preferred options off the bench.

Neither one of those two set the Prem on fire last season, but MB just stuck with them

[1964white]

But is he gonna get a chance when Roberts and Costa seem to be the preferred options off the bench.

Neither one of those two set the Prem on fire last season, but MB just stuck with them

Why we persevere with Costa god only knows, never rated him.

What do I know