The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 16th August) - Leeds fail to learn last seasons lessons at Old Trafford

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Monday 16th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Leeds fail to learn last seasons lessons at Old Trafford

Leeds got off to the worst possible start at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, delivering a performance reminiscent of the Hockaday era. The floodgates began to open in the second half after Luke Ayling cancelled out Bruno Fernandez's 30th minute strike. The Leeds right back unleashed a missile into the top left hand corner from 25 yards leaving De Gea totally stranded. Unfortunately for the Whites, Ayling's wonder strike triggered retribution from the men in Red, as Manchester Utd went a second half rampage.

Even the introduction of £13 million signing Junior Firpo did little to stem the tide, wayward finishing from Solskjær's men saved Leeds from further embarrassment! Was it acceptable? No! Was it expected? Probably, Leeds inept performances in pre season have caught up with them!





Post Match comments from Bielsa

Nobody likes to lose, but what did Leeds expect. If you play a team that is better than you, you have to change the way you play to make it more difficult for them. Playing exactly the same way week in, week out was always going to end on a sour note. Are there signs that all is not well at Elland Road? There are two comments Bielsa made that may give us a clue. His first was with BT Sports upon the conclusion of the game...

To have lost the way we lost can't be described as just a blip.

The second observation was when Popey asked how close Phillips was to starting? The Argentine replied...

Kalvin's always in consideration to be a starter, but his lack of preparation hindered him".

Thoughts? Given both Shaw and Maguire started could we have expected Phillips to be fit and up to speed? Phillips not playing certainly seemed like the main contributing factor in the defeat.





Could Leeds resurrect Nandez deal?

Following the collapse of the deal to bring Nahitan Nandez to the San Siro, Leeds could once again be in the frame to bring him to Elland Road. The Whites have been pursuing the 25 year old all Summer, but he made it clear that his proffered destination was Inter. The deal collapsed after an initial loan deal could not be agreed between his present employers Cagliari and Simone Inzaghi's team. Cagliari want €5 million, whilst Inter are only prepared to pay €3m. This has prompted Nandez to go on strike! If both teams are unable to work out their differences, could Leeds swoop in to steal the Uruguayan, especially if they are amiable to loaning him to us first?

[Johnboy1965]

The comment by Bielsa on KP's lack of preparation is of real concern to me. Surely as a local Lad playing away against our fiercest rivals would be motivation enough for KP to be totally prepared and ready for the challenge.
My real worry is that he has had his head turned by a big money move. It is clear that we can't manage without him as it has been proved over and over that no one else is as effective in that position.

[Irish Ian]

Morning Folks.

U23s play later, let's see if KP gets a run then.

I am more worried about Llorente. Three weeks since his last kick.

[WhiteRose]

The comment about Philips has been taken out of context. He merely means that he hasn't had a full pre season not that Philips hasn’t been putting in the effort personally - dangers of using a translator I guess.

[weasel]

I would completely disagree with the not learning lessons from last season's defeat to MU. Last season's defeat was completely different with us making big mistakes giving the ball away etc. Sometimes you just have to acknowledge that the opposition were very good and unfortunately Pogba chose to have probably his best game in a MU shirt rather than the petulant way he normally plays. Likewise Bruno Fernandes has that extra touch of quality taking all his goals brilliantly. Sancho, sat on Man U's bench, cost as much as the whole Leeds team.

As for KP I would say the whole team aren't yet at 100%, we looked a yard off the pace, so KP is likely even further behind. The risk of getting an injury playing at our usual intensity would be greatly increased if a player's fitness wasn't right so Bielsa was completely right to leave KP out of this match. No point risking KP for one match.

[Eireleeds1]

Far too early for pressing panic buttons. Some of the stuff appearing over past two days was cringeworthy at best. Heres a couple of facts. We rarely win a game without Kalvin and last season our defence was useless without Llorente. When I saw both were missing Saturday, I couldn't see anything other than a drubbing. The important thing will be how we react. Have to get a win asap to get momentum going. Were all too well aware what effect two or three straight defeats would have on morale and some of the less patient sections of our fanbase

[rab_rant]

McGuire Shaw Sterling Rice Grealish Sancho Sako Mount all played at the weekend... Stone and Kane and Kalvin didn't.

Did the Euros take too much out of him.

[Ellandback1]

The comment by Bielsa on KP's lack of preparation is of real concern to me. Surely as a local Lad playing away against our fiercest rivals would be motivation enough for KP to be totally prepared and ready for the challenge.
My real worry is that he has had his head turned by a big money move. It is clear that we can't manage without him as it has been proved over and over that no one else is as effective in that position.

I'm guessing that Phillips thought he was ready. Who wouldn't be up for an Old Trafford opener?

If I'm honest, it was the way we played that scared me more than the result.

We could string passes together and the players weren't getting into position that they wanted the ball.

[Ellandback1]

Morning Folks.

U23s play later, let's see if KP gets a run then.

I am more worried about Llorente. Three weeks since his last kick.

Report from LUFCFANZONE said he'll be out for 2 or 3 weeks (as of a week ago).

Koch did not look comfortable in DM though the effort was there.

Very poor from Struijk, but Cooper didn't shield him

[danhirons]

I would completely disagree with the not learning lessons from last season's defeat to MU. Last season's defeat was completely different with us making big mistakes giving the ball away etc. Sometimes you just have to acknowledge that the opposition were very good and unfortunately Pogba chose to have probably his best game in a MU shirt rather than the petulant way he normally plays. Likewise Bruno Fernandes has that extra touch of quality taking all his goals brilliantly. Sancho, sat on Man U's bench, cost as much as the whole Leeds team.

As for KP I would say the whole team aren't yet at 100%, we looked a yard off the pace, so KP is likely even further behind. The risk of getting an injury playing at our usual intensity would be greatly increased if a player's fitness wasn't right so Bielsa was completely right to leave KP out of this match. No point risking KP for one match.

Did you not see how many times we lost possession cheaply on Saturday? Our pasing was woeful.

At one stage, can't remember who it was, but it was a five yard pass to the left back and went about a metre to the side of him and out of play!

[Ellandback1]

I would completely disagree with the not learning lessons from last season's defeat to MU. Last season's defeat was completely different with us making big mistakes giving the ball away etc. Sometimes you just have to acknowledge that the opposition were very good and unfortunately Pogba chose to have probably his best game in a MU shirt rather than the petulant way he normally plays. Likewise Bruno Fernandes has that extra touch of quality taking all his goals brilliantly. Sancho, sat on Man U's bench, cost as much as the whole Leeds team.

As for KP I would say the whole team aren't yet at 100%, we looked a yard off the pace, so KP is likely even further behind. The risk of getting an injury playing at our usual intensity would be greatly increased if a player's fitness wasn't right so Bielsa was completely right to leave KP out of this match. No point risking KP for one match.

Morning Weasel,

Last term we were the fittest team in the Prem. How can the players lose it all during the Summer. It was less than 2 months, before pre season started.

Watching our pre season games, we looked equally off the pace, more so than our opposition that we were so much fitter than, just several months ago....

[Byebyegeegee]

One game hopefully will not set the pattern for the season but it is now very important that we bounce back and put up a decent showing in the next match.

We can’t really afford another bad defeat or the optimism built up over last season will quickly ebb away, this along with a lot of fans’ disappointment at what is perceived to have been a poor transfer window, may combine to bring an air of pessimism around the club, a downturn in momentum and before you know it you’re in a gruelling fight against relegation.

Perhaps a little OTT considering it is only the 1st game of the season but they really did make us look like a Championship (or lower) team.

Like many other fans I believe Phillips and Llorente would have made a difference but it is also slightly concerning that the whole squad might be so reliant on just 2 players.

Ah well a decent win against Everton and we will be back on track, onwards and upwards!

[Ellandback1]

Far too early for pressing panic buttons. Some of the stuff appearing over past two days was cringeworthy at best. Heres a couple of facts. We rarely win a game without Kalvin and last season our defence was useless without Llorente. When I saw both were missing Saturday, I couldn't see anything other than a drubbing. The important thing will be how we react. Have to get a win asap to get momentum going. Were all too well aware what effect two or three straight defeats would have on morale and some of the less patient sections of our fanbase

Eire, you've always been the cool, calm and collected one!!!

How can Llorente be that much of a game changer, and if so, who should partner him?

Judging by Saturdays performance, I'd have to say Leon!

[1964white]

I would completely disagree with the not learning lessons from last season's defeat to MU. Last season's defeat was completely different with us making big mistakes giving the ball away etc. Sometimes you just have to acknowledge that the opposition were very good and unfortunately Pogba chose to have probably his best game in a MU shirt rather than the petulant way he normally plays. Likewise Bruno Fernandes has that extra touch of quality taking all his goals brilliantly. Sancho, sat on Man U's bench, cost as much as the whole Leeds team.

As for KP I would say the whole team aren't yet at 100%, we looked a yard off the pace, so KP is likely even further behind. The risk of getting an injury playing at our usual intensity would be greatly increased if a player's fitness wasn't right so Bielsa was completely right to leave KP out of this match. No point risking KP for one match.

We made plenty of mistakes on Saturday too

Why the hell are we are a yard off the pace bearing in mind Bielsa's notorious training/fitness routines?

I really thought we'd come out of the blocks with all guns firing even though we were sluggish in our friendly games after our fans kept telling us results don't matter in those matches

Well it would seem they do matter, a winning mentality is so important to success!

We are so reliant on Phillips & Llorente, without them we are a mess

[1964white]

Morning Weasel,

Last term we were the fittest team in the Prem. How can the players lose it all during the Summer. It was less than 2 months, before pre season started.

Watching our pre season games, we looked equally off the pace, more so than our opposition that we were so much fitter than, just several months ago....

Absolutely Matt

[Ellandback1]

We made plenty of mistakes on Saturday too

Why the hell are we are a yard off the pace bearing in mind Bielsa's notorious training/fitness routines?

I really thought we'd come out of the blocks with all guns firing even though we were sluggish in our friendly games after our fans kept telling us results don't matter in those matches

Well it would seem they do matter, a winning mentality is so important to success!

We are so reliant on Phillips & Llorente, without them we are a mess

Leon, We've looked sluggish all pre season.

We went from being the fittest club in the Prem, to lacklustre in two months, and being outrun by most of our competition that in all honestly all looked sharper than Leeds

[Ellandback1]

Leon, We've looked sluggish all pre season.

We went from being the fittest club in the Prem, to lacklustre in two months, and being outrun by most of our competition that in all honestly all looked sharper than Leeds

I'm going with the popular choice


NOT-BURNOUT!

[Eireleeds1]

Eire, you've always been the cool, calm and collected one!!!

How can Llorente be that much of a game changer, and if so, who should partner him?

Judging by Saturdays performance, I'd have to say Leon!

Hes a class act simply Elland. When he's replaced by Cooper, were always going to be weaker though. Had we been playing a Burnley or Brighton we might have got away with it, but against a quality Manure side, that's probably the weakest defence we could have put out. As much as I like the guy, Id rate Coops as about our fourth choice centre half now

[Eireleeds1]

We made plenty of mistakes on Saturday too

Why the hell are we are a yard off the pace bearing in mind Bielsa's notorious training/fitness routines?

I really thought we'd come out of the blocks with all guns firing even though we were sluggish in our friendly games after our fans kept telling us results don't matter in those matches

Well it would seem they do matter, a winning mentality is so important to success!

We are so reliant on Phillips & Llorente, without them we are a mess

Heres another possibility. Did the atmosphere affect us after 18 months of basically behind closed doors stuff. Hope not

[1964white]

Eire, you've always been the cool, calm and collected one!!!

How can Llorente be that much of a game changer, and if so, who should partner him?

Judging by Saturdays performance, I'd have to say Leon!

Sadly my football playing days are over Matt, tell you something I'd have been physical than some of our soft lot on Saturday, get close to the likes of Pogba & Fernandes & let them know you are there & show them they are in a battle, not give them the freedom of the park as their quality will hurt any team if you stand off them!

Bremner, Hunter & Big Jack would be turning in their graves after watching that.