Good Morning. It's Thursday 24th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Marsch plans new additions at Thorp Arch
Now that Jesse Marsch has his feet firmly under the table, he's looking to implement changes at Thorp Arch. Since his arrival just over three weeks ago, the American has bought in Cameron Toshack and Franz Schiemer to assist him in first team affairs, but plans are afoot for a much bigger workforce. Not all of Bielsa's back room staff left the club when the Argentine departed. Head of Analysis at Elland Road Will Alonso pledged his allegiance to Marsch after the two had a chat, and goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad (who had worked with Orta previously at Boro) also showed his desire to stay put. According to Marsch...
We will add to the staff eventually. Right now it’s a little bit of just trying to get the rhythm with everybody we have here and I'm very thankful. I spoke about Mark Jackson in the first press conference [and] he's been amazing, amazing. Willy [Alonso] and Aaron, our two video analysts, have invested a lot. Marcos [Abad], the goalkeeper coach, has worked very closely with us. So we're cranking every day. We're probably all doing about two, three more jobs than we should be, but it's also worked, right. I haven't had enough time to even think about how to build things out from now.
Once we get to the FIFA break, we'll be able to take a little bit of a pause and then we play once every week. Then we'll have a little bit more time to really sort everything out more and more for what things need to look like as we continue to move forward, but the way we're managing things has been very effective. The players are very clear every match and there's been a lot of efficiency. So that's been good, but there's been a lot of work put on all of our shoulders, which in the moment is okay.
Drameh will want assurances next season, Davis to stay with Cherries
During his latest mail bag, Leeds-Live journalist Beren Cross has been discussing the futures of two of the most promising youngsters to have come through the Leeds ranks in recent times. Cody Drameh, a 1m capture from Fulham in the Summer of 2020 has impressed since joining Cardiff on loan in January. It is suggested the 20yo right back was fed up with the lack of first team opportunities at Elland Road, and forced Leeds into granting the temporary transfer. According to Cross, Drameh will want assurances of first team football if he is to stay at Elland Road. Fellow wing back Leif Davis looks to be on his way out of Elland Road. Whilst first team opportunities at the Vitality Stadium have been few and far between, Bournemouth Manager Scott Parker is keen to keep the young left back.
I certainly believe they will take another close look at Drameh in the summer. From what I have read, he is excelling in the Championship with Cardiff City. Bielsa was very open to allowing the right-back to do what he wanted. If he wanted to go, Bielsa did not want to force him to stay. I wonder what approach Marsch and Orta will take in the summer if they do want Drameh to stick around in 22/23. Based on his attitude to this Cardiff move, he is going to want some assurances on how much he will play if he is to stay at Leeds next season.
From what was said at the time, it sounds like Davis will almost certainly be staying at Bournemouth. It read as though the loan was effectively going to be the first year of a permanent deal at the back end of it. Central midfielders are obviously a priority if they do stay up. Another striker would be welcome given Bamford's fitness issues this season, while with Marsch playing two up top that could make it an easier sell for bringing names in. Another left-back would be nice too.
Marsch hasn't spoken to trio regarding their futures....yet
In a recent interview, Jesse Marsch admitted that he would love to keep Phillips, Raphinha and Bamford at Elland Road 'as long as possible', but as of yet has not spoken to anyone at the club about their long term plans. The Gaffer professed the importance of 'living in the moment' for the time being, but admitted the plans to have heart-to-hearts with all three regarding their futures at Elland Road.
I haven't spent any time with anyone talking about [the] long-term future, only about living in the moment and what's important for every day. Of course, I would love to keep guys like Kalvin and Patrick [Bamford] and Raphinha. I would love to keep those guys here as long as possible. So we'll see. Those conversations will be had.
