End of year thoughts

[cherrypie7]

Happy Holidays everyone.
Here are my midseason observations:
1. Leeds do not have enough quality in the squad to be anything better than midtable at best. Even our youngsters simply have not developed well enough to be high level Premier league players similar to Foden, Sancho etc. Sad but true.
2. Gnonto is excellent. Meslier is very good too. Summerville and Sinisterra if given the right formation can probably be excellent too. BUt that's about it. I don't think Struijk is going to get any better at left-back. He is a centre back. Aaronson is misplayed on the wing I think he needs to be more central. The problem Marsch has is how to play Sinisterra, Gnonto, aaronson and summerville on the same team. I don't beleive its possible, yet these are our best attacking players, together with Rodrigo and Harrison. Greenowod is still young and may have improve more, but really not sure. I am not convinced by Gelhardt.
2. I dn't think Adam Forshaw should start again. Too old, too beat up and too slow.
3. I think the Southampton and Notts Forest will be relegated. The 3rd team will be one of Wolves, Bournemouth, Leeds and Everton.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Happy Holidays everyone.
Here are my midseason observations:
1. Leeds do not have enough quality in the squad to be anything better than midtable at best. Even our youngsters simply have not developed well enough to be high level Premier league players similar to Foden, Sancho etc. Sad but true.
2. Gnonto is excellent. Meslier is very good too. Summerville and Sinisterra if given the right formation can probably be excellent too. BUt that's about it. I don't think Struijk is going to get any better at left-back. He is a centre back. Aaronson is misplayed on the wing I think he needs to be more central. The problem Marsch has is how to play Sinisterra, Gnonto, aaronson and summerville on the same team. I don't beleive its possible, yet these are our best attacking players, together with Rodrigo and Harrison. Greenowod is still young and may have improve more, but really not sure. I am not convinced by Gelhardt.
2. I dn't think Adam Forshaw should start again. Too old, too beat up and too slow.
3. I think the Southampton and Notts Forest will be relegated. The 3rd team will be one of Wolves, Bournemouth, Leeds and Everton.

Would add Tyler Adams to that list of players good enough. Joffy needs a run of games knowing he is going to start in each one no matter what.

Maybe they are pinning their hopes on Dallas coming back and playing at left back but no ETA on that return.

I would play the following v Bar Codes

Rasmus Koch Struijk Drameh

Adams Roca

Summerville Aarsonsen Gnonto

Joffy

Robles
Hjelde
Ayling
Greenwood
Perkins
Gyabi
Foreshaw
Harrison
Rodrigo

[LeedsFTW]

I believe this is the strongest squad we have had for many a year. I think any average manager should be able to avoid relegation quite comfortably.

However, I feel Marsch is a bluffer and that we will be fighting relegation for the rest of the season.

I hope I am wrong...

[Billyni]

I believe this is the strongest squad we have had for many a year. I think any average manager should be able to avoid relegation quite comfortably.

However, I feel Marsch is a bluffer and that we will be fighting relegation for the rest of the season.

I hope I am wrong...

Agree

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

To some extent yes but in many ways it has glaring weaknesses which undermine that - LB and Striker.

Fully fit squad last year was arguably stronger with Raph and Phillips

[LeedsFTW]

Fully fit squad last year was arguably stronger with Raph and Phillips

Not doubting Ralph's and Phillips quality, one an out right match winner, the other helping the team to gel but its still not even a close comparison.

This year's squad includes Robles, Rasmus, Adams, Roca, Aaronsson, Sinesterra, Gnonto. Plus youngsters have a year's more experience. Without a shadow of a doubt this is a stronger squad.

[Monaco_Totty]

Time to move forward & the Championship squad elder players now defo need to be moved on.

Also - still thinking that smaller centre-forwards are not the answer, so Joffy may be a casualty sooner than later as well.

Rodrigo needs a playmaker to tick but without such an addition he's another sadly under JM that'll blow hot & cold.

I think the squad is stronger than last season but will need quality to be bought in now otherwise Rad will have a lame duck to move on.

My mind is still not made up on JM - as ever Boardroom support will matter as no room for Rad & co to hide now.

[ozleeds]

Don't know how the team is stronger talk is coming from. defense is worse than last season if a defense can get any worse! Mids are no better Roca is crap Addams is good but no superstar. Our strength is forwards and he surely has fd them up. You could see clear as day Gnonto only use his right side yet he plays him left wing. Aaronson is more of a mid than a winger. Jg doesn't get enough time to gel or improve hence this season he looks non interested but last game when he came on looked like his old self unlucky not to score a couple. Rasm is way worse than Ayling I would play him any day over him. Cooper Larente total garbage. Hopefully we might get to see an attack of Sinnestera Gnonto Summerville
I would try this formation see how it goes but what do I know lol
Meslier
Ayling Koch Pat Harrison He no good up forward can run tackle and might provide forward pressure.
Addams Aarronson Greenwood
Sinnestera Gnonto Summerville
Forget the rodrigos and the other crap Youngsters to feel the bench why t f they brought it a 38 year old as backup keep when we have Klaason Ill never know just like the resigning of the superstar Cb for another 3 years.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Think if players are good enough they are tall enough - so many examples of quality forwards who are small.

Joffy likes scoring, has lots of talent and seems to hate losing - he is at an age where he needs to play. He can also play others in pretty well so would give me a go.

Lots of academic research (see the references in the chapters in soccernomics dealing with this) taken from big data sets that the weakest player drags the performance of the team down - we all know where are weak spots are.

Out inability to keep the ball against pressing teams is also a a concern.

Against certain teams we look good because it doesn’t exploit those weaknesses but there aren’t many of those teams in the league and there is a clear way to trouble us and make us concede which I am sure all teams have analysed to death.

Be interesting to see how Adams gets on against Guimaries tonight.

If we plan as much as Orta professes then not sure why we didn’t buy a quality promising left back to develop either!

Newcastle have a lot of quick skilful players who are both good in possession but also on the break during ‘transition’ when they win the ball back. Sure they will look to exploit our left side by playing left and switching play.

[Rev72]

I believe this is the strongest squad we have had for many a year. I think any average manager should be able to avoid relegation quite comfortably.

However, I feel Marsch is a bluffer and that we will be fighting relegation for the rest of the season.

I hope I am wrong...

Pretty much sums it up for me as well.