The euros

[cherrypie7]

Watched a bit of Bielsa's Uruguay playing last night. Brought back strong memories of how Leeds played under Bielsa. Expansive, using the full width of the pitch, pressing high, players crashing through the middle after the ball goes wide down the wing. Late goals when the opposition are tired from defending and the press. Uruguay's play is very much moulded in Bielsa's vision of football.

[spaldy]

MBs team looked good although GFH ey looked vulnerable defensively the second half. Flashbacks of his hood years with us

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

I like the idea of Bielsa in the good - very good Spaldy (as he might have said)

[Monaco_Totty]

Hmmmn he has many qualities but also many negatives.

His system brings results over the course of a season but seems slow to react to individual games. It was obvious what wasn’t working in the Play off final (and in a lot of other games) and by the time he reacts it’s too late. Record in top leagues not great either.

Doesn’t rotate or sub earlier enough to keep larger squads happy.

Has a history of falling out with players. Saints manager being one of several Norwich players he fell out with.

Seems to have a big ego and his press interviews often grate on me.

Apart from that all peachy.

I get what you are saying H - but in fairness if you want a Coach who just picks a team by potential, or by name, then i'd always prefer a Coach who'll pick players that are desperate to play, are willing to work their socks off, know & accept the responsibility required to play & who will represent our club 24/7 physically, mentally with full understanding of what is actually required to be part of a working group each day.

So the Farke's mantra on what he expects is,
"You have to show that you are ready to improve & that you are ready to work for the club, that you are fully focused & switched on.

For some players that has not always been the case at Leeds consistently or indeed Norwich. Certain players commitment wise has certainly been worked on for sure & some are still a work in progress, particularly the fringe younger element behind the public scene - as i see & hear it.

FWIW - Russell Martin (Saints coach) has addressed the topic of how he actually left Norwich saying:

“He (Farke) was a young manager at the time, I was an old player at the time whose hip and back was giving up on me and he was honest with me which is all you can ever ask for.

“I really didn’t like his decision at the time as I was at a club I’d been at for a long time and I wanted to help and I wanted to contribute and it wasn’t with his team because he had other ideas which is completely fine.

“I think when someone is honest with you you have to respect that – whether you like what is being said to you or not".

Farke also inherited an aging squad at Norwich so he made tough decisions & then he dealt with the talented younger ones who maybe thought 'paper talk' of moves meant they'd made it, thus taking the gas off the pedal development wise.
Fine lines in short time frames for all - but i'll agree Farkes substitutions for tactical changes do require more work on. 🤐

He's human, a character among some rather mundane coaches around today & still learning for sure with regard to all players attributes & boardroom financial disciplines behind the scene - so i do hope he can press on now & finish the job. 👍

[Monaco_Totty]

Back on thread. 😇

Too much football now ?

Player injuries in the EPL are up by 30% compared to last season while hamstring injuries are up an incredible 96% from last season !

Be happier if Leeds don't sign any more International players to be honest, as clubs can’t prevent players going on International duty under FIFA laws it sure can create issues.

The International football calendar needs to be addressed as a collective to protect the players & the quality of the product being produced. With UEFA & FIFA extending their comps into the summer, player’s now barely get any time off.
The PFA & FIFPRO 66 unions rules clearly dictate a mandatory 3-week rest period between seasons.
In addition to these 3 weeks, Medical experts believe that players really need another 3 weeks of pre-season to be prepared mentally/physically competitive.

So if the top players don’t play in certain competitions (who can blame them) then the value of the "football product" decreases - leaving fans like me cold with the amount of football now being played & big bucks available for those who do play for the bigger bucks on offer now even for pre-season mini-tournaments. 🙁

[WTF11]

Back on thread. ��

Too much football now ?

Player injuries in the EPL are up by 30% compared to last season while hamstring injuries are up an incredible 96% from last season !

Be happier if Leeds don't sign any more International players to be honest, as clubs can’t prevent players going on International duty under FIFA laws it sure can create issues.

The International football calendar needs to be addressed as a collective to protect the players & the quality of the product being produced. With UEFA & FIFA extending their comps into the summer, player’s now barely get any time off.
The PFA & FIFPRO 66 unions rules clearly dictate a mandatory 3-week rest period between seasons.
In addition to these 3 weeks, Medical experts believe that players really need another 3 weeks of pre-season to be prepared mentally/physically competitive.

So if the top players don’t play in certain competitions (who can blame them) then the value of the "football product" decreases - leaving fans like me cold with the amount of football now being played & big bucks available for those who do play for the bigger bucks on offer now even for pre-season mini-tournaments. ��

You mean like that v i t a l trip by Newcastle down under to play Spurs, not at the behest of any footballing organisation but down to the greed of the clubs concerned. If clubs (at all "premium" levels) wanted to they could make it quite clear to the likes of FIFA and UEFA that "enough is enough". They don't because they want the money. Players won't be "protected" by their club or the footballing authorities as long as the likes of Sky, and 7Sports, MP & Silva etc wave large cheques under their greedy snouts

[Oranje White]

Congratulations to Scotland.....usually it takes just two games before they enter the "we're supporting whoever's playing England" phase. This time, it took them into stoppage time in their third game.🤣

[WTF11]

Congratulations to Scotland.....usually it takes just two games before they enter the "we're supporting whoever's playing England" phase. This time, it took them into stoppage time in their third game.��

F00k em and good riddance (although I suspect England wont be far behind!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

I get what you are saying H - but in fairness if you want a Coach who just picks a team by potential, or by name, then i'd always prefer a Coach who'll pick players that are desperate to play, are willing to work their socks off, know & accept the responsibility required to play & who will represent our club 24/7 physically, mentally with full understanding of what is actually required to be part of a working group each day.

So the Farke's mantra on what he expects is,
"You have to show that you are ready to improve & that you are ready to work for the club, that you are fully focused & switched on.

For some players that has not always been the case at Leeds consistently or indeed Norwich. Certain players commitment wise has certainly been worked on for sure & some are still a work in progress, particularly the fringe younger element behind the public scene - as i see & hear it.

FWIW - Russell Martin (Saints coach) has addressed the topic of how he actually left Norwich saying:

“He (Farke) was a young manager at the time, I was an old player at the time whose hip and back was giving up on me and he was honest with me which is all you can ever ask for.

“I really didn’t like his decision at the time as I was at a club I’d been at for a long time and I wanted to help and I wanted to contribute and it wasn’t with his team because he had other ideas which is completely fine.

“I think when someone is honest with you you have to respect that – whether you like what is being said to you or not".

Farke also inherited an aging squad at Norwich so he made tough decisions & then he dealt with the talented younger ones who maybe thought 'paper talk' of moves meant they'd made it, thus taking the gas off the pedal development wise.
Fine lines in short time frames for all - but i'll agree Farkes substitutions for tactical changes do require more work on. 🤐

He's human, a character among some rather mundane coaches around today & still learning for sure with regard to all players attributes & boardroom financial disciplines behind the scene - so i do hope he can press on now & finish the job. 👍

I don’t mind firm managers - loved Wilko who was probably tougher than Darke and likewise Bielsa.

On the Russell Martin thing - he came out post play off final and said that which shows how mature Martin is.

Cresswell seems to have been sidelined for wanting to play too badly and being unhappy at not - yes it escalated in other ways then. Same with Spence.

He is decent as a manager but has serious flaws and I don’t like how he seems to treat people and make a show of it - more a sign of his own insecurity possibly?

Anyway onwards and upwards.

[cherrypie7]

Sorry to change topic. Interesting coincidence in Copa America. The other night, Uruguay managed by Bielsa played Panama managed by Thomas Christiansen. Tonight I am watching Canada managed by Jesse "Ted Lasso" Marsch playing Peru. Canada playing like a Jesse Marsch team. 40 min, Canada 0 shots taken, 0 shots on goal. Shapeless, clueless and hopeless.