Thoughts on season

[cherrypie7]

After 13 games i.e. a third of the way through the season here are my thoughts:
In generaL:
1. Sheffield United will be relegated from the Premier League
2. Wycombe Wanderers will be relegated from the Championship
3. Of the Big 6, neither Manchester United nor Arsenal will win the Premiership
4. Burnley, Fulham, West Brom, Brighton and Newcastle will not qualify for Europe.
Specifically of Leeds:
Played better against a poor Newcastle side ravaged by COVID19. We look better with Pablo Hernandez. I think he will become a 'regular" substitute.
We look poor on setpieces. We have struggled without Koch or Llorente. Ayling as I have pointed out in several previous posts is not a centre back. Other teams seem to have plenty of big tall players. We have Ayling, Cooper and Barndoor. Not exactly big.
Koch will probably be out until March and I am not sure when Llorente is back. So the centre of defence is a problem. On the matter of Struijk, Orgoner, the lad is very casual. He cannot come on as a substitute. If Bielsa wants to play him he must start. If he starts it must be at centre back not the Phillips position.
Whats happened to Helder Costa? Seems to have dropped down the pecking order rather rapidly. I think Bielsa realizes the biggest issue with Costa - he can't score. Raphinha can. Harrison can.
I think both Raphinha and Rodrigo have turned out to be good acquisitions. in the limited time he has played, Koch has proven himself.
Alioski was knackered after he scored. Kept on yapping to the touchline crew. I think he was telling them he was not going to sprint down that left flank any more. And he didn't. Still not sure about Alioski as left back. The problem in the last couple of games has come from the area in front of Alioski. Phillips sometimes cannot get across fast enough to help out, and Harrison doesn't track back fast enough. Not sure why there is less of a problem on the other side. I think because Raphinha tracks back really fast or maybe Dallas, covers the area better than Alioski. Not really sure.
Both Klich and Barndoor were knackered when they came off against Newcastle. I would like to see Klich come off a little sooner. The guy needs a break, I think.

[spaldy]

can't disagree with anything you posted.

especially agree with the thought that some of the players are looking knackered. They all play at an incredible pace and it's taking some toll on them. An A for effort but after a while even the best athletes tire out. I think Alioski is a good "canary". If he's getting tired then you know some of the others have to be.

really unfortunately about both Koch and Llorente. If either of them had stayed healthy we'd be in a whole different situation. we could have moved some players around and given some a break. we are really thin right now for a prem squad.

I think that west brom and burnly will be relegated along with the blades. Think that Fulham will move up the table a bit.

I don't think the lpool will win it this year.

[pete1967b]

Thoughts on season so far,

Fecking brilliant and cant fault ONE single player for anything..

[george_kaplan]

Batting for Pete here! ... I’m in the Pete camp!!

So far so good, enjoying how we are handling ourselves, few hiccups as such but I have been waiting a fnckin long time for this! Last time I saw us playing the likes of who we up against now I had black hair!......now (sigh) a grey top!!
Just sorry the young lads and lasses who never was around cannot get to see the boys live.

My thoughts? Fncking so proud to be LEEDS at this time no matter what.

[LeedsFTW]

Enjoying the season so far, like the way the team plays to win and takes no prisoners.

Concerned that we have been conceding so many goals mixed witha couple of heavy losses.

Not liking us having an Achilles heel at set pieces. Also feel that we have a few square pegs in round holes, left back is a problem and that we need cover for Philip's.

Fantastic that we have been able to score frequently and have been very impressed with Bamford, Meslier and the new signings.

Think we will avoid a relegation scrap and go from strength to strength.

[norfolk white]

Keep looking over our shoulders at the bottom clubs, at some point they will put a run together, just hope we keep on picking up enough points to stay ahead of them and not get dragged in to the scrap.

[Billyni]

Regarding showing signs of being knackered. How about introducing Gelhard etc. who must be chomping at the bit, for at least 15/20 mins and giving someone a rest.

Regarding defending at set pieces. How about jumping of the ground in the direction of the ball or opposing player.

Don’t think we will go down but don’t want to be involved in an exciting relegation battle either.

Having what will be, our 2 first choice centre halves injured at the same time, would hurt most teams.

Brom, Sheffield and Fulham to go down.

[CalverleyBoy]

Lots of good points, we do have some players starting to look tired and December still has three game left to go; it's not surprising tough given the tempo we play at. Man U will be a big ask, but hopefully We can finish the last two games of the year taking six points.

[george_kaplan]

Lots of good points, we do have some players starting to look tired and December still has three game left to go; it's not surprising tough given the tempo we play at. Man U will be a big ask, but hopefully We can finish the last two games of the year taking six points.

I don’t see us looking tired mate, a little lost sometimes maybe. The squad size and injuries for certain ‘hot spots’ is a concern I am sure MB and back staff are well aware of. We have a bunch of players on the cusp. So far MB has a fairly high % of getting things right and Sunday will be no different the players coming on if good enough will get there break imo.

[asturianblanco]

Wont it all look so much better when we win on sunday?

Spare a thought for the little Englanders who said at the start of the season that Rodrigo, Rafa and Koch would be shighte