Constructive criticism - Lack of Creativity issue this season so far.

[Monaco_Totty]

Recent club stats-data show 'Creativity' is lacking this season which has created issues throughout the team's players with lack of creativity in midfield in every Premier League match thus far.Three players are contributing to this dilemma the stats show.

If we compare Raphinha’s match performance this season to previous season in the analysis above you can observe that his creativity and build-up involvement has dropped significantly this season. Raphinha has attempted more shots this season per game than previous season per game and his number of line-breaking passes with his shot-creating actions committed by cutting inside from the right flank has significantly decreased as well.


Raphinha is the team’s most creative player but his form on the other hand has not been up to the 'consistent' mark so far this season.In fact his 'club data-stats' show he has been far to often dispossessed by opponent center-backs while trying to cut in centrally with the ball from the right wing. As a result of this Leeds’s overall team stats performance has suffered significantly as moves are being broken down.

Latest 'club stats' data state he's making 1.3 key passes per 90 mins (down from 2.1 last season average) and losing possession 26.7 times per 90 mins (compared to 18.8 times in last season). His poorer performance has affected Leeds’s overall gameplay, and fellow winger Harrison’s form isn’t looking good either so far.Not helped by Phillips being closed down and kept deeper to cut his 'breaking the lines' passing.



Last season Harrison was frequently seen cutting into the box and taking attempts to the goal,linking Alioski in quick one-two passes but his connection with our new left-back Firpo hasn’t been as effective which is why Harrison has struggled this season. He hasn’t been seen attempting much to enter the opponents’ box when cutting in from the wing in the final third either to date stats are showing.



Rodrigo's role this season has seen him drop deeper from his more forward position.To often he receives passes from this deeper role and the picture above shows such a pass from Dallas.At that point he was attempting to give the long through ball and both Bamford and Raphinha took a run behind the defence in the center and right area respectively. But Rodrigo ended up giving a short pass to Harrison on the left instead of providing the long ball. But a high goal-scoring chance would have been created if he attempted the long ball and that situation has been constantly happening.

Rodrigo is not a natural 'line-breaker' with his passing and never will be.



Bielsa has used the 3-3-1-3 for the majority of this season with one additional player pulled back into defence to achieve our essential numerical superiority for team defence. But the Leeds attack on the other hand has been severely hampered as a result of this as passes that break the lines are just not happening for our flowing football game approach.Again lack of midfield creativity.



Normally we used two box-to-box midfielders when we played in the 4-1-4-1 formation as each players duty was to make the most of the space generated in between the lines while the other’s job was to find the box using Bamford’s created free spaces as a second striker. Due to the additional man on defence Bielsa has often sacrificed the player who plays as the second striker resulting in a shortage of one man in the forward line.

Hence the Rodrigo role conundrums & gaps between our lines evidenced thus far.

My answer was Raph as the 10 position and that synopsis hasn't changed since my viewing of the Newcastle game high up with behind the goal view seeing our game plan in action.Early days with tough games played and now injuries but the passing between lines needs addressing urgently from within what we have as Phillips passing role is being shut down end of.

https://www.goal.com/en/news/bielsa-...j1nfhp8p9e9jax

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Interesting post and chimes with what a few on here (Joel at the beginning of the season) and a lot of pundits have said - we are lacking something in midfield.

Part of the issue seems to be the inevitable chopping and changing in midfield but with KP as a rock would be nice to have Klich and Shackleton in the middle as they can both play there. However, none of them can pick apart defences in the way Pablo could at his best.

It was noticeable against Fulham that we hit quite a lot more long diagonal passes to the wings to by pass the midfield build up (I believe Bielsa would describe this as rapid verticality) which had two effects.

First, it stretched Fulham a bit more and made more space in the middle of the park as they couldn’t be as compact.

Second, when it came off we got in behind them.

We saw it a little bit against Newcastle too.

The problem is if we use this too often then it becomes predictable and is easily countered as none of our wingers are exactly giants.

Think Firpo when he gets used to the system and this league will add a lot going forward. He seems to have a shot on him too so there must be a 30 yard screamer waiting to be delivered in him somewhere.

West Ham know how to defend so should be interesting to see how we try to unlock that particular puzzle.

If we play KP as CB then I think we will really struggle in midfield. Lewis Bate (who bosses the game against the Liverpool u23s) and Charlie Allen look like they have the skills but a little bit early for them in their stage of development to be thrust into that role.

[spaldy]

Nice write up. objective assessment of what many of us are subjectively feeling.

Not slagging them but they aren't the same as last year.... Bamford, Klich, Dallas and Cooper. They are instrumental in your diagram.

Think the three lions has become a huge distraction for Bamford. The same for Klich, Dallas and Cooper's national teams.

Roberts and Costa never were. Loaned out one but the other is no better or worse than last year. He's just a below average prem player.

Hope to see James, Raph, Mckinstry, Sommervile and Gelherdt out at the same time. preferably before we are in a relegation battle.

On a positive note. Meslier, Phillips, Strujik and James are quality. Very good to build a team around. we've also played 2 of the best teams and Everton is improved a lot. got some tough games behind us. The burnley and Newcastle games were killers. Totally different feel on the season if we win those.

[Billyni]

We don’t do creativity.
We just run until we are tired and then run some more in the hope that the opposition get fed up.

[WTF11]

We don’t do creativity.
We just run until we are tired and then run some more in the hope that the opposition get fed up.

Careful Billy, you'll get labelled a neghead.

[Rev72]

We don’t do creativity.
We just run until we are tired and then run some more in the hope that the opposition get fed up.

Feckin Neg Head !

[WTF11]

Feckin Neg Head !

Lmfao

[Billyni]

Wait until the Oz’s wake up

[ozleeds]

Wait until the Oz’s wake up

Which one
Been saying all along were getting nothing from the left side does Firpo come to mind?
Said we need midfielders we got a winger
Also said second year syndrome which the press have latched on lol.
Raph is no worse than last season it's just the rest of the team has gone backwards hence his performances not been to par and also the battering he cops doesn't help.
So far only 2 players have produced every game Meslier without him our goal difference would be laughable and Phillips.
Not counting Creswell as it was only one game.

[joellufcprice]

Lack of creativity

No ****ing midfield

Giving up most chances in the league and praying Meslier plays a blinder

Thats why we are struggling.