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Squad Options & Transfers for 20/21 Season

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by foolee, Jul 18, 2020.

  1. foolee

    foolee Well-Known Member

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    Now we have been promoted and all but confirmed the title I wanted to start a discussion of the squad for the 20/21 season. Assuming Bielsa stays, we know he likes a small squad and two players per position. It will be interesting to see who will be surplus to requirements in the PL and who he will keep.

    My thoughts on the 2 players per position
    GK - Meslier/New
    RB - Ayling/Dallas
    CB - White or New/Berardi
    CB - Cooper/Struijk
    LB - Dallas/Douglas/Davis (He may still Davis as youth or backup)
    CDM - Phillips/Forshaw
    RM - Costa/New
    CM/CAM- Hernandez/Roberts
    CM - Klich/Shack
    LM - Harrison/Alioski
    ST - Bamford/New

    New is where I think Bielsa will want to make new signings but I'd like to see White and another CB as cover as well as keeping Berra. A couple of new wingers and Harrison if possible. Another Hernandez type flare player as I'm not sure Roberts is all that. And a decent striker to challenge Bamford up front. Some of these 'new signings' may be youth players he wants to push up as you can see from above there are players missing that are in our current squad.
     
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  2. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo is Shit

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    Nobody really knows how good Poveda is. He should be ready for next season.

    Probably need a centre half, a striker and someone to take the pressure off a 35 year old Hernandez.

    Pereira from West Brom or Benrahma from Brentford would do if one of them fails to get promoted. Both of them look like they have the workrate required from Bielsaball.

    I've also been impressed by Karlan Grant at Huddersfield. He has been a bit wild in the past but if Bielsa can work his magic on him he might make a big difference to our squad.
     
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  3. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    I'm hanging fire for now. I'm hoping Bielsa will play some prominent u23s in the last 2 games to give us a proper look at what he's thinking.

    Disagree with some of your proposals, though. Davis could be the new White, as arguably Struijk & Casey could be. I think it's unlikely that White will stay, and much though I love him & all he stands for, I think Berra will be moving on. To keep him would be sentimental, & impractical. In the PL, our backups have to be capable of covering AND keeping the original berth-holder out! That good. I don't think Berra will fit the bill, sadly. (Btw, I'm not saying that our cover players WILL retain the berth, just capable. To retain would be most unBielsa-like :D ).

    Forshaw, for me, has proved that he can play a traditional DM role, but not CDM imo. Time & time again when covering for KP, he let himself down with a rush of blood. His job is to stay back whilst the wingers maraud. Sadly, he joined in, seriously exposing us. Every time. He really looked the part at the start of this season in a more attacking role & it's there I think his future will lie with Bielsa. McCalman has been groomed for a long time for being KP's deputy, but something seems to have gone wrong there. Not sure why Bielsa appears to have changed his mind.

    I would include Gotts as part of your squad. Bielsa likes him & has a specific view of him: 'in midfield he does not go forward & he does not go back. He is a number 8'. I think he might get some game time next year. I'll throw in a wee suggestion that might have a few people spit their tea out - how about the bin-dippers' Shaqiri as Pablo's replacement? Only played 7 times this season. Could be a nice cheapish replacement.

    So who's not going to make the retained list? Good question. Although he's came back for 1 excellent game, I think Douglas might be moving on. Possibly for the same reason that Wolves didn't take him up, & partly, I'm sure, because he doesn't offer the same versatility that our other players do. He's a defensive LB. That's it. Can't cover anywhere else. The 'in crowd' are always going to be turned to first. I'm sure he'll play very well & consistently in another, more conventional team.
     
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  4. kiwi

    kiwi Well-Known Member

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    A lot depends on the Augustin situation. I suspect we’ll get out of the deal but we may have to pay Leipzig a hefty chunk unless there’s a loophole.

    Graham Smyth is tweeting that Harrison will be back on loan, with the £8m option carrying over to next season, which makes you think the club are going to be cautious with spending or they’re trying to put in a mammoth bid for Ben White. He’d be brilliant but I’m not convinced we’ll get him back, sadly.

    Another keeper definitely needed once Kiko buggers off back to Spain, but Meslier has done no wrong as far as I’m concerned.

    Defensively, rumours are that the club will offer Berardi another deal, and Douglas too. Personally I’d probably let both leave, but Berardi has proven himself to be an excellent backup option, would be cheap, and knows Bielsa and his system inside out. Douglas is a bit more confusing, clearly behind Dallas and Alioski, and Davis sounds a really excellent prospect. Larouci at Liverpool has been linked as well, so another LB seems strange.

    Into midfield, the biggest for me is getting in someone who can play the Phillips role. It’s the most important in the team and we need someone who can fill in. It’s a difficult one because ideally they’d be able to play elsewhere so they’re not just backup (because nobody good enough to play that role will be happy being backup to KP), but if we don’t get that right it only takes a long term injury to Phillips and we’re ****ed.
    We definitely need a younger Hernandez - Buendia at Norwich has been mentioned but he’s done well so may have his sights set higher. Would be a decent addition though. I’d quite like another winger in addition to Harrison and Costa, although Poveda could be the dark horse there.

    Obviously we need another striker to compete with Bamford at the very least. Edouard at Celtic has been mentioned but that’s very doubtful as far as I’m concerned. Wouldn’t mind seeing it though!
     
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  5. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Harrison - Bamford - Costa

    They are not good enough for the PL they might improve but when you look at the Brentford frontline it is scary how much better they are. For me all three should be on the bench.

    I'll be honest, I don't care who we replace as long as they are better and can hit the ground running. We cannot afford to bring in 3-4 new faces and then have to wait for them to be Bielsa ready three months after the season has started.

    I'm going to enjoy the last week and enjoy the break at the end of season knowing we have done it but I will have my fingers crossed for next season because without a big investor I am not expecting us to compete at the top end.

    If we don't do well and we find ourselves doing a Norwich or Villa at least we will be on a level playing field with parachute payments
     
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  6. Whitejock

    Whitejock Well-Known Member

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    Just picked this up on FB. Apols if posted elsewhere. Some very interesting stuff. Very:

    please log in to view this image


    please log in to view this image
     
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  7. 2020VisionofLeeds

    2020VisionofLeeds Well-Known Member

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    There is nothing higher than Leeds in the Prem ;)
     
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  8. Poly

    Poly Well-Known Member

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    Two wild suggestions

    David Silva ans Cavani at PSG.

    Both players released at the end of this season, could Bielsa persuade either to take a one year deal ?
     
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  9. kiwi

    kiwi Well-Known Member

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    Not a chance. Sounding like the majority will be younger domestic players anyway!
     
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  10. wakeybreakyheart

    wakeybreakyheart Well-Known Member

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    I feel i need to bring you guys down to earth. I predict will not sign White or any top player who commands high wages and a substantial transfer fee. We have shopped on a budget and a risky small squad.
    I agree that harrison and costa are not good enough and what About Alioski. Beradi could easily get a two year contract elsewhere so i expect him to leave. Cooper is too slow and not prem standard. If Bielsa persists with the same mind set next season we will come straight back down. We have some pace but in the u23s who i hoped to see more of. Davis... Shakleton and Strewjock should feature soon or they may move on.
    Rads does not have the money to take us further so don't expect to see any top class players arriving soon.
     
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  11. kiwi

    kiwi Well-Known Member

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    We don't need to go out and spend £150m and offer 6 year contracts on £80k a week like Villa and Fulham. Sheffield United have shown how to do it. They've spent about £60-70m in total, and £25m of that was in January after essentially already surviving. None of their players will be on more than £30/40k p/w. We don't need players who command high wages and substantial transfer fees. That's not how Bielsa works and it never has been.

    I agree that White is unlikely, but how can we really know if Cooper/Harrison/Costa/Alioski etc are good enough or not? Very limited sample size I know, but Harrison and Alioski looked fine against Arsenal. Very broad statement to suggest half our team isn't good enough when we've just been promoted.

    Ultimately Bielsa knows far more than you and I, or any other Leeds fan - if he's happy to give these players a chance then I am too :emoticon-0148-yes:
     
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  12. wakeybreakyheart

    wakeybreakyheart Well-Known Member

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    Be interesting to see who we recruit i do not expect more than four.
     
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  13. southernwhite

    southernwhite Well-Known Member

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    Good morning all
    Agree with Kiwis post above,Bielsa will keep the majority of this team and i am fine with that, what i would do for what it's worth, is invest in a top midfield playmaker, which will cost i know, and possibly two strikers which again will cost, but together would not cost possibly no more than 60-80 million or so,hope Brentford in this respect fail to go up, which would mean we could go for Benrahma and someone else, but we will be doing this on a budget. so to me that's the big money spent, as for cover i am sure their are good cheaper options out their (this is where our scouting network needs to step up to the plate) and also some of our youth team could possibly step up for the first season or two,as by then i am sure we will be bought out by some Billionaire/invester.The trick will be to stay up that first season.which i am sure the squad and Bielsa will manage to do.
    I predict first season top half finish,it's just a matter of when a buy out occurs to when we challenge the top four.
    How wonderful it is to be talking about the team, from a premier league perspective. :)
     
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  14. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    I'm happy to give them a chance but if we do not have a big investor I am expecting a bottom half finish. The bookies have us odds on 1/6 to finish lower than half way and about 100/30 to get relegated. I must admit, I don't feel comfortable talking about any of that when we have only just gained promotion and it feels like I am pissing on my own parade but I am happy to expect little next season and anything above is a bonus.

    I just want to enjoy now and see what unfolds. We spent big on infrastructure and commitments like Costa and for me, a failure to get promoted this season would have been a financial disaster. If Rads intends on staying for another season I don't mind him spending sensibly and if disaster strikes at least we will hopefully have the tools to bounce straight back up
     
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  15. Leedsoflondon

    Leedsoflondon Well-Known Member

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    I can’t see how the U23s are going to step up. They hardly featured this season so if you can’t dislodge a first team player in the championship how are you, one year later with little more experience, expected to replace them in the premier league?
     
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  16. Poly

    Poly Well-Known Member

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    "Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani says "we'll see" over bringing 33-year-old Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani to the club after their promotion to the Premier League. Cavani left Paris St-Germain this summer after his deal ran out. (Sky Sports Italia, via Football Italia)"

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/gossip

    22/7/20
     
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  17. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Made this a sticky and changed the title to include transfers hope you don’t mind @foolee and btw welcome to the forum.

    Struijk - He has looked comfortable filling in for Phillips, with White returning could we see Struijk replacing him at CB or will he be the permanent option to replace Phillips when he is unavailable?

    Shackleton - Ended this season like he ended last when given the chance, is he ready to cement his place in the team and at the expense of who? I see Klich and Phillips as nailed on starters.

    Poveda/Harrison/Costa/Alioski - We’re not going to sign another wide player are we?

    I think we need 3 signings, Roberts isn’t a Pablo and how much can we get out of Pablo next season? We need a creative midfielder to replace Pablo, we need a Striker and a Keeper to replace Kiko.

    If Struijk isn’t the CB answer we need a new CB personally I’d like a proven dedicated one anyway but it isn’t Bielsas way.
     
    #17
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  18. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Rumour - CHAMPIONSHIP winners Leeds want QPR playmaker Eberechi Eze to lead their return to the Premier League
     
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  19. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Rumour - Yasser Larouci. The 19 year old French Algerian winger/full-back, who has made only two first-team appearances for Liverpool, is reportedly looking to move to pastures new after accepting that he will not dislodge Andy Robertson in the first choice left-back slot at Anfield. Leeds are said to be interested.
     
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  20. bucks_is_leeds

    bucks_is_leeds Jonny big spuds
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    Hasnt he got an attitude problem, or am I thinking of someone else?
     
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