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Weekend Discussion

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by Doc, Apr 2, 2021.

  1. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Thats all true and means passes going astray means the opposition coming at you when the defence is trying to get back. Llorente playing has meant less passes going astray. Koch was the same although against Leicester he had passes intercepted twice and we conceded. The main culprit for bad passes has been Cooper and Alioski and in the last couple of games Raphinha. So as you say the machine has to work properly for it to work the best. I believe adding some quality in the Summer will improve results next season
     
    #21
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  2. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    42 points means we are joint 9th with Arsenal who are 6 goals better than us. Arsenal have an easier run in than us and Villa have 2 games in hand as of this morning, but we are only 7 points away from top 6. Whatever we achieve now is a bonus but I am just happy we have cracked it and even if we finish 12th or 13th we have had a great first season back
     
    #22
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  3. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    A top half finish above cheating Villa will do. Smith, Terry etc won't like that one bit.

    Ironic that we now want Fulham to win this afternoon :emoticon-0136-giggl
     
    #23
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  4. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Mainly agree but for me our main problem is set pieces, both defending and attacking. I haven’t seen the most recent chart but last time I saw it the stats were pretty dismal. Our next three games will test our defence out to the max, I’m looking forward to seeing how we do against three of the top teams back to back now the season has settled in.
     
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  5. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    If we accept we need a proper LB we also need to accept we need more fire power in the middle. Pablo has played 13 games and scored no goals this season, which is a first. He usually weighs in with around 10. Roberts and Rodrigo have been sharing the Pablo role this season both playing around 20 games with most from the bench although Roberts has had half a dozen games starting recently. Roberts has scored no goals and Rodrigo has scored 3. So obviously we need a fully fit Rodrigo for next season. On the other side Klich has had a poor season by his standards as he usually weighs in with around 10 goals too, but only 4 this season. 7 goals from midfield isnt great even in the Prem so either Klich needs a good rest before the new season or we need an upgrade and have Klich on the bench. I think we need an upgrade
     
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  6. milkyboy

    milkyboy Well-Known Member

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    I’ve been a staunch supporter of the value klich adds to this team, often un-noticed runs to drag defenders out of position, the work rate the pressing... but I agree if we want to progress, we need someone who does that with an added touch of class. Maybe why I allowed myself to get excited by Rodrigo de Paul last summer :biggrin:
     
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  7. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    Raphinha's deliveries from set pieces are usually spot on, the best we've seen for ages, but I don't why Phillips is still talking corners on the other side. Yet again yesterday he couldn't get it past the near post.

    There must be someone else who can take a better right footed inswinging corner than him ffs <doh>
     
    #27
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  8. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    My prediction from last weekends debate seems to be coming true, as I said I didnt think Bielsa would blood the kids even if we were safe. He didnt have one of the kids on the bench yesterday and only Poveda and Shackelton were not regular first team starters. The bench of Pablo, Klich, Koch, Rodrigo etc were real first teamers and we had the strongest bench of the season. Even Berardi never made the bench

    Every game we play sees us playing a team who is either fighting for a CL or European place, or fighting to survive, so Bielsa will not field a weakened team. Man City seem to have won the league but Bielsa will want to beat Pep and the only way a kid gets on is if we are 4 down at half time

    So going to be very interesting in a few weeks to see which kids are retained and who gies out on loan and which loan players coming back are retained
     
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  9. milkyboy

    milkyboy Well-Known Member

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    Llorente looks a proper footballer. Anyone else notice though that when he appeared on the right wing in the last minute, then had to leg it to get back... he was too shagged to get tight to Burke who nearly got the equaliser. Think mb might have a word.
     
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  10. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    I was thinking about our midfield and attack for next season... Phillips and Dallas will be nailed on starters for Bielsa. We’re not going to find an alternative free goal scoring version of Bamford and we have Raphinha who is another first name down.

    This only really leaves two spots up for grabs, the position occupied by Harrison and the one that is being shared by Rodrigo and Roberts. It’s pretty nailed on that the priority will be a LB and if he gets injured then Dallas will probably move over to cover freeing up another space in midfield.

    I’ve a sneaky feeling next season might be a little frustrating for any new guys joining, we need to also be clearing out a few and making decisions on some of the U23s.
     
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  11. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    Phillips was also taking them for England, I wonder if we are just trying to be too fancy with them. We just need a good old fashioned corner to be taken, whip it into the middle with pace and at least one big CB up for them. Pablos first season with us he had something like 9 assists earned from taking corners then under Bielsa he stopped taking them.

    Douglas was the same with Wolves, 14 assists and joint top the year they won the league yet he was never really used with us to take them.

    I don’t even bother hoping for a goal now when we have a corner yet I fear the worse every time we concede one
     
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  12. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    I didn’t watch even one minute of the England games so I didn’t know that <laugh>
     
    #32
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  13. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    You didn’t miss anything, I recorded them and watched probably 15 minutes at normal speed, I just kept fast forwarding and even then it still seemed slow and laborious
     
    #33
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  14. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Next season I see Dallas on the bench as the new Madley utility player. E has been exceptional covering a number of positions but he isnt getting any younger. Yes I would never be upset seeing him starting as you know we will get a fantastic shift from him we just need better.

    Will we see us play 3 at the back next season more?

    Will Koch or Llorente be used as back up for Phillips or will we buy someone?

    I think Drameh will be back up for Ayling

    I think Gelhardt will be back up for Bamford

    I see a new LB

    I see a new Klich

    I see a new Harrison in the Raphinha mould, but in fairness to Harrison he has done it again this season scoring goals and making assists. Scored more than Raphinha so an argument for not buying another winger? But think we will as Poveda hasnt made the grade and Cista has been dissapointing
     
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  15. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    A good Easter Sunday will be a few beers and seeing Fulham beat Villa, see Spuds smash Newcastle to see them drop into relegation zone and see Burnley and Saints draw and seeing BHA lose
     
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  16. Leedsoflondon

    Leedsoflondon Well-Known Member

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    Agree with the beers, but never want a scum win!!
     
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  17. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member
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    I just don’t see Bielsa dropping Dallas myself.

    Dallas
    83.7% success pass rate
    5 Goals
    2 Assists
    Bad control a game stats, Dallas 1.2 x

    Compared to Raphinha
    72.5% success pass rate (was 68.9 at Rennes)
    6 Goals
    6 Assists
    Bad control a game Raphinha 3 x

    Remember several of these games Dallas started or was moved to LB and I didn’t bother looking up his defensive qualities as you know they’ll be up there. Raphinha you could argue tries the more tricky passes to open up teams, this isn’t a Dallas is better post, just pointing out how Dallas contributes and I’m not a Dallas fanboy, I just notice the difference in midfield when he is moved to LB. The balance of the team is better with Dallas, Roberts and Phillips adding bite and doing lots of the dirty work.

    If Bielsa sanctions someone to start ahead of Dallas great, I just don’t see it happening. Cooper, Dallas and Phillips will be the first names down on every Bielsa team sheet, it’s just the way Bielsa sees it
     
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  18. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    Annot disagree with any of that, but your premise is made by whats happening in recent games when Dallas has been moved to the middle. Hes been moved to the middle because Klich has been missing in action or Roberts has been crap and Rodrigo out injured. If you had either Klich back to his best or an upgrade on Klich you would have little need for Dallas in the middle? So not having a go at Dallas just think if we are to improve we need to improve on some players
     
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  19. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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    I think what I’m saying is, how many of our players would get into a top 6 team?

    There’s an argument that says Rodrigo, Llorente’, Raphinha and Koch would be very close and add in Phillips. Thats 4 players bought in the Summer plus Kalvin, so to improve more we need to bring in some more upgrades this Summer
     
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  20. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

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