Leeds certainly haven't made the start we would have liked, but when the fixture list came out I was a bit disappointed with the opening run of games ... it seemed as if the Prem were trying to put us in our place ... last season we had that very difficult run of April fixtures, which if we were West Brom in ability would have doomed us to relegation, and it seemed a contrived run of games designed to nail down our relegation ... well, we fkd them In truth, two points from our opening four is not an awful return, but the wins now need to come in the next six games: (A) Newcastle (H) West Ham (H) Watford (A) Southampton (H) Wolves (A) Norwich A minimum of 10 points is needed from these games, a MINIMUM of 10 points!! We have a problem in the heart of our defence, but Bielsa Ball is such that it doesn't really seem to matter ... Leeds just seem to find a way, the key being that whoever fills in knows the system, which is the most important thing for Bielsa There are no guaranteed easy games in the Prem, and those three away fixtures are all tricky, but if Leeds can get on top and establish some dominance backed up by getting the first goal, then the opportunity exists to blast the doors off the games and get really good results ... the right to score a few will have to be earned first though Newcastle are one of those games where if Leeds can get the lead, and preferably early in the game, then we could well see St James' Park imploding and heads dropping ... against a revved up Bielsa team that would be disastrous for Steve Bruce, so I expect he will have them fired up and ready for the challenge ... they MUST WIN this home game, a draw isn't good enough whereas Leeds can come away with a point and be satisfied rather than ecstatic Elland road will need to become a fortress quickly now, and if Leeds can make their home games fearful for the visitors, then that's half the battle sorted ... average a point per away game on top of good home results and Prem football is guaranteed with a decent league position on top There is no need to panic, in Bielsa we have a superb manager backed up by a committed group of players ... if anyone is worried about surviving this season, please remember that we only have to have better results than three other teams in the division ... right now, I would say we are better than at least EIGHT other teams, so we should be okay The results will come, and Leeds will be fine ... of course, we all want to finish at least 9th again, or even improve on last season ... it won't be easy, but then that's what we expect being in the Prem most teams in the division have a huge financial advantage on Leeds right now, but we will claw away at that over the next three seasons ... 16 years without Prem money means we can't go and buy a team full of quality, so in context the job Bielsa has done is just incredible Don't panic, all will be good
I agree. I wanted 4 points from the first 4 games. I thought we had a good chance of wins against Everton and Burnley and an outside chance of picking up a draw against the big clubs. 4 points would have been solid. If we snatch 3 points tonight then 5 points from 5 games is fine given the fixtures. It might even be seen as a good start. If we lose tonight then 2 points from 5 games is a poor return. Only needs a referee decision to alter the mood from a good start to a horrific start.
I'd be happy with 3 wins from the next 6 fixtures, anything more would be a bonus. Having said that though, the target is always 40 points so roughly a point a game.
Realistically the way we are are playing and with our injuries only the Norwich game is where we could get 3 points. All the others are minefields. West Ham seem to have improved this season. Although with three at home we have a small advantage. Hope I'm made to eat my words though.