I've been doing a lot of thinking since yesterday's game, and a few points have come to mind regarding how this season has gone, and how much we have to look forward to over time.
1. This is just Bielsa's first season.
Farke and Wilder both had a season's headstart on Bielsa in terms of building a squad, giving them time to gel and getting them used to his preferred system.
Look at what Bielsa's done after basically giving a 3 week crash course on his style to a bunch of players who, according to some on here, flattered themselves by scraping to mid-table last season. Imagine what he can do with a whole season under his belt and a couple of decent signings.
Add to that how fired up everyone will be next season. A lot of these lads will feel they have unfinished business with the club, so they'll come out next season all guns blazing.
2. The Playoffs does not mean the season's over
All the playoffs mean is we have 3 more games to play. Win them and we're up. Simple as that. Yes our record in them is abysmal, but so was England's penalty shootout record at the World Cup and look what happened last summer. To quote Tony Robbins: "The past does not equal the future".
Besides, now that autos are out of the picture (for now at least), the weight of expectation disappears, so hopefully the squad will relax a bit heading into the last 2 (or 5) games.
3. The club is in the best place it's been in since we came down from the Prem.
An owner that actually cares, a world class manager at the wheel, and unlike a few of the teams around us, no fear of a major financial collapse due to spending beyond our means in a gamble to get promoted.
4. Who needs signings when our youth development is so strong?
Following on from point 3, look at what our U23s have accomplished this season. The great Leeds United teams of the past were built on a strong youth development system, and there's no reason why we can't do the same now.
Worried that Roofe and Bamford aren't producing the goods in front of goal? Let's give Ryan Edmondson or Robbie Gotts a run in the first team.
Need a CB to bolster the defence? Aapo Halme's already played a couple of games in the senior squad so he already has an idea of Bielsa's style.
Need strength on the left hand side? Leif Davis has shown he has that potential.
Add in Male Harrison as a goalkeeping alternative to BPF and Casilla, and we can build a decent squad without breaking the bank.
I get that everyone is feeling down and out but things are much rosier than they seem.
Was this our best chance at getting back to the big time? Of course it was.
Will it be our only chance? Fook no!
Keep the faith. The good times are closer than you think.
MOT
ALAW
The Bright Side
posted on 23/4/19
Totally agree with all the above.
This season isn't over by a long fecking way.
My only real concern is that some of our players look seriously shattered, physically and mentally. I'd rest as many 1st team as poss against villa. Let them clear their minds and rest muscles, they pretty much all look like they needed it yesterday.
We're way ahead of where many thought we'd be before the season started. Reason enough to be happy with how the season has gone.
Decent football and something to play for at last, after years of rubbish and season over by March.
posted on 23/4/19
Re your first point, its as if you think no one else will have been developing this season or improving in pre-season.
Bielsa said yesterday players are playing at maximum, without upgrading those players how do you expect we'll improve?
Just spending more time with the same players is not the answer.
posted on 23/4/19
Farke and Wilder both had a season's headstart on Bielsa in terms of building a squad, giving them time to gel and getting them used to his preferred system.
———————————————
This simply doesn’t stack up, the players have got worse as the season as gone on
posted on 23/4/19
The other main contenders tweaked their sides in January, they may not look brilliant but have been consistant in picking up points and scoring, they mentally grew with the challenge....We have played some great football yes, but we have played too many bad games also QPR, Birmingham, Wigan, Brentford etc, where the signs have been there earlier in the season. Bielsa has had long enough before yesterday to know how most of the championship play.....Hopefully by the time we play in the play offs he's done his famous homework and learned from his in depth studies. We can still do it.
posted on 23/4/19
I do truly admire the 'positivity' bit but the beaten by 10 man Wigan who couldn't buy an away win and also them being down 1 - 0 just about sums up the lows of supporting this club.
Seemed very much like a 'snatching Defeat from the jaws of victory' - want to make excuses for the players but can't.
Anyway lets hope for the unexpected.
posted on 23/4/19
The season definitely isn’t over. We have as good a chance as anyone in the play offs. We will be the best side in them imo, but we also be the most mentally deflated and we’re not in form.
As for next year? If we don’t go up this year I’m worried. Nadia if a good side? Yes if we keep them? Good manager? Yes if we keep him? Good u23s? Yes but how many will be ready to step up?
Main concern is the owner is skint and has stated (when we sold viera) that we need to sell to break even. His other business interests have hit the rocks since that statement. Are they separate? Yes... but it doesn’t help us ability to personally invest.
posted on 23/4/19
Bloody iphone ... ‘nadia If’ should read ‘basis of’
posted on 23/4/19