There was a gulf in class between a newly promoted side to the EFL and a top championship side so some of the performances have to be taken a little in that context but nonetheless we could have slipped up and ran out comfortable winners.
Notable performances:
Phillips is now a Rolls royce of a footballer. I was wondering whether it might be a good idea not to play him but the way he plays making the game look easy stroking the ball around dictating play he barely broke sweat.
Ben White. So impressed with this lad after 3 games. He looks very classy in the way he is always looking to bring the ball down.Defends with intelligence and composure. A long way to go but the early signs are great.
Shackleton and Davis had good solid games and just stepped in to the line up and formation and got on with it and showed excellent energy and passing.
Clarke showed signs of some of that swagger from last season coming back but for now he will probably have to contribute from the bench or in this competition.
Klich. That third goal was a trademark goal from him and shows what he is all about when on song.
Costa - I think we saw glimpses tonight what this fella can bring and could give us that all important weapon of getting in behind teams with his incisiveness. It's his first start and huge test to come but he has the ability and talent for sure.
Nketiah - This was the performance that got me most excited.To say the guy has barely played any senior football, his movement and clever runs, showing repeatedly for the ball and pace could give us another dimension.
I think Bielsa got the selection spot on tonight with the players he rested and the guys brought in and looking forward now to the next game to see if we can build on this.
Thoughts on tonight's game
posted on 15/8/19
Lubo
I was digging out Bielsa not you
posted on 15/8/19
Matty, I'm assuming you watched the game?
And you still didn't know the formation we were playing?
IMO Bielsa should have signed Ajayi. We needed another centre back and still do. Can't believe he could have had White last year but Bielsa didn't want anymore defenders. Major mistake on his part.
But you need to be able to see what formation a team is playing before making too many judgements pal
posted on 15/8/19
It wasn’t, but I’m not going to argue that point with you.
If you think we were not playing four at the back fair enough.
posted on 15/8/19
It's not an opinion.
...........Casilla
Berardi White Davis
Shack Phillips Alioski
.............Klich
Costa Nketiah Clarke
Klich and shack had very free roles and covered each other, allowing plenty of overlaps. Also at times as the game developed Shackleton & Alioski were pretty much playing alongside Klich, to make it more of a 3-1-3-3 formation.
Hence the changes. Clarke went off for McCalmont who switched places with Alioski on the left of the midfield, Alisoki moving to left Wing. He was then taken off Harrison as a like for like.
Towards the end of the game Leeds moved more to a back 4 at times. But this had Shack at right back, Berardi & Cooper in the centre and Davis on the left.
McCalmont Phillips Klich in the middle
Costa Bamford and Harrison up top.
posted on 15/8/19
My point is at no point in the game was Berardi at Right Back.
posted on 15/8/19
For all his undoubted coaching ability and reputation, I think as fans we're seeing his stubborn side too - which is possibly where he's come unstuck at previous clubs.
As real promotion contenders to go into a season with only 1 out and out CB on the books (i.e. Cooper) is a shocker for me. White looks excellent, but he's not an asset to LUFC as such. If he keeps playing like he is, his value will increase and any chance we may think we have of signing him permanently will diminish. Whether we signed Ajayi or another CB i'm not overly concerned, but another permanent recruit in that area i'm mystified we haven't addressed. Is it a MB thing or was it more down to the club saying this is all you can have?
My personal view is he likes to do things his way, to the extent that he likes to prove he can transform players to morph into positions where possibly we're under strength. To an extent he's proved he can do that, but for me it risks derailing a promotion push further down the line when/if injuries and suspensions start to bite.
I think Wenger got caught in this mindset a bit towards the end of his tenure.
posted on 15/8/19
Spot on VOF
posted on 15/8/19
And I can pull up both the Leeds app and google to show you our formation was 4-1-4-1 and talk about times in the game where it was just that.
But like I said I’m not going to go down this route with you as I just can’t be bothered with another he said, he said.
I that’s what you saw, fair enough, I disagree I move on.
posted on 15/8/19
And I agree vof and think our one of our main priorities in January must be making white permanent.
posted on 15/8/19
No chance of getting White in January
If he plays well Brighton won’t sell.