Before a ball was kicked in anger I predicted 7th position if we didn't strengthen further. I still feel we that we could do with more experience in specific areas of the pitch but....
We've started well. The regulars from last season appear to have upped their game too. When you consider that Costa and Nketiah are not quite up to speed, Ayling and Roberts are still to feature with a plethora of development lads (including Clarke) banging on the door, Leeds United is in a healthy position.
The standard in this division, albeit early days, doesn't appear to have heightened yet Leeds United looks slicker. Phillips, Forshaw and Harrison are improving. Hernandez continues to defy his age. Mightily impressed with Dallas too. Bamford is scoring. Christmas, not a favoured time of year for the faithful, appears to have come early!!
Yes, the season is in its infancy. We are still prone to mistakes and still need to convert more but there's a general maturity within the team that I don't believe was evident last I me around.
We forget too easily that the players hurt just as much as we do when things don't go our way. They too will be determined to end the season on a more positive note than last time around.
We can only beat what's in front of us but three away wins and a draw from a game that we should have won isn't a bad return. Our continued increased expectations demand more together with deep-seated frustrations that seriously believe that we deserve to be plying our trade at the highest level of football but we should be pleased at our progress.
I lost sight of the fact that despite being bereft in certain positions we are actually a very good team. We are more settled and more in tune with the Bielsa way.
Three points at Wigan Athletic was a good result. Onwards and upwards.
MOT
This time around...
posted on 18/8/19
Keep reading people writing its a weak league.......
Norwich/Blades/Villa replaced by
Cardiff/Fulham/Huddersfield
We lost 1 team with money and theyve been replaced with 3 with money.
Barnsley/Luton/Charlton replaced
Rotherham/Bolton/Ipswich
Id say that the 3 coming up are far superior to those we lost. Bolton financially were stuffed and Ipswich were relegated by xmas.
Not sure why people are saying this?
posted on 18/8/19
Kebab, we hear it every season and also how there are no standbout teams.
posted on 18/8/19
Jonty, have you found Forshaw’s shooting boots ?
Fulham, possibly wba
posted on 18/8/19
I still worry about the cb position. An injury to Cooper would be a major concern
posted on 18/8/19
We have to expect that every game will be a slog. Every team knows to pressure us on release from our goalie in our own final third, and if we get through, to fall back and park the bus.
It's really important we develop the nous to overcome this with really strong running and with accurate balls in - against Forest, we kept making the same mistake of punting the ball in hopefully against a big team. Taht seemed much different v Wigan, but we need players to be churning and moving the defence around so someone can make the strong run in behind
I think it will get better and Bielsa will be teaching them good methods. I don't expect us to lose before October (that's not to say we won't), but October looks like a tough month
posted on 18/8/19
Kebab is right. There are some decent teams emerging and the promoted teams look a lot better than the ones who got relegated. The margins are tight and most games are won by one or two goals in this league. We haven't played a team with height or pace yet, so we haven't really been tested, but I have been particularly impressed with Forshaw, Dallas and Harrison. They are adding a new layer of skill to our performances. I haven't seen any team playing better football than we do. That doesn't mean much in the final reckoning, but it does suggest we should have enough to see off most teams when we are playing well. Let's see what happens when we go a goal down or get a player sent off. Let's see if Bielsa is prepared to take risks like he did early last year, or if he will stick to tried and tested. Overall, we are making a positive start.
posted on 19/8/19
I do get the comment about no stand out team.
By that I mean a team the quality of Wolves or Newcastle under Rafa or Brighton under Hughton, Burnley under Dyche the second time. I think those 3 sides would get promoted every season.
Some years, it's more of an open field like this season and last. When the clubs that get relegated are in a mess like Huddersfield or Stoke last year, unproven managers like Fulham or West Brom last season, it makes it more open.
The reason we are favourites is because like Brighton in 2017, we have just missed out on automatics, kept the manager, mostly the same team and are going again with the experience of last year making us stronger.
posted on 19/8/19
We are the best team in the league, simple as that
posted on 19/8/19
The league is better but so, in my opinion, are we. Let's see where the league is after 7 or 8 weeks, because then we will have less embryonic league to assess..
posted on 19/8/19
comment by Lubo - Get Excited for Leeds United (U14008)
posted 9 hours, 47 minutes ago
The league is better but so, in my opinion, are we. Let's see where the league is after 7 or 8 weeks, because then we will have less embryonic league to assess..
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I agree about the league being embryonic, some teams will take a while to gel and get up to speed, so it really is too early to know who our main competitors will be this season. Norwich were slow starters last season, I believe.
I agree that we have made a decent start and am hoping that the continuity of team and manager etc will make us stronger this season.