Championship Manager

Very disappointed with today's result.

Lack of creativity, yet again players off the boil, inability to break down opponents who, on paper, should be struggling against a Leeds United team that has performed very well at times this season.

The small squad system is biting hard again. Injuries are part and parcel of the game but they have greater impact when working with a threadbare squad. Lack of experience on the bench, lack of options and nothing to refresh the team in situations like this.

Possession is great, continually pressing is exciting and a welcome change to some of the stuff we've experienced in recent history but it's results that count.

People talk about alternatives, players that might step up into new positions or new signings that might present a new solution to what we already have. Typically anything remotely positive is dismissed with the current popular phrase "it's not Championship Manager".Indeed, it's not but then doesn't that apply to finances too? If we ain't got it, we can't spend it either.

I'm not excusing anyone. I said our squad was weaker than last term and it is. The work to improve our lot, and fill the obvious gaps in the squad, should have taken place in the Summer. It didn't. Bielsa has to shoulder the most of the blame for this.

Here we are heading towards the end of the Winter window in oh so familiar circumstances. A poor run. Seemingly endless transfer discussions heading towards a familiar and unsatisfactory conclusion.

As is usually the case we are restricted to looking for unwanted scraps off the table when it comes to new recruits. Players on the periphery of their own team's selection and probably not having regular action. Players we know, from frustrated experience last time, that Bielsa will require to spend time building up their fitness before he'll play them.

Difficult to know who was to blame for Nketiah. Good player with potential. Not a Bamford shoe in so was unlikely to get a regular nod as that would require a change in system. Something El Loco isn't fond of. I find it hard to believe that Orta went off to secure the player with an elaborate pitch without the blessing of Bielsa.

He might not be popular. He might not receive many Christmas cards from Teesside but there's no doubting Victor Orta cares. I find criticism of him holding his head in despair hard to take. If he was sat there laughing you'd be advocating a lynch mob........

The multiple buying of players at Development level was a flawed strategy set by AR. Orta, one could argue, did the job well. However, a flawed strategy is exactly that and the exercise was duly abandoned.

I agree, we have a stellar club managed by three relatively inexperienced individuals off the pitch and a bloody stubborn one on it. When you look at the situation in the cold light of day it's either going to go unbelievably well or turn into an unmitigated disaster.

We are still second. Whether it's by one point or ten, we are still second. At the end of the season the points difference won't matter will it?

We've played well, beyond my expectations, but the issues we faced last time are coming back to haunt us this time. The modern game is built on rotation. Players get jaded. Our's get tired simply due to our mono line game plan.

Bamford's a good player but he needs competition and when he's not performing we need a replacement. Unless we have unknown reserves I can't see anything of quality arriving before the end of the window. Equally, we're in a position where clubs can be unrealistic with regards to terms which could make it difficult financially for Leeds United.

We need another centre half but that's not even registering on Bielsa's wish list.

Phillips was reckless, reminiscent of the lad before his amazing transformation. Another gap that will be difficult to fill unless White steps forward and leaves another hole.

Meslier gave an assured performance against Arsenal and that reassures me that we have a capable understudy should Kiko be banned. If he is banned, and I suggest it's likely, does Leeds United sack him? A good number on here were advocating that I recall......

At the present moment in time we look a little boxed in. Good quality replacements/additions in this window are hard to come by. Typically they are expensive too. I don't think Leeds United was to blame for Dan James not coming to ER but it's typical of this window.

It's not all doom and gloom. The club needs to regroup. Bielsa needs to have a serious rethink on systems and play to our strengths. Something isn't right about Roberts or Forshaw and that needs addressing too.

We always seem to capitulate around this time of the season. How we recover will determine where we finish. The solution I believe is already in the club, if indeed there is one, as it's unlikely we'll be adding anything of note anytime soon.