When he arrived here, he got the players fit and fearless. He brought in players from the 23's and gave them full debuts to bed them into the team. His substitutions were insightful, timely, and often changed our strategy and our results. If we went behind, we could be guaranteed a goal or two in the last 15 because of our superior fitness. We had warriors on the pitch who were proud to express themselves and to motivate the team. We had a striker who could finish the chances he got.
Has Bielsa retreated into his shell? We had a great run before Christmas against, admittedly, weaker sides, but since the Cardiff game, we have been fragile and none of our players have found the net since the Brum game. We are racked with injuries, but why are we not trying out our 23's in the way we did before? McCalmont and Edmondson offer us options that we have not exploited. How will these players improve if they don't get the chance to play on the big stage?
Most of all, we miss the drive that Pontus brought us. Ben White is a better player, but Pontus put the fire in our bellies. Bielsa's inability to manage players who connect with supporters, and the team, reduce passion in our game. Just look at how Klopp reacted after Liverpool beat Man U yesterday, how he hugged all the players and they responded in kind. He is a million miles away from Bielsa.
All is not doom and gloom. We are second in the league with two winnable games ahead. I hope the break gives Bielsa time to recharge his batteries and to reflect on where we are. A lighter touch from the maestro would go a long way to restoring optimism at LUFC.
What's happened to Bielsa?
posted on 20/1/20
Agree with a lot but he barely started any youngsters at any time
posted on 20/1/20
Loved his early subs last season, not afraid to change things, I think less subs this season as he doesn't really trust the players on the bench.
posted on 20/1/20
Big problem is having five or six cripples in a small squad
posted on 20/1/20
Yep, Forshaw is no good if he’s either injured, or recovering from injury. Should have been sold in the summer.
Same Roberts
Pablo was always going to have little impact this season.
No prep for a small squad,
posted on 20/1/20
Should have had a replacement for Forshaw lined up this window, hopefully they will find the money to get the right players in,
posted on 20/1/20
Shackleton never fit
Cooper always got a niggle
Douglas another cant play more than five games.
posted on 20/1/20
....exacerbated by red kard Kalvin
posted on 20/1/20
How many times have these injury prone players got back to full fitness and got injured again before even playing a single minute? It’s shocking.
We paid 4m for Forshaw, Boro laughing all the way to the bank.
posted on 20/1/20
DOF wants to prove his worth. Goes back to old club. Players he’s brought in are kept out by existing players in club. Way to get his players in is your get rid of or not step in way of existing players exiting.
Ortas glee at signing bamford and becoming most hated man in Boro comes back to bite him. Interesting that Boro we’re trying to exit Orta yet he claims they offered him a new 3 year deal.
Orta is the root of the problem of our poor quality squad.
posted on 21/1/20
comment by LIW Radchancer (U8453)
posted 8 hours, 8 minutes ago
Agree with a lot but he barely started any youngsters at any time
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Clarke, Shacks, Coyle, Pearce, Halme, and I think Shaughnessy appeared for us last season.