Very positive Jonty.
I still think as it stands, we are weaker than the team that failed last year.
I am unconvinced by our keeping options.
Even weaker at CB. Cooper plays like a world beater for 80 mins, but at some point in the game, always has an error/rush of blood in him and is for me not good enough. The other CB position offers us Berardi ( no thanks) or a kid unproven at this level.
We don’t have an out and our goal scorer at this level.
We still need reinforcements, before things get serious and Im not sure we will see any.

Excellent article, can't disagree with anything there

I do think they'll be a little surprise in terms of a signing before the season starts though, I don't know who or how, but I do get the feeling they'll be a top addition

I'm really not fussed about pre season results, just the players adapting to his systems, getting more match fit and avoiding injuries.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Assuming that Ayling gets fit and is ready for Bristol, I would assume the starting line-up will be something like

Kiko
Ayling, White, Cooper, Alioski
Philips
Costa, Pablo, Klich, Harrison
Roofe.

As I said, something like, could see Forshaw, Douglas, Bamford, Dallas starting but I prefer my starting 11.

Given 2/3rds of the team are halfway across the world and with travel/recuperation time needed on their return and the fact we have another pointless vanity trip to Italy to shoehorn in, I reckon there is a maximum of seven days for the team to adapt to systems, get matchfit etc.

I have one question.

HOW?

12 months ago opposition didn't know our style and how we'd play. I think some took time to adapt and work out how to counteract it. This time they will.

I'm as unsure as I was this time last year on how we'll perform, so hopefully we do okay again.

Squad still looks short too me.

Eddie makes points and i can't see any being sorted.And this trip to Australia at this time is madness .this is how not to run a football club.

I agree about Bamford. Yes he was stupid regarding the simulation against Villa but give the guy a break and not crucify him for every little mistake. There's a good player there given the chance he needs love and encouragement from the fans to get the best out of him, not vitriol.

Bamford is a confidence player, as said above, needs to be loved. Could be a really good player for us. Clearly getting stick from fans effects him. At a pre-season friendly, they (the fans) need to get a life.

comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 18 minutes ago
Bamford is a confidence player, as said above, needs to be loved. Could be a really good player for us. Clearly getting stick from fans effects him. At a pre-season friendly, they (the fans) need to get a life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

There comes a time where a player needs to give the fans confidence. This is not a club for the weak minded player. (I disagree with the pre-season rubbish, he shouldn't be getting grief)

I will never forget him going right footed from 2 yards open goal and missing. I was right in front of it (might have been Sheff Weds at home).

I'm not actually sure what he offers?

Not as mobile as Roofe - tick
Amazingly can't hold it up like Roofe - tick
Amazingly can't head it like Roofe - tick
On the wrong side of the dive line - tick
Contantly looking around when things go wrong - tick

The only thing I think I have ever seen him do that Roofe didn't last season (correct me if I'm wrong) is score from outside the box.

Do we REALLY think he is going to be the same as McContract or Wood in their following seasons?

I don't, I would prefer us to sell him (although we'd never make back the investment)

Aza ... based on last season (he did have a bad injury for large parts let's not forget) I think you make a fair assessment.

Same as McContract or Wood? - well both those were described as either overweight or cart horses, before then having seasons where they proved all and sundry wrong. Not saying he'll do the same, not for a second, but he's our main striker (along with Roofe). No point in destroying the lad (not saying you are) before a ball's been kicked, as some have tried.

If he can get a couple of early goals, early season, then he could really push on (and therefore give fans confidence). I do think there is a good technical player in there.

comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 10 seconds ago
Aza ... based on last season (he did have a bad injury for large parts let's not forget) I think you make a fair assessment.

Same as McContract or Wood? - well both those were described as either overweight or cart horses, before then having seasons where they proved all and sundry wrong. Not saying he'll do the same, not for a second, but he's our main striker (along with Roofe). No point in destroying the lad (not saying you are) before a ball's been kicked, as some have tried.

If he can get a couple of early goals, early season, then he could really push on (and therefore give fans confidence). I do think there is a good technical player in there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Forgot, doesn't have the pace to get in behind either.

I see what you are saying in terms of "good technical player", Boro fans were annoyed at losing him. I just think he mentally does not have the minerals to play for our club effectively (in addition to the aforementioned shortcomings).

If he scores 0.75 goals per game this season then great (I won't put a number of goals as he'll be behind Roofe in the pecking order)

I believe we'll see the best of Bamford this season and he'll be our top scorer.

We are weaker this time around both in terms of squad, depth and quality, but also we don't have that element of surprise.

We're a top ten side based on what we have right now.

Australia was a peculiar exercise that only served ARs other ventures. We didn't put out our strongest team but equally the team in red wasn't at full strength either.

Not sure the game tells us anything we didn't already know and I don't think it will hamper us as the new season approaches.

I believe that we will see further movements on the transfer front both incoming and outgoing. There are obvious areas where we need strengthening but Bielsa is so bull headed it won't figure in his thinking.

We need a keeper, we need two central defenders, we need a holding midfielder and we need a striker.

I'd be surprised to see two of that list arrive. Probably see three more wingers......

My expectations as it stands today, are that we are fighting for 6th place at best. Hugely disappointing after our best "almost" season but that's football.

Financial stability in the modern era is the priority. Additional investment won't convert into a transfer kitty. Work off field needs to improve drastically to address this. I'm not sure we currently have the financial nous at the moment.

I'm looking forward to the new season, expectations truly managed. I'd like to see three or four lads from the development team make the step up and become 1st team regulars. That, for me, would be excellent progress and help to maintain financial stability.

Commercial nous not financial nous.....

Agree with most there stevie but holding midfielder ??

Phillips and foreshaw not enough ???

Both could be sold LIW
Certainly hope Forshaw is and KP for silly money.

I’ve just listened to Orta’s interview. Keeps going on about us being a premier league club, and that is the problem, we’re not and we should not be operating as if we are, costs are far too high.

Phillips won't be here I suspect and I think we've seen the best of him, in my opinion. Think Forshaw might also move on and I'm not convinced he is that good.

We have the makings of a good Premier League club. Everything we need outside of the team is there save the financial infrastructure and promotion brings a huge percentage of that.

Fair enough stevie and promotion

Thought you were thinking on top of them 👍🏻👍🏻

Not at all Wakey. I think AR & co have other ambitions. Bielsa would replace both with wingers. On loan. From Oldham Athletic and Cambridge United.

From doc on Not606:

20 players out of the door so far with another 5 sold any day now as deals progress

Sold
Wilks - £1.2m
Sacko - £0.5m
O'Connor - free
Halme - £0.9m
Kitching - £0.2m
Jannson - £5.5m
Clarke - £9.5m
Wollerton - undisclosed
Denton - undisclosed
Dalby - undisclosed
Rey - undisclosed
Saiz - £2.5m

Minimum Total - £20.3m

Released
Diaz
Rae
Odunston
Machuca
Balboa

Loaned Out
Grot
Coyle

Close to leaving
Pearce
Ekuban
Anita
Ideguchi

Rae was a sub at Tadcaster last night, has he gone now?

Ekuban is already showing as out the door on Transmkt, Fee looks like £900k....

As I have said previously, gutted by Ekuban.

I look through that list and I’m also a bit gutted for Pearce, I thought he had a bit about him.

A good number arrived before Bielsa so logical that we'd see a good number moved on if El Loco doesn't feel that they'll meet his strict criteria.

I do wonder what will be his legacy when he actually decides that his Leeds United project is over. Another squad re-build?

Posted this on another thread but thought it was relevant here too:

Bamford strongly believes that the team will be better next year, having gotten used to Bielsa’s methods and knowing exactly what he wants from the team.

There will be no deviating from what supporters became accustomed to last season - it will be more of Bielsa's trademark high-octane style of football going forward, the 25-year-old confirmed.

“If you look at it, that was our first year getting used to the style of play, the high intensity, the constant pressing,” he continued.

“He’ll admit that he demands a lot of his players, but if you think of it that way, the second year we’ll be more acclimatised so we should be able to do it for longer.

'You believe in everything he does'
“Keeping it up is the right way to go, we shouldn’t change our style just because we fell at the last hurdle - we learn from it, but you stay true to your identity.

“When you’ve got a coach with such a big character and name, then immediately you show respect, you believe in everything he does and I think you can see on the pitch everyone wears their heart on the sleeve for him.”

Spot on Stevie Dee unfortunately don’t think we can get rid of Forshaw and of course Berardi
As for KP he’s okay buy sell for silly money