He backs Casilla when others might not: "I don't support Kiko, I support the team." Basically if its best for the team that Casilla plays then he will play. Praises Meslier highly. He doesn't ignore Kiko's mistakes & knows they are costly #lufc

Bielsa adds that Casilla has played well despite the mistakes, "keeping the confidence in himself & of his teammates." #lufc

First tweet from hay second two from pope

The first few mistakes this season were down to gaps in his game - he is poor on crosses and corners. The mistakes we saw last week are confidence mistakes like Wieldwald was making. He needs to be taken out the team for his own good, he's struggling.

Yeah, think bielsa has got this wrong big time.

Whatever happens, whoever plays, it'll be Bielsa's choice, if he's happy then we should support him!..

If Kiko has a confidence problem than places like this won't be helping him!..

Germany - I’ll be there on Saturday and Kiko and team will have my full support. But bielsa’s explanations and reasons for keeping him in just don’t make sense to me. Let’s hope he can go on another run of clean sheets

can't help but think this is a bit stubborn from MB?

comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 35 minutes ago


can't help but think this is a bit stubborn from MB?
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agree. but maybe it was just a howler and not a problem with confidence or other things on his mind.

Would be great if once, just once, Bielsa said this, then played Meslier instead, just after opponents had worked all week on targeting Casilla....

It’s a joke. It says to Meslier that Casilla is undroppable and/or that the coaching staff have no trust in him.

I’m all for backing your players, but this isn’t an isolated incident... it’s mistake after mistake after mistake, costing us point after point after point.

comment by Jonty (U4614)



posted 1 minute ago


Would be great if once, just once, Bielsa said this, then played Meslier instead, just after opponents had worked all week on targeting Casilla....

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I hear you... but I doubt he would ever do that to be honest.

was actually looking forward to seeing Meslier if I'm honest

comment by montleeds (U18330)




posted 14 minutes ago



comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 35 minutes ago


can't help but think this is a bit stubborn from MB?
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agree. but maybe it was just a howler and not a problem with confidence or other things on his mind.

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Mont.. it was a howler, but as I've stated its not that incident that concerns me at all.. I bet Kiko has had millions of balls at him over this season and hardly makes an error with his feet.. he's prob better than a lot of outfield players in the division.

what worries me more, is his near post 'howler' and his vulnerability from corners.

I like Kiko, still think he's key to the way we play.. but maybe some time out of the lime light may do him good??

I‘m afraid I disagree with Bielsa on this. If Casilla keeps on making mistakes at the same rate (every game!) he will more than likely cost us promotion. I cannot see why he keeps his place, he is a disaster.

I hope the racism hearing is next week (I’ve read that it is, somewhere) and hope it sorts things out - either Casilla is banned or he is acquitted and gets his head back where it should be.

Last season it was the Spygate thing that helped to derail our season. This time it is Casilla’s racism charges (way back in September!) Why do we never have a season that doesn’t have some off-field crisis to be dealt with?

is the reserve keeper any better than casilla ?

if bielsa thinks not, then why would he drop casilla

Kiko is now a problem but I believe the bigger problem is our front line.

The gilt edged opportunities missed on Tuesday night by Harrison, Costa and Bamford were unbelievable - all shooting with the power of a 2 year old straight at the goalie.

comment by peks..#free el chapo (U6618)



posted 7 minutes ago


is the reserve keeper any better than casilla ?

if bielsa thinks not, then why would he drop casilla

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to be fair we don't know, the one time we did see Meslier vs Arsenal, he was excellent...

I've never seen a keepr with such good distribution (though admittedly, only seen him for 90 mins)

The clowns are the most entertaining part of the circus
Elland Road is just a big tent.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)



posted 1 minute ago


The clowns are the most entertaining part of the circus
Elland Road is just a big tent.

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Give over, its the lions - clowns scare me if I'm honest

He has the tripping over his feet bit sorted - just needs the red nose and baggy trousers

comment by milkyboy (U12731)



posted 2 minutes ago


He has the tripping over his feet bit sorted - just needs the red nose and baggy trousers

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I think he should squirt the strikers around him at corners with his flower on his chest too - that'll put them off

Its pathetic that we only have Bamford as a striker. He and the rest of the attackers are under performing yet they all get to play every week, and they know it.

comment by Afridi14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Germany - I’ll be there on Saturday and Kiko and team will have my full support. But bielsa’s explanations and reasons for keeping him in just don’t make sense to me. Let’s hope he can go on another run of clean sheets
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Yep, my view completely.

Whatever the rights or wrongs of Kiko's continued selection, his performances are there for everyone to see. What concerns me is Bielsa's undoubted stubbornness. It was his stubbornness not to give more game time to Clarke and Nketiah that ultimately prompted Spurs and Arsenal to recall them half way through their loans. They were little more than bench warmers who hardly got a look in. Bielsa wanted them replacing in the January window and that's what we have now - 2 bench warmers who are deemed unfit to come straight into the first team to shake things up and give under-performers a break. Our options are limited and Meslier, as impressive as he was against Arsenal, is a relatively unknown quantity. If Bielsa doesn't feel he has better options than Kiko, even taking his performances over the last 10 games into account, then has only has himself to blame. His player needs have been met so he has to get on with it now. I just hope for all our sakes that this season doesn't blow up in our faces as a result of poor player recruitment and the subsequent problems arising from it.

Afridi, Bielsa according to most confuses everybody every week, but when he gets it right he's the master!..

I'm only saying if he's happy with Kiko then we should support his decision to play him, and if Kiko has a confidence problem places like this won't be helping him!..

As for what's being said about strikers, we haven't a clue as to how fit RB Kev is, he'll more than likely be getting extra PT to bring him up to scratch so he just might be that bit closer than people think!..

comment by LufcGermany (U6066)
posted 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
Afridi, Bielsa according to most confuses everybody every week, but when he gets it right he's the master!..

I'm only saying if he's happy with Kiko then we should support his decision to play him, and if Kiko has a confidence problem places like this won't be helping him!..

As for what's being said about strikers, we haven't a clue as to how fit RB Kev is, he'll more than likely be getting extra PT to bring him up to scratch so he just might be that bit closer than people think!..
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