Pretty much agree on all. Except for KP. For me,
he can be an absolute gem in the Prem. He's done
well so far. And will get better as we go. And for
Rodrigo, I feel it's too early. I felt he did some good
things today that bode well. I think him and Patrick
together could be really good together down the line.
Love Dallas. But also wish we had a true Prem level
left footed left back.

Especially agree with your last statement.

Agree with most of your ratings, but we must give Rodrigo time to settle, new team, new country, new manager, and most importantly, new to Bielsa;s way of playing.
,

Spot on with this

Concerned a little with KP to be honest and think we have to accept its a lot to have an expectation on a 35 year old injury prone playmaker, as much as we live him

Bamford and Costa May surprise a few this season

Feels like we have gone from creating loads and not scoring, to creating less and scoring

Can’t disagree with any of that especially Phillips analysis. He’s looked exposed at times in both games when left as the lone deep midfielder. Not helped himself at times by trying to win the ball when he may have been better just staying goal side of his man especially against players at this level but I’m sure he’ll adapt.

Agree but think the full backs both not being the quickest might really cause us issues against the better teams. Dallas has really started too well for me.

Phillips didnt play well today but was great against Liverpool. Did you see the pass to Harrison, sublime.

Think today would have been the perfect game for Pablo. He'd have had a lot more space to caise damage.

Agree on everything else.

Meslier worries me. Casilla worries me.

Other teams' keepers look far sharper than either of ours when it comes to saving shots.

Really need a decent keeper to take over.

Yes, agree largely with LIW except on Rodrigo, who needs time. Also agree that Meslier was wobbly today - should have stopped the penalty, should have claimed the cross for Mitrovic. Also a bit concerned Cooper was done so easily but Mitrovic is a beast, tbf. But Bamford scores again - we must be grateful - and Costa is really on fire and finally looking like a good deal at 15million!

Most important - home win, three points!

Just one on Phillips. He finished last season injured. I wonder if he has not had as long a pre season as some of others. He then went away on international duty eithva different training regime.

I think he is fit enough to play but not up to full Bielsa style sharpness yet. Give it time and he will get to his usual levels and help protect the defence better.

Yep, balanced and fair analysis👍.

Yeah agree with all so far.. though I’m not worried for KP.. I’m sure he’ll step up.. could just need more time to adjust

Pablo... I actually don’t think he’s going to last the season unless we get cover there! See pablo as more of a sub player, the wise head that comes on sures it up.

Also agree largely with the ratings. Though think meslier’s distribution has been mixed and agree re a bit of time for Rodrigo.

I think what we’ve seen is sides with quality footballers look to stop us playing out from the back. They’ve managed it to some degree, and put pressure on the back 5 and kp and forced mistakes.

Suspect with Rodrigo he doesn’t fully know the system and where he should be in any given situation. Bielsaball relies on a bit of telepathy and the structured patterns come apart if one of the cogs is out of synch

As long as Kiko is at the club he should start imo, just think hes better than Meslier at this moment in time,

Agree would start Kiko for now.. I’ll be honest, as much as I’ve campaigned that our keepers are great with feet and that gives them a little odd out in terms of other aspects of goalkeeping.. I think meslier should of stopped Fulham first two goals.. seemed to softly go under his arm..

I understand Kiko has a foot injury and is going to be out for some time.

Need to consider getting in an experienced keeper on loan

Not concerned about any of our players - other teams have same issues. Dodgy keepers and defences.

Rodrigo was excellent for me today, he took the place of Pablo and tried to deliver that Midfield role having only been under Bielsa a couple of weeks. He just wasn’t on the ball enough.

I remember complaints about KP when he was bypassed during his first couple of seasons. Complaints about Bamford ever since he arrived.

The only thing that kills us is injuries. And age catches up with everyone especially under Bielsa requirement to put in the effort

Rodrigo will be excellent

Look at Fulham's goals again, Meslier should have done better on all three. Penalty goes under him, Reid's goal he should have saved, no idea what he was doing on the third goal so badly positioned.

Said this in match day thread, having gone the right way he’ll be disappointed with the penalty, but I’m told, low and close are hard for keepers to get down to.

It’s harsh calling the second a mistake from that range... it’s a could have saved not should have for me.

He made a dogs dinner of the third, half coming for the cross.

... but when people are calling for kiko to be reinstated they either have short memories or a strong sense of desperation

High risk not bringing another keeper in this summer in my view.

Agree, Meslier is on a perhaps impossibly steep learning curve. I'm sure he'll come good but can we afford the mistakes he has to make to progress? Well, I'd say no if we weren't being coached by Bielsa. The best form of defence is attack, and if we can outscore opponents, then Meslier's errors will be less significant. He knows he should have stopped that penalty - he was kicking himself afterwards - but I think Cooper was more at fault for the Mitrovic header. I'd therefore rather have Foyth or Holding - another CB - than another keeper. Cooper is a great captain but am not convinced that he is a PL CB.

comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 2 minutes ago
... but when people are calling for kiko to be reinstated they either have short memories or a strong sense of desperation

High risk not bringing another keeper in this summer in my view.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't see there's much choice if Kiko has a long term injury. Caprile, Van Den Heuvel, Turner, Skerry are all very raw.

Thought Meslier did poorly for the penalty and the second goal. Can get a better keeper but we wont. Happy with the rest of the side. All look good enough at this level so far.

Which level is that, Shaun...the level of Premier champs Liverpool or a 'Championship defence' playing in the Premiership, ref Fulham?

I think another CM is definitely needed. There will be games when Pablo shows his value but we can't rely on him as a starting player this season given his age and step up in quality.

Another creative midfielder who can get goals would be massive.

It won't happen but I'd love 3 more signings - a 3rd centreback (possible given Berardi is out), a winger and a centremid.

Meslier will learn and grow. The club decided that his potential ceiling is high enough that he is worth the risk, I feel. He's as calm with his feet as any player I've seen at leeds, let alone goalkeepers. Suspect that will come back to bite us at some point, but he's only young.

Think Dallas is the worry. Looked good offensively, but caught out for both goals. Just seemed to switch off. Can't afford that in the PL.