Simple question

Bielsa's tactics are obsessively process-based, with the probabilities of every detail thought through, and play following a pre-conceived pattern. Whilst generally giving good results, the players don't have the individual flare to think for themselves and do something different during a game.

Bielsa's right not to blame his players, as they're doing as they're told.

Better players would open doors to different styles of play.

Winning is all that matters,if you play attractive football that's a bonus.

Win at all costs. Good football is a bonus.

comment by Warwick (U13131)
posted 17 hours, 51 minutes ago
Bielsa's tactics are obsessively process-based, with the probabilities of every detail thought through, and play following a pre-conceived pattern. Whilst generally giving good results, the players don't have the individual flare to think for themselves and do something different during a game.

Bielsa's right not to blame his players, as they're doing as they're told.

Better players would open doors to different styles of play.
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Very good Warwick if I may say so...

The downside is better players cost money!

Excellent point, Warwick. Bielsa has turned some pretty pedestrian players into much better players. Yes, they can run harder, think faster, and pass better, but they are still playing to a rigid structure and philosophy. This is a double edged sword, as Forest and Swansea showed us. There is no element of surprise in what our teams offer.
As good as the players are, they are also human, and in the last twenty minutes of the Swansea game, you could see the fatalism creep in - they began to believe that they couldn't score.
Does Bielsa understand this aspect of the game? Perhaps not as well as the tacticaI and organisational sides.
Also, we have lost some of our best players, because they do not adapt to the demand of unquestioning loyalty to the system. Bielsa does not seem to be able to manage players who offer something different to what he has in mind, even if that something can change the pace and direction of play. Roofe, Saiz, Pontus, Vieira all had something extra in their lockers. I tend to think that truly great managers get these players alongside, keep them in the fold, and get more out of them for longer periods of time than Bielsa does.
Bielsa is building an amazing legacy at LUFC. I hope he stays long enough not just to inject his ethos into the soul of our club, but to oversee continuing growth, both personal and professional. It's the least he deserves.

Bielsa doesn't have a plan B and it's our biggest weakness

comment by Jono (U21474)
posted 4 hours, 33 minutes ago
Bielsa doesn't have a plan B and it's our biggest weakness
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maybe he does and the players just cant do it yet.

I don't agree that Bielsa "lost" Vieira, who was sold just after he was appointed, or Saiz, who left because his missus was unhappy, or Roofe, who left because he was refused wage parity with Bamford.

He did lose Pontus, although I think his sale to Brentford was really down to Pontus's own immaturity. Thankfully Ben White has stepped up to the plate so it's not such a blow that he's gone.

The style we play gives us the biggest opportunity to win. We battered Swansea and they got lucky with a spooned shot in the last minute.

Yes, we seem to be snatching at opportunities at ER, but I don't see how anyone can complain at all. Bielsa provides the guys with the belief and the system that gives them the belief and chances - if they don;t take the chances, what the hell can he do more?

comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 4 hours, 40 minutes ago
I don't agree that Bielsa "lost" Vieira, who was sold just after he was appointed, or Saiz, who left because his missus was unhappy, or Roofe, who left because he was refused wage parity with Bamford.

He did lose Pontus, although I think his sale to Brentford was really down to Pontus's own immaturity. Thankfully Ben White has stepped up to the plate so it's not such a blow that he's gone.


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Fair point about Vieira, Jaz, but I do not believe the 'official' reasons for the others leaving. Better coaches would find a way to keep our better players in the fold. Jansson is a big loss, as we will see. He brought a lot of motivational firepower to the team and to the supporters. When he was on form, we were formidable. We let him go for nothing. Also, I do not understand Roofe going to Anderlecht. He looked like was apart from the team for a while. His body language, even when he scored, spoke volumes. As for keeping Saiz? Spain is less than 3 hours from Leeds. Give him and his family all the support they need to stay, but lending him out for free? There are many management issues at Leeds. We get it wrong more often than right.