Okay, so we lost another game last night to a good PL outfit but it's looking pretty good if all we need to do is take 6 points from 11 games. it would be great - and merited, in my view - to finish in the top ten but if we don't it doesn't really matter.
Lowfields is clearly off his head to call for Bielsa's, and The Donn just needs to chill out. Bielsa must be the first to sign a new contract - I'd give him a five year deal, I think he's been absolutely brilliant!
But beyond Bielsa and his staff re-signing, how do we prepare for "the next phase"?
Well, improvements to ER, obviously, particularly the playing surface, which needs to be a whole lot better for Bielsaball.
And there has been lots of talk about signing five new players on the same potential level as Raphinha or higher.
So, if there are five incoming, then presumably at least five of the "Old Guard" or original Championship squad will need to move on.
Who's it going to be, then?
Casilla
Berardi
Forshaw
Roberts
Costa
Alioski
Hernandez
Those are hard, but not controversial choices, and no doubt we'll be losing money on most of them.
Even more difficult, and more controversial choices:
Ayling
Cooper
Klich
Of course, it would depend who we sign. Personally, I'd want Ayling to stay but I'm not so sure about Cooper and Klich.
So, who would you let go and who would you keep?
Next phase
posted on 10/3/21
Yes, me too, VOF - Dallas is ever ready, always reliable and so versatile, scores some great goals, gets stuck in, no diving or whingeing - and he has improved his game beyond belief during the last three seasons. He was a journeyman but must now be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Klich has seemed like a completely different player this season. He gave many outstanding performances in previous seasons but this season he has been largely invisible. I think he has suffered from insufficient competition for his place. Maybe this is one of the downsides of a manager who places such a premium on loyalty to his players?
It's also very interesting that no-one has discussed Cooper much on this post. His leadership and commitment to the club are beyond question. It's such a shame that both Llorente and Koch have been injured so much because I don't think he would have featured quite so much otherwise.
I'm still hoping Brighton will go down and we'll be able to steal Ben White in any fire sale. Him and Koch would make a formidable CB pairing - I'm not sold on Llorente as yet.
posted on 10/3/21
Agree on Cooper - he's been excellent all season. Just does his job and does it invariably well - great leader.
I noticed on Monday that Llorente was great with ball on the floor and can pick a good pass, but when defending set pieces seemed easily bullied off the ball. That needs to be improved. If i notice it with my limited footy intellect, opposition coaches will.
posted on 10/3/21
comment by VOF - Its all about believing .... (U17124)
posted 1 minute ago
Agree on Cooper - he's been excellent all season. Just does his job and does it invariably well - great leader.
I noticed on Monday that Llorente was great with ball on the floor and can pick a good pass, but when defending set pieces seemed easily bullied off the ball. That needs to be improved. If i notice it with my limited footy intellect, opposition coaches will.
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i said at the time that I wondered if it was Llorente being poor at defending set plays, or just falling in line to the poor defending from set plays because of the way Bielsa approaches them. My understanding was that he was a bit of a beast at them prior to this season. Odd
posted on 10/3/21
comment by Lubo - We're Home! (U14008)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by VOF - Its all about believing .... (U17124)
posted 1 minute ago
Agree on Cooper - he's been excellent all season. Just does his job and does it invariably well - great leader.
I noticed on Monday that Llorente was great with ball on the floor and can pick a good pass, but when defending set pieces seemed easily bullied off the ball. That needs to be improved. If i notice it with my limited footy intellect, opposition coaches will.
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i said at the time that I wondered if it was Llorente being poor at defending set plays, or just falling in line to the poor defending from set plays because of the way Bielsa approaches them. My understanding was that he was a bit of a beast at them prior to this season. Odd
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He's still relatively new to the league and the style of play we have i guess, so i'm certainly not writing him off. When fit i think we've a good selection of CBs, not a position i suspect we'll be searching for in the summer?
posted on 10/3/21
Struijk will be back up to Cooper. Cooper been excellent for 1st season in Premiership.
Suspect Koch will get to play on the right, with Llorente backup to Koch & Philips.
posted on 10/3/21
There is not a chance Llorente and Koch play together unless both Cooper & Struijk are injured. Just won't happen.
Concerned about Llorente defensively so far. And Koch still hasn't proved himself fully either. Both have very good excuses and I hope the either manage to have a good run in the side and prove their qualities before the end of the season.
If the opportunity to sign White did arise it would be at the expense of either Koch or Llorente leaving. Not at the expense of Cooper or Struijk on the other side.
posted on 10/3/21
Interesting perspective, HaveFaithinLeeds (and I do!)
Of course, prising White away from Brighton would probably be impossible even if they are relegated so this is all academic.
However, I've never thought of this problem of upgrading the squad during the summer with five new players in terms of Koch + Llorente v Cooper + Struijk.
Koch and Llorente are the product of a considerable and recent investment north of 28 mill, I believe. Both have international experience and were first choice CBs in major European leagues before they arrived.
Cooper and Struijk did not cost a great deal of money and, while Cooper has some very limited international experience, both are only now being tested in a major league.
Therefore, if a CB is among the five upgrades, surely it's unlikely that either Koch or Llorente will be moved on?
posted on 10/3/21
There won’t be a CB among the 4-5 upgrades. Gotta be at least one LB, at least one CM, a Keeper, if Kiko really going, and maybe a backup striker for when Bamford injured. Not sure if Rodrigo is actually seen as a back up striker, more a Pablo replacement.
posted on 10/3/21
comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Interesting perspective, HaveFaithinLeeds (and I do!)
Of course, prising White away from Brighton would probably be impossible even if they are relegated so this is all academic.
However, I've never thought of this problem of upgrading the squad during the summer with five new players in terms of Koch + Llorente v Cooper + Struijk.
Koch and Llorente are the product of a considerable and recent investment north of 28 mill, I believe. Both have international experience and were first choice CBs in major European leagues before they arrived.
Cooper and Struijk did not cost a great deal of money and, while Cooper has some very limited international experience, both are only now being tested in a major league.
Therefore, if a CB is among the five upgrades, surely it's unlikely that either Koch or Llorente will be moved on?
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I doubt that a CB will be one of the 5, but Raphinha wasn't planned either. Sometimes an opportuinty comes in too good to resist. If Brighton go down and White does become available for £25m (very unlikely) then the club will definitely be interested.
If we did sign White he would play on the right of 2 CB's. So we would want to move on one of the right CB's.
On top of that, regardless of international experience or transfer fees, the 2 best performing CB's this season have been Cooper & Struijk.
On top of this I suspect that Llorente & Koch will be on a higher wage, especially when compared to Struijk. Cooper is also club captain.
Then take into account age and I would suspect Llorente would be favourite to go assuming the club could find a purchaser. He is also the CB that has shown the most shortcomings defensively this season out of the 4.
The right side of defence also has Ayling who has proved he is more than adequate cover in the unlikely event that the first 2 choices are injured together.
We do not have the same cover available for the left.
So I think the preference would be to move on Llorente, and if there were no takers, then it would have to be Koch.
posted on 10/3/21
Why are you guys talking about moving on Llorente.. we just got him ! He ain’t going nowhere... neither is Raphinha 🙏