Another match, another humiliating result.
Reading the comments made on the board tonight, opinion seems to be divided on whether the club should persevere with Bielsa or let him go. It seems that more people have run out of patience with him than not, and there does seem to be a feeling that his time has run its course. For myself, I belong in the same camp as many - eternally grateful for what he has achieved for the club, but seriously concerned with the way the season is progressing (or not) and, by his own admission, his failure to address the shortcomings of the team's fortunes.
All the usual arguments are there - a small squad, players being requested to cover multiple positions as needed, excessively demanding training sessions possibly contributing to injuries and fatigue, bewildering substitutions, failure to bolster an injury-ravaged squad, a solitary game plan which is being repeatedly exposed with no "Plan B", I could go on.
Does Bielsa have too much autonomy, added to a perceived mythical aura about him which renders both players and owners in awe of him? It seems that whatever he says, goes. No, he doesn't need any new players. No, he won't commit his future to the club before the end of the season, leaving any kind of planning precarious at best, disastrous at worst.
Two thirds of the season have gone and week by week our position becomes more perilous as teams below us stir into life while we're dying on our feet.
Whatever the owners may think regarding keeping or letting Bielsa go, it will be a gamble. To stick with him would be to carry on as we have been doing and hope for the best. We've already seen how that plays out. The table doesn't lie. To bring in a new coach with 13 matches left would be no guarantee of success either. It really is a dilemma.
Managers/coaches currently in a job would most likely not be released at this stage of the season, which leaves those who are out of work.
Personally, I have no idea who could come in and achieve what's needed. Benitez lasted 5 minutes at Everton, Nuno a little longer at Spurs. Big Sam was given 6 months to keep WBA in the PL but ultimately failed. Conte could be on his bike from Spurs too. The American Jesse Marsch was mentioned in the press as a possible successor to Bielsa at the end of the season should MB leave. I'm not suggesting these as possible candidates but, with the exception of Conte, the others are available.
Would 13 matches be enough for a new man to come in and instil his footballing style and philosophy on a small group of players who, in some cases, are already possibly burning out, or will the change invigorate them and give them a fresh impetus?
I'd be interested to know what everyone thinks in terms of a possible replacement if that's the way we go.
It’s worth pointing out that Wilko was boss for 8 years and his achievements were greater than Bielsa's, but he wasn't immune from the sack when things started to slide. He also dealt with the so called "second season syndrome" by winning the title. Yes, it was 30 years ago but the ball is still round and there are two sets of goals at each end of the pitch. It comes down to shrewd player recruitment and sensible planning and tactics.
Tonight was so disappointing but, sadly, not unexpected. It's when you become numb to 6-0 and 7-0 pastings that you realise how far we've sunk. I'd like to think that the players will come out and give Spurs a real run-around with a good result at the end of it, but realistically, I can't see it. At the moment it's hard to see where the next win is coming from. The players need an almighty injection of confidence and energy. Can Bielsa get them going or has he lost them?
If the conversation is to be had then the owners have a decision to make sooner rather than later too, but it may be too late - unless Bielsa makes it for them.
We move on to Saturday and live in hope. The expectation ship sailed a long time ago.
MOT
Stick or twist?
posted on 24/2/22
There’s no time with 13 games left to change the playing methods that Bielsa has drilled into the squad.
Getting rid of him now would pretty much guarantee our relegation.
We started the season badly, but the injuries have given us a mountain to climb.
We are on the verge of getting a few key players back to fitness, but looking at games in hand that other teams have, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in the bottom three by the time we begin our fight back.
It’s going to be squeaky bum time for a while, but I hope that Bielsa plus returning players and kinder fixtures will see us safe.
posted on 24/2/22
Got to go blud.
posted on 24/2/22
Fine post, Elland. I think we have to acknowledge that the team have not had the opportunity to stabilise this season. Week after week, we are hit with one injury after another. It is impossible for a team to achieve consistency in these conditions. No wonder our players look exhausted. For many of them, they are playing in a different position, in a different team, every week. This makes your question harder to resolve because Bielsa knows this squad better than anyone. But he is failing so badly, how could anyone else achieve more? If we stick, we get more of the same. The opposition won't be as skilled, but that doesn't mean our defence is going to improve overnight, or that our midfield will gel, or that Klich will suddenly start hitting the target. Honestly, the final berth on the relegation boat is between us and Brentford and, knowing us, it will go down to the final minute of the final game. Is Bielsa the man for that kind of game? Ask fat Frank about that.
Thirteen games is enough for a top manager to get us out of this mess, but who is available right now?
posted on 24/2/22
We all like to think we know more about football than we actually do, and on here and elsewhere there is an avalanche of opinions on how we get back to winning ways and whether or not we replace Bielsa. I love Bielsa – I think we all do for what he's done for this club – and my best-case scenario is that Bielsa eases back on the rigidity of his system, formula, whatever you want to call it. And if he refuses and we keep losing? I'd give him another 4-6 matches to prove he can get us back on track – and I do believe he can. I'm not one of those who professes to know all football's intricacies and I don't have an intuitive grasp of the game's subtleties but even I can deduce that morale and self confidence among this squad must be at an all-time low. In my very humble opinion, the biggest single factor in restoring team spirit and performance is not in who manages us or the tactics we employ, but it is in getting the likes of Cooper, Bamford and Phillips back. I'd personally hug anyone who could offer some hope on that front.
posted on 24/2/22
Imagine playing murderball every week and conceding 13 goals in 3 games after a winter break. Id be pretty hacked off if I was a Leeds play right now. Id rather not train and lose 6 nil than run around like a maniac in training only for suicidal tactics in games.
posted on 24/2/22
Ok we’ve recently lost badly to ManU, Liverpool, ManCity and surprisingly, Everton.
Our style is fine when we have a full compliment of players but when was the last time we had a settled back 4 with a decent defensive midfielder?
We are more than good enough to beat the likes of West Ham 2-3, Burnley 3-1 and should have picked up more points against teams like Newcastle and Leicester at ER. Even Chelsea away was one we should have got at least a point from.
Does anyone really think we have the personnel to sit back and let teams come at us? Maybe play to James’ speed (but not always his finishing)? I’m not so sure we could actually pull that off with our current defensive issues.
Sitting back with Ayling and Struijk at CB. Firpo at LB and Shacks at RB with no Phillips is not something I would be comfortable seeing week in week out.
Facts are we are missing Koch, Phillips, Cooper and Bamford. Lorrente seems to have a niggling injury that is affecting his form.
Maybe we should have bought in January but we didn’t and I’m not sure it would have changed things that much anyway.
Bottom line is we now need to start collecting points and hope others do us a few favours.
Changing the boss at this point is madness unless the players stop trying for him and I’ve seen no evidence of that.
posted on 24/2/22
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 52 minutes ago
Ok we’ve recently lost badly to ManU, Liverpool, ManCity and surprisingly, Everton.
Our style is fine when we have a full compliment of players but when was the last time we had a settled back 4 with a decent defensive midfielder?
We are more than good enough to beat the likes of West Ham 2-3, Burnley 3-1 and should have picked up more points against teams like Newcastle and Leicester at ER. Even Chelsea away was one we should have got at least a point from.
Does anyone really think we have the personnel to sit back and let teams come at us? Maybe play to James’ speed (but not always his finishing)? I’m not so sure we could actually pull that off with our current defensive issues.
Sitting back with Ayling and Struijk at CB. Firpo at LB and Shacks at RB with no Phillips is not something I would be comfortable seeing week in week out.
Facts are we are missing Koch, Phillips, Cooper and Bamford. Lorrente seems to have a niggling injury that is affecting his form.
Maybe we should have bought in January but we didn’t and I’m not sure it would have changed things that much anyway.
Bottom line is we now need to start collecting points and hope others do us a few favours.
Changing the boss at this point is madness unless the players stop trying for him and I’ve seen no evidence of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree. For me it's a Stick not Twist.
posted on 24/2/22
I’ve been very critical of Bielsa in the past but I’d wait and see if he changes things against Spurs .If not I think he should be sacked.I’d like to see Jesse March brought in and see what he can do .
posted on 25/2/22
Agree with Stoopo.
I’m taking a broader look, since the turn of the year we have 7 points from 7 games, if I’m really honest I would have expected 8 points from those games.
Spurs are not great, they are not a team we should be thinking we’ll lose to. Having said that, they can really hurt you as City found out last week.
Every game now is a cup final.
posted on 25/2/22
stick