[..]
Deep breath...
On not making changes
This is a strange season for us, we are regular in the players we are putting on the pitch, not just the XI players but also in the level of the performance for the players who play. Most of the matches we have played in similar performance without high levels but also without a low level, we are defending better this season but last season we had a problem but we needed between four and five chances to score one goal, in this moment we need more then seven chances to score. It is the highest percentage of all the Championship, for this season I give value to the production of our team because when one team needs seven chances to score that is linked with one of the teams at the bottom of the table - this average. But there is a general opinion that the lack of efficiency is linked with the centre forward and for me it is not like that. One team has a different way of scoring and it is not just the centre forward who is responsible for the team not scoring. You have a strategy of shooting from outside of the box, attacking in the middle and finishing in the middle so the last pass has to be straight and aligned for example you never listen in our analysis that our attackers don't receive passes from the middle of the pitch, in between the lines. The other way to score is when the passes come from the sides and a lack of accuracy that we have when we cross from the side is important. It is not a critic because for our ambition we always play with all of them, all of their XI in their field. For instance against Birmingham after the goal we crossed five times in five minutes and after the goal all the players were in our field so that means we crossed five teams because we had more space to cross because they were on our side, But in football you can analyse but not finish but you can also say that after that five minutes when we didn't score we didn't have many more chances and it was Birmingham in our pitch and we didn't take advantage of those 40 metres that we had to attack but our team is analysed that we can say it is a great team. But after when you see the competition you cannot say that Leeds or any team is great because the competition does not allow you to say this when you look at the result. I am not worried about what has happened to the team so far, even if daily we are looking at the team and making some critic, we always critic at Leeds to try to help but the team has played regularly well and defended regularly well, the team always runs and the team keeps my style as well. And the team has a big volume of defensive play and the big mistake of the team is the lack of efficiency but this involves all of the team. So it is possible in one period of the competition when we don't play very well we are going to have a new challenge to overcome. Leeds is over analysed because Leeds have to promote after ten matches and if you see last season Aston Villa needed to win their last ten matches to promote and at the moment the promotion of one team may not be in the first half, but in the second half. I tried to do this talk with you and I think it's interesting but I am not sure and I don't have final conclusions and what is around the team creates one final conclusion regarding the last result and the conclusion is not always the same. People describe mistakes with conclusions that you cannot change and it is not like that, not just the people, the press, the people who know our football. The positive thing is that the press are only paying attention when the team plays and you know there is a temptation to analyse the play for it not be interesting. If you are talk about the life of someone, private things, the footballer or the manager, this is more attractive for people, who cares if I buy my food in one supermarket or another one but one article about this is more attractive and you the press, the media, you are forced to try to keep the people with you so I really give a lot of importance to you asking football. I am grateful that you ask about football. I am grateful, not happy, but I give a lot of value because I know you are doing the thing that is less attractive to getting people to read the newspaper. The fact you are asking about football is not normal, it doesn't happen a lot of times and maybe you have less recognition for this in your jobs and for me it is fair to point this.
[...]
Happy overall
I am happy and I think this team is better than last season's.
Last season we had players who played very well but also ones that didn't, this season is more regular.
On Bamford (and Nketiah)...
We cannot talk about Bamford when it is necessary to talk about Nketiah.
What I say about Bamford is going to be compared to talk about Nketiah so to talk about Bamford is more useful to talk about Nketiah.
Nketiah has developed in one club as Arsenal and he has to play in Leeds. I am not comparing the level but you can see clearly the performance in one team or in another team. We don't have the players who win the match for themselves and big teams, Arsenal is one, they have a lot of players that can win one match for one player so it is natural that Nketiah has developed in this school and he has all the resources and skills to resolve the needs of scoring one goal, but we need to build the chances and we cannot build the chances if we don't have an instructor to create all the chances so you will see that every time is going to be less difficult for Eddie to be more similar to give this contribution. In the last match at Preston the match was played in the place of the pitch where he plays better - close to the box, against Birmingham he was far from the box and without offensive creation and against Birmingham he didn't have a good match and against Preston he had an impact. The most important is what he does when we have to score and Nketiah is very good at scoring, also Bamford but Bamford is missing chances and Nketiah is coring them, but there is a fact before scoring goals to build a situation to allow the chances to score a goal. Which player do you think runs more - Bamford or Nketiah? Bamford? No Nketiah ran more because Bamford ran for all the need of the team and Nketiah ran thinking of scoring, the metres that Bamford ran for the team and to finish, Nketiah runs to finish this action and it is natural. What I am looking for for Eddie to fulfil the needs of the team and he understands that if doesn't put the metres in both things he is going to have less chances to score. I am not 100 per cent sure what I am saying because football is not just for the manager, we are forced to analyse and take conclusions.
On his thinking - and Zidane
If you give me the option of choosing between my analysis and free football and I prefer free football and do you think Zidane thinks a lot of things, he thinks less things and he is a better manager than me. If you ask how do you want as manager Bielsa or Zidane people will say Zidane and I am just giving an example.
Will Bamford start?
Bamford plays.
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running - have to be right some time
comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 45 seconds ago
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running- have to be right some time
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or wrong all of the time! 😀
comment by NJS (U8272)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 45 seconds ago
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running- have to be right some time
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or wrong all of the time! 😀
----------------
Just shut yer mouth now
Thanks as always Sol for sharing
Love MB, and I understand English is his second language. However, reading his comments makes
me think of that Owls poster 'Predictive Text' I think
his name was. His posts were bleeding hilarious.
So, even when MB's being hyper coach serious,
I can't help but smile. Verbal rollercoaster. Love it.
Cant buy into these cryptic interviews anymore. Just tell us how you plan to get us to score more goals than Sheff Wed.
I don't get it. If Bielsa says Nketiah does his running to score goals, how can that not be for the benefit of the team? Why play Bamford in the goalscoring position when he is not scoring goals? How will that benefit the team? Wednesday will love having to deal with Bamford.
If Bamford is so essential to the build-up play, why not put him in a false No.9 role and have Nketiah up front, especially with Pablo still out of the team?
I know someone has to drop out, but we desperately need someone who knows where the net is. Also, having two known goal threats up front will create more space for both.
We're playing Wednesday next so I understand why Bielsa would be reluctant to experiment for that game...
But I don't understand why he doesn't try playing the 3-5-2 formation, with Bamford & Eddie in the 11
First time I’ve properly questioned Bielsa.
Persisting with Bamford makes no sense at this point.
This Is Why We Are Better Than Last Season – Leeds United Boss Marcelo Bielsa
Inside Futbol
Marcelo Bielsa believes he has been seeing more consistency in the performance of his Leeds United players this term compared to last season.
Leeds have dropped points in recent weeks and only managed a 1-1 draw at Preston North End on Tuesday night.
But they have continued to be one of the favourites to earn promotion to the Premier League and are second in the league table, two points behind leaders West Brom.
Leeds came close to promotion last season as well only to lose to Derby in the playoff semi-final, but Bielsa believes there has been an improvement in terms of consistency this time around.
He feels the level of performance from his Leeds players has not fluctuated and they have continued to maintain a standard despite the changes in the team.
Bielsa said in a press conference when asked whether he feels Leeds have improved this season: “I think this team is much better than last year’s team.”
When asked to explain, he said: “The level of the players."
“Last season we had players who played very well. We also had players who didn’t do well. Today is more regular in performance."
“And today we are 15, 16. Today we are 12, 13. Today if [Barry] Douglas plays, it’s similar to [Ezgjan] Alioski. Or [Patrick] Bamford or [Eddie] Nketiah, [Stuart] Dallas or [Luke] Ayling.
“This is important.”
JLA, it's a simple question. Why play an out of form striker against a resolute Wednesday side, when we have a striker who can put the ball in the net? Wednesday have conceded two goals in their last four games. Like many others on this thread, I do not understand why Bielsa can't play Bamford behind Nketiah. We might lose a little control in the middle of the pitch, but we would gain a lot of impact in the front. So what if we have 50% possession instead of 60%?
Perhaps this is worth a go:
Casilla
Dallas Cooper White Alioski/Douglas
Phillips
Costa Klich Bamford Harrison
Nketiah
Bamford is neither a number 10 or a guy who's scoring right now. And he should be nowhere near our midfield. He'd be bang average there.
I still don't see why Bamford is so crucial? If the key to him retaining his place is because he holds the ball up, I'll simply ask why? To what end? He doesn't hold the ball up to score himself. And there's no one else getting in a position to score when he does hold it up. If several players were scoring from his hold up play, then fair enough. They aren't. He does run around a lot.
Even so, he's ineffective right now when it comes to nailing chances created. If MB sticks with him for Sheff Wed, I hope for his sake he scores. If he doesn't, whatever shaky confidence he has now, will be shot for a while.
So who are the players that he is saying didn’t play very well last season?
Bpf
Roofe
Pontus?
comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 7 hours, 15 minutes ago
Perhaps this is worth a go:
Casilla
Dallas Cooper White Alioski/Douglas
Phillips
Costa Klich Bamford Harrison
Nketiah
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you take out Ayling, who hasn't out a foot wrong at right back? And you leave out Roberts? You have to look at who is playing well at the moment. Right back is Ayling or Dallas. Dallas is not as effective in midfield. Alioski offers more than Douglas at left back, in my view. I haven't heard if Coops is back, but it would be a huge bonus if he is.
If we put Nketiah up front, then, who are the players who can hold the ball in midfield and play it into the tight spaces in the box for Nketiah to run on to?
Klich, Costa, Roberts, Harrison, Bamford would be competing for four spaces. My feeling is that Harrison can do more damage to a bulky Wednesday defence than Klich, but his final ball is often wasteful. Klich is a slick, technical player, but without Pablo, he doesn't command the midfield in the way he should. Bamford should start because his hold up play is excellent. Roberts is improving with every game and also deserves a start. Costa is worth a start too. Once he gets a couple of goals, I think he is going to be the real deal for us. So this is my best team:
Kiko
Ayling White Bera Alioski
KP
Roberts Bamford Costa Harrison
Eddie
No way should bamford be playing in midfield.
He’s either playing upfront or he’s on the bench
Bamford is not a midfielder.
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 3 minutes ago
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
-------
I'll answer for them... no, they can't play together... unless you put either in midfeild or a flank.. which would be ridiculous
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 16 minutes ago
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, in fact I'd like to see the combo tried, just don't want to see Bamford in midfield.
If Bielsa is so good, he should be able to find a way to accommodate both, if not and he doesn't feel Nketioah can play 90 mins in his system, then it was a really poor acquisition to replace Roofe who could play the system for 90 minutes.
Sign in if you want to comment
Bielsa Press Conference: Pre-Wednesday
Page 1 of 2
posted on 24/10/19
[..]
Deep breath...
On not making changes
This is a strange season for us, we are regular in the players we are putting on the pitch, not just the XI players but also in the level of the performance for the players who play. Most of the matches we have played in similar performance without high levels but also without a low level, we are defending better this season but last season we had a problem but we needed between four and five chances to score one goal, in this moment we need more then seven chances to score. It is the highest percentage of all the Championship, for this season I give value to the production of our team because when one team needs seven chances to score that is linked with one of the teams at the bottom of the table - this average. But there is a general opinion that the lack of efficiency is linked with the centre forward and for me it is not like that. One team has a different way of scoring and it is not just the centre forward who is responsible for the team not scoring. You have a strategy of shooting from outside of the box, attacking in the middle and finishing in the middle so the last pass has to be straight and aligned for example you never listen in our analysis that our attackers don't receive passes from the middle of the pitch, in between the lines. The other way to score is when the passes come from the sides and a lack of accuracy that we have when we cross from the side is important. It is not a critic because for our ambition we always play with all of them, all of their XI in their field. For instance against Birmingham after the goal we crossed five times in five minutes and after the goal all the players were in our field so that means we crossed five teams because we had more space to cross because they were on our side, But in football you can analyse but not finish but you can also say that after that five minutes when we didn't score we didn't have many more chances and it was Birmingham in our pitch and we didn't take advantage of those 40 metres that we had to attack but our team is analysed that we can say it is a great team. But after when you see the competition you cannot say that Leeds or any team is great because the competition does not allow you to say this when you look at the result. I am not worried about what has happened to the team so far, even if daily we are looking at the team and making some critic, we always critic at Leeds to try to help but the team has played regularly well and defended regularly well, the team always runs and the team keeps my style as well. And the team has a big volume of defensive play and the big mistake of the team is the lack of efficiency but this involves all of the team. So it is possible in one period of the competition when we don't play very well we are going to have a new challenge to overcome. Leeds is over analysed because Leeds have to promote after ten matches and if you see last season Aston Villa needed to win their last ten matches to promote and at the moment the promotion of one team may not be in the first half, but in the second half. I tried to do this talk with you and I think it's interesting but I am not sure and I don't have final conclusions and what is around the team creates one final conclusion regarding the last result and the conclusion is not always the same. People describe mistakes with conclusions that you cannot change and it is not like that, not just the people, the press, the people who know our football. The positive thing is that the press are only paying attention when the team plays and you know there is a temptation to analyse the play for it not be interesting. If you are talk about the life of someone, private things, the footballer or the manager, this is more attractive for people, who cares if I buy my food in one supermarket or another one but one article about this is more attractive and you the press, the media, you are forced to try to keep the people with you so I really give a lot of importance to you asking football. I am grateful that you ask about football. I am grateful, not happy, but I give a lot of value because I know you are doing the thing that is less attractive to getting people to read the newspaper. The fact you are asking about football is not normal, it doesn't happen a lot of times and maybe you have less recognition for this in your jobs and for me it is fair to point this.
posted on 24/10/19
[...]
Happy overall
I am happy and I think this team is better than last season's.
Last season we had players who played very well but also ones that didn't, this season is more regular.
On Bamford (and Nketiah)...
We cannot talk about Bamford when it is necessary to talk about Nketiah.
What I say about Bamford is going to be compared to talk about Nketiah so to talk about Bamford is more useful to talk about Nketiah.
Nketiah has developed in one club as Arsenal and he has to play in Leeds. I am not comparing the level but you can see clearly the performance in one team or in another team. We don't have the players who win the match for themselves and big teams, Arsenal is one, they have a lot of players that can win one match for one player so it is natural that Nketiah has developed in this school and he has all the resources and skills to resolve the needs of scoring one goal, but we need to build the chances and we cannot build the chances if we don't have an instructor to create all the chances so you will see that every time is going to be less difficult for Eddie to be more similar to give this contribution. In the last match at Preston the match was played in the place of the pitch where he plays better - close to the box, against Birmingham he was far from the box and without offensive creation and against Birmingham he didn't have a good match and against Preston he had an impact. The most important is what he does when we have to score and Nketiah is very good at scoring, also Bamford but Bamford is missing chances and Nketiah is coring them, but there is a fact before scoring goals to build a situation to allow the chances to score a goal. Which player do you think runs more - Bamford or Nketiah? Bamford? No Nketiah ran more because Bamford ran for all the need of the team and Nketiah ran thinking of scoring, the metres that Bamford ran for the team and to finish, Nketiah runs to finish this action and it is natural. What I am looking for for Eddie to fulfil the needs of the team and he understands that if doesn't put the metres in both things he is going to have less chances to score. I am not 100 per cent sure what I am saying because football is not just for the manager, we are forced to analyse and take conclusions.
On his thinking - and Zidane
If you give me the option of choosing between my analysis and free football and I prefer free football and do you think Zidane thinks a lot of things, he thinks less things and he is a better manager than me. If you ask how do you want as manager Bielsa or Zidane people will say Zidane and I am just giving an example.
Will Bamford start?
Bamford plays.
posted on 24/10/19
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running - have to be right some time
posted on 24/10/19
comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 45 seconds ago
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running- have to be right some time
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or wrong all of the time! 😀
posted on 24/10/19
comment by NJS (U8272)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by The Spanish Italians (U21595)
posted 45 seconds ago
Bamford to score a brace... 2 - 0 Leeds..
I've said that for a about 8 weeks running- have to be right some time
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or wrong all of the time! 😀
----------------
Just shut yer mouth now
posted on 24/10/19
Thanks as always Sol for sharing
posted on 24/10/19
Love MB, and I understand English is his second language. However, reading his comments makes
me think of that Owls poster 'Predictive Text' I think
his name was. His posts were bleeding hilarious.
So, even when MB's being hyper coach serious,
I can't help but smile. Verbal rollercoaster. Love it.
posted on 24/10/19
Salim is missed.
posted on 24/10/19
Cant buy into these cryptic interviews anymore. Just tell us how you plan to get us to score more goals than Sheff Wed.
posted on 24/10/19
I don't get it. If Bielsa says Nketiah does his running to score goals, how can that not be for the benefit of the team? Why play Bamford in the goalscoring position when he is not scoring goals? How will that benefit the team? Wednesday will love having to deal with Bamford.
posted on 24/10/19
What a load of Bollox
posted on 24/10/19
If Bamford is so essential to the build-up play, why not put him in a false No.9 role and have Nketiah up front, especially with Pablo still out of the team?
I know someone has to drop out, but we desperately need someone who knows where the net is. Also, having two known goal threats up front will create more space for both.
posted on 24/10/19
We're playing Wednesday next so I understand why Bielsa would be reluctant to experiment for that game...
But I don't understand why he doesn't try playing the 3-5-2 formation, with Bamford & Eddie in the 11
posted on 24/10/19
First time I’ve properly questioned Bielsa.
Persisting with Bamford makes no sense at this point.
posted on 24/10/19
This Is Why We Are Better Than Last Season – Leeds United Boss Marcelo Bielsa
Inside Futbol
Marcelo Bielsa believes he has been seeing more consistency in the performance of his Leeds United players this term compared to last season.
Leeds have dropped points in recent weeks and only managed a 1-1 draw at Preston North End on Tuesday night.
But they have continued to be one of the favourites to earn promotion to the Premier League and are second in the league table, two points behind leaders West Brom.
Leeds came close to promotion last season as well only to lose to Derby in the playoff semi-final, but Bielsa believes there has been an improvement in terms of consistency this time around.
He feels the level of performance from his Leeds players has not fluctuated and they have continued to maintain a standard despite the changes in the team.
Bielsa said in a press conference when asked whether he feels Leeds have improved this season: “I think this team is much better than last year’s team.”
When asked to explain, he said: “The level of the players."
“Last season we had players who played very well. We also had players who didn’t do well. Today is more regular in performance."
“And today we are 15, 16. Today we are 12, 13. Today if [Barry] Douglas plays, it’s similar to [Ezgjan] Alioski. Or [Patrick] Bamford or [Eddie] Nketiah, [Stuart] Dallas or [Luke] Ayling.
“This is important.”
posted on 24/10/19
JLA, it's a simple question. Why play an out of form striker against a resolute Wednesday side, when we have a striker who can put the ball in the net? Wednesday have conceded two goals in their last four games. Like many others on this thread, I do not understand why Bielsa can't play Bamford behind Nketiah. We might lose a little control in the middle of the pitch, but we would gain a lot of impact in the front. So what if we have 50% possession instead of 60%?
posted on 25/10/19
Perhaps this is worth a go:
Casilla
Dallas Cooper White Alioski/Douglas
Phillips
Costa Klich Bamford Harrison
Nketiah
posted on 25/10/19
Bamford is neither a number 10 or a guy who's scoring right now. And he should be nowhere near our midfield. He'd be bang average there.
I still don't see why Bamford is so crucial? If the key to him retaining his place is because he holds the ball up, I'll simply ask why? To what end? He doesn't hold the ball up to score himself. And there's no one else getting in a position to score when he does hold it up. If several players were scoring from his hold up play, then fair enough. They aren't. He does run around a lot.
Even so, he's ineffective right now when it comes to nailing chances created. If MB sticks with him for Sheff Wed, I hope for his sake he scores. If he doesn't, whatever shaky confidence he has now, will be shot for a while.
posted on 25/10/19
So who are the players that he is saying didn’t play very well last season?
Bpf
Roofe
Pontus?
posted on 25/10/19
comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 7 hours, 15 minutes ago
Perhaps this is worth a go:
Casilla
Dallas Cooper White Alioski/Douglas
Phillips
Costa Klich Bamford Harrison
Nketiah
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you take out Ayling, who hasn't out a foot wrong at right back? And you leave out Roberts? You have to look at who is playing well at the moment. Right back is Ayling or Dallas. Dallas is not as effective in midfield. Alioski offers more than Douglas at left back, in my view. I haven't heard if Coops is back, but it would be a huge bonus if he is.
If we put Nketiah up front, then, who are the players who can hold the ball in midfield and play it into the tight spaces in the box for Nketiah to run on to?
Klich, Costa, Roberts, Harrison, Bamford would be competing for four spaces. My feeling is that Harrison can do more damage to a bulky Wednesday defence than Klich, but his final ball is often wasteful. Klich is a slick, technical player, but without Pablo, he doesn't command the midfield in the way he should. Bamford should start because his hold up play is excellent. Roberts is improving with every game and also deserves a start. Costa is worth a start too. Once he gets a couple of goals, I think he is going to be the real deal for us. So this is my best team:
Kiko
Ayling White Bera Alioski
KP
Roberts Bamford Costa Harrison
Eddie
posted on 25/10/19
No way should bamford be playing in midfield.
He’s either playing upfront or he’s on the bench
posted on 25/10/19
Bamford is not a midfielder.
posted on 25/10/19
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
posted on 25/10/19
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 3 minutes ago
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
-------
I'll answer for them... no, they can't play together... unless you put either in midfeild or a flank.. which would be ridiculous
posted on 25/10/19
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 16 minutes ago
So, LIW and Jonty, are you saying that Bamford and Nketiah can't play together in Bielsa's set up?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, in fact I'd like to see the combo tried, just don't want to see Bamford in midfield.
If Bielsa is so good, he should be able to find a way to accommodate both, if not and he doesn't feel Nketioah can play 90 mins in his system, then it was a really poor acquisition to replace Roofe who could play the system for 90 minutes.
Page 1 of 2