Love MB and all he's done. But, in my mind he is done.
He's far too stubborn. And relies way too heavily on his
small squad philosophy. Which alone puts are backs
against the wall from the off. Someone said yesterday
on here that MB succeeded in the Championship with
Championship level players + a couple of Prem level
players. It's true. That same group can only go so far
in the Prem. He did well first season here. For sure.
However, we didn't recruit well in the summer or Jan.
That was partly at MB's insistence. He wanted us to be
exactly what we are. And it's a huge problem. Let's not
act like MB has be short changed by ownership.
I remember back at the beginning of the season, many
on here said we had to be challenging for Europe (I'm
pretty sure you said same Jonty). I wrote I'd be happy
with 17th and stay up. But, I hoped everyone else with
their Europe shouts would be right.
MB brought us massive joy, promotion, and hope. Build
him a statue in his honour. But, let's not get sentimental
and gloss over the warts and issues that are plain as
day.
I agree with most of what you are saying, particularly the stuff about Bielsa.
We are 6 points off 18th who have played a game more than us.
Yet some people acting like we are already down and the manager has achieved nothing at the club.
Its not great at the moment, however the club has already identified the need to improve the midfield and know they are going to have make an outlay and are preparing for it.
There are one or two on here who have always been against bielsa and everytime we have had a blip, like being knocked out of a cup, or a poor result are on here saying its proof that bielsa is rubbish.
Unfortunately results are lower then they have been at any point so those posters finally have, for the first time in bielsas reign, an actual prolonged period of time to be on here, normally they would sulk off the next week when results returned to normal.
For me bielsa has the next transfer window to identify who he wants and bring them in.
I would say he still has the backing of at least 95% of our support who see what he has achieved with this bunch of players.
Yes he has faults particularly with the continual selecting of certain underachieving players but to get rid of him now would not only be unjustifiable but also suicidal to our chances of staying up
For me bielsa has the next transfer window to identify who he wants and bring them in.
^^^^^
That makes me nervous. But, I absolutely see your point.
Assuming we stay up (and I think we will scrape it and
be ok), there's a few big Ifs involved. If we avoid
another season of massive injuries. If we have a good
sized transfer pot. And if we land signings who Orta
and MB agree on. If those signings improve us as
much as we need. If we don't lose key players (KP for
one). And if MB sees out a full season. Then it's worth
giving him another transfer window and season.
In MB's defence, next season can't be as bad as this one, surely?
Also this small squad thing.
He has identified midfielders he wants to bring in.
We made a concerted effort to bring one of those in and are lookingnlikely to return for him in the summer.
There have also been a number of other midfield players who he wanted to bring in but couldn't get done for various reasons.
So he hasn't tied himself down to a small squad, he just hasn't been able to bring in players better than what we had for the amount we thought was reasonable, so haven't.
Matty, that's true to a point. However, why couldn't we
nail down Gallagher? He would've been, in my mind,
the one signing who would've made the difference.
What did MB say or not say that led to Gallagher going
to Palace? Because it would've been down to MB to
sell the team/club/philosophy. Did he say "after six or
so games you'll be fit enough to make the bench..."
Something stinks there. And I'm sorry but van de Beek
would've walked into this team. But we said nope we're
covered. And there were others.
Is MB so hyper specific that it's hurting us? Players
win games way more than systems. Except when its MB.
I just don't buy into this mentally that a manager who won us promotion by winning the league and got us to ninth in the league the next year should be cast aside at the first sign of things not being as good as they have been up to this point.
Honestly, it just seems kind of childish to me. Like people like the ability to understand that things have levels and that its not black and white.
Black - everything perfect.
White - Its not perfect right this very second...... oh my god sack him
Like I said, that thinking seems childish to me.
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 minute ago
Matty, that's true to a point. However, why couldn't we
nail down Gallagher? He would've been, in my mind,
the one signing who would've made the difference.
What did MB say or not say that led to Gallagher going
to Palace? Because it would've been down to MB to
sell the team/club/philosophy. Did he say "after six or
so games you'll be fit enough to make the bench..."
Something stinks there. And I'm sorry but van de Beek
would've walked into this team. But we said nope we're
covered. And there were others.
Is MB so hyper specific that it's hurting us? Players
win games way more than systems. Except when its MB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There could have been a tonne of reasons for Palace.
For example they are managed by one of the finest midfield players of the premiership era. That could be a massive pull for any midfield player.
They are in London.
The manager might have sold his role better to him.
I'm not saying its perfect, but from what I've heard, mainly from Phil Hay, the club know that this summer they will need a massive outlay and are preparing for it.
Not childish. And I agree, the world over is shades
of gray. And nothing is as simple as maybe we all make it at times. On the other hand, giving MB carte blanche
because of the past, isn't exactly being smart.
I appreciate MB. Love his honesty and what he stands for. However, we aren't reacting to the first four or five games of the season. We're in the thick of relegation.
And we have plenty to base our reservations on.
For example they are managed by one of the finest midfield players of the premiership era. That could be a massive pull for any midfield player.
^^^^^
I agree.Viera's a legend. And one Gallagher has to have
watched growing up. And this is more than likely it.
Quite simple. Lets get to the end of the season and regardless of position in the league give Mr Bielsa the chance to stay another year.
If we lost every game between now and the end of the season and finished bottom i would still want Bielsa to lead us back up next season.
We've just lost 2 games to sides that were bang out of form and who needed a break, now we are about to face 2 more teams that are falling flat on there face week in week out in Man U and Spurs. Are we going to give out free thumpings to them aswell? Feels like the only team we could beat right now is Norwich and possibly Watford.
Need a new change of direction next season. Have to stick with Bielsa atm though undoubtedly.
Next manager will be Diego Martinez btw, apparently he's the next 1 in line.
comment by Mattyp (U8926)
posted 32 minutes ago
I just don't buy into this mentally that a manager who won us promotion by winning the league and got us to ninth in the league the next year should be cast aside at the first sign of things not being as good as they have been up to this point.
Honestly, it just seems kind of childish to me. Like people like the ability to understand that things have levels and that its not black and white.
Black - everything perfect.
White - Its not perfect right this very second...... oh my god sack him
Like I said, that thinking seems childish to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Wilder got promoted, finished 9th and they sacked him as soon as it turned bad (relegation) Bielsa is surviving solely on his reputation, he's bigger than Orta, Radz and Kinnear and they know it.
BTW, I'm not suggesting MB leaves now or before
the summer. That would be total madness.
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
Quite simple. Lets get to the end of the season and regardless of position in the league give Mr Bielsa the chance to stay another year.
If we lost every game between now and the end of the season and finished bottom i would still want Bielsa to lead us back up next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This
A timely thread amid the panic, Jonty. Bielsa is now part of the DNA of Leeds for what he has achieved in the past four years.
Along the way, there have been lean spells and dreadful results, and we need to remind ourselves that it is not always like this.
The problem with this season is that his decision making is much less effective than before. Now I accept that I do not see what he sees in training every week, I don't see the metrics on fitness and performance on each player, but what I see on the pitch is the product of blind loyalty to players who, frankly, are running out of steam. Allied to this, he only uses under 23's as a last resort.
Yesterday, we knew fat Frank was going to come at us with all guns blazing. We knew it! The dogs on the street knew it. My dog was hiding behind the sofa before the game had even kicked off. One look at the Everton line-up told you how they were set up. They tore into us and should have been out of sight within half an hour.
Bielsa of old would have made a change there and then. This is the coach who has taken talismen like Struijk and Phillips off when the game is going against us. We needed a midfield presence and we needed a striker.
Forshaw on at half time, fine, but ffs Roberts? Wtf? For Raph??? WTF cubed. What is your take on that substitution?
It's not Roberts' fault he got called on to the pitch. Everyone knows what he brings to the game. But to leave a centre-forward on the bench when you are two down and getting mauled, and to bring on a player who consistently produces zero impact when he comes on, is suicide.
Once Raph came off, you could see the game was over.
I don't know what Bielsa's rationale was for doing that and it worries me that something so obvious eluded him. There is a point where blind loyalty to players has run its course.
We can make similar arguments about Klich, and Ayling - are they costing us points at this stage in their careers? But Bielsa is steadfastly loyal to them.
I think we need 10 points to stay up this season, and while Burnley, Norwich and Watford are losing games, we should be ok, but Burnley have just come out of games with Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U with a couple of points and have an easier run of fixtures coming up.
We have a three tough games coming up but there are points there if we can play sensible football, players in their best positions, and providing genuine opportunities for our young talent. Bate and Gelhardt need more game time. Klich and Roberts do not.
Bielsa has to step back to where he was two years, be brave, and take the chance.
5 star article Jonty.
Imagine Bielsa having a squad of players he wants at the quality and skill level of City's players.
We wouldn't be saying he can't cut it in the Prem.
It's true I think that certain managers have the tools to dismantle our current team with their tactics, but that's often due to being up against superior players. Our man-for-man marking is vulnerable to such.
We need some real talented players to come in. Bielsa refuses to sign players who aren't an improvement on what we've got and that's the right approach, but there isn't the war-chest to get that level of player yet.
I hope the 49ers have deeper pockets than Radz. I can't see him throwing that kind of money around as he's already made his financial killing by making us a Prem team. He'll be all about the profit margin now.
Usual fickle fans I’m afraid. Fortunately they are a minority at the moment.
Good thread Jonty. Nice to see some considered thoughts rather than knee jerk reactions.
ManU next. Be there or be square
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 2 hours, 50 minutes ago
A timely thread amid the panic, Jonty. Bielsa is now part of the DNA of Leeds for what he has achieved in the past four years.
Along the way, there have been lean spells and dreadful results, and we need to remind ourselves that it is not always like this.
The problem with this season is that his decision making is much less effective than before. Now I accept that I do not see what he sees in training every week, I don't see the metrics on fitness and performance on each player, but what I see on the pitch is the product of blind loyalty to players who, frankly, are running out of steam. Allied to this, he only uses under 23's as a last resort.
Yesterday, we knew fat Frank was going to come at us with all guns blazing. We knew it! The dogs on the street knew it. My dog was hiding behind the sofa before the game had even kicked off. One look at the Everton line-up told you how they were set up. They tore into us and should have been out of sight within half an hour.
Bielsa of old would have made a change there and then. This is the coach who has taken talismen like Struijk and Phillips off when the game is going against us. We needed a midfield presence and we needed a striker.
Forshaw on at half time, fine, but ffs Roberts? Wtf? For Raph??? WTF cubed. What is your take on that substitution?
It's not Roberts' fault he got called on to the pitch. Everyone knows what he brings to the game. But to leave a centre-forward on the bench when you are two down and getting mauled, and to bring on a player who consistently produces zero impact when he comes on, is suicide.
Once Raph came off, you could see the game was over.
I don't know what Bielsa's rationale was for doing that and it worries me that something so obvious eluded him. There is a point where blind loyalty to players has run its course.
We can make similar arguments about Klich, and Ayling - are they costing us points at this stage in their careers? But Bielsa is steadfastly loyal to them.
I think we need 10 points to stay up this season, and while Burnley, Norwich and Watford are losing games, we should be ok, but Burnley have just come out of games with Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U with a couple of points and have an easier run of fixtures coming up.
We have a three tough games coming up but there are points there if we can play sensible football, players in their best positions, and providing genuine opportunities for our young talent. Bate and Gelhardt need more game time. Klich and Roberts do not.
Bielsa has to step back to where he was two years, be brave, and take the chance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I've never really rated Roberts and I'm afraid in my book its another example of wasted money from Orta and we still have a bit of that to unwind, De Bock, Casilla.
However the decisions remind me a bit of Wilko in respect of initially pretty much every transfer turned to gold, and then it all went wrong. Not saying Bielsa's transfers going wrong but feels like tactics ineffective and its hard to watch coach lauded as one of the best in the world losing to the likes of Lampard.
Well, Claudio Ranieri won not the Championship, but the Premier League with Leicester City. Two seasons later he was sacked. We haven’t seen Leicester adversely affected despite losing numerous key players.
None of us doubt what Bielsa has achieved since he joined us, but we also need to keep a sense of perspective. Bielsa is a unique coach and lot will be impossible to replicate either his style or methods of management.
Personally, I think Bielsa is going to call it a day himself at the end of this season; if he stays he will want to achieve a vast improvement on this season. This could hinge on the end of season discussions. No doubt,
if Radrizzani is in mind to change Bielsa, the his shortlist will be drawn up soon and rumours will abound. If not, it is unlikely the plan is for Bielsa to leave.
We are directly in a crisis per se, but it’s clear that a little less obstinacy on Bielsa’s part along with greater flexibility could ease some of the issues we are facing when games are going against us and a change is needed to turn the game around.
15 games left, and still a lot of football left to play….
Whilst I think there's no chance of relegation come the end of the season the next phase of development will need to take place,
As I mentioned the other day this is the first time the board have genuinely believed the manager may leave and whilst he wont be pushed I dont think much effort will be made to persuade him to stay, theres a lot of pressure and strain running a Bielsa club probably unlike any other for a start Ortas job recruiting is a nightmare dont blame anyone but the manager for players coming in it's down to him though the reason they were reluctant to spend in January was down to the uncertainty over his future,
I thought until Saturday in the last four games we were starting to get our mojo back even v Newcastle we should have won comfortably, Saturday was awful but we can see where it went wrong with the formation,
What might turn the fans against him is his insistence on playing Robert's over Gelhardt, I dont think Robert's is as bad as people make out but when you are chasing the game hes not the answer,
I would like Bielsa to sign a two year deal to oversee the next phase as one year at a time wont work in the redevelopment of the team imo,
Whatever happens we should be grateful hes been at our club whoever comes in will have it boots to fill,
Interesting that Villa lost to Newcastle. Might be something in the 'tiredness' factor.
I don't want Bielsa out, but would be happy for us to go a different route next season, as long as the work he has put in is followed up with a proper plan, not a punt on another Heckingbottom, but a top coach. We should have a good pick as long as we stay up, the club will need to spend a decent amount of money.
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Page 1 of 2
posted on 13/2/22
Love MB and all he's done. But, in my mind he is done.
He's far too stubborn. And relies way too heavily on his
small squad philosophy. Which alone puts are backs
against the wall from the off. Someone said yesterday
on here that MB succeeded in the Championship with
Championship level players + a couple of Prem level
players. It's true. That same group can only go so far
in the Prem. He did well first season here. For sure.
However, we didn't recruit well in the summer or Jan.
That was partly at MB's insistence. He wanted us to be
exactly what we are. And it's a huge problem. Let's not
act like MB has be short changed by ownership.
I remember back at the beginning of the season, many
on here said we had to be challenging for Europe (I'm
pretty sure you said same Jonty). I wrote I'd be happy
with 17th and stay up. But, I hoped everyone else with
their Europe shouts would be right.
MB brought us massive joy, promotion, and hope. Build
him a statue in his honour. But, let's not get sentimental
and gloss over the warts and issues that are plain as
day.
posted on 13/2/22
I agree with most of what you are saying, particularly the stuff about Bielsa.
We are 6 points off 18th who have played a game more than us.
Yet some people acting like we are already down and the manager has achieved nothing at the club.
Its not great at the moment, however the club has already identified the need to improve the midfield and know they are going to have make an outlay and are preparing for it.
There are one or two on here who have always been against bielsa and everytime we have had a blip, like being knocked out of a cup, or a poor result are on here saying its proof that bielsa is rubbish.
Unfortunately results are lower then they have been at any point so those posters finally have, for the first time in bielsas reign, an actual prolonged period of time to be on here, normally they would sulk off the next week when results returned to normal.
For me bielsa has the next transfer window to identify who he wants and bring them in.
posted on 13/2/22
I would say he still has the backing of at least 95% of our support who see what he has achieved with this bunch of players.
Yes he has faults particularly with the continual selecting of certain underachieving players but to get rid of him now would not only be unjustifiable but also suicidal to our chances of staying up
posted on 13/2/22
For me bielsa has the next transfer window to identify who he wants and bring them in.
^^^^^
That makes me nervous. But, I absolutely see your point.
Assuming we stay up (and I think we will scrape it and
be ok), there's a few big Ifs involved. If we avoid
another season of massive injuries. If we have a good
sized transfer pot. And if we land signings who Orta
and MB agree on. If those signings improve us as
much as we need. If we don't lose key players (KP for
one). And if MB sees out a full season. Then it's worth
giving him another transfer window and season.
In MB's defence, next season can't be as bad as this one, surely?
posted on 13/2/22
Also this small squad thing.
He has identified midfielders he wants to bring in.
We made a concerted effort to bring one of those in and are lookingnlikely to return for him in the summer.
There have also been a number of other midfield players who he wanted to bring in but couldn't get done for various reasons.
So he hasn't tied himself down to a small squad, he just hasn't been able to bring in players better than what we had for the amount we thought was reasonable, so haven't.
posted on 13/2/22
Matty, that's true to a point. However, why couldn't we
nail down Gallagher? He would've been, in my mind,
the one signing who would've made the difference.
What did MB say or not say that led to Gallagher going
to Palace? Because it would've been down to MB to
sell the team/club/philosophy. Did he say "after six or
so games you'll be fit enough to make the bench..."
Something stinks there. And I'm sorry but van de Beek
would've walked into this team. But we said nope we're
covered. And there were others.
Is MB so hyper specific that it's hurting us? Players
win games way more than systems. Except when its MB.
posted on 13/2/22
I just don't buy into this mentally that a manager who won us promotion by winning the league and got us to ninth in the league the next year should be cast aside at the first sign of things not being as good as they have been up to this point.
Honestly, it just seems kind of childish to me. Like people like the ability to understand that things have levels and that its not black and white.
Black - everything perfect.
White - Its not perfect right this very second...... oh my god sack him
Like I said, that thinking seems childish to me.
posted on 13/2/22
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 minute ago
Matty, that's true to a point. However, why couldn't we
nail down Gallagher? He would've been, in my mind,
the one signing who would've made the difference.
What did MB say or not say that led to Gallagher going
to Palace? Because it would've been down to MB to
sell the team/club/philosophy. Did he say "after six or
so games you'll be fit enough to make the bench..."
Something stinks there. And I'm sorry but van de Beek
would've walked into this team. But we said nope we're
covered. And there were others.
Is MB so hyper specific that it's hurting us? Players
win games way more than systems. Except when its MB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There could have been a tonne of reasons for Palace.
For example they are managed by one of the finest midfield players of the premiership era. That could be a massive pull for any midfield player.
They are in London.
The manager might have sold his role better to him.
I'm not saying its perfect, but from what I've heard, mainly from Phil Hay, the club know that this summer they will need a massive outlay and are preparing for it.
posted on 13/2/22
Not childish. And I agree, the world over is shades
of gray. And nothing is as simple as maybe we all make it at times. On the other hand, giving MB carte blanche
because of the past, isn't exactly being smart.
I appreciate MB. Love his honesty and what he stands for. However, we aren't reacting to the first four or five games of the season. We're in the thick of relegation.
And we have plenty to base our reservations on.
posted on 13/2/22
For example they are managed by one of the finest midfield players of the premiership era. That could be a massive pull for any midfield player.
^^^^^
I agree.Viera's a legend. And one Gallagher has to have
watched growing up. And this is more than likely it.
posted on 13/2/22
Quite simple. Lets get to the end of the season and regardless of position in the league give Mr Bielsa the chance to stay another year.
If we lost every game between now and the end of the season and finished bottom i would still want Bielsa to lead us back up next season.
posted on 13/2/22
We've just lost 2 games to sides that were bang out of form and who needed a break, now we are about to face 2 more teams that are falling flat on there face week in week out in Man U and Spurs. Are we going to give out free thumpings to them aswell? Feels like the only team we could beat right now is Norwich and possibly Watford.
Need a new change of direction next season. Have to stick with Bielsa atm though undoubtedly.
posted on 13/2/22
Next manager will be Diego Martinez btw, apparently he's the next 1 in line.
posted on 13/2/22
comment by Mattyp (U8926)
posted 32 minutes ago
I just don't buy into this mentally that a manager who won us promotion by winning the league and got us to ninth in the league the next year should be cast aside at the first sign of things not being as good as they have been up to this point.
Honestly, it just seems kind of childish to me. Like people like the ability to understand that things have levels and that its not black and white.
Black - everything perfect.
White - Its not perfect right this very second...... oh my god sack him
Like I said, that thinking seems childish to me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Wilder got promoted, finished 9th and they sacked him as soon as it turned bad (relegation) Bielsa is surviving solely on his reputation, he's bigger than Orta, Radz and Kinnear and they know it.
posted on 13/2/22
BTW, I'm not suggesting MB leaves now or before
the summer. That would be total madness.
posted on 13/2/22
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
Quite simple. Lets get to the end of the season and regardless of position in the league give Mr Bielsa the chance to stay another year.
If we lost every game between now and the end of the season and finished bottom i would still want Bielsa to lead us back up next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This
posted on 13/2/22
A timely thread amid the panic, Jonty. Bielsa is now part of the DNA of Leeds for what he has achieved in the past four years.
Along the way, there have been lean spells and dreadful results, and we need to remind ourselves that it is not always like this.
The problem with this season is that his decision making is much less effective than before. Now I accept that I do not see what he sees in training every week, I don't see the metrics on fitness and performance on each player, but what I see on the pitch is the product of blind loyalty to players who, frankly, are running out of steam. Allied to this, he only uses under 23's as a last resort.
Yesterday, we knew fat Frank was going to come at us with all guns blazing. We knew it! The dogs on the street knew it. My dog was hiding behind the sofa before the game had even kicked off. One look at the Everton line-up told you how they were set up. They tore into us and should have been out of sight within half an hour.
Bielsa of old would have made a change there and then. This is the coach who has taken talismen like Struijk and Phillips off when the game is going against us. We needed a midfield presence and we needed a striker.
Forshaw on at half time, fine, but ffs Roberts? Wtf? For Raph??? WTF cubed. What is your take on that substitution?
It's not Roberts' fault he got called on to the pitch. Everyone knows what he brings to the game. But to leave a centre-forward on the bench when you are two down and getting mauled, and to bring on a player who consistently produces zero impact when he comes on, is suicide.
Once Raph came off, you could see the game was over.
I don't know what Bielsa's rationale was for doing that and it worries me that something so obvious eluded him. There is a point where blind loyalty to players has run its course.
We can make similar arguments about Klich, and Ayling - are they costing us points at this stage in their careers? But Bielsa is steadfastly loyal to them.
I think we need 10 points to stay up this season, and while Burnley, Norwich and Watford are losing games, we should be ok, but Burnley have just come out of games with Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U with a couple of points and have an easier run of fixtures coming up.
We have a three tough games coming up but there are points there if we can play sensible football, players in their best positions, and providing genuine opportunities for our young talent. Bate and Gelhardt need more game time. Klich and Roberts do not.
Bielsa has to step back to where he was two years, be brave, and take the chance.
posted on 13/2/22
5 star article Jonty.
Imagine Bielsa having a squad of players he wants at the quality and skill level of City's players.
We wouldn't be saying he can't cut it in the Prem.
It's true I think that certain managers have the tools to dismantle our current team with their tactics, but that's often due to being up against superior players. Our man-for-man marking is vulnerable to such.
We need some real talented players to come in. Bielsa refuses to sign players who aren't an improvement on what we've got and that's the right approach, but there isn't the war-chest to get that level of player yet.
I hope the 49ers have deeper pockets than Radz. I can't see him throwing that kind of money around as he's already made his financial killing by making us a Prem team. He'll be all about the profit margin now.
posted on 13/2/22
Usual fickle fans I’m afraid. Fortunately they are a minority at the moment.
posted on 13/2/22
Good thread Jonty. Nice to see some considered thoughts rather than knee jerk reactions.
ManU next. Be there or be square
posted on 13/2/22
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 2 hours, 50 minutes ago
A timely thread amid the panic, Jonty. Bielsa is now part of the DNA of Leeds for what he has achieved in the past four years.
Along the way, there have been lean spells and dreadful results, and we need to remind ourselves that it is not always like this.
The problem with this season is that his decision making is much less effective than before. Now I accept that I do not see what he sees in training every week, I don't see the metrics on fitness and performance on each player, but what I see on the pitch is the product of blind loyalty to players who, frankly, are running out of steam. Allied to this, he only uses under 23's as a last resort.
Yesterday, we knew fat Frank was going to come at us with all guns blazing. We knew it! The dogs on the street knew it. My dog was hiding behind the sofa before the game had even kicked off. One look at the Everton line-up told you how they were set up. They tore into us and should have been out of sight within half an hour.
Bielsa of old would have made a change there and then. This is the coach who has taken talismen like Struijk and Phillips off when the game is going against us. We needed a midfield presence and we needed a striker.
Forshaw on at half time, fine, but ffs Roberts? Wtf? For Raph??? WTF cubed. What is your take on that substitution?
It's not Roberts' fault he got called on to the pitch. Everyone knows what he brings to the game. But to leave a centre-forward on the bench when you are two down and getting mauled, and to bring on a player who consistently produces zero impact when he comes on, is suicide.
Once Raph came off, you could see the game was over.
I don't know what Bielsa's rationale was for doing that and it worries me that something so obvious eluded him. There is a point where blind loyalty to players has run its course.
We can make similar arguments about Klich, and Ayling - are they costing us points at this stage in their careers? But Bielsa is steadfastly loyal to them.
I think we need 10 points to stay up this season, and while Burnley, Norwich and Watford are losing games, we should be ok, but Burnley have just come out of games with Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U with a couple of points and have an easier run of fixtures coming up.
We have a three tough games coming up but there are points there if we can play sensible football, players in their best positions, and providing genuine opportunities for our young talent. Bate and Gelhardt need more game time. Klich and Roberts do not.
Bielsa has to step back to where he was two years, be brave, and take the chance.
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I've never really rated Roberts and I'm afraid in my book its another example of wasted money from Orta and we still have a bit of that to unwind, De Bock, Casilla.
However the decisions remind me a bit of Wilko in respect of initially pretty much every transfer turned to gold, and then it all went wrong. Not saying Bielsa's transfers going wrong but feels like tactics ineffective and its hard to watch coach lauded as one of the best in the world losing to the likes of Lampard.
posted on 14/2/22
Well, Claudio Ranieri won not the Championship, but the Premier League with Leicester City. Two seasons later he was sacked. We haven’t seen Leicester adversely affected despite losing numerous key players.
None of us doubt what Bielsa has achieved since he joined us, but we also need to keep a sense of perspective. Bielsa is a unique coach and lot will be impossible to replicate either his style or methods of management.
Personally, I think Bielsa is going to call it a day himself at the end of this season; if he stays he will want to achieve a vast improvement on this season. This could hinge on the end of season discussions. No doubt,
if Radrizzani is in mind to change Bielsa, the his shortlist will be drawn up soon and rumours will abound. If not, it is unlikely the plan is for Bielsa to leave.
We are directly in a crisis per se, but it’s clear that a little less obstinacy on Bielsa’s part along with greater flexibility could ease some of the issues we are facing when games are going against us and a change is needed to turn the game around.
15 games left, and still a lot of football left to play….
posted on 14/2/22
Whilst I think there's no chance of relegation come the end of the season the next phase of development will need to take place,
As I mentioned the other day this is the first time the board have genuinely believed the manager may leave and whilst he wont be pushed I dont think much effort will be made to persuade him to stay, theres a lot of pressure and strain running a Bielsa club probably unlike any other for a start Ortas job recruiting is a nightmare dont blame anyone but the manager for players coming in it's down to him though the reason they were reluctant to spend in January was down to the uncertainty over his future,
I thought until Saturday in the last four games we were starting to get our mojo back even v Newcastle we should have won comfortably, Saturday was awful but we can see where it went wrong with the formation,
What might turn the fans against him is his insistence on playing Robert's over Gelhardt, I dont think Robert's is as bad as people make out but when you are chasing the game hes not the answer,
I would like Bielsa to sign a two year deal to oversee the next phase as one year at a time wont work in the redevelopment of the team imo,
Whatever happens we should be grateful hes been at our club whoever comes in will have it boots to fill,
posted on 14/2/22
Interesting that Villa lost to Newcastle. Might be something in the 'tiredness' factor.
posted on 14/2/22
I don't want Bielsa out, but would be happy for us to go a different route next season, as long as the work he has put in is followed up with a proper plan, not a punt on another Heckingbottom, but a top coach. We should have a good pick as long as we stay up, the club will need to spend a decent amount of money.
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