Facing a resurgent Burnley at any time is a challenging prospect, but with our defence conceding 2- 3 goals a game, and Coops unlikely to play, this is a litmus test of how far we have come this season.
Burnley beat Arsenal at the Emirates, drew at Everton and beat Wolves in their last three games. Against Wolves, they looked solid throughout. Despite conceding 64% possession, they could easily have doubled their tally.
They create few chances, but convert a high proportion of them. Taylor and Wood have been excellent acquisitions for them, but they are much more than a run-and-shoot outfit. Wood in particular is the kind of striker our defence struggles against and Barnes is no slouch either. Brady, McNeil and Rodriguez will ask plenty of questions in the middle of the park. Their back line, with Mee and Tarkowski, looks like a tough nut to crack, and Pope in goal is nearly infallible on his day.
Against Man U, we were beaten from the 3rd minute and from that point it was an exercise in damage limitation. However, with better finishing, we could have made more of a game of it.
Bielsa is finding his way in this division and this season feels similar to his first season in the Championship, where we won a lot of matches without controlling many of them. We have not been able to control the tempo of games this season and it is costing us. We have conceded a lot of late goals and we are not protecting a lead the way we should.
Our defence is a mess. With Coops likely to be out, who have we got? Ayling, Struijk, Dallas, Alioski, Davis. Davis looked decent against Man U event though they were in cruise control at that stage. There is an argument for Struijk because of his height, and Ayling must play at right back to cut out the threat from their left. He looks much weaker as a centre back and we miss his runs down the wing. That means Davis and Dallas to to fill the gaps. Why did we send Douglas out to Blackburn (where he is playing consistently well)?
Our key player in this game will be KP. If he can dominate that area in front of the defence and ignite more up front, we might just steal this. If we also start with Pablo, he can pose them a lot of problems, as we saw against Newcastle. Raph and Rod look threatening, but they concede possession too easily. Klich looks shattered. I would play two of these three.
We will get a lot of possession against Burnley, but we will need to be much more clinical up front. I think we need to score at least two to get anything out of this. Burnley may be below us, but they are experienced at this level. Solid and unspectacular may win the day. Let's hope it's the mighty Whites.
Solid and unspectacular.
posted on 23/12/20
Seems obvious that we are lacking in height at set pieces so against Burnley we will be bombarded with high balls into the box which Wood will be favourite to get on the end of therefore I would give young Cresswell a go as there won't be any large crowd to add extra pressure to him and partner him alongside Struijk which would then give us 2 six foot 4 centre half's and a better chance at Defending those high balls.
posted on 23/12/20
comment by Lubo - We're Home! (U14008)
posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
Think Cresswell looks a very strong talent, but too soon to just be thrown in against PL opposition.
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There's quite a lot of talent in the U23's, they didn't comprehensively beat Fulham for no reason, yes there were a lot of the 1st team playing, Hernandez, Roberts, Poveda, Costa and Davis (periphery) but I think we improved in the second half. This is a problem with being in the Premier League, when are Casey, Cresswell, Kenneh, Huggins, Jenkins, Greenwood and Gelhardt ever going to be deemed ready? Got to question the value of players going out on loan to the likes of Logones, Swindon, Lincoln and Oldham but I don't know how else they are going to make the huge step up.
posted on 23/12/20
People may say Cresswell is too young and not ready as he is only 18 and I can see their point and it is a bit of a gamble but needs must and remember Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter both made their Leeds debuts at 18 and the great Bobby Moore was only 17 when he made his debut for West Ham.
posted on 23/12/20
I understand concerns about playing players out of position. But Ayling has been one of best performers when at CB. You could argue he’s done better there than RB this season. I would also argue that Dallas is better ok the right than the left (but he’s not as good as Ayling there)
So I think Ayling and Dallas will stay where they are. Struijk is a direct replacement for Cooper and expect to see him get more game time this season. He will be pushing to be a starter for next season.
So for me if anyone is going to step up from the u23s it will be Davis for Alioski. He’s far more experienced in senior football than Casey & Cresswell. Bielsa loves him. ‘Very good Davis’ and Alioski is probably the weakest in the back four I expect to start.
posted on 23/12/20
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 44 minutes ago
I understand concerns about playing players out of position. But Ayling has been one of best performers when at CB. You could argue he’s done better there than RB this season. I would also argue that Dallas is better ok the right than the left (but he’s not as good as Ayling there)
So I think Ayling and Dallas will stay where they are. Struijk is a direct replacement for Cooper and expect to see him get more game time this season. He will be pushing to be a starter for next season.
So for me if anyone is going to step up from the u23s it will be Davis for Alioski. He’s far more experienced in senior football than Casey & Cresswell. Bielsa loves him. ‘Very good Davis’ and Alioski is probably the weakest in the back four I expect to start.
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I wonder how many people's views are based on having watched the U23 games this season. My view is that Huggins has been much better on the left than Davis, a genuine and versatile prospect.
posted on 23/12/20
‘Very good Davis’
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Hmmm, this was from over a year ago, I have seen quite a bit of Davis in the U23's and am not convinced he has really progressed, he makes the squad yes but has had next to no time on the pitch and little chance to make an impact, one of the weakest when he plays at U23 level but that may be because players like Huggins are firmly established whereas he trains mostly with the 1st team, a bit of being caught between two stools.
posted on 23/12/20
comment by Elsbels - Just Some Guy (U21658)
posted 29 seconds ago
‘Very good Davis’
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Hmmm, this was from over a year ago, I have seen quite a bit of Davis in the U23's and am not convinced he has really progressed, he makes the squad yes but has had next to no time on the pitch and little chance to make an impact, one of the weakest when he plays at U23 level but that may be because players like Huggins are firmly established whereas he trains mostly with the 1st team, a bit of being caught between two stools.
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I can’t comment on u23s as I have barely seen them this season. I’m basing my opinion purely on squad selection, his 2 sub appearances already this season and Bielsa’s comments on how much he rates Davis.
I might agree with you regarding Huggins but haven’t seen him play enough to comment.
posted on 23/12/20
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 17 hours, 2 minutes ago
Cresswell is an interesting one, JLA. You'll have to stop posting while under the influence of mind-altering substances. Happy Chanukah!
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Thanks to you too!
I’m assuming Cooper and Llorente are not fully fit, we will need height in Centre of defense for this game, time to give a youngster a chance.
posted on 24/12/20
Looks like Llorente is fit. If so, he must play. Back four, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk and Dallas looks like our best bet to me. Not perfect, but enough in there to deal with the threat Burnley pose. If we can boss it in front of our defence, that will make the game very interesting.
posted on 25/12/20
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 7 hours, 10 minutes ago
Looks like Llorente is fit. If so, he must play. Back four, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk and Dallas looks like our best bet to me. Not perfect, but enough in there to deal with the threat Burnley pose. If we can boss it in front of our defence, that will make the game very interesting.
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Agree with that if Llorente is fit. 100% fit, cannot gamble on him reinjuring himself if not completely ready.