Dallas

Dallas was the definition of average for us before Bielsa's arrival. He wasn't bad at anything in particular but just seemed to have no outstanding qualities as a football, in and out the team.

Incredible to see him performing at the level he is. Even last season, when he was in CM for so long, I thought we needed better. The transformation of a number of players in this Leeds side is unlike anything I've seen before, at Leeds or any club.

just seemed to have no outstanding qualities as a football, in and out the team.
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*as a footballer, and he was in and out the team.

The improvemwnt in phillips is remarkable.

Didn't really rate him at all and look at him now. Its amazing that he has gone from an average championship player to England international in two seasons.

I always rated Dallas higher than Phillips, thought his versatility was always a great asset. But even he is reaching levels i couldn't see.

To me the improvements in both are less jarring in Dallas then in Phillips. The main reason is that the Dallas improvement just seems to have got going over a longer period of time, whereas Phillips just seemed to change over night.

One thing I will add about Dallas though, he always has had that "utility player" feel to him cause he is so useful. And his improvement is even more amazing when you think he has improved in all positions too. Its not like he improved massively as a midfielder but not as a leftback, he did both, which again is amazing.

Dallas to me is a £30 million player, if he was five years younger id maybe double that.

What amazes me about all the players, is the first touch, has improved on nearly all the players.

World class level in some cases.

Really does make football easy, when your second touch isn’t a tackle

Guardiola has cited Bielsa as the master of transitional play and there is no better exponent of that than Dallas. A lot of his finest moments take place about a third of the way up the pitch, and are so deft, they are easily missed. But against City, he brought something else to his game, an incisiveness that we haven’t seen before. Two strikes, two goals. Up to this time, I thought his finishing was the weakest part of his game, but if this continues, he could become the player we expected Rodrigo to be. What an asset to the club he is.

comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 30 minutes ago
Guardiola has cited Bielsa as the master of transitional play and there is no better exponent of that than Dallas. A lot of his finest moments take place about a third of the way up the pitch, and are so deft, they are easily missed. But against City, he brought something else to his game, an incisiveness that we haven’t seen before. Two strikes, two goals. Up to this time, I thought his finishing was the weakest part of his game, but if this continues, he could become the player we expected Rodrigo to be. What an asset to the club he is.
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I wonder what Rodrigo would make of that last comment...

Our star marquee player turned into a dead wood journeyman in one season! 🙄

We've not seen even 10% yet of what Rodrigo can do. He's had a very frustrating season with illness and injury and having to adapt to playing out of position, etc.

Dallas is a very articulate, intelligent player with a great work rate. Although I like Klich, Dallas has excelled in the number 8 spot. Don't agree about his finishing - he's always scored great goals as far as I can remember.

It's shame about Alioski leaving, if true.

Jonty you saw Dallas as a winger who could not go past anyone because that is exactly what he was! A really really poor winger and a complete waste of £1.5m!!
I always wanted to see him try left back because of his lack of skill/pace and felt me might do a better job there. I was correct on that score but never thought he would do it so well and then be able to play right back and centre midfield to a high level also.
He was over-weight and trimming his puppy fat has made him a lot more mobile. I think that alone has helped him massively. Its such a simple thing you do wonder why so many managers couldnt get more out of him and some others. Yes, we know Bielsa has coached them into better players but a large part of it is bascially get them leaner and fitter.

My favourite goal from last season was Dallas' one against Stoke, exquisite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWq2SF903d0

A thing of great beauty, Els, a la pass of the season from Pablo. Here is one of Dallas' trademark passes, in his own half, with the outside of his boot, so intricate, it almost goes unnoticed, but it takes three Hull players out of the game. It's 3.00 in to this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAr8v0NoMTQ