It goes without saying that Bielsa is the best coach we have had since Don Revie bar none! Also that we didn’t lose the game today because of one incident.
But regardless of all that it frustrates the hell out of me that he persists with sending Roberts on and expecting different results from previous games. I will be charitable and admit the guy tries. He tries my patience to exhaustion! He lost the ball twice in succession which led to their breakaway and the subsequent foul by Llorente who was left isolated as Bill had moved upfield. The guy is stealing his wages and I am bemused by Bielsa’s blind spot regarding him.
What made it even more galling today was that he was sent on before Geldhardt who was given ten minutes to have an impact. Ridiculous!
Same old, Same old!
posted on 23/1/22
comment by Stoopo (U4707)
posted 38 minutes ago
comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 32 minutes ago
Roberts has been playing really well recently. Yes, everyone makes mistakes occasionally and this time, it led to a goal. Llorente and Meslier screwed up too.
I would also propose Gelhardt gets more time - he's earned it, and it's frustrating that Bielsa prefers to go with Rodrigo, who I thought was our weakest players yesterday.
Rodrigo is a gifted player but it's not working out for him at Leeds. I think he unbalanced the midfield yesterday - and we badly missed Forshaw too.
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I think Geldhardt would have relished the balls that Raphinha put in the box yesterday. They were crying out for a striker to get on the end of them.
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It’s true Gelhardt might have made better ‘striker’ runs. But the main reason no one got on the end of Raphinha’s balls into the box was because they were sh*t balls. When he’s good raph picks players out. Yesterday he made some good runs but couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.
It’s great that Elland road gets a buzz when gelhardt comes on but I get why bielsa doesn’t pick him to start. He’s still a bit heads down as a player and he’s not quite at the level of others off the ball. Great prospect but better suited to impact sub at the moment.
And yes I appreciate that the alternatives aren’t working as we’d like, but sometimes that’s more about the supply to them. We looked a threat at West Ham with a better balanced midfield.
posted on 23/1/22
Our two best performances of the season were undoubtedly against Burnley and West Ham.
Our midfield of Foreshaw Dallas and Klich and then Bate replacing Foreshaw I think was the the driving force in us not only playing our best football but also resulting in us scoring 3 goals in each of the 2 games, more than we have scored in any of our other matches.
Play that midfield as much as possible and we will be fine plus with KP coming back there are definitely better days on the horizon for this season and even if KP leaves those 2 performances alone proved we can cope without him.
posted on 23/1/22
Hope you're right Macca, cos that is surely what's going to happen. Also agree with Milky about Raphinha - he's been a bit inconsistent for a while. Great against West Ham but otherwise a bit meh.
Still think the problem yesterday was Rodrigo, myself. Think he's really struggling and thereby unbalancing the midfield. Couldn't believe he wasn't substituted yesterday because he was largely invisible, which gives Klich even more to do.
I don't understand Bielsa's strategy, that's for sure. Our strongest midfield seems to be Forshaw-Klich-Dallas, with Koch stepping into DM while Forshaw's out. Last week Hjelde did a cracking job at LB, allowing Dallas to play in midfield, and we played really well. Why didn't he stick with this line-up, then?
posted on 23/1/22
I actually thought Rodrigo had a good game yesterday. He was more active and had some great touches, bringing others into play.
I'm a "Roberts basher", but would never condone doing it to his face. That's just not on as it's going to do him harm rather than just present an opinion.
Whenever Roberts comes on though, it feels like we're down to 10 men to me. I've seen two non-useless performances from him this season (missed the game where he scored, so perhaps he had three?)
In my opinion, he needs to play at a lower level for a time to find his mojo. If it wasn't for Dan James' pace which is useful, I'd say the same for him too.
posted on 23/1/22
comment by LeedsFanFor47Years (U6871)
posted 22 minutes ago
I actually thought Rodrigo had a good game yesterday. He was more active and had some great touches, bringing others into play.
^^^^^
I agree 47. First half in particular, Rodrigo was linking
up so many attacks. He looked as good as he has all
season. I'll give Faith credit, he predicted as much.
posted on 23/1/22
Middle ground for me. Thought Rodrigo was good for 25-30 minutes then contributed little thereafter. Symptomatic of how the game went.
posted on 23/1/22
ah that explains it then cos I missed the first twenty, and then the stream went down - missed most of the first half in fact.
posted on 24/1/22
Dallas was RB against West Ham. Koch played in midfield with Forshaw and Klich then Bate.
posted on 24/1/22
One of the themes of Saturday is getting behind their defence for the cross to come in only for there to be no one on the end of it.
Remember Geldhardt's surging run into the box and finish at Chelsea. To say that was his first senior goal it looked like the action of someone who had the instincts ,positional sense and ability to get on the end of crosses into the box. The limited game time he has already hints that he is better in that sort of scenario where we lacked on Saturday.
posted on 25/1/22
Are you Peacock Dreams?