Under Bielsa, we always talked about how much he got out of an average group of players. For three years, we were more than the sum of our parts. The issue we have now is the opposite. We have some fine footballers and we can look great for 20 minutes, but we don’t have the ability to dictate the pace of the game, or to change the way we play, especially if the opposition change their shape.
When it works, like it did against Chelsea, it is wonderful, but too often, we get hit by a sucker punch and the energy drains away. We have had some poor refereeing to contend with, notably in our last couple of games, but we have not helped ourselves either.
Against Arsenal, We expect to lose, so Marsch is under less pressure to get a result, but after seeing Arsenal last week against Liverpool, you can see weaknesses in their play, and strengths in ours, which could lead to a surprising Leeds win.
Everything depends on how we set up. First of all, we must play Bamford for an hour only, and then bring on Rodrigo. I think that will get the best out of both of them.
Sinisterra will be back. How we missed his creative spark against Palace. He will test Ben White and Saliba, and create space for Harrison to get into the box. Arsenal also look vulnerable to players who run at them, and who can pass through the middle. This is the essence of Marsch’s football, so we may get some joy here.
The midfield battle will be fascinating. Roca and Adams are combative and with xhaka not one to shy away, I expect a red card in this area. We need to be smart and disciplined here. The ref, Chris Kavanagh, gave Chelsea two penalties against us last season, and sent Ayling off in the Arsenal game. Our disciplinary record is poor again this season. If we can focus on the game and not the ref, we will do better. Odegaard is not a game changer for me, but Partey is. If we can limit his creativity, possibly getting Roca close to him, then we might limit their opportunities.
Their front line is a worry for us. The all score goals, but Rasmus and Struyk are growing into their roles and can reduce the impact of Saka, who blows hot and cold anyway, and Martinelli. The bigger question is Coops or Llorente against Jesus.
The bonus for us is the Elland Road crowd. The longer we keep them out, the louder they get. We saw how Arsenal lost at Old Trafford. The atmosphere was electric and some of their young players were overawed.
It all depends on whether we can play with intensity and flexibility over 90 minutes. We are due a result and I think this is the kind of game that suits our style of play, to go out and get one. 2-1 Leeds, anybody?
The sum of our parts.
posted on 15/10/22
Roca needs to up his game he's been poor recently and I was a big fan at the start of the season. Rodrigo was poor last game and Bamford needs to up his game. Sini will come back but that leaves Aaronson as a number 10 and he's simply not worked there. Can't see anything but an Arsenal win sadly although I can't see us getting hammered 6-0. They ain't City.
posted on 15/10/22
See out the first 30 minutes and I think will win by two or three. After watching your game against Palace you showed some good signs early on but after half time you offered very little. From what I've seen of you your less chaotic in terms of setup since the change of manager but still there will be spaces to exploit.
posted on 15/10/22
Leeds looked poor defensively when I have watched them, but only 12 conceded suggests that is not the true picture.
Think the style Leeds play suits playing us, making it a dangerous game for us. I expect we will have a lot of the ball high up the pitch.
To suggest we will score 6 (50% of the goals you conceded in the first 9!) seems a bit defeatist to say the least
Leeds 1-2 Arsenal
(Harrison - Saka and Nketiah)
posted on 15/10/22
Arsenal have had some fine results of late, Notably against Spurs and Liverpool. Can they do it away from the library? They looked vulnerable against Man U and if we survive the initial bombardment, I can see us growing into the game. Also worth noting that we have narrowed the pitch since their last visit, so it will not be easy to adapt to our compact arena. I like the optimism of Gunners fans, but we haven't lost at Elland Road this season, so why start now?
posted on 15/10/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 45 minutes ago
Leeds looked poor defensively when I have watched them, but only 12 conceded suggests that is not the true picture.
Think the style Leeds play suits playing us, making it a dangerous game for us. I expect we will have a lot of the ball high up the pitch.
To suggest we will score 6 (50% of the goals you conceded in the first 9!) seems a bit defeatist to say the least
Leeds 1-2 Arsenal
(Harrison - Saka and Nketiah)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1 time to shine
posted on 15/10/22
Arsenal have had some fine results of late, Notably against Spurs and Liverpool. Can they do it away from the library? They looked vulnerable against Man U and if we survive the initial bombardment, I can see us growing into the game. Also worth noting that we have narrowed the pitch since their last visit, so it will not be easy to adapt to our compact arena. I like the optimism of Gunners fans, but we haven't lost at Elland Road this season, so why start now?
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I wouldn't say we are vulnerable we were naive against United we should of got something out of the game but sometimes things dont go your way like the goal we scored early on which should of been allowed, we've had some decisions go our way as well so it's swings and roundabouts. We want to play on the front foot that means engaging the opposition higher up the field. Another performance like the one we got at Brentford and I'd be confident of the win.
posted on 15/10/22
Enjoyed this article. Well put together.
Sadly I think we'll be on the wrong end of the marginal ref/VAR calls as is the norm.
Just hope it doesn't pan out like that and we stay in the game for as long as possible. If we can do that you never know, but I feels as though Arsenal will be able to exploit the weaknesses in our set up win by 2 or 3.
There's not a moment since the transfer window closed that I don't regret the club not bringing in another left back(which would have freed up Struijk to play centre back and recruit a senior centre forward to help take the pressure off getting Bamford fit and firing. I have no problem with the young forwards waiting in the wings and am sure they'll feature in years to come but we needed that extra cover and competition and it's hurting us now. Frustrating as so many were urging for this to happen throughout the summer.
posted on 15/10/22
comment by RobLUFC Have you ever seen a better goal or one better timed? (U5692)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
Enjoyed this article. Well put together.
Sadly I think we'll be on the wrong end of the marginal ref/VAR calls as is the norm.
Just hope it doesn't pan out like that and we stay in the game for as long as possible. If we can do that you never know, but I feels as though Arsenal will be able to exploit the weaknesses in our set up win by 2 or 3.
There's not a moment since the transfer window closed that I don't regret the club not bringing in another left back(which would have freed up Struijk to play centre back and recruit a senior centre forward to help take the pressure off getting Bamford fit and firing. I have no problem with the young forwards waiting in the wings and am sure they'll feature in years to come but we needed that extra cover and competition and it's hurting us now. Frustrating as so many were urging for this to happen throughout the summer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well said. It seems like it was obvious to everybody (except our powers that be) that we needed a target man type CF and a proper LB. Instead no LB and a another short young striker signed - another one for the future apparently.
I just hope that we will not be regretting this at the end of the season after another long hard relegation battle.
posted on 16/10/22
comment by tslufc (U12903)
posted 14 hours, 59 minutes ago
comment by RobLUFC Have you ever seen a better goal or one better timed? (U5692)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
Enjoyed this article. Well put together.
Sadly I think we'll be on the wrong end of the marginal ref/VAR calls as is the norm.
Just hope it doesn't pan out like that and we stay in the game for as long as possible. If we can do that you never know, but I feels as though Arsenal will be able to exploit the weaknesses in our set up win by 2 or 3.
There's not a moment since the transfer window closed that I don't regret the club not bringing in another left back(which would have freed up Struijk to play centre back and recruit a senior centre forward to help take the pressure off getting Bamford fit and firing. I have no problem with the young forwards waiting in the wings and am sure they'll feature in years to come but we needed that extra cover and competition and it's hurting us now. Frustrating as so many were urging for this to happen throughout the summer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well said. It seems like it was obvious to everybody (except our powers that be) that we needed a target man type CF and a proper LB. Instead no LB and a another short young striker signed - another one for the future apparently.
I just hope that we will not be regretting this at the end of the season after another long hard relegation battle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was obvious to all as well that we needed an experienced keeper for back up, so Robles was signed on the cheap. He has made the bench once with Klaesson the preferred back up. Not even getting minutes with the U21's (Klaesson, Christy and Onbang have all featured and Brook has sat on the bench).
It was equally obvious that Radz and the 49ers didn't really want to spend any cash (a break even window) and to recruit, expecially up front, would have cost either in terms of transfer fees or salary (or possibly both).
Top quality strikers would be unlikely to want to move to Leeds and what would be the point of paying a striker premium to have someone who does a Robles.
Personally, in terms of signing a striker and a defender, given our lack of cash. I think the club did exactly the right thing.
posted on 16/10/22
"Coops or Llorente against Jesus"
Smells disaster either way