Whatever ultimately transpires from here on in, the major difference for me has been the level of hope, the level of which I have not felt since climbing out of L1. - purely down to a guy who seems to have the experience, ability and nous to deal with the squad, the club and the fans expectations.

Concerns - the second strings performance against PNE albeit it wasn't a 3 pointer and will Bielsa stick around.

I like how he only has a Plan A and he wont divert from it

lol any negative gelderd?

Given it 5 star Rich as a I think it's a very good OK for debate.

OP even - must ditch predictive text!

Not really no, I would agree that I think we should've signed another CB but there's no reason not to trust him at the moment.

All is rosey for the minute. Just hope we can go down to Millwall and get 3 points.

What I like:

Thus far, I like being proven wrong. Didn't think he was savvy enough about this league but he's done his homework.

I like the fact that he's worked wonders with a squad that others struggled with. Simply studying DVDs he's made some very astute decisions about who goes and who stays and within the remainers he's playing them to their strengths.

A small squad works. Moaning about sitting in the reserves isn't going to be an issue, I think all of the first team players will get action.

I like that the hierarchy have largely left him to run the playing side of matters Leeds United. Makes sense.

I like the geeky side of Bielsa. He loves the analytical element of the game and his post-match analysis is very honest.

I love the bucket.

What is there to dislike? If he walks he walks. He's not bigger than Leeds United and in a short space of time public opinion has changed immeasurably. At this present moment in time we are the team to beat rather than the club in turmoil. I accept that could change....

However, potential managers would see this as the place to be now for positive reasons.

For what it's worth I think he'll be here for at least the duration of his contract.

The Championship and England is different in so many ways to his previous appointments and locations. He's been largely in Latino cultures where passion is natural amongst it's people. The English are different, more reserved. At Leeds United he's experiencing something uniquely different that will inspire him further.

I agree, it's a very good OK.

International break has come at a good time, because we've picked up a few injury's and niggles. No doubt it's from playing at the tempo we have been.

Still think the best is yet to come and we need Foreshaw and Izzy Brown fully fit with Cooper and Janssen fully fit and playing together.

Some of the football we've played in the short time he's been here has been out of this league. We're top scorers and have the best possession, passing accuracy and amount of passes completed in the league.

We're top on merit, not scraping wins like last season.

So far so good.

in my head is coming across as, some sort of mob king pin crossed with a proffessor.

nobody fooks with him, everyone understands hes a smart bloke and worth taking notice of


one thing i really love is the getting on with the game thing, no messing, no silly beggars

phil hay said the other day, bamford (v preston) was about to go nuts at the lino or ref cant remember, but bielsa got up to tell him no.

Think the FL will give manager of the month to either Pulis or that celebrity manager. Interesting if they do, it will confirm everything that has ever been said.

Not once has he talked about a referee or opposition style of play after a game. He could easily have done that last week after both games and some managers would have.

I hope they give it to someone else, save manager of the year for Bielsa when we win the league.

Manager of the month is cursed for us

comment by Best Fans - Leeds are falling apart again (U2196)
posted 3 minutes ago
Not once has he talked about a referee or opposition style of play after a game. He could easily have done that last week after both games and some managers would have.
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He has talked about the opponents' style of play most of the time. He hasn't been detrimental in doing so, merely highlighting what we didn't do.

I was concerned that Bielsa wouldn't get to grips with Championship quickly, for a number of reasons, poor squad, lack of new signings, lack of familiarity with the squad, but he has completely proven me wrong and I'm hugely impressed with how quickly he has implemented an effective style, which brings not just results, but entertainment.

I'm also impressed by the team spirit he has created, I believe that is through his own values but also that he has greater credibility due to his standing in the game and insistence of control at the club.

I don't believe he has gotten it right with depth of squad, particularly around centre backs....so far so good, but I think this will be challenging for us this season as injuries, suspension and poor games bite.

Here is a double edged one....whilst I admire his tenacity to stick to plan A, sometimes, if it's not working, you need to be able to change and I'm not sure he has the flexibility to do that. Again, we're top now, but Preston result should have been different, felt we didn't have strategy right to penetrate Boro's tall defence.

I'd like to see him progress a bit more with his English, think he could really cement things with surprising us one day at a presser. Its not something he has to do, which is all the more reason why it would have such a strong impact.

I like his leadership in terms of character. Not commenting on things in future, not overly celebrating in front of other coaches, humility re Crespo, honesty re players in public, not throwing management under bus re signings.

I don't see him as someone who walks at drop of a hat. I see him as principled, who only walks as a very last resort and I hope that our board do not take him for granted and accidentally undermine him too much at some point (probably lack of signings).

The heart in me hopes that he effects a really broad transformation of the culture of the club and wants to stay on at least long enough to ensure we get right people in place to build on his foundations after he's gone.

The final thing I like, is the fact that our profile jumped several notches since he came on board. I think it was starting to lag and now we're the talk of the town, and after so many years in the doldrums and being the butt of jokes, he has enabled us to be the talked about team of the moment, lets hope it all continues!

Bielsa is the first manager into the club since Cellino took over that has had a real say in which players are in the squad.

He seemingly is inspiring every player to be the best they can be and has tactical skills, a clear vision and delivers these in a modest and gentlemanly manner.

I'm scared to death that a wealthier club will poach him part way through this re-birth and am even worrying about what happens in two years if/when his contract expires!

All I can do is hope that by that time, he's woven his DNA into the entire club philosophy so that the positive change has a chance of continuing.

Harrogate, completely agree re manager awards.

Was looking at the coaching team yesterday in relation to the guy who got booked, he lets his team do the emotional stuff and that works well.
I noted that Corberan has a duel role, first team coach and head coach of development squad.
Carlos is an interesting appointment, came in six days after TC from a Cypriot team, Victor's appointment? TC's man?
Either way he has done a great job.
Bielsa's heritage has to be the development of others, players and coaches.
Corberan, future Leeds manager under Bielsa's tutelage?

Jonty, Bielsa's English is already better than Samu's

Jonty, we are Leeds and profile will always be high, the appointment might result in better players coming through the door which (I guess is what you mean).
I care not two figs what other teams supporters think, regardless of what other's think I wear my Leeds heart on my sleeve and with pride. To some we may be butts of jokes but who gives a flying feck

Even being super successful won't stop Leeds United being the butt of jokes. Did we stop taking the mickey out of the red team on the wrong side of the Pennines when they had some "limited" success? Nope, not one jot.

You have to understand the culture of Leeds United and what Don Revie created out of nothing. That legacy will always create jealousy and hatred amongst others. Leeds United, the team others love to hate.

You're right to suggest that it shouldn't bother us. Doesn't bother me. We've always been isolated in that regard. I always have a wry smile when I read how popular we are with others like under O'Leary when we were, allegedly, most supporters favourite second team. Wasn't a normal place for us to be.

comment by Stevie Dee (U10061)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by Best Fans - Leeds are falling apart again (U2196)
posted 3 minutes ago
Not once has he talked about a referee or opposition style of play after a game. He could easily have done that last week after both games and some managers would have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He has talked about the opponents' style of play most of the time. He hasn't been detrimental in doing so, merely highlighting what we didn't do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's what I meant He's not criticised teams for their style which always looks petty when a manager does it

You want a team to be proud of, not one who is the joke of every saturday or every time were on sky. It does matter to a degree IMO.

Pretty much perfect although the centre back issue annoyed me, felt he has his hands tied a bit but he must take his share of the blame. Pulis demanded three new signings and they got 3 good ones. Would like him to try and feature Bamford a bit more. That's a lot of money sitting on the bench which could have been spent on a few key players such as as a CB or winger.

I thought we'd be stuffed this year. Probably because with all the hyperbole surrounding MB and that this could potentially go one of two ways, I would always guess it could only be negative. (Typical Leeds fan who has been promised much in the past).

However, this man is an absolute genius. Not just on the pitch, he has an idea, a philosophy. I love it when players say "we have no idea what we're doing in training, could be physical, tactical or sometimes something completely unrelated".

VO and AR deserve huge credit, this is the biggest signing of my young (ish) 33 years life.

This man given the tools he requires can take us back.

I'm still miffed about not signing a CB, whether MB really believes it or not. Should we be up there in Jan and clearly in need (Ala Grayson under Bates) and there is nothing then I can sense a few fans will turn.

I would love it if we were his final job, get Leeds promoted, do a few seasons in the PL. Would love an Argentinian / Chilean pre season!

This quiet unassuming man has delivered thus far, there is a LOOONNGGG way to go, but he could go down as one of the legends of this club should he get us up.

#Bielsalona