If Spence was fit, then it might be a good idea to give Bill a rest, but he isn't. I'm sure Shacks would do a good job at RB but the team is quite young and Bill is a great leader. I'd maintain the continuity for Hull and if we're ahead, maybe he could be subbed in the second half? I think he deserves the freedom of Yorkshire for sticking his head in the way down in London. Two of our goals started with him. He's become more than a right back for us.

Ayling has now become a scapegoat, like what Cooper was.

People are looking for mistakes, to hammer him, to justify their view of him.

So now everytime a winger goes past him, everyone up in arms, thats he rubbish, finished etc etc

Wingers do go past defenders 🤦

Is Ayling playing brilliant, No, am I worried about him being in the team, No.


This is a perfect example of what I mean

“He seems to 'flop' almost every game and was lucky not to be penalised for it on Sunday.”

Trying to find a way to criticise him. He’s flopped nearly ever game for 5 years 🤷🏻‍♂️ I dont like it, dont think he should do it, but its nothing new.

I think Ayling has to come out for this game. We can play Shackleton there, we can even bring Byram across, play Pascal at left back and bring Cresswell alongside Rodon. But Ayling will cost us a goal if he is the first choice

——————————————-

Just so am fully clear.

You want to

1 Take Ayling out
2 Move byram to right back, even though he’s look very good at left back.
3 Move Pascal to left back, where he strugged last season.
4 To end a centre half partnership, which looks to be getting better and better.
5 To then have to bring in a centre half who has barely played all season.

I sometimes wonder which league we'd be in if the forum members could pick the team

Wont ever knock Ayling been a fine servant and worthy of cult status imo, teams will target him but this is the championship not the PL so we can deal with it, Would i prefer Spence yes or if Firpo ever appears then Byram to RB would be the answer in Spences absence, Byram has done well at LB but play doesnt always flow due to him being on the wrong foot (good player though)
Not a fan of slagging players off some i dont rate but theres none of these here at the moment but i believe we can always improve,

We all love Luke - he’s officially a Leeds legend - but I do share the concerns about his defending. Perhaps you’re right and he should stay until Spence is fit again, but you have to concede that his time as a starter is coming to an end. Either way, looking further into the future, I’d love to see him stay at the club in a backroom capacity.

Ayling winner tonight incoming!

Wont ever knock Ayling been a fine servant and worthy of cult status imo

-----------------

Read that and my first thought was give over, too easy giving out that sort of status, but the more you think about it, its bang on, as loyal servant as they come, played through Bielsa years and he's still giving it 110%.

As for changing a full defensive line off the back of 3-0 win is ridiculous, even if I thought there was a small hint of correctness in your assessment of Ayling, which is all totally debatable anyway

We wouldn't have scored the first goal without Ayling!

I never want to see Struijk at LB ever again!

comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 3 minutes ago
I never want to see Struijk at LB ever again!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Couldn't agree more. Marsch nearly destroyed the lads confidence insisting on playing him there when everyone could see it was not working

One of the many impressive things about Bill is his
fitness and availability (the best ability of all). He's
a stalwart. And a true leader. In the absence of Coops,
his leadership on the pitch is key.

He's very active and involved in so many attacks.
But, like every player who ever played, father time is
catching up. He gets caught out a lot. It's been that
way the last two and a half seasons. While Spence
is unavailable, we just have to deal with it.

And we will.

comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 28 minutes ago
One of the many impressive things about Bill is his
fitness and availability (the best ability of all). He's
a stalwart. And a true leader. In the absence of Coops,
his leadership on the pitch is key.

He's very active and involved in so many attacks.
But, like every player who ever played, father time is
catching up. He gets caught out a lot. It's been that
way the last two and a half seasons. While Spence
is unavailable, we just have to deal with it.

And we will.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

While I agree he is slowing down, I do belive the past 18 months, he has be dealt a bad hand.

Even now, we still seeing the right winger drifting inside, meaning Ayling his playing a wing back role, but with only two centre halfs.

In the same way Trent gets stick for his defending, the amount of ground he is having to cover, due to tactics, means they exposed

Ayling and Cooper are both past their prime and eventually will need to make way for younger players.

However, they're not done yet, especially Bill - they will be emphasising and impressing Farke's tactics, they will steady the ship in a storm, but most importantly, they will be leading by example, like sticking their heads in dangerous places and giving it 110 during every game and every training session.

Perhaps if we were still in the PL, then Farke might have to be a bit more ruthless, but in the Championship, I think there is still work for them to do.

The only changes I'd make would be maybe Kamara for Gray and Anthony for Gnonto because it's such a long season.

Right then, Ayling winner incoming!

comment by LIW Rad a %#@% and so is Orta (U8453)
posted 20 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 28 minutes ago
One of the many impressive things about Bill is his
fitness and availability (the best ability of all). He's
a stalwart. And a true leader. In the absence of Coops,
his leadership on the pitch is key.

He's very active and involved in so many attacks.
But, like every player who ever played, father time is
catching up. He gets caught out a lot. It's been that
way the last two and a half seasons. While Spence
is unavailable, we just have to deal with it.

And we will.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

While I agree he is slowing down, I do belive the past 18 months, he has be dealt a bad hand.

Even now, we still seeing the right winger drifting inside, meaning Ayling his playing a wing back role, but with only two centre halfs.

In the same way Trent gets stick for his defending, the amount of ground he is having to cover, due to tactics, means they exposed
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Precisely this.

Why the hell is everyone saying Ayling is old?

He turned 32 less than a month ago.

Why does everyone act like he is 35 going on 36.

He looked in poor shape Last year because they all did cause Marsch was an idiot who didn't think fitness training was important.

He will be fine, he like the other players look better cause they are fitter

Wish I was 32 again ! FFS.. that was 33 years ago … I can’t even remember that far back! But my wife says I was ‘fit’ in those days 😁