No Pablo No Party?

[Cjay]

The heartbeat of our side since he arrived, the silent leader, the creator in chief, The King.

For teenage Leeds fans Pablo is a legend, he is the Johnny Giles, Gary McCalister, Billy Bremner for modern fans (not in the grand scheme but he is a modern day legend ).

The fans love him, his teammates love him, his manager loves him and even opposition managers love him . . . .when he isnt fit to play them.

Alex Neil highlighted his absence after we played them as a key factor in the result.

We arent as good a side without Pablo.

I cant find exact stats but for 7 games Pablo missed last season we won 2.

For the 6 games this season we have won 2, lost 2 of the 3 games we have lost this season and been statistically worse in every sense.

We have conceded more regularly.
4 goals in 6 games (0.66 per game).
4 goals in 8 games (0.5 per game with Pablo).

We have scored less frequently.
4 goals in 6 games (0.66 per game)
13 goals in 8 games (1.62 per game with).

We have conceded more shooting chances per game.
10.5 without
8.25 with.

We have created less shooting chances on average.
14.8 without
17.5 with.

Obviously there may be other factors but Leeds-Pablo has been a far weaker side for the last 3 seasons.

Ideally Pablo would play every game clearly!!!

But he is 34, has a history of dodgy hamstrings and thigh issues and by the playoffs last season he could barely walk he was so exhausted.

But that being said, we need him back desperately and we need to protect him so that we can get as many games out of him as possible.

For that reason i think he should play as a number 10.

I think while MB got the best out of Pablo statistically last season, the winger role exhausts him, especially given the frantic nature of this style.

He is a 34 year old with a history of injury problems.

He needs to play a role where we can use his skills best but also he can be protected to a degree.

He wouldn't have to do as much running as a 10.

Its a position he frankly is the only real option.

And its the position he is on record as describing as his preferred.

MB needs to protect Pablo better this season, his days of doing the running required of a winger should be over imo.

When The King returns let him have a bit of luxury.

Let younger members of the squad do the donkey work.

We lack a true Enganche atm.

We only have one player truly able to play that role properly.

So hopefully MB when Pablo is 100% fit will allow him to play the role he most wants to in what may be the final season of a modern day legends career.

He is the silent leader who makes his teammates better.

The statistics back that up.

Let the heartbeat of the side play in the heart of the team.

[Norm]

I agree 100%

[John in Louisiana]

I agree 100%

Yes, indeed.

[Irish Ian]

Sounds good but ideally the No 10 should be freed from a lot of the defensive work and have a free rein on the pitch and that would suit Pablo.

But would it suit Bielsa and his use of the high press?

I am interested in who gets omitted when Pablo returns.
Ideally Dallas but I can see Costa being benched- just at the time when he was beginning to find his way imo.

[1964white]

Told ya we had no replacement for Pablo as is the case for Kiko, White & Phillips who are the spine of our first XI. Bielsa will tell you different but he would of course!

Last season we gained only ten points from eight games when Pablo was out injured about the same time.

Deja vu

When will we ever learn from our inadequacies?

[SG90]

I don't think Pablo will solve all our problems. We struggled against Forest, Brentford, Swansea and Derby with him in the team. We need more pace through the middle, that's the gaping hole. That would be Shack. Hopefully he starts on Saturday and Dallas is dropped, but it won't happen.

[1964white]

I don't think Pablo will solve all our problems. We struggled against Forest, Brentford, Swansea and Derby with him in the team. We need more pace through the middle, that's the gaping hole. That would be Shack. Hopefully he starts on Saturday and Dallas is dropped, but it won't happen.

What is pace SG ?

Actually Shacks & Eddie have pace,

Some of our build-up was excruciatingly slow yesterday, I nearly fell asleep

[WhiteRose]

Completely agree but I dont think we have helped ourselves by not utilising creative players in other areas. Stuart Dallas brings nothing to centre midfield there have been a few times in the last couple of games where he has been in good positions and shown complete indecision and the move broke down. Robert's should have been playing there yesterday and in future games. I guess forshaw will come back in though who also offer very little going forward. Klich would also benefit from some time out of the team.

[1964white]

Completely agree but I dont think we have helped ourselves by not utilising creative players in other areas. Stuart Dallas brings nothing to centre midfield there have been a few times in the last couple of games where he has been in good positions and shown complete indecision and the move broke down. Robert's should have been playing there yesterday and in future games. I guess forshaw will come back in though who also offer very little going forward. Klich would also benefit from some time out of the team.

Marcelo has a pecking order WR, it's all about age/experience in his mind even if it means playing players out of their natural position

[Cjay]

Sounds good but ideally the No 10 should be freed from a lot of the defensive work and have a free rein on the pitch and that would suit Pablo.

But would it suit Bielsa and his use of the high press?

I am interested in who gets omitted when Pablo returns.
Ideally Dallas but I can see Costa being benched- just at the time when he was beginning to find his way imo.

I think the issue is MB doesn't tend to use older players, he has always preferred youth as they listen better and run more in his opinion so he doesnt know how to properly manage an older player.

I fear you are right about Costa but id hope that MB would see that the centre of the pitch is a huge issue.

Atm, Klich is being forced to play a role he doesnt suit and he is suffering.

The lack of a proper number 10 is effecting our entire attacking play imo.

[Cjay]

Told ya we had no replacement for Pablo as is the case for Kiko, White & Phillips who are the spine of our first XI. Bielsa will tell you different but he would of course!

Last season we gained only ten points from eight games when Pablo was out injured about the same time.

Deja vu

When will we ever learn from our inadequacies?

Tbf MB wanted to have Ryan Kent.

He knows we have a problem in the 10 role but he tries to fix it with tried and trusted rather then taking a risk.

Dallas as a cm is utterly ridiculous.

[Cjay]

I don't think Pablo will solve all our problems. We struggled against Forest, Brentford, Swansea and Derby with him in the team. We need more pace through the middle, that's the gaping hole. That would be Shack. Hopefully he starts on Saturday and Dallas is dropped, but it won't happen.

Pablo lacks pace these days true.

But he is a far more intelligent player then Shacks and teams are terrified of him.

His reputation alone would create space for others imo because teams would be desperate to close him down.

Thats my thinking.

I think Pablo as a 10 is the key to creating space and getting the best out of Klich and Costa for a start.

[1964white]

Pablo lacks pace these days true.

But he is a far more intelligent player then Shacks and teams are terrified of him.

His reputation alone would create space for others imo because teams would be desperate to close him down.

Thats my thinking.

I think Pablo as a 10 is the key to creating space and getting the best out of Klich and Costa for a start.

Worth a try Cjay, anything is worth a go if it improves our dismal scoring rate

[Cjay]

Completely agree but I dont think we have helped ourselves by not utilising creative players in other areas. Stuart Dallas brings nothing to centre midfield there have been a few times in the last couple of games where he has been in good positions and shown complete indecision and the move broke down. Robert's should have been playing there yesterday and in future games. I guess forshaw will come back in though who also offer very little going forward. Klich would also benefit from some time out of the team.

MB playing Dallas as a cm to try and shoehorn one of his faves in the side is ridiculous.

Ayling should have been benched, why bring him back in when Dallas was doing so well at rb?

MB seems to have sacrificed some of the flair and excitement in our play for more solidarity.

Forshaw in cm with Klich and Phillips.

Dallas as a cm rather then trying Bogusz.

[SG90]

I wonder which one of his favourites will be dropped when Forshaw is back or will he try and shoehorn Ayling, Dallas and Forshaw all into the team?

[Cjay]

Worth a try Cjay, anything is worth a go if it improves our dismal scoring rate

Indeed.

He is also one of the few who will shoot from distance, more chance to do that as a 10.

It seems obvious.

[Mick Jones shoulder]

Not as influential this season, but clear to see we lack creativity without him.

[1964white]

Indeed.

He is also one of the few who will shoot from distance, more chance to do that as a 10.

It seems obvious.

Indeed would also feed Eddie with his pace & intelligent positional play