Leeds United v AC Milan Match Thread

[Irish Ian]

Perhaps so but it's the defending I'm worried about and Bogle deserves every bit as much concern in that regard until he proves different

OK from today.

Defending he was awful, apart from second half when they didn't offer much which allowed him to attack.

So attacking he put in two crosses.

On balance not a great return.

[Orange Box]

Was at the game today. Met Leeds fans from all over. Great day out.
Was surprised by the number of Leeds fans from England who travelled. Definitely brought the atmosphere up a level or two.

I was gobsmacked at the amount of Irish fans. You need a PL franchise in Dublin. I hope Leeds do it again next pre season, it’s been so special.

[1964white]

I was gobsmacked at the amount of Irish fans. You need a PL franchise in Dublin. I hope Leeds do it again next pre season, it’s been so special.

A very special day for the Irish fans & you of course, OB.

[WhiteRose]

Couldn’t catch the game today but it sounds like the same issues we had last week, which isn’t a surprise. I’m still left scratching my head at the club and Farkes stance on Bamford - just can’t see why they have allowed the manager to tie himself in knots, writing off a useful, expensive and contracted player who as of yet is still with us. If September the 1st comes and goes and he is still with us then he has to be reintegrated with the first team surely.

[1964white]

Byram to start vs Everton if Bogle isn't fit or ready to take the No.2 spot.

[John in Louisiana]

Stach is gonna be the new Klich, ain't he? You could even swap out Klich for Stach and use the same chant

Was thinking the same thing.

[1964white]

I don’t think he is that bad, did some good stuff today, a few lapses of concentration but certainly not a catastrophe. It was a different game when Sam came on, so to comparatively judge their performances would be wrong IMO

We may yet stick with him as back up.

Gud looks pretty good so far, but a friendly is not a reliable barometer. That outside of the foot chip between the two defenders to Gnonto was a thing of beauty.

Schmidt made as many errors as his good moments.

[Orange Box]

A very special day for the Irish fans & you of course, OB.

It brought back some good memories. Haven’t gone to a game (asa speccy) since the late 90s when I gave up my ST when I became a paramedic working shifts. Been to games working but not the same. My missus is hooked, we’ll be doing corporates this season, that’s for sure.

[BlancdeBlanc]

Couldn’t catch the game today but it sounds like the same issues we had last week, which isn’t a surprise. I’m still left scratching my head at the club and Farkes stance on Bamford - just can’t see why they have allowed the manager to tie himself in knots, writing off a useful, expensive and contracted player who as of yet is still with us. If September the 1st comes and goes and he is still with us then he has to be reintegrated with the first team surely.

I wonder if it’s something personal with Bamford, maybe disrupts the dressing room? He’s the last of the Bielsa bunch as well. Farke feeling he had to definitively make a break.

[White Lotus]

My observations on some of the main talking points here from yesterday.

Schmidt : I can see why Farke is reluctant to use him and i don't see a future for him here at Leeds, he'll obviously come into consideration if he's still here and we get desperate through injuries, but yesterday defensive positioning, timing of going forward, knowing when to stay back and not go forward, sprinting to get back in time, getting right side of the player, in fact there's a large number of reasons he'd get caught out at wing back, especially in top flight football that i don't see him in Farkes plans unless forced, he's got a bit of something going forward but the negatives far outweigh any positives and his position would be targeted week in and week out defensively, he needs to come on a lot in the English game and i don't think we're in a position to bring him on especially in the Premier, strikes me as Championship level at best atm, or some continental league like Austria, I wouldn't totally give up on him but we haven't got the time and need players ready to go.

In saying all that the RWB and LWB probably have become two of the most important positions now in world football (have been for some time) they are vital to any attack focussed team these days, just look how the top teams are seeking them out to buy, they have to pound up and down that touchline non stop in attack and defence obviously bringing with it complications defensively that doing that brings, you can excuse some defensive mishaps because of this but must try and limit the number like weighing up risk v reward scenarios. Gudmundson seemed to get that balance far better than Schmidt yesterday.
On a sidenote re Byram's contribution - I've always felt he does better at LB than RB, so i'd prefer Byram as cover at LWB and i'm not sure at RWB, perhaps shared, but we're quite desperate in those positions as we're not moneybags City types.
I think we'd be just fine if Bogle and Gudmunson stayed fit all season, they'll most definitely get exposed at times because we're relegation fodder until the manager and club can spend bigger, but for the most part they're posibly as good as we can expect for the position we're in, we won't attract a Frimpong, Ait-Nouri, Robertson etc players like that that i think Farke would love to have.

Jack Harrison - First of all i don't think he'll be here now after yesterday and hopefully/possibly off to Rangers if nobody else enters the fray for him.
I was glad to see him tried at LWB and i think that said from Farke that Willy, Rama, James and Aaronson are in front of him on the wings and that he doesn't particularly want him.
Re - the boos, they died down a little after some of the fans let him know their thoughts on his mam and his so called desertion, I'm not really bothered about JH he doesn't offer much to what we've already got and at best just bolsters the squad for any long winter through injuries/suspensions type of thing, if i'm honest i'd be happier to see him leave, especially for money.
If he did walk around the pitch alone, doesn't that normally mean 'goodbye? I don't know i missed it.

I was impressed by our 4-3-3 and shows me Farke actually does have other strings to his bow and that the 4-2-3-1 was the necessary formation best equipped and deployed for winning the Championship, also explains to me why he stuck by it for winning that division and the players he had at his disposal. Obviously more needs to be observed but yesterday it gave us an indication that Farke will switch it up for different opponents that we come up against, good stuff. I also liked yesterday that even when 5 introductions were made simultaneously each seemed to fit in quite smoothly given the amount and knew the system well.
We are badly lacking in some class though, nobody has that touch of magic although Stach seemed to stand out from the rest through intelligence, positional sense and overall quality, that's what you get when you can spend more money/have good scouting.

In the James/Aaronson debate over who starts, I'd plump for Aaronson starting as there's not much to choose between them as to what you get different from each, I feel Aaronson is the better all round player, but James gives you something else with his speed, speed that will probably come in handy from the bench for the last 25-30mins. The same could be said for Gnonto/Rama, in fact the 4 of them leave me thinking like i'd just play them all for like 45 mins each because i struggle to choose who over who, perhaps the upcoming game and opponents would better determine that.

Still struggling with Piroe although he's looking better, still missing in action for large parts, but something i did notice yesterday was him trying to take the game by the scruff of the neck and shoot at his first chance, also noticed what could be some nice link up interchange play with Stach - something to work on/work in progress?

Overall the game left me more optimistic, but we are on a knife edge squad wise and would like to see at least 4 more through the door, and i'm well aware that the jury is still well out on the majority of our players stepping up for a full season in the Prem and that all the above could come crashing right down with some thumpings, and that it's still fingers crossed for the most part.

Mot.

[White Lotus]

I wonder if it’s something personal with Bamford, maybe disrupts the dressing room? He’s the last of the Bielsa bunch as well. Farke feeling he had to definitively make a break.

You can't plan with a player that is constantly injured.
if he is still here and nobody shows an interest in him at all, then we're lumbered and of course Farke would be forced to use him if we become completely stuck.
But Farke is basically shouting out loud...'I NEED PLAYERS'

[PhoenixUnited]

I wonder if it’s something personal with Bamford, maybe disrupts the dressing room? He’s the last of the Bielsa bunch as well. Farke feeling he had to definitively make a break.

I think it is a question of trust on the part of Farke. Essentially, he'd rather go and get another player than rely or depend on PB who is unlikely to be available, never mind anywhere near fit, for any sort of continuous period anytime - forget anytime soon. Farke has waited long enough and had decided enough is enough. It isn't anything personal I don't think

[The Subhuman]

I wonder if it’s something personal with Bamford, maybe disrupts the dressing room? He’s the last of the Bielsa bunch as well. Farke feeling he had to definitively make a break.

Jack Harrison, Pascal Struijk, Ilan Meslier, Dan James?

[Jammy 07]

Decent enough performance yesterday but Tanaka in an attacking midfield role just doesn't do it for me. Lovely player when on the ball but just doesn't have the speed to play that position at PL level. Aaronson does have the zip in his movements to play there but unfortunately doesn't have the touch or vision.

Therefore a new creative attacking midfielder has to be a must signing before the window slams shut in 3 weeks time.

[White Riot]

I think they were just trying to look like the kind of owners that didn't have to sell players to balance the books.

On reflection, we'd have been better with the £20m.

I'm sure that in the past we also had decent bids for Meslier and Bamford?

But Sentimental United love keeping hold of mediocrity

You've got to know when a player's stock is high and get rid, so that you can improve the quality of the squad.

[White Riot]

I think it is a question of trust on the part of Farke. Essentially, he'd rather go and get another player than rely or depend on PB who is unlikely to be available, never mind anywhere near fit, for any sort of continuous period anytime - forget anytime soon. Farke has waited long enough and had decided enough is enough. It isn't anything personal I don't think

Maybe he's conscious that keeping faith in the albatross has cost a number of our coaches their jobs

[Supersaint3]

Can I just say great to see such a massive contingent over from Leeds myself and the kids were at the game and the game and the goodwill carnival atmosphere was lovely - loud MoTs were brilliant.. hard to see what we'll be like come opening day to be honest, Milan cut them open for the goal first half, Issac Schmidt got a run out right back was absolutely turned over by their winger . Stach got our goal like the look of him - lot of changes at 65 and it died as a contest then .. beautiful sunny day... Total sell out 50000 all Leeds

[CUSSIE01]

Everyone I spoke to yesterday agreed that Stach was our best player & Schmidt easily the worst. Really noticeable that without Aaronson to bail him out defensively he looked lost but he was left isolated at times with little cover from midfield & Joe moving into the centre to cover the inevitable crosses into the box. If we start v Everton with Schmidt we’re in serious trouble.
Had a fantastic day in Dublin & the atmosphere was special for what was essentially an away game, meeting Eddie Gray, Stuarty Dallas & the lovely Emma Jones were the icing on the cake.

[1964white]

Everyone I spoke to yesterday agreed that Stach was our best player & Schmidt easily the worst. Really noticeable that without Aaronson to bail him out defensively he looked lost but he was left isolated at times with little cover from midfield & Joe moving into the centre to cover the inevitable crosses into the box. If we start v Everton with Schmidt we’re in serious trouble.
Had a fantastic day in Dublin & the atmosphere was special for what was essentially an away game, meeting Eddie Gray, Stuarty Dallas & the lovely Emma Jones were the icing on the cake.

Glad you agree with me, Cussie.

If Bogle isn't fit, Sam has to start.

I bet she was.

[The Subhuman]

Perri - 7.5
Schmidt - 6.5
Gudmundsson - 7.5
Ampadu - 7
Rodon - 6.5
Struijk - 7.5
James - 6.5
Stach - 9
Tanaka - 8
Piroe - 7
Gnonto - 8.5

Darlow - 6
Aaronson - 6.5
Nmecha - 6.5
Longstaff - 6
Gruev - 7
Byram - 6
Ramazani - 6
Harrison - 7