Diego Llorente

[BobHirst]

It was one of the most remarkable recoveries I have ever seen.
I feared he might have bone protruding through his leg until he jumped up to have a go at Wadkins.

[rab_rant]

the hairstyle, the look, he could almost be Patrick Bamford's twin

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[Cjay]

Solid from Diego.

Needs to build on it though.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Solid from Diego.

Needs to build on it though.

Really good game today and he's pure class from a lot of what I've seen. He's been bashed a bit since he came back. But on thing we should learn is that it takes everyone a little time coming back from injury, even more at a new club. Nothing improves a player like time on the pitch. What's our pecking order at the back now? Koch, Llorente, Strujik, Cooper?

[Cjay]

Really good game today and he's pure class from a lot of what I've seen. He's been bashed a bit since he came back. But on thing we should learn is that it takes everyone a little time coming back from injury, even more at a new club. Nothing improves a player like time on the pitch. What's our pecking order at the back now? Koch, Llorente, Strujik, Cooper?

Probably what most fans would go for next season.

But as you mentioned in the Roberts thread, Bielsa is loyal, would he drop Cooper?

Would it work playing 2 right footers at cb?

[andrewjohnsmith]

Probably what most fans would go for next season.

But as you mentioned in the Roberts thread, Bielsa is loyal, would he drop Cooper?

Would it work playing 2 right footers at cb?

It gives us options. Someone to cover KP. A 3-man defence if we need it. Every way Cooper is the odd man out. But I don't see Bielsa excluding him either

[Allrounder]

Very enjoyable interview of Llorente by Sky Sports;

https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... as-methods

[Cjay]

Was awesome today.

Great defending and so so comfortable on the ball.

[HarryofOz]

Was awesome today.

Great defending and so so comfortable on the ball.

Best on the pitch for me.

[Cjay]

Best on the pitch for me.

Agree Harry was really impressed.

Didnt get bullied at set pieces either today.

[Finnatic]

Agree Harry was really impressed.

Didnt get bullied at set pieces either today.

I noticed the blunts used that “bus queue” tactic at corners which mean we had a few spare bodies instead of man to man.
Maybe that helped the defence track their man from five or six yards instead of grappling them and losing out (which has been the main problem)

[CHAPELALLMAN]

I noticed the blunts used that “bus queue” tactic at corners which mean we had a few spare bodies instead of man to man.
Maybe that helped the defence track their man from five or six yards instead of grappling them and losing out (which has been the main problem)

That was the problem with that goal conceded against Fulham when Andersen scored. Ayling to Meslier's right, had Andersen standing directly behind him , with the corner coming in from the opposite direction, so Ayling couldn't watch Andersen and the flight of the ball at the same time. At one point Ayling turned around to glance at him, and then quickly turned back to watch the corner coming in.

There was a large gap of several meters between those two and a gaggle of about 6 players to Meslier's left with our defenders all man marking. The ball then soared at least a couple of meters above the heads of this group of players and was at a headable height in that gap with nobody there to clear it with a header. When the ball finally arrived low down close to Ayling, Andersen moved to Ayling's side at the last moment, stuck his leg out and put the ball in the back of the net.

That's what happens with man marking when you are grappling with attackers and are not sure which way to look. Every single Leeds defender was rooted to the spot and unable to position himself so as to be in the right place on the pitch to head the ball when the ball was at the right height to do so. Creating that big gap in front of the goal with the corner soaring over the heads of our gaggle of defenders was probably a deliberate Fulham tactic nearly all our defenders at that moment were taken out of the game.

[Smudge3920]

He is going to be one of the best in the league next season...Outstanding shift today ...

[weasel]

You don't become a Spanish regular unless you are a decent player. Was really surprised he cost so little - I can only assume we got him as cheap as we did due to Covid and also his injury problems.

[Allrounder]

How quickly things change in Sports, one day he was waste of money and now it looks like a bargain. Let's hope he can keep himself injury-free and play all the remaining games and have a good Euro's as well.

[whiteroseboy]

Will be our main CB next season I have no doubt but who will be his partner?
Would not be shocked if its Pascal as not yet convinced with Koch and Coops has probably got as far as he can on the progress front.

[The Subhuman]

Koch is the best centre back at the club for me, I am convinced. I've been tinkering with this and I think with the players we have this is a very strong 11

Meslier
Ayling
Koch
Struijk
Dallas
Llorente as the 4, able to drop back to make up a back 3
Phillips as the 8 pushed up into the Klich role
Klich as the 10
Raph and Jack on the wings and Paddy up front

It puts all our best players on the field at the same time

[danhirons]

Koch is the best centre back at the club for me, I am convinced. I've been tinkering with this and I think with the players we have this is a very strong 11

Meslier
Ayling
Koch
Struijk
Dallas
Llorente as the 4, able to drop back to make up a back 3
Phillips as the 8 pushed up into the Klich role
Klich as the 10
Raph and Jack on the wings and Paddy up front

It puts all our best players on the field at the same time

moving phillips from his current role would be a disaster - he can't play higher up the pitch (as we've seen with England) and nobody plays that position as well as he does. perhaps using llorente as a DM when phillips is unavailable could be an option but he's solidifying his place at cb so tinkering around with that would seem a bit strange

[1964white]

Diego Llorente vs. Sheffield United:

54 touches
34/41 successful passes
6 duels won
4 ball recoveries
3 tackles won (joint-most on pitch)
2 defensive aerial duels won
1 interception
1 successful take-on
1 clearance
1 foul
1 shot

[The Subhuman]

moving phillips from his current role would be a disaster - he can't play higher up the pitch (as we've seen with England) and nobody plays that position as well as he does. perhaps using llorente as a DM when phillips is unavailable could be an option but he's solidifying his place at cb so tinkering around with that would seem a bit strange

You could be right, I was trying to accommodate Llorente, Kalvin did start life as an AMF so I do think he could play the 8 very well once he acclimatizes. He has all the attributes to be more of a box to box guy. I would not start Llorente over Koch personally.