How much trouble are we in?/interesting Square Ball podcast

[SG90]

And injuries to key players

But we had injuries last season.

[whiteswan]

And injuries to key players

Absolutely a major issue 64....the same thing happened at the beginning of last season as well

[whiteswan]

But we had injuries last season.

Just posted that SG, mainly at the beginning of the season. But once all our players came back from injury we started firing on all cylinders....so let's see

[LeeBrook]

We need a proven coach in now, before the January sales. Bielsa has taken us as far as he can, he's now out if his depth.

[Irish Ian]

We need a proven coach in now, before the January sales. Bielsa has taken us as far as he can, he's now out if his depth.

Funny, I know at times Bielsa infuriates me but reading this just highlights the gulf between those who say and those who do.

A half depleted squad due to injury and you suggest we sack the manager.
Hell why stop there Lee?

[Mountain]

We need a proven coach in now, before the January sales. Bielsa has taken us as far as he can, he's now out if his depth.

If I had a magic wand and could change anything, I'd...

Keep the manager
And his staff
And the team
And the squad
And the owner
And the managing director
And the director of football

And change the fans who think we have some God given right to win away at Southampton the year after we dreamed of being in the same division as them.

The biggest problem is we did far too well last season and raised expectations. Fans demanded a move on to the next level, as if muscling in on the top 6 was some inevitability.

I think a few years of fighting relegation would be good for us all, to help appreciate just how sensational the past 3 seasons have been under Bielsa, and how hard it is to make the jump to the top half, and the top 6.

In the meantime, when all the players are back and fit, I expect us to improve and ease away from the bottom 3.

[Finnatic]

If I had a magic wand and could change anything, I'd...

Keep the manager
And his staff
And the team
And the squad
And the owner
And the managing director
And the director of football

And change the fans who think we have some God given right to win away at Southampton the year after we dreamed of being in the same division as them.

The biggest problem is we did far too well last season and raised expectations. Fans demanded a move on to the next level, as if muscling in on the top 6 was some inevitability.

I think a few years of fighting relegation would be good for us all, to help appreciate just how sensational the past 3 seasons have been under Bielsa, and how hard it is to make the jump to the top half, and the top 6.

In the meantime, when all the players are back and fit, I expect us to improve and ease away from the bottom 3.

Well put, Mountain.

[1964white]

But we had injuries last season.

Not Bamford who was scoring goals for fun & Paddy also works his tits off pressing the opposition back four, unlike our expensive Spanish flop or our other alternative who couldn't score goals in the championship & can't get a regular place in a poor Welsh team.

There was very little effective pressing game from Leeds yesterday.

[VinnysTattoo]

The question for me is have the players lost faith in the system?

If the answer is yes then we are really are in the do do. Without the Bielsa way there was no chance we would have finished 9th last season with the players we had.

It could however be as simple as physically the players cannot forever keep up the pace.
Bielsa has stayed here longer than his other clubs so just maybe he’s just worn out the squad after three seasons of flat out football.

[1964white]

Bielsa

"I don't think the absence of certain players was the cause of the result"

You are kidding Marcelo ridiculous comment.

[Clacton White]

Summer recruitment was a bit dire .Not sure Dan James was a priority signing especially at 30m or whatever it was .A central creative player would have been better , some of those names that never came off .Firpo been a disappointment so far and a couple of players not in their best positions due to injuries. Klich doesn't look near his best , Dallas not in his best position and Roberts .....well , usually a sub at best. Obviously missing Phillips , Raph and Bamford .....overall the squad is quite weak when it comes to replacing key players and once again Orta seems to have put loads into strengthening the U23's.......ok these may be useful in 2 or 3 years but we are looking at now . I put most of this down to Orta and a poor , very poor window .

[SG90]

Spent £160m and yet we're still picking mostly Championship players. Why does Orta get a free pass constantly? His recruitment has been mostly shocking.

[SG90]

This idea that Bielsa bares no blame is lunacy too. He didnt want Noa Lang, it was Dan James or nothing. He didn't want CM, it was Gallagher or nothing. His refusal to move on from average Championship players like they're world beaters is why we're fighting for our lives this season.

[IJB12]

We must get two wins in a row against Wolves and Norwich to get some momentum.I was worried all last season even though we finished ninth.This season could kill me at this rate…I’m getting too old for this….

[SG90]

If I had a magic wand and could change anything, I'd...

Keep the manager
And his staff
And the team
And the squad
And the owner
And the managing director
And the director of football

And change the fans who think we have some God given right to win away at Southampton the year after we dreamed of being in the same division as them.

The biggest problem is we did far too well last season and raised expectations. Fans demanded a move on to the next level, as if muscling in on the top 6 was some inevitability.

I think a few years of fighting relegation would be good for us all, to help appreciate just how sensational the past 3 seasons have been under Bielsa, and how hard it is to make the jump to the top half, and the top 6.

In the meantime, when all the players are back and fit, I expect us to improve and ease away from the bottom 3.

So because we're worried about relegation, and rightly so, that means we're entitled and think we should be challenging for top 6? I've said all summer we're in trouble because the squad wasn't good enough, and sadly been proven right, while the club ignored it and automatically assumed we'd be in the same position. It's time for you to take off the rose tinted specs, we are bang in trouble. And we certainly won't go straight back up with the likes of Cooper, Ayling, Dallas, Klich, Roberts and without Bielsa and Pablo.

[Mountain]

I've said all summer we're in trouble because the squad wasn't good enough, and sadly been proven right, while the club ignored it and automatically assumed we'd be in the same position.

What player would have fitted into Bielsa:s system, how much would they cost and how would they have ensured results would be better?

[SG90]

What player would have fitted into Bielsa:s system, how much would they cost and how would they have ensured results would be better?

Yangel Herrera there's one. Nahitan Nandez. Teun Koopmeiners. All affordable and levels above what we have. They would have given us a grip on midfield, rather than having forwards there and thus large empty spaces which makes us easy to attack.

[SG90]

Funny, I know at times Bielsa infuriates me but reading this just highlights the gulf between those who say and those who do.

A half depleted squad due to injury and you suggest we sack the manager.
Hell why stop there Lee?

If Bielsa refuses to move on from Dallas, Cooper, Klich, Ayling, Roberts etc, then he should go in the summer as he'll be holding us back. Although what league we're in, who knows.

[Mountain]

Yangel Herrera there's one. Nahitan Nandez. Teun Koopmeiners. All affordable and levels above what we have. They would have given us a grip on midfield, rather than having forwards there and thus large empty spaces which makes us easy to attack.

One is playing with a club 13th in La Liga, one with the worst club in Serie A (and Cagliari are awful), so not sure about "levels above". Koopmeiners was linked to Liverpool and Bayern, before signing for regular CL side Atlanta, did he give any indication that he had any interest in Leeds?

[1964white]

We must get two wins in a row against Wolves and Norwich to get some momentum.I was worried all last season even though we finished ninth.This season could kill me at this rate…I’m getting too old for this….

Welcome to MOT IJB

Indeed, our form & the current situation is not good for us oldies