Jesse Marsch's first 12 games as Leeds United manager have been described as a 'sticking plaster', as the Whites scrambled for points in the midst of a relegation battle. Rather than tactical process, the work was focused primarily on mentality, keeping the team spirit up and working on basic ideas on the training pitch.
However, while Marsch was ultimately successful in keeping the team in the Premier League, there was always a sense that there would need to be an improvement ahead of the new season. Victor Orta has been busy re-tooling the squad and has already brought in five first-team signings in Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra. A forward is also expected to join soon, with Orta working hard to try and attract Club Brugge's Charles De Keteleare.
Although signings are vitally important this summer, it is also important that Leeds develop more of a tactical identity this summer. Marsch was known for a specific style at his previous clubs, with the Red Bull style of football core to his philosophy. This primarily revolves around pressing and counter-pressing - the act of looking to win the ball back immediately after losing it in order to create a shooting opportunity out of chaos - as well as 'vertical' attacking play.
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The use of the word 'vertical' is used to describe the attacking style because it focuses around passes played forwards into the midfield and the central area in front of the opposition penalty area, rather than circulating the ball in wide areas and making more 'horizontal' passes. At times at the end of last season, it was clear to panic in the way the Whites were playing on the ball and this looked more like Leeds players simply launching the ball up the field, rather than to any target.
However, in the pre-season friendly against Blackpool on Thursday, there were signs that this is something that is being worked on, without the pressure of relegation hanging overhead. In midfield, Roca was regularly looking to pass the ball through the middle of the pitch where possible, trying to find Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood ahead of him in central areas.
The best example came with the fourth goal though, as a heavily changed team cut through Blackpool with a goal Marsch would have been delighted with. It began with a driven pass from centre back, Jeremiah Mullen, into the feet of Charlie Allen, who was rotating down from a higher position. The Northern Irishman turned the ball around the corner with his first-touch, into the path of the onrushing Jamie Shackleton. The full back then ran into the penalty area and cut the ball back to the penalty spot, where Mateo Joseph was arriving to finish.
Crucially, this entire move happened within the width of the centre of the pitch and the right hand side of the penalty box. Attacking narrowly is also part of Marsch's philosophy, as he wants to create shots from central positions as much as possible, with low crosses from narrow angles and through-balls behind defences to set up one-on-one opportunities seen as the best way to create those chances.
Of course, there will need to be far more improvement in terms of the tactical style with the ball but Marsch has reason to be pleased with the performance, particularly given that many of the players who will likely be the starters were not included against Blackpool. The Whites now travel to Australia this weekend ahead of three friendlies against Brisbane Roar, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Cagliari. If they can continue making positive steps throughout the summer and through those games, they should be much closer to the kind of team their manager would like them to be when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers when the Premier League season begins on August 6.
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