Ending a 20-year wait?
Javi Gracia’s short history with the FA Cup is more decorated than most who spend their entire careers playing or coaching in it. Four years ago the Spaniard guided Watford to the final at Wembley and how Leeds United would dream of something similar.
The first step is ending a 20-year wait to be in the hat for the quarter-final draw. In 2003, Terry Venables’s Whites would see off Scunthorpe United and Gillingham before beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the fifth round with goals from Gary Kelly and Harry Kewell.
Sheffield United would end the run in the quarter-finals at Bramall Lane a few weeks later. This is real history Gracia would be making.
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Does Meslier continue?
During that Watford run to Wembley in 2019, Gracia would rotate his goalkeepers. Ben Foster played in Premier League matches, while Heurelho Gomes started every cup tie.
Gracia was non-committal when asked directly about this dynamic in yesterday’s press conference. Like Gomes was, Joel Robles is an experienced head on the bench waiting for opportunities while Illan Meslier starts every week in the league.
Limited defensive rotation?
After the loan of Diego Llorente, the injury to Liam Cooper and the concussion to Pascal Struijk, Leeds do not have a lot of defensive alternatives to the four who started at the weekend. Luke Ayling, the captain in Cooper’s absence and enjoying an excellent February, could be the one to take a rest.
Rasmus Kristensen is the one option on the fringes with experience who could come into the backline and do a job for Gracia. Diogo Monteiro would be the next man into the breach if the head coach wanted to rest anyone else.
More vital minutes for Rutter?
Gracia will still be getting to grips with the various narratives unfolding across his squad. Georginio Rutter’s club-record arrival evidently predates the head coach’s signature, but he must be aware of the growing pressure to get a tune from the 20-year-old prospect.
With such a sizeable financial outlay committed to the French forward it’s understandable for those on the terraces to be pushing for some impact on the field. It felt like there were a few more steps forward on Saturday afternoon, but will he be one of those “other players” Gracia mentioned to get an overdue start?
A different system?
Fulham favour a 4-2-3-1 and the smart money, away from home, would be on Gracia looking to stick with last weekend’s system and match the hosts across the pitch. Are there any more nuances to it, though?
Gracia has declined to say much at all about his tactical philosophy up to this point and there has only been one match to go off. It’s a learning experience for everyone.
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