Premier League clubs have the luxury of being able to make five substitutions this season. It was a rule change that Jesse Marsch was in favour of, insisting it would help young players progress while also making the game faster and better to watch.
The Whites have also approached this season with a stronger and healthier squad after adding to their ranks to give the American strength in depth in a number of positions, leading to a nine-man bench that is stacked with quality, which wasn’t always the case last time around.
As such, there has been more onus on the head coach’s changes this season and he has admitted to making mistakes with management of the bench at points. But, across Leeds’ nine games this season, how has Marsch used his substitutions and what impact have they made?
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With that question in mind, LeedsLive takes a look at the Whites’ substitution record from the first few months of the season.
Wolves (h)
Subs made: Klich (Rodrigo 65), Greenwood (Roca 73), Summerville (Aaronson 84), Gelhardt (Bamford 84)
After seeing his side pick up an opening-day win, Marsch had every right to be pleased with the way he utilised his bench at Elland Road. The Whites were drawing 1-1 at the time Mateusz Klich entered the field and the Poland international made a huge impact in the game as he played a part in the build-up to the winner.
Sam Greenwood provided energy in the middle as Marc Roca flagged, while Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt emerged late to help see the game out.
Southampton (a)
Subs made: James (Bamford 28), Klich (Harrison 84), Sinisterra (James 84), Forshaw (Roca 88)
Marsch knows he left it too late to bring on the required reinforcements in this one. He was forced into a bit of a rethink of his plan in the first half when Patrick Bamford left the field through injury and that may have had an impact later in the game as he resisted the urge to change.
Momentum was swinging in the game, though, and by the time he eventually threw Klich and Luis Sinisterra into the game, the Whites had surrendered a two-goal lead on what was a searing hot day on the south coast.
Chelsea (h)
Subs made: Forshaw (Roca 61), Sinisterra (James 70), Greenwood (Harrison 83), Klich (Aaronson 83), Gelhardt (Rodrigo 83)
Again, Leeds fans could have no complaints about Marsch’s tactics in this one, getting it right from start to finish. Even the bench made an impact as the likes of Greenwood and Gelhardt helped Leeds see off Chelsea, with the latter’s energy directly leading to Kalidou Koulibaly’s red card.
Brighton (a)
Subs made: Sinisterra (James 59), Klich (Roca 59), Forshaw (Harrison 74), Gelhardt (Aaronson 82)
Leeds were second best in this one, but Marsch’s second-half changes did help to stem the flow somewhat. Sinisterra and Klich came into the side and staked a claim for a starting position with their performances in the final half an hour of the game.
Ultimately, they couldn’t make an impact on the scoreline.
Everton (h)
Subs made: Gelhardt (Rodrigo 32), Klich (Sinisterra 64), Bamford (Gelhardt 76), James (Aaronson 76)
Like in the Southampton game, Leeds were forced to make an early change as Joe Gelhardt came on to replace the injured Rodrigo up front. The fact that Patrick Bamford wasn’t chosen to replace the Spain international in the first half spoke volumes about his fitness at the time.
Gelhardt struggled to unlock Everton’s defence during his time on the field, but Klich looked strong again, finding space and pulling the strings as Leeds pushed to find a winner.
Brentford (a)
Subs made: Bamford (Harrison 46), Summerville (Sinisterra 59), Klich (Gelhardt 59), Ayling (Drameh 70), Greenwood (Roca 86)
Changes needed to be made in this one and Marsch showed no hesitation in hooking Harrison, who had been a passenger in the first half of the contest, and changing the formation as Leeds trailed at the Gtech Community Stadium. Bamford did well in the second half but he spurned a golden chance to get off the mark for the campaign.
Summerville made an impact and probably should have won a penalty when he was bundled down in the box, while Luke Ayling was superb during his 20-minute cameo on the field and set up Leeds’ second goal of the game.
Aston Villa (h)
Subs made: Firpo (Roca 58), Ayling (Kristensen 68), Bamford (Rodrigo 68), Klich (Aaronson 79), Summerville (Harrison 79)
Marsch undoubtedly got this one right, too, as he was forced into action following Sinisterra’s red card at the start of the second half. Junior Firpo made his first appearance of the season a few minutes after the dismissal as Leeds moved to five at the back, while the experience of Bamford, Ayling and Klich helped United see the game out and secure a hard-fought point.
Crystal Palace (a)
Subs made: Summerville (Bamford 62), Klich (Aaronson 76), Ayling (Kristensen 84), Gelhardt (Roca 84)
Marsch cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines at Selhurst Park as his first couple of changes failed to make the desired impact. Summerville had hoped to stake a claim in the contest but struggled in south London, while Klich came on just half a minute or so before Eberechi Eze’s winning goal.
The introduction of Gelhardt came too late as Palace saw out the result comfortably.
Arsenal (h)
Subs made: Bamford (Rodrigo 46), Klich (Harrison 75), Summerville (Roca 84), Gelhardt (Sinisterra 89)
Marsch made the right call to bring on Bamford at the interval. The England international helped to completely change the game in the second half even if he did draw a blank in front of goal. However, the changes he made in the final 15 minutes of the game were less successful.
Klich struggled to make an impact after stepping onto the right-hand side of the field, while Joe Gelhardt was given just one minute plus stoppage time to help find the equaliser, which is a tough ask by anyone’s standards. It could be said that Gelhardt should have replaced Sinisterra earlier, with the Colombian looking visibly exhausted during the final 20 minutes of the game.
Verdict
Generally speaking, Leeds’ bench is much stronger than it was last season following the club’s summer spending and injuries clearing up. As such, Marsch has had the opportunity to make more of an impact with his changes from the bench, bringing on established internationals and highly regarded youngsters in order to make things happen.
He has found some success, too, with fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa and even, to a certain extent, Brentford standing out as examples of strong bench management from the American. However, he has got it wrong on two or three occasions, too.
The Southampton game was the obvious error, but it’s fair to say changes could have been used to better effect in recent weeks against Palace and Arsenal, too.
Games come thick and fast over the next few weeks and managing the workload of individuals will undoubtedly be key, particularly this week with a Thursday night fixture with Leicester City coming before Sunday’s clash at Elland Road against Fulham. Using the bench correctly could be the difference between success and failure.
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