Michael Pearson: “Hi Beren, right to sack Bielsa with 12 games to go?”
BC: “It's a politician's answer, but only time will tell if this was the right decision. My gut says yes because of how the recent results have gone, but it doesn't make it hurt less any less. It's been a special era and a privilege to follow such an impressive person so closely. It's been a tough few days since Sunday because of what he did for everyone's lives. It's hard to look at the last few games and believe it was going to turn around though, even if Cooper, Phillips and Bamford did return.”
JamesGilligan: “Hi Beren, not knowing much about Marsch, tactically how different is he to Bielsa and can he implement his style quick enough to give us a fighting chance of survival?
BC: “That's the million-dollar question, James. Can Marsch implement his style and change this team quick enough to turn this campaign around with 12 games to go? Based on what I have read and he has said, his style is very similar to Bielsa's in that he favours a high press, big energy, lots of running and seeking the win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible. He has a clear week to work with the players and look to make those differences he believes will immediately turn the tide.”
Kentwhite007: “Hi Beren, do you think there will be a wholesale clear-out of 'ex Championship' players in the summer if we stay up or go down?”
BC: “If Leeds are relegated I would wager a large number of the players who were with them last time in the second tier will remain there to try and get them out. If they survive, I would expect they need to look at the squad closely. We are yet to hear from Marsch on how he feels about the squad. That will dictate our predictions for what may come in the summer, but the assumption has to be there will be a bigger unit next season with generally more experience. Sales are to be expected in any regime change and there are bound to be players Marsch does not see a use for. The ex-Championship players are approaching 30-years-old or older and will know they are approaching the end of their peak years. It's really hard to say what Marsch will want until we hear from him.”
Kentwhite007: “We will never know if Bielsa would have kept us up or taken us down, but I do think he was treated a bit shabby at the end. Thoughts?”
BC: “Bielsa's exit was always going to be difficult to sell to fans unless it was going to be his decision to step away. The idea of sacking one of the finest managers the club has ever had, someone who inspired and united a city, is horrible, but Radrizzani got to where he is in life by making difficult business decisions. He has to take the heat that comes with that and clearly knew it was not going to be a popular choice. While he is the chairman, he is the one who has to do what he feels is best for the club and the balance sheet.”
AndyDickson1: “Bielsa has been great for the club, players and fans but the results have gone against him, he had to go. Shame, but life goes on. Not sure if Marsch has the experience though.”
BC: “My gut says it was the right call, but it's just so sad. There was very little sign of things turning based on how the last few weeks have gone and, to be fair, the season has never got going.
“Jury will be out on Marsch until the end of the season, I feel. Twelve games to show what he's about and get a tune out of the players. He's been a company man at Red Bull so far, but it's fair to say he has had some high-level experience on the continent. Premier League will be the acid test.”
Msc24: “Hi Beren, it never crossed my mind before Saturday that Marcelo would be leaving (at least before the summer anyway), I was gutted. I do believe he had earned the right to turn it around but what is done is done. Jesse now gets my full support. Do you have any thoughts on our likely line-up/formation for Saturday? I like the idea of the 4-2-2-2 with zonal marking, my line-up would be: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo, Forshaw, Koch, James, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Gelhardt. When our missing players are back, a midfield of Phillips and Forshaw and Rodrigo and Bamford up front looks strong and I still feel we can survive.”
BC: “From what I have read 4-2-2-2 is certainly a possibility. I'd be tempted to have Dallas at left-back in that formation or as one of the two mids behind the strikers who can drift wide, seeing as he did that so well before. Wouldn't mind seeing Raphinha as one of the two strikers too.”
DRXO: “Has Marsch taken first-team training today?”
BC: “Led to believe he was at Thorp Arch today and took a light session with the side. Tomorrow expected to be the first day proper on the pitches.”
DGvoiceofreason: “Beren, do you feel that in the last 2 performances against Liverpool and Spurs, something seemed missing from our team? To lose against the big teams is one thing but to not really play is another and it seemed, from the outside looking in, something had changed a bit in the team. Have heard some of the players having questions on our style as well as maybe they started to have doubts and Marcelo's great adventure was drawing to a natural close.”
BC: “Marcelo maintained he had seen nothing to suggest the players were losing faith in the system. He felt they were still running hard. They were just thoroughly outplayed and for the past few weeks it has felt like something has been missing without being able to put our finger on it. the tactics remain the same, but the players just weren't able to make them work any longer.”
Miggyshane: “Hi Beren, do you think the new manager will give Summerville, Gelhardt and Cresswell a chance, after all they can't do any worse than the last few showings especially Firpo at left-back, more like he should have been left back at Barcelona, he looks lost.”
BC: “Until we hear from Marsch it's hard to know what his youth policy will be like, but from what I have read he has not been afraid to play young players and with how small this squad is, I am sure they won't be far from his plans.”
Craig92: “Do you think our squad is suited to Marsch tactics? I have read he plays a similar style to Rangnick. Seem to play attacking midfielders centrally. Likely to mean Raph, Harrison play more centrally rather than out wide cutting in.”
BC: “It seems like the philosophy is not too dissimilar to Marcelo's, so the squad should be well-suited to it, in theory. Leeds is a winger-heavy squad and if they do play the 4-2-2-2 we are expecting then yes, there is going to be some retraining for the likes of Harrison and James to do. We will have to wait and see what shape he goes with.”
