Prove Cagliari demolition was not due to the opposition
The 6-2 thrashing on Sunday put a spring in everyone’s Leeds United step this week, but the one caveat was the quality of the opposition. Premier League top-half outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers will be a far cry from Serie B’s promotion challengers.
Even the most demanding of supporters are not expecting another four-goal winning margin, or six goals, but there is hope and anticipation Jesse Marsch’s tactical imprint will be even clearer on Saturday afternoon. If the fans can just see those patterns of play flourishing again, this pre-season optimism can be sustained for a few weeks longer.
Rodrigo to take this season by the scruff of the neck?
We are into the third year of the four-year contract Rodrigo signed after Leeds spent more on him than any footballer in their history. Sadly, we are still waiting for the Player of the Year campaign that fee demands.
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There was a glimmer, as we have seen in little pockets across the last two seasons, of Rodrigo’s attacking potency and ingenuity on Sunday. It’s all there for him to make himself the star in this side with Raphinha now on the continent.
Rodrigo can become the talisman if he can make himself click in this system.
Struijk to be targeted?
It does not require a UEFA Pro Licence to work out which Leeds player is out of position and should be targeted. Bruno Lage will know Pascal Struijk is a centre-back and if his Wolves side are to hurt the Whites, it could well be down the home side’s left flank.
Will the visitors create the blueprint for exposing Leeds that others copy, or will Marsch and Struijk combine to prove why the board are considering ending this transfer window without adding a left-back?
Elland Road in full voice
While the new players and backroom staff had a taste of the Elland Road atmosphere last weekend, that was merely a soupçon of what will greet them at 3pm. The Whites are set for another sell-out and this time the match really matters.
The four debutants we are expecting to start will certainly have a better grasp of what they have walked into when they walk off the field at 5pm.
Fans remembered
Keep an eye and an ear out as Leeds will pay tribute to all of the lives lost over the last few months before kick-off on Saturday. The club has said: “Everyone at Elland Road will take part in a round of applause before kick-off, with a tribute played out on the big screen to remember fans and anyone else associated with the club, that have been lost since our last Premier League game against Brentford in May.”
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