Beren Cross
Form and confidence have seemingly abandoned the vast majority of Leeds United’s players and now they are preparing for the hardest test of the season. The Manchester City juggernaut is sure to keep the Whites penned into their own third, with the visitors left to feed on counter-attacking scraps.
It’s time for Illan Meslier to step out of the spotlight. If we accept United are going to be facing at least 25 shots, with the vast majority on target, we need a goalkeeper in there who is not questioning every decision they make.
The Frenchman’s time will come again, but on an afternoon when a stellar performance can still lead to defeat, it seems sensible to give Joel Robles a go and steady the ship. While Sam Allardyce could yet plump for a back five, I would revert to a quartet.
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Luke Ayling has proven he is the lesser of two problems at right-back, while Robin Koch and Max Wober pick themselves in the middle with Liam Cooper injured. Junior Firpo unfairly missed out on the trips to Fulham and Bournemouth, so I would restore him to the side too.
Weston McKennie and Marc Roca have been nowhere near good enough in the past few games and even if it means taking a punt on younger or rustier alternatives, I need to see it. Adam Forshaw’s passing could get Leeds up the field, Sam Greenwood is arguably the best chance at maximising on limited set-piece opportunities, while Jack Harrison showed a defensive string to his bow on the left of a midfield three at Arsenal.
Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto are the best wide men on the break, while Patrick Bamford can be a focal point to hold the ball up.
Beren’s XI: Robles; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Greenwood, Forshaw, Harrison; Summerville, Bamford, Gnonto.
Will Jackson
Tough calls must be made at this stage of the season and it might be time to make a huge one between the sticks. Illan Meslier was a shadow of the player we all know he can be at Bournemouth last weekend and it’s probably best to take him out of the firing line.
I’m a huge fan of Meslier’s and when he’s firing on all cylinders he’s one of the best young goalkeepers in the Premier League, but, he’s not even close to performing at his best at present with his confidence and belief in his own ability hitting alarming lows. He can and will recover, but with the experienced Joel Robles watching on from the sidelines it might be time for a change of tack for the time being.
You’d struggle to find a Leeds man playing confidently at the minute and that’s part of the problem Sam Allardyce has to solve after stepping in at late notice. I’m keen to see Leeds return to a back four, with Luke Ayling getting the nod at right-back, with Robin Koch and Max Wober inside him in the centre-back slots.
The German-speaking duo have made up Leeds’ best centre-back partnership this season and I’m keen to see them play alongside each other once more. Changes have to come in the middle of the park.
Weston McKennie struggled to make any sort of impact on the south coast and he has to drop out, for me, in favour of Adam Forshaw. Marc Roca wasn’t much better against the Cherries but options are limited and Jack Harrison’s work rate might be best used in a midfield three against City.
Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville were arguably Leeds’ best last time out, while I’m still opting for Rodrigo over Patrick Bamford, due to the presence he provides in attack.
Will’s XI: Robles; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Forshaw, Roca, Harrison; Gnonto, Rodrigo, Summerville.
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