Beren Cross
When everyone’s morale, apart from Jesse Marsch’s, plumbs to depths like Thursday’s it can be very hard to avoid throwing the baby out with the Leeds United bathwater.
Wholesale changes. Start Max Dean. Crysencio Summerville’s ready. Charlie Cresswell dominated Michail Antonio. Lewis Bate’s been mistreated all season, give him a chance.
So few players came away from Thursday with any credit. It was dreadful in every regard and confidence is so fragile the temptation would be to go with a fearless under-23 line-up.
In reality, when you boil down what’s at stake for both teams on Sunday, in front of what will be a nervous crowd ready to groan at any error, playing more than two or three youngsters will do more harm than good.
Morale and confidence is brittle, but experience counts for a lot in football. That innate, long-crafted instinct to do the right thing when your back’s against the wall, counts for a lot.
Stuart Dallas is the only realistic option to replace Junior Firpo at left-back. Luke Ayling returns to this best position of right-back, for me.
Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk have all left a lot to be desired in recent weeks, but I have managed to resist the temptation of playing Cresswell.
The teenager would do best if he had an experienced head like Liam Cooper to guide him through the game, I would not trust the aforementioned trio to provide that calming voice for him.
Struijk still has enough credit in the bank to start and Koch edges Llorente on the right side, but it’s a coin flip between those two.
Adam Forshaw continues, but Jamie Shackleton is one of the surprise picks I would include to just shake it up after this horrendous run of results.
The Thorp Arch product may not have the technical ability to dictate play, but he has the legs and will to get about, put tackles in and provide some energy through the centre.
Raphinha can still win any match on his day, while Daniel James moves to the left. He does still show something more when he moves wide.
Mateusz Klich is another I would bring in and play in a far more advanced role than usual, as an advanced playmaker behind Joe Gelhardt who, no more excuses, simply has to start matches until Patrick Bamford is ready.
I would not risk the England international from the start. He gets another half an hour or 45 minutes if it’s going badly and then starts at Molineux on Friday.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Dallas; Forshaw, Shackleton; Raphinha, Klich, James; Gelhardt.
Joe Donnohue
Sunday's line-up feels the most important for some time, largely because the outcome of Leeds' game against Norwich City has the potential to define both clubs' seasons.
Leeds, for the most part, have not been troubled by relegation, but there is a palpable threat of a return to the second tier as the Whites head into the final 10 games of the campaign.
In terms of personnel to face the Canaries, let's start with those who will definitely start: Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas.
The trio have been among Leeds' most consistent players when available this season, even if they have not quite reached the highs of last year.
Jesse Marsch said in his post-match press conference Dallas would most likely replace the injured Junior Firpo, which is the most sensible option available given the scarcity of natural left-backs in this squad.
This gives Diego Llorente the opportunity to return to the back four alongside Pascal Struijk and shuffles stand-in captain Luke Ayling back across to his more natural berth on the right side of the defence.
Robin Koch has been a mainstay in defensive midfield since his return from injury late last year, but Leeds' form has nosedived and the team have repeatedly shipped goals.
While it must be remembered that number six is not his natural position, questions have arisen regarding Koch's inclusion in an unfamiliar role under the new head coach.
For that reason, Adam Forshaw, who can exhibit the necessary control of the ball and hip-swivel to play both ways, should partner Mateusz Klich in the middle.
Marsch wants his wide players to play more of an 'interior' role in this new-look 4-2-2-2 formation, and this is an area Leeds are particularly well-staffed.
Harrison created plenty of chances at Leicester City, while Raphinha took sole responsibility for driving the team forwards against Aston Villa. They both stay in the XI.
Rodrigo's half-time substitution in midweek was welcomed, which speaks volumes for the regard in which he is held by Leeds United supporters almost two years after his club-record signing.
While Joe Gelhardt did not fare much better, the buzz around the young centre-forward should at least allow him the odd stray pass without Elland Road voicing their frustrations as they did towards the Spaniard on Thursday night.
Daniel James, meanwhile, is an important player out of possession, constantly chasing down the ball, almost greyhound-like in his pursuit of a turnover.
Given Norwich's fragility at the back, James is a player who must remain in the side, even if it is simply to unsettle the opposition.
Should Leeds find themselves level, or behind, at the break, Patrick Bamford from the bench will be a viable option, based on Marsch's comments.
Starting the striker, who has played a cumulative 53 minutes of first-team football since September, would be an almighty risk given there will be nine games remaining after Norwich.
To bring him back prematurely, only for him to sustain a further injury would demoralise the camp.
Joe's XI: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Forshaw, Klich; Harrison, Raphinha; Gelhardt, James.
