Our team of Beren Cross and Will Jackson discussed the latest Leeds United matters on a Facebook live over the weekend.
You can read the full transcript of that conversation HERE . Beren also answered questions from supporters, which you can read below.
Gary Foster: If that was in the Premier League, McGinn would have been sent off. Way out of his depth.
BC: Gary Foster has picked up on one of the major talking points which was the referee. Anybody who watched the game will know that Archie Gray’s injury was only a symptom of the way that the match was refereed and it allowed the match to get out of control with some of the tackles that he was allowing to run.
I know it was only a friendly and referees are always going to be reluctant to throw cards around but as Gary says if that was in the Prem then he would’ve been sent off.
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John Redmond: Villa had way too much space on the wings, especially first half, way too narrow.
BC: I think that was something we saw on Thursday against Brisbane Roar. You don’t need me to repeat it but we know Marsch likes to play a narrow system at least with his wingers. They do tend to tuck inside with the strikers and the number 10, so there is a lot of onus on the full-backs to get forward and provide some width.
And if they do commit themselves, as Rasmus was clearly doing again today, it is going to leave space in behind and it’s going to ask big questions of both the centre-backs and the double pivot, who are expected to remain deep and provide a bit of protection.
Keith Hallissey: Adams and Roca mustard
BC: Keith Hallissey talking about the topics that Will and I were just discussing about the double pivot and who looks to be in pole position in central midfield. He’s gone with Adams and Roca. Will thinks that today’s line-up is going to be quite close to what we see against Wolves.
If you run through the team then obviously Meslier and Christensen would start and I think Robin Koch will start. Whether Struijk will start depends a lot on Liam Cooper and his recovery. If Cooper can get back and prove himself against Palace and Cagliari then I think his captaincy will put him in the frame for Wolves. But as it stands, Struijk has clearly had more minutes than Llorente and of course he’s left-footed.
Left-back is a complete mystery. It’s a toss up between Hjelde and Davis. I think Hjelde did quite well when he came on in the second half at left-back. That may well be a position that Leeds will look to strengthen before now and the start of the season, if not then between now and the transfer window closing.
In midfield, he started with Adams and Roca today, Will thinks that might be what Marsch goes with given the trust and instant relationship that he has with Tyler Adams. I’m certainly a big fan of Adam Forshaw and I think he will give Marsch a lot to think about when it comes to who he picks in the centre.
Up front he’s gone with Bamford today which I think we all agree will be the striker who starts the season, even if they do get a new striker, given the integration required. Bamford will certainly go in as the first choice number nine. Rodrigo's stock is low so I think Aaronson has got the benefit of being a new signing and somebody we haven’t seen a lot of.
And again somebody that Jesse knows well, so I think Aaronson has got a good chance of starting in behind Bamford. And then on the flanks, Harrison of course will start. We’d think given how well he’s trusted by Marsch and the work rate that he has. And Daniel James of course will be suspended for the Wolves game so that other side is up for grabs.
Rodrigo played on the right hand side against Blackpool and Sinisterra still needs to build up that match fitness and if we see him do well against Crystal Palace and Cagliari then you’d think that Sinisterra and his price tag will mean that he should start. But Summerville will be looking to back himself to start.
Adam Trudgian: Why do we rely on Bamford. Not great in 2 seasons in the Championship. Did ok in his first Premier League season and didn’t play last season. Need a top striker.
BC: I know exactly what you mean. Bamford in the Championship was very frustrating. To score 16 goals in a title winning side was a bit underwhelming and he should’ve scored a lot more with the chances he had but that first year in the Premier League he was fantastic. He scored 17 goals.
I haven’t got the time to check the stats now but he was in the top two or three goal scorers in the entire division in a side that finished ninth. You have to give him some credit for that and he’s proven how important he is. You look at how poorly Leeds did last season and they really missed him. You have to still keep some faith in Bamford. I think he’s got a lot of credit in the bank after that first year in the Premier League.
Matthew LUFC Jenkinson: Joffy would’ve scored today
BC: It sounds like Gelhardt is managing an injury of some sort so he missed out on training yesterday. He was left out of the main training session. So I think we’re just being cautious of him but he was on the bench today and he wasn’t out of the squad completely like Cooper.
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