Secrets do not slip easily from Jesse Marsch’s lips as he discusses team news and tactics in his Leeds United press conferences. With a new five-at-the-back system to throw into the mix, it’s becoming harder and harder to pin down what the American might do.
When you throw in an underperforming unit too, there are reasons you can find for any number of players to miss out. Liam Cooper is one name Marsch was very confident to pin to his mast in Friday’s briefing.
The captain has arguably been the best player in the team since returning from his hamstring injury and the first name on Sunday’s teamsheet if fit. Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Raphinha, Rodrigo and Kalvin Phillips feel like the only other surefire starters.
READ MORE: Leeds United line-up vs Arsenal as Dallas, Firpo and Harrison make way in formation switch
When he was asked about the perennial absence of a natural striker, there was some colour to unpack from Marsch. “We’ve asked Dan James to play a lot in that position and I know that’s not ideal,” he said. “We will still probably need him at times to play there.”
‘Probably’ indicates doubt about when and where James will play in the frontline again, but later references to Rodrigo confused matters. “We’ve used Rodrigo sometimes in that position, but he’s more a false nine, or a 10 and operates better when there’s another striker up with him.”
Marsch’s admission Rodrigo is better alongside or around another striker means he either doesn’t play in the 5-2-3 shape anymore, or they are switching back to a 4-2-3-1 and he will be behind the frontman. Joe Gelhardt?
“I’ve always been thinking about how to use Joffy (Gelhardt) more and more,” he said on Friday. Marsch’s reluctance to start Gelhardt up to now means Arsenal away does not feel like a realistic place at which he throws him in from the first whistle.
Maybe you flip a coin on James and Gelhardt, but the Rodrigo comments at least suggest they could revert to a 4-2-3-1 on Sunday and perhaps the lessons they took from Crystal Palace. Mateusz Klich was pulled at half-time that night and Robin Koch was preferred in what Marsch saw as a defensive role alongside Phillips.
At Arsenal, under pressure, that could be the route Marsch goes with Diego Llorente fit to start alongside Cooper too. Pascal Struijk may be closer to starting at left-back than we think, but in this narrow shape, a naturally attacking outlet like Junior Firpo could be Marsch’s preference.
Predicted line-up: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Cooper, Firpo; Koch, Phillips; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James.
