Lots of Leeds United fans have been discussing if Marcelo Bielsa’s uncertainty has made the left-back role a problem position at Elland Road.
The boss has called on Ezgjan Alioski to open ten Championship matches on the left-hand side of his defence this season, whilst Stuart Dallas has begun five fixtures in the role and Barry Douglas has also been favoured on four occasions.
Bielsa has been chopping and changing his left-back selection relentlessly recently, with no player opening successive matches in the role since we lost at Fulham on December 21.
Dallas was the man favoured at Craven Cottage having also opened the 3-3 draw with Cardiff City at left-back, but fell out of favour after losing in South West London and has not featured in the position in the starting line-up since.
Duties fell to Alioski against Preston North End before Bielsa moved to a 3-3-3-1 at Birmingham, though returned to the North Macedonian and a 4-1-4-1 away to West Bromwich Albion on New Year’s Day.
Who is our best left-back?
Alioski
Douglas
Dallas
Yet Alioski was hauled off at half-time at the Hawthorns as we went on to draw 1-1, and found himself only on the bench when Sheffield Wednesday visited Elland Road at the weekend with Douglas in the starting line-up instead.
But Bielsa was left turning to Alioski shortly into the second half at home to the Owls and brought Douglas off, a decision that is still met with uncertain opinions from the fanbase after two late goals saw Garry Monk’s side emerge victorious.
Alioski almost helped Sheffield Wednesday to score, as well, when he was involved in an embarrassing moment with Kiko Casilla, though did not see his blunder punished as the Owls did not have an attacker nearby.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans discussed if Bielsa’s uncertainty has made the left-back role a problem position at Elland Road…
Douglas has the brain but not the legs for a full back in a bielsa team alioski is the opposite
— James Lowe (@jameslowe18) January 15, 2020
I actually think biesla is making it a problem position alioski should never play there he’s not defensive minded Douglas or now Pablo and Shackleton are back play dallas there because he’s not a CM
— boz (@iain9draz) January 15, 2020
Alioski is a liability at LB. Douglas is less so but still defensively questionable. Dallas would be my choice
— Hendo (@HendoLJ) January 15, 2020
Dallas was one of our best players at full back when Ayling was injured, so reliable wherever he plays, would be between Dallas and Douglas at left back for me
— Sean Sturman (@SaintSturman) January 15, 2020
Douglas is our best and only recognised LB, we are stronger and balanced with Douglas at LB, agree he’s not lived upto his potential but I’d definitely give him a run of games. Still don’t understand Bielsa’s substitution of him against Wednesday for Alioski
— Andy Firth (@AndrewFirth21) January 15, 2020
Don’t think we would have lost that game on Saturday if Douglas was on the pitch, if alioski was to come on it should have been for Costa
— Bear Warrior (@kinkydave1983) January 15, 2020
Why did we let Clarke Odour leave? Most promising left back at the club since Iain Harte!
— York White (@WinnersOnTrack) January 15, 2020
Douglas is class, part of the problem here is, like Bamford last season, he has had alot of injuries and we haven’t seen him fully fit, once he gets a run of games, we will have the 2 best full backs in the league
— Adam Cater (@cater_adam) January 15, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club have reportedly lodged a bid to steal a 5 ft 5 talent away from an interested side already in talks with his agent.