Another day, another big risk by Marcelo Bielsa.
Yes, this is another doom and gloom article, but let’s face it, he has brought this upon himself. Leeds have got two friendlies tomorrow, one against Girona in Manchester and the other against Cagliari in Italy.
I don’t have a problem with scheduling two friendlies on the same day, it gives you a chance to try out two different formations and sets of players for a longer period of time. It’s much more effective than going the Sven Goran-Eriksson route and having two separate ‘starting’ elevens for each half in my mind.
What I don’t understand though, is splitting up the first team and having them spread out across the two games.
Leeds have put together a fairly convincing squad for the game over in Italy. There were some notable exclusions from the team, but LeedsLive journalist Beren Cross was quick to explain the situation to worried supporters.
Some players, like Bailey Peacock-Farrell have reportedly been left behind due to injury, which is fair enough. Leaving behind the likes of Barry Douglas, Stuart Dallas & Jack Harrison, all of whom played significant minutes last season though is just mind-boggling. This follows off the back of parts of the team being left at home during the tour of Australia.
How are the players meant to get used to playing together as a team if they keep being pushed apart like this?
With just over a week to go until the first game of the Championship season against Bristol City, there hasn’t been a single indication of what the starting eleven is going to be. How are Leeds fans supposed to get excited for the new season if they don’t have a clue who is going to be in the line-up on that opening Sunday at Ashton Gate?
What formation are they playing? Will Helder Costa be lining up on the right-wing or the left-wing? Who is the first choice goalkeeper?
I have said it before and I shall say it again, probably until I am blue in the face. Despite the cult-like status that Bielsa enjoys at Elland Road, he simply has to deliver promotion this season, and I think the way that he has handled the preparation for it has done him no favours. If Leeds get off to a rocky start this season, which could leave them dropping points which they’ll later rely on in April and May, then I know on where I’ll be pointing the finger of blame.