29 Aug 2021 19:17:02
We all agree that we would like to have new additions to raise the level of the team, but unless there are surprises, this will not happen. And we have to compete, at least until the next transfer window, with almost the same team from last season (and in my opinion, the juniors are incredible promises, but they are still far from what it takes to be able to demand them what it takes, to be competitive at the premier league)

So, the players are the same, so let's focus on the style of playing, is anyone noticing (or feeling) that we are more permeable in defence than the second half of the last season?

- That the defensive system is different (rotation of mark in zones, instead of man-to-man)

- And because of that, the players are being seen running less in defence, the typical man-to-man chases that we used to see all over the field (which added to what is run in the attack led us to be the team with the most sprint and meters run by far of last season)

- And this is the second game that we see the team playing with a 3-3-1-3 (typical Bielsa style) and not with the usual 4-1-1-3-1

Marcelo Bielsa talked about wanting to make improvements in the team, would he be talking about these changes in the playing style?

The level showed by Leeds during the last games of last season should be our floor, and today we are far from that level

In attack I do not see so many differences (perhaps I saw them more sacrificed the previous year, but I see them a bit more precise now)

But in defence, I do see many differences, in the way that they are marking the opposite team, and if we are not as good as we were before defending, the opposing team ends up imposing their game plan, and not us
(without taking into account the big 6 (or big 5 today if you want) because of the abysmal difference in the players, but with the rest of the teams)
in last season, regardless of we lost many times, usually, we imposed our style on other teams during most parts of the game, and today that no longer happens.

Did anybody see this change of style too?

Are we paying the price (and losing points) because of being adapting a new defensive style?

I feel that we are having changes at the defensive level and in tactics that are harming us (regardless of particular specific errors of the players that they always demanded)

mmm.

1.) 29 Aug 2021
29 Aug 2021 20:39:04
Not right to compare end of last seasons defence yet with this season as to me the main reason we did so well last was a fit Llorente playing 90 mins which we have yet to see this year.
Will be well worth taking your points into consideration in a few games when hopefully we have a fully fit Llorente running the show.

2.) 30 Aug 2021
29 Aug 2021 23:17:41
I guess I couldn’t make my point clear. I’m not talking about any particular performance (also it will be difficult to suscribe the whole defence performance of a team of 11 to one single player) Anyway, I’m referring to the changes applied on the tactics of the defensive game, and their outcomes, and not in any good or bad particular performances.

3.) 30 Aug 2021
30 Aug 2021 05:23:20
If we have changed tactics defensively then that will take time for the players to implement and get used to so that should improve with time. Let's hope in the long term the changes end up improving us as we are conceding alarmingly at present.