06 May 2019 07:34:58
Ok my friends . Let's look at the pickle we find ourselves in . We go into the play offs having lost 9 games since Boxing Day! We have a team that has collectively lost confidence which bar the odd exceptions ( Derby, Brom and Wendies ) has been draining out of them since the turn of the year . We have two strikers who can't take the many chances presented to them ( I'm sorry I know Bam's stats but they obscure the huge number of gilt edged chances he's missed in the box ) and a defence which has become school boy ( Wigan / Ipswich ) . To add to that our left hand side has been severely weakened firstly by injuries and secondly by a manager who has failed to see what all the fans can see that Harrison is diabolical. Based on our results, form and performances since January we don't deserve to even be in the playoffs let alone automatic promotion . So I'm going to say it . I'm going to talk about the elephant in the room . I'm going to commit heresy . I'm going to do what any fan would normally do . I'm going to question the manager . He's made a number of mistakes since January and I list some of them below -

1. His handling of Spygate . Unnecessary power point presentation and naming of team before each game for something like three months .

2. His choice of substitutes . From inspired ones like against Swansea away ( hooking KP and bringing on Shack ) his subs have become boring and predictable ( like continually moving Alioski forward and bringing in Douglas or Dallas at LB ) .

3 . His use of his strikers . He has failed to give Roofe sufficient game time at 9 even though Bam was not fully firing . Evidenced by a number of outings from the bench at 10 instead of replacing Bam at 9 . He has reaped what he has sowed with a rusty Roofe our spear head going in to play offs .

4 . His criminal continual use of an absolutely shocking player in Harrison at left wing . When he's had other options .

5 . His under use of some impressive younger players notably Shack .

6 . Finally his overseeing of this collective malaise and loss of confidence which any other manager would be blamed for .

I'm sorry folks . I too love the guy . His idiosyncrasies. His bucket . His giving out sweets to the kids on match days . But we have built him up to be a god . We have been so grateful he's come to us that we have ignored his part in this debacle . Only he can get us out of this mess but I fear the dye is cast and it's too late for the play offs .

I also refuse to look on the bright side . At some of the great football we have played this season . At the amazing academy kids we have coming through . At the prospects for next season in the Championship . All things that the likes of Spanish will no doubt point to . I like many Leeds fans right now would prefer to wallow in my own misery until further notice!

1.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 08:12:28
Well I think your putting a lot of blame on bielsa, he is the manager so ultimately it’s his responsibility.
However he has got this squad of players to third in table
We also can’t be playing bad as we are creating 20-30 attempts per game . He must be preparing the team and setting up the team to win to be creating that many chances . Individual defensive and keeper errors are a factor and forwards with a loss of confidence in front of goal are an issue . I think the players have bottled it based on what I’ve seen . However i do think he hasn’t quite figured out English football yet, and game he has needed to change tactics and hasn’t, also his selection of the same old players who aren’t performing is weird . However is our best season In 13 years.

2.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 08:22:47
I'd have taken 3rd if someone had offered it at the start of the season. MB is our most successful manager in over a decade. I too am feeling the misery, but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

3.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 09:03:57
One belief Beilsa has got wrong . He believes English football is played with sportsmanship and fair play. Its dog eat dog, get away with what you can which is plenty unless you are Leeds.

4.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 09:53:11
Guys I’m not laying all the blame at Bielsa’s door far from it . He has worked wonders with the squad at his disposal until Jan when the rot set in and he has not addressed it . Radz and the players themselves have obviously played their full part in this decline . But for many MB has been beyond reproach . My post was intended to demonstrate he must bear some responsibility also .

5.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 10:16:39
I understand where you are coming from Currie as there is no bright side at the moment. Not sure what Bubs could have done with the left side. He was using Clarke more but then he got sick so short in that position and we have sent Pearce and Denton out on loan so no real cover at left back either. Agree young ones like Shacks Gotts and even Edmondson should have had more game time.
However you can not deny Bubs has done a great job to get this group of players to the play offs as it is his style of play and motivating skills that have got us where we are. Yes some of his decisions are baffling and some have proved to be wrong but this is his first season in English football and i think a successful one for him given what he has had to work with.
The play offs are coming up and anything can happen, it may rejuvenate the players and they go on and smash them. Then again it might show that two or three extra players in Jan could have made all the difference.

6.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 12:02:42
Let's sack Bub and get the Hock or the Heck back, then we'll show 'em 🙄🙄🙄.

7.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 12:17:12
The bright side is we finished 3rd and we are in the play offs where every club in the league apart from Norwich and Sheffield would like to be!

8.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 12:59:18
A sensible, balanced post softie!

9.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 13:12:23
Spanish your positivity knows no bounds and for that I salute you . But again in your positivity you neglect where we’ve come from and our journey through the season . Ten points clear of Sheff at Boxing Day and three points clear with 4 to play . And now crawling into the play offs with confidence shot to pieces . Any other teams fans in our position would also question the manager . If you had backed a horse for the grand national each way who was ten furlongs clear with the finishing line in sight only to see two horses fly past him to finish third would you sincerely be happy about that or wonder what the hell happened? Btw I want Bub to stay of course I do but he must start learning from his mistakes . Giving Villa the goal was also naive and sent the message to the players that the final games didn’t really matter .

10.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 13:57:52
RHC I like you.

11.) 06 May 2019
06 May 2019 15:57:04
Think we are kindred Leeds spirits brother George .

12.) 07 May 2019
07 May 2019 13:13:44
George and Red🤮🤮.