Marcelo Bielsa will arrive at Leeds United next week and he will be eager to get going. His first task is assessing the squad and as all Leeds fans, and the club…and Marcelo Bielsa. One of his first tasks will be trimming down the central midfield options.
As we head into pre-season we have seven options, and you could actually class Vurnon Anita as a central midfielder so eight, but we know the Dutch player has been told he can go and Bielsa probably had something to do with that judging by what we’ve heard about his analysis of the entire squad. In fact he’s probably already been making his mind up on players as he watched every match from last season.
7 central midfielders
Yoskue Ideguchi
Ideguchi wants to make it in Europe, the Premier League is his dream but it’s fair to say Leeds did a pretty good job of putting him well behind in various aspects of his career. After signing him and saying they would shift him to Cultural Leonesa because he wouldn’t get a work permit for England he did get a work permit.
Leeds still decided it was Cultural who needed him and shipped him to Spain, the World Cup now the reason used. He barely got a kick as the Spanish club were relegated and he missed out on the World Cup. Will he be part of the first-team plans this season? Probably not, until we see him in action we can’t judge really.
Ronaldo Vieira
I’ve spoken a few times regarding Ronaldo Vieira since Bielsa signed the deal and he’s almost nailed on to be part of the plans. Another successful summer for the 19-year-old. Another winners medal for the England under 21’s this time and he probably needed it.
Bielsa has been known to play central midfielders at wing-back in the past and with Adam Forshaw looking like the perfect fit for the anchor role you just never know. He isn’t called El Loco for sticking to the book.
Eunan O’Kane
I honestly can’t predict O’Kane. It’s been clear in the past he can be more than good enough at this level but unfortunately more times than not games pass him by and passes go to the wrong players.
He’s one that will have to impress heavily in pre-season to stand a chance because his direct competition for an anchor role are simply better than him. Big summer for the Ireland international.
Luke Murphy
I think it’s fair to say the club are probably looking to offload him already. Had some good spells for Leeds but he lacked belief in his own ability. I’d expect him to be the first out of the door this summer.
Kalvin Phillips
The most debated player at Leeds United, without a doubt. Phillips is loved by many and not rated by the rest. Which camp do I sit in? It depends which Phillips turns up, he’s either very good or the game just passes him by, or three games. This is his problem and without the consistency he will struggle under Bielsa.
He seems to get picked by every manager and that speaks volumes for his desire but for me he has his work cut out against players that are technically better than him. Another who has a huge summer ahead of him.
Matesuz Klich
I wasn’t debating Klich with friends last night and most seem to believe he’s a player who will feature but there was some valid points made (I guess). We haven’t seen a lot of him and in that sense he still has much to prove. An injury in our opening pre-season game last year gave him the worst possible start and that was followed by Thomas Christiansen dropping him for slipping.
Personally I think he’ll fit into the Bielsa plans and will have a role to play. He wants to make it a success and he’s had a cracking second half to the season in Holland, how we could have done with someone in his form at Leeds.
Adam Forshaw
When I watched the video of Marcelo Bielsa’s tactical breakdown in the 3-3-1-3 formation a couple of players fitted straight away. Adam Forshaw in an anchor role in front of the defence playing out and taking balls of the back three. Perfect.
He, along with Samu Saiz, Pontus Jansson and Luke Ayling are four players who are almost certain to start. I also believe the wing-back role means Gjanni Alioski will be in the side. Forshaw also a caption for me, Cooper isn’t that man.
