A good game at Roots Hall today saw Leeds United and Southend United end in a …. Marcelo Bielsa made just one change from the side that beat Forest Green on Tuesday, Laurens De Bock replacing Pablo Hernandez with Dallas pushing into a left-wing position.
The encouraging thing for me today was the first glimpses of a new style under Marcelo Bielsa, something that hasn’t really been in evidence in the first couple of games. Despite the result Leeds controlled most of the match and looked sharp in tight areas, using the ball well and just lacking the cutting edge.
Player Ratings
Baily Peacock-Farrell – 6 – Didn’t have much to do in all honesty and did everything needed well. Good when needed to come and collect and with the ball at his feet. Nothing he could do about the goal.
Luke Ayling – 8 – Had an absolute cracker of a game. Going forward he was relentless and took his goal extremely well. Played almost as a winger at times and but for a last-ditch clearance off the line he would have bagged his second towards the end. Very impressive.
Gaetano Berardi – 6 – A decent outing for Berardi who wasn’t tested too much as Leeds dominated most of the game. Played out from the back which he hasn’t always done and made some good tackles inside his own box to deny clear chances.
Liam Cooper – 6 – Had a steady game, nothing more but seriously has to cut the diagonals out. I’ve been saying it for three years and surely at some point everybody needs to realise that the one he does make every game isn’t worth the four or five he doesn’t.
Laurens De Bock – 6 – He’s worked himself back into the plans by the looks of it. Had a decent game at York City and was good again today. He needs to relax slightly at times, lunging into tackles and getting wound up but interesting to see if Bielsa will pick him in this side again.
Kalvin Phillips – 6 – A steady game again for Phillips who controlled the midfield along with Adam Forshaw. Marcelo Bielsa seems to like the pair in opposite roles to what we’re used to but it’s fair to say it looks like it has worked so far.
Adam Forshaw – 7 – Everything went through Forshaw today and his new role linking the lines looks very interesting and valuable. Drove with the ball at times and barely put a pass wrong. A very impressive start to pre-season from the midfielder.
Stuart Dallas – 6 – I thought Dallas had a very good game today, both on the wing and at full-back. What he did was use his ability to play quick passes rather than beat players, that often worked him, or a team-mate the room needed.
Samu Saiz – 5 – Tried to get on the ball and make things happen today but given how good he is, and can be he wasn’t really as effective as what you would like. Became frustrated as we’ve seen at times and didn’t impact the game.
Gjanni Alioksi – 4 – Really didn’t seem to be at the races again today. I don’t remember him beating player much if any and he barely impacted the game at any time in any way. I do think he’s got potential but he just looks so off the pace.
Kemar Roofe – 6 – Unlucky not to get a clear shot on goal but I thought he looked sharp and good linking play, especially when he drifted out to the wide areas and got involved with the full-backs and wingers. Didn’t get the chances needed.
Sub
Tyler Roberts – 6 – For the first five minutes when he came on he looked very good before we stopped getting him the ball. played on the wing, from the right and showed some nice touches but didn’t really get the chance in and around the box.
