So here we are! 3 games to go and all to play for.
We simply must get something from this game.
Chelsea have a FA Cup Final to look forward to a few days after this game. Does TT rest a few players or go all out for the win?
They cannot win the Title and should have enough of a points cushion to guarantee a place in the CL next season.
However, even if they rest their best 11, their second 11 will still be a team full of internationals.
The ER crowd have to get behind the guys wearing the famous white shirt. Inspire and be LOUD.
Hopefully, JM has a plan. He has shown v Arsenal he is tactically aware. 2-0 down after 10 minutes, down to 10 men a few minutes later and a home crowd enjoying their day.
I have to admit, when Luke got sent off, My Boy and I went to my allotment to do some weeding and fix the shed. We could not bear to watch anymore as we "knew" we were in for a 7+-0 drubbing.
A couple of hours and a few beers later we get home and were "pleasantly" surprised we only lost 2-1. Just a bit deflated when we learned the Everton result. Still that is life. Once a White, Always a White living the Ups and Downs.
If I were JM I would go for:
Meslier
James Llorente Pascal Firpo
KP Koch Bate
Rafa, Harrison
Joffy
A nervous evening beckons
We'll definitely need a complete squad overhaul, no matter the division we're in.
If we somehow manage to stay up, (big question mark), beside the money aspect, remaining in the topflight would obviously make things a lot easier.
The likes of Philips, Meslier & Bamford would probably stick around and they could/would be the platform to build (rebuild) the side on.
Relegation would leave us with very little of a team nucleus/core left.
Besides Rapha, Philips, Meslier & Bamford, I can't see Lorrente, Koch, FIrpo or Rodrigo staying either (not that I would object to any of them leaving on a permanent or loan deal).Think they would be very surprised by Championship football, let alone be up for it.
So I'm not only worried that if we go down, we would have what it takes to even challenge for promotion. Can only hope the 49rs would want us back up asap and invest some money in players.
Daniel, you make a lot of sense regarding tactics. But we've all got a list of players we don't like or don't want to see in a Leeds shirt again.
I'm afraid we won't have many left.
For me you can certainly add Firpo & Roberts to your list.
But the likes of Forshaw (if he can recover from his latest injury) and Bill would still have a role to play (most certainly in the Championship).
Klich isn't a bad player either, but he shouldn't play every game and when he does he should be playing behind 2 strikers. Thus making late runs into the box and score or at least a few. This season he had to come from far too deep, he just hasn't got the pace or stamina to do that. He's not a holding or sitting midfielder.
What I would like to see is, us finally getting in some stronger/taller players.
We've got so many lightweight/small players (wingers) in our squad.
In truth we shouldn't be surprised that we've conceded that many goals, compared to last season we simply have defended or played as a unit.
Leaving space in behind, both on the wings and in the center.
Nearly every team has cut us open with ease, on top of that we also make the same mistakes over and over again.
How many players do we have that can actually defend, put their body in and put in a decent tackle? Very few.