Crawley Town v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Cooper returns as Bielsa makes seven changes

[gessa]

I know mate, a million miles away.

My point is, where was Bamford today?

Well that was the mystery and it made Rodrigo coming off even more bewildering.
Bielsa doesn't fancy Rodrigo as a 9 that's pretty obvious but not to take Bamford as back up was ridiculous, barring a knock we don't know about. But surely Greenwood was the obvious replacement if Rodders had to come off.

[1964white]

Well that was the mystery and it made Rodrigo coming off even more bewildering.
Bielsa doesn't fancy Rodrigo as a 9 that's pretty obvious but not to take Bamford as back up was ridiculous, barring a knock we don't know about. But surely Greenwood was the obvious replacement if Rodders had to come off.

A unprofessional approach imo!

[1964white]

Bamford wouldn't have scored with no service.

Why did Rodrigo not get 90 mins or even 70? Instead of sticking players in pointless u23 games, they need first team football.

Paddy would have held the ball up much better & worked harder

[HarryofOz]

Almost glad I forgot to set my alarm

We aren't the first, and we won't be the last, team to be on wrong side of an FA Cup shock result

[White Riot]

Fans come on here raving about our U23's beating another set of inferior kids at a standard that can only can be considered as a non-league level then tout them up to play in the PL

So at some stage you have to give them a go. I know it was wholesale changes today and in the EFL Cup. But nobody other than Poveda has stuck their hand up for me for IP.

As I said if you're good enough you're old enough: Gazza, Rooney, Waddle, Bale, Alan Smith, Harte, Gary Kelly, Howson, Taylor, Byram, etc.

How are you gonna see if they're good enough if you won't stick them in the first team?

[1964white]

So at some stage you have to give them a go. I know it was wholesale changes today and in the EFL Cup. But nobody other than Poveda has stuck their hand up for me for IP.

As I said if you're good enough you're old enough: Gazza, Rooney, Waddle, Bale, Alan Smith, Harte, Gary Kelly, Howson, Taylor, Byram, etc.

How are you gonna see if they're good enough if you won't stick them in the first team?

Failed v League One Hull

None of them have consistently impressed when pitched into our prem side, people wonder why Bielsa rarely changes his first XI, today confirmed the reason why!

Our squad lacks serious depth, needs to be addressed in the future windows

[White Riot]

Failed v League One Hull

None of them have consistently impressed when pitched into our prem side, people wonder why Bielsa rarely changes his first XI, today confirmed the reason why!

Our squad lacks serious depth, needs to be addressed in the future windows

Exactly. I would also say that the way to improve the squad is by brining in quality first team players, and then the bench/cover will gradually improve by default.

[Cjay]

I bet you anything our next signing will be another one for the U23 squad

We have yet to see any real progress from buying 100s of u23s either in sale profits or 1st team progress

Maybe VO isnt as good as his mentor at it
And we should be looking to build the 1st team first

[SG90]

We have yet to see any real progress from buying 100s of u23s either in sale profits or 1st team progress

Maybe VO isnt as good as his mentor at it
And we should be looking to build the 1st team first

Only Struijk has made it. How much money have we wasted on u23s?

[Boo Radley]

So at some stage you have to give them a go. I know it was wholesale changes today and in the EFL Cup. But nobody other than Poveda has stuck their hand up for me for IP.

As I said if you're good enough you're old enough: Gazza, Rooney, Waddle, Bale, Alan Smith, Harte, Gary Kelly, Howson, Taylor, Byram, etc.

How are you gonna see if they're good enough if you won't stick them in the first team?

As has been said earlier, Greenwood has to be the most disappointed with his chance being mangled by putting him in midfield while Harrison moved to 9. How could you justify that?

If Bielsa has replaced Pablo with Harrison and moved Poveda to 10 it would have been interesting. May not have worked today with the way things were going but at least it would have been logical.

There are U23’s that will come good eventually, especially when brought into an experienced team. Most are long term investments. My concern today is, against a fourth division team, the likes of Shackleton and Davis looked so out of their depth. These are lads in our PL squad every week now. They really need to be stepping up or they should be sent out on loan and we will have to spend our way to a full PL squad. Replacing Kiko, Costa, Roberts, Alioski and Pablo must all be top Orta’s To Do list tomorrow morning.

[Cjay]

Only Struijk has made it. How much money have we wasted on u23s?

Tens of millions id imagine if including agents fees, wages etc, all adds up.

Bet Greenwood, Gelhard, Summerville, Allen all signed this summer cost a fair few million.

Ryan Edmondson still here didnt make much impact in bloody Scotland.

Always felt the u23s signings were trying to run before we could walk.

We arent Man City, Chelsea, Manure etc, cant afford the risk like they can yet

They all may make it but it seems an unnecessary expense atm.

[Finnatic]

Did Bielsa use the second half as some bizarre “live” experiment that only a mad scientist would do?
Three wingers, no CF.
No proper holding midfielder.
Three midfielders and a untested kid at the back, when he knew a circus clown was behind them.
There are obviously reasons why, that’s why he’s El Loco.

[hector]

My brain's unbalanced after watching that

Not certain you can blame that on the game mate.....

[Velotrax]

Bloody hell missed the game, had to go to work, was it as bad as the result says? should I void motd latter ?

[White Riot]

Not certain you can blame that on the game mate.....

That's true, certainly doesn't help though

[White Riot]

Bloody hell missed the game, had to go to work, was it as bad as the result says? should I void motd latter ?

Do not watch Velo, it will be bad for your health.

My blood's still fookin boiling now

[White Riot]

Not certain you can blame that on the game mate.....

Well named El Loco, but even he didn't play Ben White on the right wing like Potter is

[White Riot]

Bloody hell missed the game, had to go to work, was it as bad as the result says? should I void motd latter ?

Best shift at work you've ever had Velo to avoid that shite

[White Riot]

Did Bielsa use the second half as some bizarre “live” experiment that only a mad scientist would do?
Three wingers, no CF.
No proper holding midfielder.
Three midfielders and a untested kid at the back, when he knew a circus clown was behind them.
There are obviously reasons why, that’s why he’s El Loco.

You've summed it up well there Finn. Bielsa turned into Colonel Kurtz from Apocalypse Now

[Cjay]