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Leeds United Are In Big Trouble, Things Need Sorting Out Fast.

(by Daniel Farrow)

Sometimes in life things just go against you and keep going and going down in a spiral, you start to lose confidence, get depressed and think the whole world is against you, because everything you try to do to make things better does not help and it continues downwards. This is going on with my football team Leeds United right now. The last 4 matches have been defeats 0f 5-1, 6-1, 0-2 and last night a 1-1 with fellow relegation threatened Leicester City, who were the beter team for most of the game. The players, management and coaching team, owners and directors and fans all have to look deep inside themselves and ask am I part of the problem? What can I do better to help? It does not help when your own fans turn against you, it piles on more pressure.

Here is my opinion of the current squad performances:

ILAN MESLIER (Goalkeeper): Very young in his football career for a goalkeeper, he is the youngest in the EPL, on his day he makes match winning saves, he can distribute the ball to team mates as well as the best in the business, but too many times this season he has been prone to bad displays and lack of confidence, not helped by an ever changing defence in front of him due to injuries and lack of form. It could be time to leave him out for 2 or 3 games.

LUKE AYLING (Right Back): Usually a relaible defender, who tackles hard and gets forward and creates goals for others, has even been known to score the odd goal now and again. In the last 2 months he has been struggling defensively.

JUNIOR FIRPO (Left Back): Still settling in at Leeds, has never been a regular starter, the last month he has had a run of games, his defending is very poor, going forward he is better, but is he good enough? The lack of other left backs in the squad is a problem.

ROBIN KOCH (Centre Back): Can be solid and add strength to a leaky defence when playing well, but can also be a liability.

LIAM COOPER (Centre Back): The captain has suffered a lot with injuries this season, and even when he was back and ready not being selected, He needs to be a starter whenever he is available.

TYLER ADAMS (Centre Midfield): Adds leadership and defensive quality. He needs to stay fit and play every time.

MARCO ROCA (Centre Midfield): Supposedly he was brought in after to be a solid defensive midfield player, replacing Kalvin Phillipps. He is too many times caught out of position, going forward too much, leaving space for the opposition to exploit. he gives the ball away too much with poor passing.

WESTON McKENNIE (Centre Midfield): Just like fellow USA international Marco Roca, he goes missing in defensive situations, he does try to get involved, making tackles, but they are too far up the pitch.

LUIS SINISTERRA (Left Wing): Has had injuries, but has chipped in with goals and assists, can be a match winner, we need to keep him fit and firing.

JACK HARRISON (Right Wing): I cannot believe Leeds were so close to selling him to Leicester during the transfer window. He can be the star player most matches with an assist and chips in with his share of goals, sometimes he puts in a stinker of a performance.

RODRIGO (Striker): Often plays in the hole (No.10) behind the main front man, needs to score more, create more, and to calm down a lot.

PATRICK BAMFORD (Striker): The enigma of the squad, so much talent, so little luck, has the abilty to score 20 plus goals and more in ther EPL, but misses far too many easy chances in front of goal, offside far too often, injured more often than not. He must be one of the unluckiest players.

MAXIMILIAN WOBER: Needs to be regularly playing centre back alongside Cooper when fit.

WILFRIED GNONTO: Not being given enough playin time, has so much skill, and worries and beats opponants for fun.

PASCAL STRUIJK: Needs to find a regular position and stick to it, he has played, left back, centre back, centre midfield and been inconsistently very good and bad in each position.

CHRISTENCIO SUMMERVILLE: Can be a match winner, still young and needs to be nurtured and brought along. Can assist and score.

RASMUS KRISTENSEN: Can play right back, centre back, defensive midfield, I believe the last position is where he could benefit the side more. Tackles and can get forward to create goal and score himself with a powerful shot.

BRENDON AARONSON: Can run and run and run all day, he dribbles the ball, but when he is having a bad day he often goes missing.

SAM GREENWOOD: A youngster who was loved by Jessie Marsch, but too young at the moment. Needs time.

JOE GELHARDT: A striker out on loan at Sunderland, when he was still needed at Leeds, has an immense amount of natural ability and scores goals.

MARCELLO BIELSA: Former hero manager should never have been sacked, Leeds have gone downhill ever since appointing JESSIE MARSCH and JAVI GRACIA.

ANDREA RADRIZZANI: (Owner): Has done all he can with limited money, he played his part getting back into the EPL after years in the wilderness, now is the tme to sell up to the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers and move on.

VICTOR ORTA: He has the job of recruitment of managers and scouting of players and convincing them to join, not an easy task and he gets a lot of stick from the fans, he has bought plenty of turkeys, but also gems like BIELSA, RAPHINHA, GNONTO, SUMMERVILLE, SINISTERRA, WOBER.

ANGUS KINNEAR: (CEO): Part of the team of 3 alongside Radrizzani and Orta who make the big decisions.

Here is the team I believe that can keep Leeds in the EPL for the rest of the season avoiding relegation.

ILAN MESLIER (GK)

LUKE AYLING (RB) MAXIMILIAN WOBER (CB) LIAM COOPER (CB) PASCAL STRUIJK (LB)

RASMUS KRISTENSEN (CM) TYLER ADAMS (if fit / otherwise) WESTON McKENNIE

JACK HARRISON (RW) LUIS SINISTERRA (LW) (if fit / otherwise) C. SUMMERVILLE)

WILFRIED GNONTO (No.10)

PATRICK BAMFORD (Str)

I feel this team has enough creativity, goals, defensive strength, heart and character to succeed and keeping a settled 11 will get results and add confidence.

The fans need to keep the faith, get behind the players and manager and board and cheer us over the line to safety. Marching On Together.