The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 15th November) - Bielsa favourite for Cherries hot seat
Good Morning. It's Tuesday 15th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Bielsa favourite for Cherries hot seat
Marcelo Bielsa is now favourite to take the reins at the Vitality Stadium after it was confirmed that he is in advanced talks with the Bournemouth board. The Cherries have been without a Manager since the sacking of Scott Parker at the end of August, following the 9-0 drubbing at Anfield. Gary O'Neill has steadied the ship since, but Bournemouth have turned their attention to the 67yo veteran.
Many Whites fans have taken to social media to express their sadness that the man they shared so many happy times with, is moving on to pastures new. Should he take the job? If he does, can he keep them up? If he doesn't, can he help them win promotion back to the big time next season?
Trio of former targets available in January
Three former Leeds Utd transfer targets could be available in the January transfer window at a knockdown price, having failed to perform since being linked with moves to West Yorkshire's finest.
Dutch International Winger Noa Lang has been linked with a move to Elland Road for several years now. He looked set to leave Brugge in the Summer, but injury put pay to that. Since recovering, the 23yo has been out of sorts, contributing only two goals and two assists in four starts (and eight substitute appearances) this season. The Belgium Champions will be asking for €30-35m.
Rodrigo De Paul was a name constantly linked with a move to LS11 back in 2020, after winning promotion back to the big time, but nothing ever materialised. Instead, he signed for Atletico Madrid a year later (Summer of 2021) for €35m. Since arriving at the Metropolitano Stadium, the 28yo has not managed to replicate the form he showed at Udinese, and has dropped way down the pecking order. Leeds already have one ageing Rodrigo, do they need another?
Matheus Cunha too, found himself at Atletico Madrid, having impressed at Hertha BSC Berlin, but he too has not lived up to his €30m price tag. He has amassed 372 minutes of game time this season, mainly from the substitutes bench. In the Whoscored ratings, the 23yo has dropped to 20th (out of 23), with a rating of just 6.42. He too is expected to be offloaded in the New Year.
It looks like Leeds have dodged a fair few bullets whilst under Bielsa's tenure! Is it just luck that Marsch's signings have been wholeheartedly better thus far?
Radical changes needed in defence - Popey
Speaking on the 'Don't go to bed yet' Leeds podcast, Elland Road journalist Adam Pope and Kaiser Chief guitarist Simon Rix ripped into the Leeds Utd, insisting that radical changes are needed in defence. The duo pulled no punches, as Popey went on to lambast Leeds back line whilst Rix joked he was trying to set Firpo up with an exit Interview with Piers Morgan...
Because they’re not stopping shots from the edge of the box, they’re not stopping crosses coming in at times, and they’re looking wide open. There’s got to be a radical change somewhere over these next five weeks to stop that from reoccurring. Was just getting on the phone there to see if I could arrange a Firpo (exit) interview with Piers Morgan.
