Adkins' Bus

What I'd like to see: Ramsdale Sugawara THB Bednarek KWP Dibling Downes Fernandes AA Archer Diaz What it will probably be: Sugawara THB Bednarek Stephens KWP Smallbone Downes Fernandes AA Diaz

Exactly, we haven't even got the same style of players that Man City are using in their current system. Their inverted full backs are generally physical ball playing centre halves, e.g. Stones, Ake. They also have Rodri in DM, so that is 5 physical, defensively minded players that give them a base for their attacking players to express themselves. It is very different and downright stupid trying to replicate it with KWP, Manning and Downes!

From a quick look at the Swansea highlights at least he seems to completely own it and be all in on the possession, play out from the back style. Nothing worse than our cowardly attempt at it in recent times which involves getting in to the attacking third, playing it back to full back, passing across the defence, back to the keeper, hoof, lost it. Completely pointless.

Yes, which a lot of fans got very upset about and constantly used it to bash Ralph. Well I would rather be ahead at some point than never! Especially when we are a team that can pretty much never break down a side sitting deep to protect a lead. As frustrating as it was, flying out the traps and expending our energy early was the right tactic for us as a team.

How many more attackers do Leeds need. Surely some of them must be surplus to requirements now.... Aaronson, Summerville, Harrison, Sinisterra, Gnonto, Bamford, Rodrigo, Gnonto, Rutter, Tete I'd take any of them!

Seems a lot of people want a return to our old approach of high press that would often leave us exposed to taking a few spankings. However it was more entertaining and would occasionally bring us a good result. The same people would then complain and say they would just like to see us be more solid.

Ritchie was at Southampton airport on Monday 🤔 didn't think anything of it given that he probably has roots nearby.

Even standing still is a good achievement in my eyes, given the level of investment. Probably only Norwich, Burnley, Watford and Brentford have invested the same or less than us over the last few years. The likes of Newcastle (even before oil money), Wolves, Palace, Brighton, Villa, Leeds have invested a lot more than ourselves.

What a load of nonsense from Rodgers. Can't start blaming Covid for injuries 😂

Good post which is probably pretty close to the mark. Given our equally inept ability to overturn a deficit and the general importance of the first goal at this level, I think it is a fair strategy theoretically. And I think we are close to making it effective if one or two things can get ironed out - more clinical finishing and less blunders in goal as one said above. Not sure the third strategy would work so well for the reasons already mentioned. It would be less irritating if we were to draw after coming from behind, but it doesn't matter how the points come at the end of the day.

Overall I would say we are on par for where we should be given squad and resources. The nature of our results are very frustrating and I think people would be more accepting of these results if we had gone behind and come back to draw. Dare I say maybe the plan is to go out all guns blazing, try and get 1-2 ahead and then hold on for dear life in the 2nd half. If we were even slightly better at the 2nd half bit we would be top half and above our station so it's fine margins. Saying that, I thought the 2nd half was ok today and this one, along with Norwich really is down to very poor individual errors. Again, fine margins...

I think both centre backs were a little guilty of ball watching for their first goal yesterday. I thought Salisu could have done more to read the situation and get in position quicker to try and block the obvious header across the face of goal. Stephens was perhaps expecting this resulting in him also reacting more slowly.

Apart from the first point in that list i would say that those traits have been common for years under different managers. Therefore i think it mostly comes down to the characteristics of some of the players and a lack of true leaders throughout the team. And this is largely still the same group of players. What Ralph has managed to do that the others couldn't was at least to get us ahead more often! Unfortunately this hasn't happened as often recently for a variety of reasons already discussed. It is a concern but i think we will turn the corner again. We could do with addressing the imbalance of the squad but i fear that won't happen with the budget constraints. Also, the inability to break teams down that sit back is pretty common amongst the majority of teams outside the top 5 or 6. Its what sets them apart really, although i agree that we are particularly poor at this.

Although the #10 position is well stocked, I would still say it is up for grabs given the form/availability of everyone bar Armstrong. And he also seems to require his pitch time to be carefully managed.

Because in reality it is probably not the biggest consideration as we have seen before. It's the party line but in reality it's most likely money, as usual, which is fine. It would be nice if players just admitted it sometimes though.

Exactly, which is why I think they have little interest in signing a new contract unless it becomes his easiest route to leaving this summer, ie. We cave and accept the derisory release clause!

I am starting to think that his apparent "willingness" to sign a new contract is largely a face saving exercise. As you say, he is going to want to leave this summer otherwise time could run out for him. If they want a £20m release clause (I know that's not a fact) then that is derisory and they know we won't agree to it. However, when he leaves they can say that money wasn't an issue and he was willing to sign a contract and therefore blame it on the club. If that mooted release clause is anywhere near accurate then it's probably already being driven by Levy!

Surely it would now make sense to move teachers right up to the top of the priority list for vaccination. Obviously the over 80s are more vulnerable but is it asking too much for them to shield for a further month or so? The difference with teachers is the lack of ppe and issues with distancing with the younger pupils that puts them at greater threat.

It certainly seems to vary greatly between schools even within the same council areas. I wish my lads school had managed to do even half of what you describe. I gave them the benefit of the doubt for the first few months before asking the question about when they would sort out virtual learning. I was told that they couldn't do it mainly because some kids would miss out due to not having internet/device access (yeah right!) and because of privacy issues with the teachers. My lad struggles quite a bit academically and we find it very difficult to try and give him the right support, so we certainly feel like he has been left behind with GCSEs coming up this year.

It was all sounding a bit too positive! Good on Ben for bringing it back down to earth with his prediction at the end!

I can understand Ralph wanting to evolve the team, try new things and play in this way but i think the timing of this decision is very poor and we don't have the right personnel to make it work. Perhaps he thinks it can work when salisu and a new cm join the team and is trying to get the others used to it now. But still, this is the kind of thing you want to work on in pre season and try out in friendlies. We didn't get that opportunity. We would have been better to try it when safe at the back end of last season. Doing it now could land us in real trouble. At the moment, the team are not suited to it and haven't had sufficient time to practice it. Therefore they dont have any idea about when to employ the tactic. I really hope Ralph isn't stubborn about this and reverts to the successful system of last season for now. This league is too unforgiving to write off 6-7 games as a trial period.

Well perhaps, but seems reasonable after Maguire going for the same.

Yeah don't get that. Also, Chilwell going for £45m after Leicester originally asking for £80m......imagine the meltdown if that was us! Maybe prices have peaked and are beginning to fall.....or could be short term due to Covid impact on finances.

What's all this about Bertrand leaving? Have i missed something?!

Despite his shortcomings we are a better TEAM when he is in it.