Leeds United (H) - Sat 6th May, 15:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[blueparrot]

I've seen enough of him to realise he's not very good, a liability and only useful when at least 3 nil up

Okay. I can’t claim to have seen enough I’ll let you know next season if I do.

 

[blueparrot]

Do you think Stones can fill in if he has Ilkay and Bernie beside him? Kev hopefully in that midfield too.

Vital game tomorrow, but equally the Newcastle game on Sunday. I rarely focus on the ‘other’ team in the title race but feel this time it’s so important. If we win and Arsenal don’t, we can feasibly rest a few against Everton between the Real games and I think it will make a huge difference over the next few weeks. Don’t get me wrong we can still get a result at Goodison with the likes of Palmer, Gomez, Philips and Laporte starting but expecting it to be difficult.

Can’t underestimate how much going this deep for a treble takes it out of the players, Pep cited tiredness again in his press conference. I hate to say it but Liverpool went deep in PL and CL last year and by the time the CL final came around they were not the same team, the levels had dropped (I think). It’s my biggest fear in the run in. Hoping the levels since Easter don’t tail off, it’s very difficult to maintain for this long so any permutation where we can rest or rotate could make the difference come the end of the season

I ‘d think if Pep decides Rodri needs a break he’d probably put Gundogan in there and have Stones stepping in beside him again would be my guess.

 

[Chi-town blues]

Started on the pints of gravy early...

Imagine he could‘ve been seating on sideline instead of pep if it wasn’t for a last minute pull out ;)

 

[Gingers Dad]

Could see this tomorrow: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Phillips, Palmer, Gundogan, Mahrez, Foden, Alvarez

It's not the Carabou cup

 

[Constantine]

Started on the pints of gravy early...

He was in charge of England and look what happened ...

 

[sir baconface]

The same Philips that he didn’t trust last night til we were 3-0 up. Not happening.

Never rule out a Pep surprise. A psyched up Phillips could be our secret weapon… (Cue comments about weapon.)

Not betting my house on it but stranger things have happened.

 

[vmsuhail]

I hate to say it but Liverpool went deep in PL and CL last year and by the time the CL final came around they were not the same team, the levels had dropped (I think). It’s my biggest fear in the run in.

Right. When we were playing the semi-finals last year, I thought there was little chance of winning the final against Liverpool, but by the time of the CL final, it felt like a huge missed opportunity as Liverpool had dropped off by then. It doesn't take a long time to lose form, we experienced it in 2021 when players like Rodri and Cancelo lost form by the end of the season and were out of the starting XI by the CL final date.

 

[citizen_maine]

He was in charge of England and look what happened ...

won every game

 

[RayCTID]

The only thing to concern me is them diving into tackles early doors and us picking up injuries, nice to get 2-0 up as quick as possible, demoralise them then put 6 in .

They did that under Marsch and didn't do them any good.

 

[sir baconface]

Certain players could do with a break before the RM game, I'm thinking Stones, Dias, Rodri, Grealish and Bernardo
If he's fit, KDB needs to start to get some game time as he'll be first name on the team sheet vs Madrid

I'd go back to an old fashioned 4-4-2

..................Ederson
Walker....Akanji....Laporte....Ake
...........KDB......Gundogan
Mahrez..............................Foden
..........Alvarez.......Haaland

Have Stones and Dias had such a long, gruelling season?

IMO they could be at the heart of our defence for the whole run-in.

Some of them do need a break though.