da stake casino： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
da betano casino： Jonathan Woodgate did not enjoy his return to Elland Road as his side were on the receiving end of a 4-0 pasting, but he had nothing but admiration for his former club after the match.
What did he say?
Leeds were at their clinical best at the weekend and it is fair to say they would have overcome most teams with that kind of performance, as they have done so far more often than not.
The former defender had some interesting things to say considering what happened to Leeds over the summer, losing two of their most important players in Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe.
According to Woodgate, who was once of Real Madrid, Marcelo Bielsa has been able to improve the side since last term and that is reflected in their defensive progress, conceding just ten goals in 19 league games this season.
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Speaking about the encounter with his old club, as reported by Leeds Live, Woodgate said:
“Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Obviously I couldn’t clap at the time when we’re getting beat.
“They’re a top team and a top club and I wish them all the best and I hope they get to the Premier League.
“They’ve improved their squad massively. They bring [Eddie] Nketiah on, who’s a really, really good player. You’ve got Patrick Bamford firing on all cylinders. They’ve got Ben White at the back on loan from Brighton.”
Eye for a player
Leeds didn’t exactly splash out in the summer and instead, Marcelo Bielsa has used the budget available to him very wisely.
He has relied on players he knows, like Jack Harrison, while maintaining faith in Patrick Bamford – who is starting to find some form with three goals in four games after a lengthy goal drought.
On top of that, the two loan additions that Woodgate mentions have slotted in well, particuarly White, who considering his career history has been some find by the Argentine.
His prior experience playing at Championship level or above was non-existent yet Bielsa has sculpted him into not only one of his top performers but a defender who is being sought after by Premier League clubs.
Nketiah has also proved useful on occasion, scoring five times, and with a number of games still to be played, he will likely come in handy once more. That’s particularly if he begins to emulate Bamford and understand what his manager wants him to provide.
The three players Woosgate mentions have been important, therefore, but mainly because of the influence of Bielsa, so the credit should go to him.
With Leeds also having an exciting FA Cup fixture to look forward to, another young player could prove his worth to Bielsa against the Gunners.