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Leeds United’s shot on goal statistics in the last 3 games make for uncomfortable reading:

28 shots vs Sheffield Wednesday

36 shots vs Wigan

18 shots vs Brentford

82 shots in the last 3 games. 2 Goals.

40+ shots per goal.

Leeds United’s inefficiency in attack has finally proved costly at the costliest of times.

The above statistic covering the last 3 games, at the business end of the season has seen the pendulum swing (almost definitively) back in Sheffield United’s favour in the race for 2^nd place and automatic promotion.

To say this has only been a decisive issue in the games against Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan and Brentford would be a considerable untruth.

After the defeat to QPR in the 3^rd round of the FA Cup, a time when Leeds sat at the summit of the Championship, two points clear of Norwich, it was clear that the inefficiency and lack of clinical edge in front of goal was concerning Marcelo Bielsa:

“Usually I do an exercise to try and verify what would have been the final result if we were as efficient as our opponent. How many chances does the opponent need to actually score a goal? I use this to measure our offensive play. It is a valid exercise.

In spite of the fact we are top of the league we have the same level of efficiency as the teams who occupy the last five ranks (in the table).

We have the efficiency of the teams at the bottom of the table, but in spite of that we are top.

The teams just behind us, the next six or seven, they score a goal with every two or three chances they have. We need five or six chances to score.”

These remarks from Bielsa are particularly pertinent following the disastrous Easter Weekend that Leeds United have suffered. Emotions were running high at Griffin Park with Pablo Hernandez having to be consoled on the pitch at full time. In many ways it was reminiscent of the images of an inconsolable Luis Suarez at Selhurst Park, where Liverpool ‘bottled-it’ in their bid for the Premier League title.

Whilst Bielsa cuts a distant figure, his words are thoughtful, analytical and most importantly true to his beliefs of the game. It would be easy to draw attention to the first half incident where referee Keith Stroud inexplicably failed to award Leeds a penalty, but Bielsa chose to discuss what he can control – the football:

“The game today looks like many games we played this year. We had offensive actions but without efficiency. This is the summary of our season. We have many chances to score compared to the goals we actually score and if we had a normal efficiency, we would have 10 or 12 points more now. But it’s not the case.”

Questions will be asked of Bielsa as to how this problem has not been resolved, having been highlighted earlier in the season, but a coach can only do so much, even if they will publicly assume the responsibility for shortcomings in their players .

As Pep Guardiola once told his players at FC Barcelona:

“My job is to bring you up until the last third of the field, and then the last third is instinct, that’s up to you”

Bielsa himself famously said

“if football was played by robots, I would win everything”.

Training sessions under Bielsa involve considerable amounts of repetition. Attacking pattern after attacking pattern. Finish after finish. Repetition to make it instinctive when his players arrive in the attacking third of the opponent and to equip them with the tools to improvise. Through his coaching, Bielsa has frequently got the players into dangerous attacking positions combining to create chances. Indeed, our attacking football has drawn plaudits from around the world this season.

When it comes to the lack of clinical finishing and attacking inefficiency then very simply the players are fully accountable.

Example of Attacking Pattern in Bielsa Training Session:

The most telling words from Bielsa today, came at the end of his press conference:

“But if there’s something I can say for sure it’s that our team was never affected by pressure. Really never. If we want to say why we don’t have 10 points more, we just have to take a look at how many chances other teams need to score and how many chances we need to score.”

Simply put, Leeds United are considerably limited in attacking situations because of the inefficiency of the attacking players compared to Norwich and Sheffield United. In the context of his remarks post QPR in January, the players have overachieved to find themselves in this position based on the statistics. In the context of the position his team actually found themselves in, the fact this issue has dealt a fatal blow to hopes of automatic promotion is a huge disappointment.

Yes, the defending has left a lot to desire, but as Bielsa himself said post QPR this is directly a function of the inefficiency in attack:

“That means we have to be very offensive. It is an obligation for us if we want to win games. That makes it harder to defend. That is why my final conclusion is that if we don’t defend well it is hard for us to win games.”

When Leeds have taken their chances first and gone ahead in games, their record is formidable. When Leeds are profligate, wasteful and inefficient and it becomes harder to defend the results are considerably worse.

After the pain of the results of the weekend, it is difficult to look ahead but the play-offs now surely await Leeds United (best season for 15+ years).

How the season ends? Down to the players. If Leeds can restore efficiency to the attack, then the Premier League will still beckon.

 

 

A hard fought 2-0 victory over Rotherham saw Marcelo Bielsa become the first Leeds United Manager to win his opening four competitive games at the helm of the club. This victory also saw Leeds become the only club in the Championship with a perfect record at this early stage.

It must be said that the game plan that Rotherham boss Paul Warne opted for made this victory slightly less straightforward than a sold-out Elland Road may have initially expected. It is likely that other opponents will adopt a similar tactical approach to Warne against Leeds this season, but it was promising to see Leeds offer solutions to several of the problems posed when facing this style of football, particularly in an assured second half display.

Warne sought to nullify the threat of Samu Saiz with centre back Semi Ajayi deployed in a defensive midfield role. This was a move clearly in response to the damage that Saiz inflicted upon both Stoke and Derby when the Spaniard was allowed time and space on the ball between the midfield and defensive lines of the opponent. Despite the opportunities to exploit this space being extremely limited in transition given the low block from Rotherham and close attention from Ajayi, Leeds did attempt to work the ball to Saiz through the lines whenever possible. Unfortunately, with the compact lines from Rotherham holding firm, it was difficult for Bielsa’s side to maintain attacking momentum through central areas.

When asked what he felt had not gone as well as he would have liked in the first half, Bielsa stated:

“We built too much from the back. We built in a lateral way, it was not easy for us to go from defensive positions to offensive ones.”

The fortunate escape in the 26^th minute of the first half epitomised this overly lateral way of playing. Barry Douglas had an opportunity to make a vertical pass to Kalvin Phillips and break the Rotherham press, however, passed backwards to Liam Cooper who played a dangerous square pass across the penalty area. Fortunately for Leeds, Ryan Williams did not show the ruthlessness required to punish this mistake:

It must be said that the pass from Cooper was poor, however, although the initial pass Cooper received from Douglas wasn’t poor itself the choice to pass to the centre back instead of Phillips was. Similarly the starting position of Bailey Peacock-Farrell was perhaps too deep, but the goalkeeper was well positioned to block Williams’ effort.

In contrast, the way in which Leeds moved the ball out from the back for the second goal scored by Kemar Roofe epitomised the verticality that Bielsa demands in the game.  From a similar position to the lucky escape in the first half Leeds played out in a way that drew Rotherham players towards the ball before Douglas played a precise vertical pass to Alioski. The Macedonian International combined with Phillips, who set Roofe free with a lofted pass into the channel, before the striker beat Sean Raggett for pace and expertly finished beyond Rodak.

It was notable that the visitors from South Yorkshire initially attempted to apply more pressure (particularly from Michael Smith) on Kalvin Phillips than in previous games. This direct pressure was a factor in Phillips misplacing a few early passes, however, the academy graduate was brave on the ball and constantly willing to attempt to make vertical passes (or slightly riskier lateral passes) to open passing lanes forward. It was particularly pleasing to see Phillips to continue to show for and demand the ball after a couple of early setbacks, which illustrates the increased level of accountability and responsibility that the players are assuming on the pitch under Bielsa’s tutelage. Phillips has assumed considerable responsibility on the pitch and against Rotherham he managed more passes, more touches and more inceptions on the ball than any other player on the pitch.

Gaetano Berardi played a big part in the build up for Leeds, stepping out with the ball beyond the defensive line into midfield. This became an increasingly common feature of Leeds in possession, with Berardi’s runs forward provoking Rotherham out of their midfield block of 5 to avoid giving the Swiss defender the freedom of Elland Road. Towards the end of the first half Rotherham were indeed lethargic in their closing down of Berardi, who stung the palms of Marek Rodak in goal. Berardi stepping into midfield continued to be a feature of Leeds possession-oriented play in the second half, with a 74% share of the ball being the highest enjoyed by the Whites’ under Bielsa so far.

In an attempt to find space between the Rotherham lines the positional rotation between Gianni Alioski, Pablo Hernandez, Mateusz Klich, Roofe and Saiz became more pronounced and apparent than previously seen. This movement was relentless and at times fruitless, however, over the course of 90 minutes this unlocked the door on a number of occasions, particularly with the contribution of Luke Ayling and Douglas on the flanks. Bielsa indicated that he felt Leeds were not particularly effective with crosses from the left. It is worth pointing out that the success Leeds have had from crosses in recent weeks have involved at least two players making runs into uncongested penalty areas – an opportunity Rotherham simply did not afford Leeds given their low block.

With little time remaining on the clock, Rotherham rolled the dice for a final time and switched to a 442 formation. In response Leeds adopted a 3313 formation with seamlessly with Phillips dropping in as a third central defender between Berardi and Cooper, highlighting Bielsa’s rigid belief that the spine of his side should have one more defender than the opposition has attacker. This change in formation from both sides gave Leeds the ascendancy in the final exchanges of open play with Lewis Baker able to receive the ball and drive forward with some menace between the lines.

Next up for Leeds is a visit to Swansea for Bielsa’s first experience of Tuesday night Championship football. Judging by their opening performances, it would be a surprise if Swans boss, Graham Potter, moves away from his preferred 433 formation. There are quite a few similarities between the style of play that Potter is attempting to implement at the Liberty Stadium and the style of Frank Lampard’s Derby. This should represent an opportunity for Leeds, with more opportunities and space presenting themselves in transition. Against Birmingham, the Swansea midfield struggled with middle block pressing and conceded numerous chances leaving the back four exposed, which, on another day could have quite easily resulted in a heavy defeat. That midfield consisting of Jay Fulton, Tom Carroll and Bersant Celina seems relatively lightweight for the rigours of Championship football and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Potter opts for the greater physicality of Leroy Fer on Tuesday.

Leeds have already demonstrated this season that they possess the flexibility and mentality to find solutions to win games by ruthlessly exploiting transitions and the Rotherham game demonstrated Leeds also have the patience and guile to wear down their opponents with the ball, waiting for the right moments in the game to see off their prey.

As Bielsa himself as intimated, nothing is won after four games, particularly in the Championship but the football being played is imperious at times, the type of football consistently played by those teams challenging at the top of the division come May.