Marcelo Bielsa/ Vitor Matos

[Copamundial]

Very similar in their approaches in my opinion, style of football got Leeds promoted but at a cost, if we are to persevere with the current high octane approach then we will need the football equivalent of Rugby’s bomb squad.

Sixty minutes of high intensity football and then key players being hooked and replaced by fresh legs, it’s the only way that the levels of intensity required can be maintained over ninety minutes.

As I said in a different thread, we only have to drop a few percent in our effort levels for the opposition to get a foothold in the game, this has been evident in the last few matches…what’s Gatland up to these days?

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

I sort of agree, but quality of player is also an issue as well. These days we probably outrun and outwork most teams most weeks, but we lack the quality to go 2 or 3 goals up. Which gives encouragement to the other team. That isn't going to get better until we get better players in the final third (Vip being the honourable exception)

 

[sit_down_jack]

I sort of agree, but quality of player is also an issue as well. These days we probably outrun and outwork most teams most weeks, but we lack the quality to go 2 or 3 goals up. Which gives encouragement to the other team. That isn't going to get better until we get better players in the final third (Vip being the honourable exception)

Agree. Had we scored another against Birmingham in the first half, I don’t think they would have had the belief to come back given their away form at the moment.

We’ve got to bring in some players this summer who will make an impact for us in the final 3rd. I believe there is potential for current players to develop also. However it happens, more goals and assists from different areas of the squad are a must.

 

[Smurph]

There is more to it than just constantly running for ninety minutes.

Matos doesn't ask the team to press all the time, it's just in specific moments like bad touches from the opposition, pressing the other teams players in to pressure when facing their own goal

This type of intensity gets the team to explode in to action, like flicking a light switch rather than telling his players just to run all the time.

it's more purposeful than a Bielsa side

 

[Smurph]

Plus you can give me a team that runs out of energy over a team that hardly breaks a sweat from passing it sideways and backwards any day of the week.

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Plus you can give me a team that runs out of energy over a team that hardly breaks a sweat from passing it sideways and backwards any day of the week.

Hard agree.

One of the joys of watching us in the last 6-8 weeks is knowing we are definitely leaving everything on the pitch.

We definitely weren't seeing much of that in the previous 4/5 years (apart from a brief period under Sheehan last season)

 

[Andrew - North Hill]

Had we scored another against Birmingham in the first half, I don’t think they would have had the belief to come back given their away form at the moment.

Couldn't agree more. We were much the better side and a point flattered them.

 

[Smurph]

Hard agree.

One of the joys of watching us in the last 6-8 weeks is knowing we are definitely leaving everything on the pitch.

We definitely weren't seeing much of that in the previous 4/5 years (apart from a brief period under Sheehan last season)

Breath of fresh air knowing that no matter what the score the game has been enjoyable and we've tried everything we can to play a decent style of football with the players we have at our disposal.

 

[Copamundial]

Mutual appreciation club are in …aka the Klingons.

 

[Neath_Jack]

Agree. Had we scored another against Birmingham in the first half, I don’t think they would have had the belief to come back given their away form at the moment.

We’ve got to bring in some players this summer who will make an impact for us in the final 3rd. I believe there is potential for current players to develop also. However it happens, more goals and assists from different areas of the squad are a must.

On another day, two of those shots that hit the woodwork fly in and we beat them comfortably. Tiny margins.

 

[Menston4128]

I dont think Matos is comparable to Bielsa, more akin to Klopp (which is understandable).

Both use a high intensity style, just look at the difference at Liverpool now Slot has implemented his own style.

Bielsa played a different formation using 3 at the back and Kalvin Phillips dropping back when required, this needed the 2 wider CB's to work in the FB position quite often (Liam Cooper was adept at covering around the LB channel).

What Bielsa demands as well as unbeatable fitness is football intelligence as players were interchanging lots during play.

Some players couldn't hack it others flourished, maybe this is something that will transpire under Matos.