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…
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has expressed his concerns with Leeds and their inability to find a solution to break down Charlton at the weekend – issuing his thoughts on Twitter.
What’s he said?
Typical Leeds. That’s how Saturday afternoon at The Valley felt.
Marcelo Bielsa men dominated possession, perhaps by their most dominating number yet this season at 71.6%.
They also had 19 shots but they failed to score as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat. The Whites got themselves in multiple positions but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Eddie Nketiah and Adam Forshaw went close but they were ultimately left to settle for their first dropped points away from home this season.
It was a game that caused concern, understandably so given they dropped to fourth, but Hay gave his assessment the day after. He said:
Where will the answers come from?
Despite the fact Leeds couldn’t find the back of the net, their lack of ability in finding an answer to Charlton’s resistance was alarming.
It was rather ironic that what fans had demanded didn’t come off either.
Helder Costa has been the topic of debate in recent weeks, as has Nketiah but neither of them were able to cough up the goods.
The former was particularly disappointing in losing possession of the ball 17 times while the Arsenal loanee also missed a wonderful chance at the near post.
Bielsa has teased playing him and Patrick Bamford as a pairing for some time now but they met by a stubborn Addicks defence who were intent on not conceding.
They played well together against Brentford as the former Boro man created the space for Nketiah inside the area but this time there was no such fortune, perhaps because of how little they’ve played alongside each other.
The change to a 3-5-2 system had worked against Stoke last month when they won 3-0 but this was another solution that failed to work.
Perhaps starting Nketiah on his own could work or bringing Tyler Roberts back into the starting XI can provide a fix.
Only time will tell.