This ^^^^

Luka couldn't pass water

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Leeds are in a bad place at the moment and unless they have players returning from injury we should be going for their throat. It's possibly a risk, but I'd start Eze alongside Gallagher with Kouyate holding. After Eze came on we finally started to get a hold on the game against Villa. I'd bring in Edouard for Olise who didn't play badly, but just looks like he's not quite confident enough yet. Edouard was playing well prior to picking up a minor injury and has shown he can play wide. Against a weakened Leeds defence Bentenke should be able to assert himself.

VG

Ward Tomkins Guehi Mitchell

Kouyate

Gallagher Eze

Edouard Bentenke Zaha

Aside from at home to Burnley last season I haven't looked at many goals where I've thought "he should be having that". The ball is whipped in with pace and spin now. Nearly all of the players are now pushing 6ft or over and nobody hits floated crosses any more.

Martinez got in a proper mess trying to catch yesterday when he should have punched Sanchez did the same for Brighton when he handed Man City an opener a couple of weeks back.

We're lacking aerial presence and leaders in these situations generally. Both Guehi and Anderson haven't looked great in the air and I suspect Benteke's continual selection is partly down this.

Schlupp for Hughes as he is still an unknown factor. Tomkins looked rusty first half but improved second should be much better for the run out. Not sure having seen Eze on Saturday how he will fit into PV's style.

Some observations:

Olise - is going to be a player, but isn't one yet. He looks a little lightweight physically to me and also lacking in confidence to take players on (which is his natural game). Being played out of position all season (his preferred role is central midfield) hasn't helped. Personally, I'd use him as an impact sub while he finds his feet in the PL this season.

Andersen - we missed him yesterday. What we missed wasn't his too-often suspect defending but his distribution; his ability to ping a long-distance pass and get the attack moving out of the blue keeps other teams honest and was notable by its absence. Most of our abundant possession yesterday was wasted by endless slow, sideways passing with very little penetration. If available, Andersen has to play.

Ayew - I wouldn't start him too often but wanted to note that I'm astonished how little respect he gets here. Always puts in a shift, has considerably more skill than he's given credit for and while he's not a world-class finisher by any stretch of the imagination, our squad is better with him than it would be without him.

Luka - Frankly, finished (at Palace). Offers very little indeed. Useful player for the sort of aspirations we had two years ago (surival) but simply not a useful player for a team looking to do better than that.

Schlupp - I think he needs a run of games, partly to see if he can translate his occasional impact into regular performance and also given that his contract is ending we ought to find out what we've got and what he's worth.

Wilf - dare I say that, at 29, while by no means old or over the hill, Wilf may have passed his summit? He was poor yesterday; the days when he could simply singlehandedly take a game by the scruff of the neck may be coming to an end. Still our most likely player to win a game but arguably no longer the first name on the teamsheet or, if he's still that, certainly no longer guaranteed never to be substituted if he isn't playing well.

Hughes - not sure he's ready to start on Tuesday, but he needs to begin getting some minutes and seeing time on the pitch. Another potentially astute signing that at some point we've got to understand how or if he fits into Vieira's masterplan going forwards.

Kouyate - better than Luka, but then so am I so not much of a compliment. Rather like Ayew, happy to have him around and there will be games when his presence is called for. But the more "winnable" games where we look to be on the front foot, I'm not sure either he or Luka should be on the teamsheet.

VG - great shot stopper but his ability to command a penalty area -- what ability? He hasn't got any - really isn't helping anyone. Surely at set pieces, getting the defense organised is part of the keeper's job? It used to be,anyway.

My team for Leeds:

VG

Ward
Mitchell
Guehi
Andersen

Schlupp
Eze
Gallagher
Zaha

Benteke
Edouard

Subs:

If Ebs is not 100% fit, likely given his comeback, I'd like to see Olise replace him for the last portion of the game in his (Olise's) preferred central midfield role. It's about time we put him in the best position to succeed.

I'd like to see Hughes make his debut at some point, if the state of the game dictates bringing him on.

Edited by sydtheeagle (28 Nov 2021 4.59pm)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.