Chris52: “What’s the chances on Mateo [Joseph] making his first-team debut before the end of the season? He has the opportunity to play under-18 and under-23 football, so should get fit quickly, plus no one is blocking his pathway.”
BC: “Given how long it took talents like Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood to make their first-team debuts it's hard to see Mateo Joseph taking that same leap this season.
“If Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts, Rodrigo, Gelhardt, Greenwood and perhaps a couple of the wingers were all missing at the same time, he may have a chance if he's supplanted Max Dean by that stage.
“He's only 18, he hadn't trained in a team environment for months until he arrived at Thorp Arch last month. He will need time to bed in before even taking the youth teams by the scruff of the neck.”
Msc24: “Hi Beren, obviously disappointed we didn't bring anyone in, but I can understand why we said no to Donny van de Beek, Harry Winks etc. They aren't [Marcelo] Bielsa players and wouldn't have been of any real use to us.
“Do you have any updates on return dates for the injured players, please? With a few of them back I think we'll be fine.
“I do hope we announce a deal for [Brenden] Aaronson to arrive in the summer as quickly as possible, otherwise I fear a Dan James situation where someone else blows us out of the water if we wait.”
BC: “Yeah, I think knocking back van de Beek and Winks says more about Bielsa than the wider hierarchy in place at Elland Road. Decent players in their own right, but would they have had the time to shine in short loan spells here and would taking them in for four months have been worth it when there are young players trying to prove themselves already at Leeds?
“On the injuries: [Adam] Forshaw has recently said he is very hopeful of making it back for the [Aston] Villa match, while Bielsa has previously said [Charlie] Cresswell and [Jamie] Shackleton would return on the other side of the international break.
“Bamford remains something of a mystery after Bielsa's doubtful comments on the striker being back for the Villa game. [Kalvin] Phillips and [Liam] Cooper are slated for March returns, though there are high hopes the former could be back sooner than that.
“I understand the concerns around Aaronson and the perception Leeds interest has now flagged him up for everyone else, but in reality, anyone interested in him for this summer would have already been interested before this month came around.
“Clubs have recruitment departments and will already have been aware of him before Leeds showed their hand this month. They like him, their chase this month will show him how serious they are and they will hope something can be done in the summer. The market is the market, though, and [Red Bull] Salzburg will have every right to drive the price as high as they can if there is competition.”
Robmac64: “The lack of activity was what we expected. I think it's shocking we didn't strengthen, and it could well come back to bite us in May. The likes of [Junior] Firpo, James, Rodrigo and Roberts are quite simply not up to Leeds standard. Roberts is the worst player we've had for many, many years.
“I fail to understand Bielsa's way of thinking in playing Roberts before Gelhardt, who has proven he's PL (Premier League) standard, where Roberts certainly hasn't. [Leo] Hjelde, great first game then dropped. [Lewis] Bate, comes on as a sub, then is subbed. These lads will get sick of it and will look elsewhere, as [Cody] Drameh has done.
“I see no ambition going forward at all. Everyone's saying wait until Bamford is back. He's not the solution, as he's not a prolific scorer. We don't have one.
“Phillips and Raphinha will go in the summer to clubs that can match their ambition, as I don't think we can. Regardless of what Bielsa has done in the past, I don't think he's the man to take us to the next level. He's certainly not God, as many fans believe, in fact, his record of winning trophies is poor.”
BC: “Time will tell whether the inaction last month was the right course of action or not. Unfortunately, we can't say for sure right now. We have to let time and matches pass to see what United's fate will be. Though I do admit it's a calculated risk they have taken based on how the first half of the season played out.
“As 21/22 signings, the jury has to remain out on Firpo and James right now. They deserve time to continue to bed in and find their feet in this team. We have seen in a few cases how the second season under Bielsa can be better for players.
“Rodrigo and Roberts have flattered to deceive at varying extremes across the past 18 months, or longer in the case of the latter. Each player clearly has quality to have reached where they are in their careers, but they just haven't been able to demonstrate it on a regular basis out on the pitch with Leeds.
“It's easy to forget how young Roberts still is, but I would agree he's not good enough at this moment to be a regular starter or impact player from the bench in the Premier League. Rodrigo has had his moments, but given the money paid for him, we should be seeing much more from him on the field. His age and fee suggest he should be at least matching Raphinha's impact and importance to the team.
“Drameh stands out as an exception when it comes to one of the better under-23s looking to move away from Leeds, where a pathway clearly exists. I do not worry much about the others following his example.
“Leeds will know their inaction can be perceived as a lack of ambition, but they have to stick to their guns when it comes to their blueprint and the way they believe the club should move forward, even if that means holding back money now to then spend it at a better time in the summer.”
PeeTea: “Look at the next five games: how many points can we expect and how will we attract Aaronson if we are in the Championship? Given our number nines and 10s have only scored six goals between them all season and teams cut through our midfield like a knife through butter, it is hard to believe.”
BC: “If I'm being optimistic, I'd go with seven from the next five, but there's some tough games in there. Villa are building momentum and familiarity under [Steven] Gerrard, while Everton could still be disorganised under [Frank] Lampard by the team Leeds arrive.
“Man Utd and Tottenham [Hotspur] have expensive, but under-performing, squads who may have off-days at Elland Road while Leicester [City] have had a poor season, but with the players to hurt Leeds at the King Power.
“And there's no chance of Aaronson arriving if Leeds are in the Championship.
“I can't disagree with your scoring stats. Raphinha has certainly carried this side's attacking threat for much of the season and a lot rests on his shoulders if his teammates cannot recover from injury or find their shooting boots before long.”
Geoff09: “Hi Beren, I have concerns regarding the continued injuries of a similar nature. Three hamstrings in [the Crystal] Palace match (Cooper, Phillips and Bamford) then another two in the West Ham [United] game (Firpo and Forshaw). Have the medical/physio staff been asked why this is happening, and if so, what are they advising the coach/training staff need to do?”
BC: “I am sure Rob Price and the medical team are doing everything they can to assess why there have been so many injuries this season along with any links between them and the training the players are going through, but Bielsa's general stance has been this is just a freak of a season. He has not drawn any conclusions which lead him to believe there is a pattern in why and when the players are breaking down with injuries.”
fran.chalkie: “We don't need to add. This year had been a nightmare. Bielsa’s small squad etc. Let's face it, if Phillips, Raphinha etc think they are better, then they should move on. I remember a pundit saying a league can't be won with kids. It can.”
BC: “I think it's fair to say this season has been a complete outlier when it comes to injuries. To have what has felt like at least seven players missing from every matchday squad, with as many as 11 out some weeks, is not something anyone could have predicted.
“As Bielsa has said, his experience has always told him the average is normally around four absentees. It just hits Leeds that much harder because of how small the squad is.
“In some ways, it's impressive to see them where they are in the table with how much talent they have been playing without this season.”
Jonah53: “It's all very well, Beren, we hear Orta is tying up a summer deal for Aaronson, but the summer is a way away and it will be a whole different ball game come then I would imagine.
“There will be many other teams in the mix for him come June, then, if the worst happens and we go down, I cannot see him wanting to come, especially as Bielsa, Phillips and Raph[inha] could all be gone too.
“Never mind the loss of the 49ers investment plan. Oh my head hurts just thinking about the damage to the club if that ever happens.”
BC: “These are all natural fears to have when it comes to the club you love. You will not be the only fan feeling like that, but it has to come down to trusting the club. They made their decision on January.
“Their top executives are paid big money to make those decisions and until the season ends they have to be trusted. If things go south in the final months of the season it's clear where the fingers will be pointed. As it stands, the league table does not look disastrous and there are many fingers crossed on the injuries clearing up.”
Henryvl: “We must trust in Marcelo and accept he knows what to do. We have an excellent physio and medical facility, and you can be sure they assess every injury and its cause. Many clubs have had similar injuries, but we have been unlucky.
“Having a small squad, and many of the injuries in the backline and midfield at the same time magnifies the problem.
“Hopefully Patrick, Joffy (Gelhardt) and Cresswell will be match fit soon. Hjelde and Lewis Bate have shown great promise, and have a chance to prove the manager's faith in them is justified.
“The window has closed, so we move on.”
BC: “These are the sentiments many are taking from the window in contrast to the worry some have shown. It's the optimistic view to take and with the window now closed the fanbase will be expected to get behind the club into the final months of the season and hope the lack of signings does not come back to bite the team.”
