Wing decisions
The Whites will be without Luis Sinisterra this weekend and Marsch has a decision to make when it comes to who will replace the Colombian in the starting XI. He’ll be a big miss, that’s for certain.
Sinisterra has been in red hot form over the last few weeks and he would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet had it not been for his soft but naïve dismissal last weekend against Aston Villa. Crysencio Summerville could find himself at the top of Marsch’s list of options and the head coach made the point of praising his form of late during his pre-match press conference.
The 20-year-old hasn’t started a Premier League game for the Whites but if he does get the nod, he’ll be keen to make his mark and prove that he belongs at the senior level. If the American were to look beyond what is the closest thing to a like for like replacement, he could find himself looking to bring one of Patrick Bamford, Wilfried Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt or even Mateusz Klich.
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A slight reshuffle would be required with all four of the above, though.
To Bamford or not to Bamford
Bamford may well come into the side regardless this weekend following the manager’s confirmation that he is fit enough to start for the first time since picking up a groin issue in August. The striker picked up a minor knock last week, ruling him out of the starting XI for the Villa game, but it seems he is ready to push for Marsch’s nod.
Rodrigo was the man in the number nine spot at Elland Road and while it’s probably fair to say he didn’t set the world alight with his performance, he fared relatively well and had a couple of chances to break the deadlock. It’s a decision Marsch won’t make lightly, but Bamford’s need for minutes may just creep into his thinking.
The England international is Leeds’ most dangerous when he’s firing on all cylinders, but to rediscover such form he needs patience and as much game time as possible. It’s a tricky balance.
Bucking the trend
It’s still early in the season, of course, but going four games without a win is not a good look for Leeds and extending that to five games at Selhurst Park would look even worse. This is an absolutely crucial period for the Whites as they target points on the board before the World Cup and a game against Crystal Palace, who have struggled for traction, should certainly be seen as an opportunity.
United have picked up two draws during this recent run, with points coming against Everton and Villa, but with some tricky games on the way, it’s key that Leeds add to their win column this weekend. Leeds’ away form is also worth noting. Again, it’s hardly a concern at this stage, but having picked up just one point on the road this season, they’ll be keen to nip that in the bud before it becomes a bigger issue.
Not so happy hunting ground
Leeds haven’t seen much joy at Selhurst Park in recent years, failing to pick up maximum points in south London against the Eagles since 2006. Admittedly they have only made the journey on six occasions but they’ve rarely come away from there with a smile on their face.
The Whites played out a 0-0 draw against Palace back in April and they lost 4-1 there the previous season. They know more than most how tough it is to pick up points at Selhurst Park but Patrick Vieira’s side haven’t got going just yet and United have an opportunity to prove a point and kick on.
Eyes on Marsch
Marsch watched last weekend’s game against Villa from the press box as he served a touchline ban, but he’ll be returning to the technical areas this weekend and it’s fair to say the referee, Paul Tierney, will be on his toes. The American hasn’t always kept his cool this season and he has spoken about his attempts to influence officials and the officiating.
The head coach wears his heart on his sleeve but it will be interesting to see how he reacts should things fail to go Leeds’ way in Croydon.
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