Beren Cross
Blank canvases are rare in football, especially when you have been following the two-formation doctrine of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United for nearly four years.
This is a rare chance to really line up the side I would like to see play on Saturday in a formation entirely of my choosing.
Once we see Jesse Marsch’s first attempt at King Power Stadium we will forever be looking to match up with the shape he uses.
As it is, the personnel I would like to use do loosely fit into what could be Marsch’s narrow 4-4-2.
The back five picks itself, really. Diego Llorente is a doubt, so Robin Koch would be my partner for Pascal Struijk in central defence.
Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo are responsible for bombing up and down the flanks to provide width, while Adam Forshaw remains an anchor of sorts as a defensively minded central midfielder.
Stuart Dallas plays alongside him in the centre and provides some legs and security through the centre of the pitch.
Raphinha picks himself and acts as the right-winger, who will be expected to cut inside. Daniel James has been in better form than Jack Harrison and does the same job as the Brazilian, but from the left.
Patrick Bamford will be a boost on the bench, but it will be interesting to see how Rodrigo and Joe Gelhardt would play as a front two. The Spaniard dropping in and then finding through-balls for the teenager sounds exciting.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; Raphinha, Forshaw, Dallas, James; Gelhardt, Rodrigo.
Joe Donnohue
For the first time in nearly four years, there's an air of unpredictability about a Leeds United starting XI.
Will Jesse Marsch go with three at the back to counter Leicester City's two strikers like Marcelo Bielsa would have?
Which formation has the American coach been working on, that he alluded to in his pre-match press conference?
The uncertainty offers scope for the most speculative of starting XIs, while combining knowledge of Marsch's setups at previous clubs to provide something of a rounded educated guess.
Marsch has been impressed by the leadership qualities of Luke Ayling and Adam Forshaw in training this week, which suggests both are shoo-ins to start at the King Power Stadium.
I've chosen a 4-4-2, with the midfield organised in a diamond formation.
At the back, Ayling, Struijk, Koch and Firpo is the best available quartet Leeds can field, with players in their natural roles.
Diego Llorente didn't train on Thursday which indicates he'll be left out as he was at Anfield nine days ago.
The real debate arises in midfield and attack: a diamond is not something which is unfamiliar to Marsch and the options Leeds have in their squad make it a viable possibility.
Forshaw can operate at the base of midfield, and is perhaps more mobile than Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk in that role.
Dallas on the left-hand side of the diamond as a wide central midfielder is a similar role to the outer midfielders in the second line of Marcelo Bielsa's 3-3-1-3 formation. As the most versatile member of the squad, this should not be a task too great for the Northern Irishman.
He'll be required to tuck inside out of possession, forcing opposition players wide, while shuttling the ball up and down the left-hand channel when it is in his care.
On the opposite side of the diamond is Mateusz Klich, who under Bielsa liked to drift wide and create rotations with the right-winger and right-back to help Leeds in build-up. His brief will largely be the same as Dallas's and with the Pole's stamina, is the ideal fit for a demanding role.
In attack, Marsch tends to favour two forwards with at least one creative player in behind. Rodrigo is not suited to a deeper midfield role, but as a dedicated number 10 with fewer defensive responsibilities, that is where Leeds may finally unlock his true ability.
The Spaniard remains one of the team's most creative players, fielding him in a purely creative function may glean the best from him.
Raphinha's influence on a game, wherever that may be on the pitch, is undeniable, which makes his selection a certainty, even if Marsch gets rid of a winger-heavy formation.
The Brazilian has an eye for goal, can play on the last man and likes to cut in onto his left foot. Starting him as the right-sided attacker alongside left-footer Joe Gelhardt offers balance but also positional flexibility.
If Marsch decides two dedicated forwards is too many mid-game, he can drop Raphinha and Rodrigo back, packing the midfield.
Joe's XI (4-4-2 diamond): Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; Forshaw, Dallas, Klich, Rodrigo; Raphinha, Gelhardt.
