Decide on his backroom team and Skubala’s role
One of the first items on Javi Gracia’s agenda, which is likely to have already come up in his initial talks with Leeds United, is his backroom appointments. When Jesse Marsch was sacked towards the start of the month he saw Rene Maric, Cameron Toshack and Pierre Barrieu follow him out of the club.
When Gracia walks into Thorp Arch he will find assistant head coach Chris Armas, assistant coach Ewan Sharp, goalkeeper coach Marcos Abad, under-21 head coach Michael Skubala and development coach Paco Gallardo.
Given how close Armas was with Marsch, it remains to be seen what role Gracia finds for him on the training field though Sharp, who chose to stay after the American’s exit, has taken on more of an analyst’s role, away from the pitches, already. Abad, who worked under Victor Orta at Elche and Middlesbrough before coming to Leeds, is bound to be safe to keep his role.
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The Athletic has already reported Skubala will remain with the first team and it will be Gallardo who drops down to lead the under-21s. Zigor Aranalde, who played for Walsall and Carlisle United before retirement, looks a strong bet follow Gracia to Elland Road.
The 49-year-old was his compatriot’s assistant at Watford, Valencia and Al Sadd. He remains out of work currently, as does Juan Solla. Solla has spent his entire coaching career by Gracia’s side at 10 different clubs.
Meet with Skubala and the team
An early meeting with Skubala and the whole team, if not the senior members of the dressing room, will be imperative for Gracia. The Spaniard will need to quickly establish where the squad is at mentally after a horrible run of two wins from 20 league matches.
Skubala will be a crutch Gracia leans on in the opening days of the job as he picks the coach’s brain on what he has learned from the past few weeks and months. There is only so much video analysis will show Gracia, so Skubala will have to give him the inside line on the weak points and strong points in this group.
Medical reports
Head of medicine and performance Rob Price needs to be among the first people Gracia meets too. The new head coach needs to know which players he will have available and when.
Adam Forshaw, Liam Cooper, Marc Roca, Stuart Dallas, Rodrigo, Pascal Struijk and Luis Sinisterra have all seen their match time restricted in some way during Skubala’s short stint. Cooper returned to the squad at the weekend, but Skubala said the skipper was not ready for extended minutes.
Rodrigo and Sinisterra in particular stand out as match-winning options Gracia needs to call upon as soon as possible.
Work out the Rutter plan
The most expensive transfer in the club’s history has been inside the building for a month, but he has so far averaged 25 minutes in each of the four league appearances he’s had. Georginio Rutter may only be 20, but if Leeds are at risk of getting relegated this season they absolutely need their marquee recruit to play his part in the fight for survival.
History would suggest Gracia has been open to playing with a front two in the past, which could well play into Patrick Bamford and Rutter’s hands. Either way, Gracia has to get this young talent integrated and playing frequently after the investment the club made in him.
Manage the Elland Road cauldron and see off Southampton
It seems an obvious opening task for any new head coach, but winning the first game is especially important for Gracia and the Whites. A loss would send them to the foot of the Premier League, injecting even more belief into a resurgent Southampton in the process.
It’s a tall order, but this is the brief Gracia pitched for and wanted. It will be a baptism of fire and Gracia has to hit the ground running. He has three days to get his ideas across to the team in a way which exposes the visitors’ weaknesses.
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