Danny Mills claims Jesse Marsch needs to focus on making Leeds United a more solid unit defensively after their dismal run of form.
The Whites set a new unwanted Premier League record, conceding the most goals in a calendar month, and have conceded the most goals in the entire division.
Marsch's side are currently two points above the drop zone, but Everton and Burnley can move above them if they win their games in hand.
Speaking exclusively to Genting Casino, Mills stressed the importance of making the team more solid.
He said: "I think they will have to change their style of playing without a doubt because if they keep doing what they’re doing, they’re going to get beat every single week, and they’re going to go down. Jesse Marsch will change it – I almost see it as a positive, and there’s two big positives in this for Jesse Marsch."
The Whites new head coach has style of play similar to that of his predecessor and should have no fears about inheriting a squad that is unfit.
Mills added: "Most teams down at the bottom, when a new manager comes in, the first thing he says is they’re not fit enough, when you can’t label that at Leeds – that’s not something you’ve got to worry about.
"That excuse is out the window. Marsch could almost go the other way and say, ‘these players are fit enough, so whatever I ask them to do is not going to be a problem physically,’ We know that he likes to play a high press and go and close people down, so that’s not too dissimilar to what Leeds do now."
"But he might shore it up in the middle of a park maybe with a double pivot, or a little bit more protection in front of the back four, and some of the players might be a little bit relieved and say, ‘OK we quite like this, yes we still have the opportunity to go and press high, but also we’ve got a little bit of security at the back, and a little bit more organisation, and that makes us feel more comfortable, and because we are supremely fit, we can use all our energy going forward, and then just be organised.’"
Mills has also stressed the need for Marsch to get off to a good start. He said: "Defending is the easy part of the game. It’s much easier to stop goals than it is to score goals, and that’s organisation, working on the training ground.
"I think if Jesse Marsch adds that and continues with his principles of a higher press, keeping the ball, working hard, the players might actually be relieved that they’re not having to go man for man all over the pitch, they’re not having to play murder ball on a Thursday, which is incredibly intense.
"I think if he gets off to a good start and gets the players onside in the first game or so, I think this could be a good appointment for Leeds."
