Sam Allardyce will have spent a large chunk of the last few days mulling over the recent performances of the Leeds United side he has inherited. Time is certainly not on his side but it pays to have a firm knowledge of where the cracks in his squad are and how much duct tape he will need to apply.
He’ll know that key men have not been up to scratch in recent weeks and it seems likely that changes will be made to the starting XI as he looks to make his mark with immediate effect and set the tone for the month ahead. Here’s a look at some of the selection questions the head coach may be asking himself ahead of Leeds’ trip to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
Illan Meslier or Joel Robles?
Meslier is the clearest example within the Leeds squad of a player whose confidence has completely and utterly deserted him of late. Costly mistakes have slowly but surely seeped into his game and his performance at Dean Court on Sunday afternoon was pretty alarming.
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The Frenchman seemed to panic every time the ball came his way and it’s fair to say he could have done more to prevent two goals from hitting the back of the net. Of course, playing behind a backline that has looked nothing short of fragile and flimsy hasn’t helped, but his self-belief looks to have hit rock bottom.
Talk after the game suggested that many felt Meslier needed to be pulled out of the firing line, but it remains to be seen whether Allardyce will agree. Joel Robles seems to be the only other real option between the sticks right now but the Spaniard is well known to Allardyce after spending time together at Everton.
Robles didn’t actually appear under the head coach, spending the entirety of the former England boss' time at Goodison Park rooted behind Jordan Pickford, but Allardyce will be more than aware of his abilities and he might be tempted to plump for experience in goal over the remaining four games.
Should Weston McKennie play?
McKennie had a good game against Leicester City last week but his performances either side of that draw with the Foxes cannot be ignored. The American was a passenger in the side at Bournemouth and he was arguably worse at Fulham in a midfield that simply failed to compete.
He’ll have been keen to set the record straight in training, no doubt, ahead of Saturday’s contest and Allardyce will find himself mulling over his role within the side. Options are few and far between in the middle of the park but Adam Forshaw is one who could step in.
The midfielder’s future at the club is uncertain but he was Leeds’ best midfielder on the south coast and would fancy himself to do a job, as he did for Jesse Marsch against City earlier in the season. The head coach has already spoken about the role his midfield has over the coming weeks in protecting the back four and his selection might revolve around who is more suited to such a task.
Marc Roca’s role in the side is far from being safe, as well.
Who gets the nod on the wings?
It’s fair to say Leeds have strength in depth in wide areas, but Big Sam’s selection is far from straightforward. Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter all appear to be vying for just two available spots in the side.
Gnonto and Summerville were probably two of Leeds’ best at Dean Court but couldn’t do enough to swing the game in Leeds’ favour, while Harrison has been arguably th Whites' best over the last couple of months. Harrison’s form has reflected his club’s for much of the season, but he seems to be playing with more self-belief and swagger than his teammates at present.
Rutter, on the other hand, has hardly been seen since making the club record switch from Hoffenheim in January. The Frenchman has had the odd run out off the bench but he might respond well to the pat on the back and the clean slate that Allardyce will give him.
Whoever he chooses it seems they will be playing either side of Patrick Bamford, who he singled out as a key man to the press during his first day on the job.
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