Read on Twitter
We’re at the half-way mark for the season & have some tough fixtures coming up so I think it’s worth reflecting on how remarkable our points total is at this stage given all factors. Marcelo Bielsa, his staff & players deserve enormous credit. A thread about our defence. #lufc
Injuries have been a persistent issue. In the first 19 games Bielsa has not been able to name what is presumed to be his first choice XI even once. However, in the 4 matches in which this back four (five including Phillips) has started, Leeds have won three & drawn one. #lufc
The back four has gone through 7 different starting configurations & 11 changes from the previous game. New signings Robin Koch & Diego Llorente have played just 1000 minutes combined, only 91 of which were Llorente. Both players are injured again, as is veteran CB Berardi. #lufc
Injuries in central defence have been so bad that right-back Luke Ayling has had to start 8 matches at centre-half. 21 year old Pascal Struijk, who had never started a senior game of football at centre-half prior to this season, has also started 6 times in defence too. #lufc
Behind this constantly shifting defence, 20 year old goalkeeper Illan Meslier has started all but one match this season, having never played in the top flight anywhere prior to this season. He also missed a match after contracting the coronavirus. #lufc
Leeds allowed their only dedicated left-back Barry Douglas to go out on loan so wingers Ezgjan Alioski & Stuart Dallas have started instead. The duo also covered both full-back positions in 8 matches this season & cost just £4m combined. #lufc
Nine players have featured in defence so far this season for Leeds, at a total cost of just £35m (an average of £3.8m), including £12m for Robin Koch (11 starts) & £18m for Diego Llorente (1 start). Luke Ayling has started every match & cost just £200k from Bristol City. #lufc
Despite all of the above & playing consciously attacking football with a high press, Leeds Utd have still kept six clean sheets in the league this season, level with several established PL teams & equal with the other two newly promoted clubs combined. #lufc
