They say it’s easy to be wise after the event, but in the aftermath of a high-octane battle measured reasoning is often replaced by a concoction of panic and desperation, which tends to provoke knee-jerk conclusions. Hence, I chose to write these articles pre-game rather than post. Being wise before the event isn’t any easier mind, just last week I wrote an explanation as to why we don’t need a midfielder, then on Sunday we played like we don’t have one. Rodrigo was useless and subbed at half-time, and the main focus of the article, Adam Forshaw, was back on the treatment table, no use to anyone. Just as opinions can change with the wind, certain opinions can look stupid one week and wise the next, and in a couple of days our timelines might be full of “I-told-you-so’s” from supporters of Rodrigo, though Forshaw supporters might have to keep looking stupid for a little while yet.

“Leeds United haven’t won a Premier League match this season, and everyone wants to know why.”

Leeds United haven’t won a Premier League match this season, and everyone wants to know why. Almost unanimously, the fans believe the primary problem is Bielsa’s persistence with Rodrigo in midfield, but in moments of panic we really need to analyse the evidence, and the evidence suggests our manager usually knows best. He knew Berardi could play centre-back, he knew Dallas could play anywhere, and he knew Cooper could play. He knew White could replace Jansson, he knew persisting with Harrison and Bamford would pay off, and he knows a lot more about Rodrigo than we do. So, if El Loco backs Rodrigo to come good then I’m happy to back him too.

That said, Bielsa does make mistakes – not as many as he tries to claim, but he does make them – and I was sceptical about Rodrigo when we signed him, which currently looks wise before the event. We had apparently signed ‘Spain’s no.9’, but for a no.9 he had a terrible goalscoring record. Some people defended that record by saying he wasn’t playing up front for his club, but if he was Spain’s best striker why was he being shunted out to the wing like a glorified Ian Rush? And why was he playing for Spain anyway when he’s Brazilian? And why does he call himself Rodrigo when his name is Moreno? Is this guy a total fraud?? (Sorry, I will get back to backing him…)

Judging Rodrigo for ourselves has been difficult. Overall he’s been a big disappointment, but there are mitigating factors beyond the age-old adage, ‘foreigners need a season to get used to the pace of the Premier League’. The secret Brazilian is also learning a new position, and has only had one consistent run in the team, which culminated in the best game of his Leeds career in last season’s trip to Newcastle (before injury halted his progress in the next game at Leicester). Rodrigo also scored the best goal of his Leeds career against Newcastle at Elland Road, so lets hope for his sake and ours that the barcodes bring the best out of him again.

“once again our abundance of quality centre-backs isn’t enough to prevent a defensive crisis”

And so to Friday’s crucial, must-win game at St. James’ Park, after which Leeds will only have 33 cup finals left to save their season. The FA could have been wise after the event but decided against rescinding Pascal Struik’s red card, and once again our abundance of quality centre-backs isn’t enough to prevent a defensive crisis. Perhaps it might be a blessing in disguise, Ayling has had a tough start to the season and moving inside to centre-back may relieve some pressure. Shackleton probably deserves a start too, or maybe there will be one more injury or positive covid test and the door will creek ajar for Junior Cresswell or Cody Drameh to stake a claim. Both look physically ready, and if either came in and excelled it would be a huge shot in the arm for the squad and the fans.

I’ll be heading to Newcastle with the Leeds fans but not amongst them. I’m no longer a super-fan so had to buy tickets in the home end, and after toying with choosing the exact seat I was allocated on Boxing Day 1998 (the last time I celebrated victory on Tyneside) I couldn’t resist the seat that looked close enough to smell Bielsa’s bucket. I can’t wait to see El Loco and his staff up close and personal, to hear the Leeds fans in full voice, and to feel the relief of a Rodrigo-inspired Leeds bouncing back with a big performance, as the evidence suggests they will.

Rocco Dean - Author of Marcelo Bielsa vs The Damned United (order on Amazon)

WISE BEFORE THE EVENT