This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Kalvin Phillips will be out of Leeds’ starting XI for the first time this season against Huddersfield Town next Saturday.
‘The Yorkshire Pirlo’ as he is colloquially known picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Middlesbrough, and that means that he will be suspended for United’s next league match.
Of course, losing one of your best players will have huge ramifications, and Marcelo Bielsa will have to account for this with his next team selection.
Perhaps this suspension is the best time for the Argentine to temporarily abandon one tactic he’s been using in recent weeks.
Bielsa has been using a 3-3-1-3 formation and it’s been incredibly effective.
The formation allows creativity and fluidity throughout the team as it encourages two of Leeds’ defenders to go forward as they’re covered in the midfield.
Indeed, we’ve seen attacking impact from both Luke Ayling and Ben White as White picked up an assist against Luton while Ayling had two shots on goal against Middlesbrough.
However, Phillips’ absence would seriously affect the defenders’ abilities to do that.
His anchoring presence in the middle of the park allows the pair to feel safe going forward in the knowledge that they won’t be counter-attacked as they have the man who makes the second most tackles per game in the Championship behind them.
[ad_pod ]
Bielsa has admitted that his plan is to play White in Phillips’ role against Huddersfield, and therefore there is an argument to be made he would be better off going back to a 4-1-4-1 as that tactic doesn’t encourage the centre-backs to get forward as often as they do in the 3-3-1-3.
White isn’t as tough a tackler as Phillips so he won’t provide the same amount of cover, so the best course of action may be for Bielsa to play a more conservative style with his centre-halves, and that may involve reverting to a back four.
Don’t miss out on MASSIVE savings with Fan Deal Drops – shop now for the latest deals (USING LINK HERE) on TVs, laptops, football shirts & much more.