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Alan Shearer delivers Leeds United relegation verdict after Javi Gracia appointment
Alan Shearer believes that Javi Gracia faces an extremely difficult job to keep Leeds United in the Premier League.
That’s because he was not impressed with how they fared against Everton as they looked devoid of ideas playing fellow relegation contenders.
They even failed to register a shot on target in the game and the board quickly made the decision to bring in the former Watford manager.
“They had to do something and they had to do it quickly, because after their performance at the weekend against Everton – I watched them – they were hopeless,” Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast.
“They looked devoid of any ideas, they didn’t have a goal threat at all, so they had to go out and appoint someone.
“He has Premier League experience and he is available. He doesn’t demand a long contract that perhaps others who were looking at the job and wanting. He has one job and that job is to try and keep them up – it is going to be very, very difficult.”
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Not going to be easy
Many of these Leeds players appear to have lost hope so the first thing Gracia needs to do is to turn that around.
It will only begin with work on the training pitch and that cannot happen unless and until he’s granted a work permit which has not happened yet.
Hopefully, he acquires it in time for the game against Southampton so that he can start taking training sessions.
Thus far, it’s Michael Skubala taking training and unfortunately, it’s going to be the same old ideas when they take on the Saints.
Gracia is expected to set the side up in a 4-2-2-2 shape and there would be a more attacking look to that side with players knowing what they’re capable of.
Shearer is right, they did look hopeless against the Toffees and it cannot happen again.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has shared an update on the coaching staff Javi Gracia plans to bring to the club.
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