David Prutton: Jesse Marsch has no excuse as he looks to stamp authority on Leeds United squad
David Prutton has delivered a warning to Jesse Marsch and his Leeds United squad going into next season in the Premier League.
The Sky Sports pundit has insisted that the American needs to fully mould his squad into his system, rather than keeping parts of Marcelo Bielsa’s methods in there.
It is suggested that could be difficult given that the squad is made up of mainly players that were made by Bielsa or brought to the club during his reign.
Writing in his latest column for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Prutton pulled no punches when looking ahead to next season in the Premier League already.
“They also need to create a clear identity because I think taking over from Marcelo mid-season did not give Jesse the time to stamp his authority on the side,” he wrote.
“But he’s now got no excuses going into next season and Leeds fans are probably waiting with bated breath to see what a Jesse Marsch team looks like, not a part Bielsa/part Marsch side but a fully Jesse Marsch side possibly with a lot of Bielsa players.”
Transition.
This was always going to take time, but based on the final couple of months of last season, there are positive signs with how Marsch wants to set up his team.
No manager could have taken away 100% of what Bielsa trained this squad, they were made into tactical and physical robots during his four-year tenure at Thorp Arch.
Marsch kept the pressing elements but added more defensive structure to his side with two holding midfielders, and it worked a treat in many games.
The worst part of the change was the lack of attacking output in certain games, something that will likely change with signing a new striker and also the return of Patrick Bamford.
We don’t expect every last part of Bielsa to leave this side that would be foolish, but it will be interesting to see how we set up after a full pre-season under the American.
Time to get behind the lads.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are readying a new bid for a blockbuster striker signing according to Phil Hay after Premier League survival