MOT View: Bielsa effect could stop with Corberan as Leeds U18s struggle in victory
The Marcelo Bielsa effect has flowed throughout every level at Leeds United, or so we thought.
Turning up to Tadcaster on Thursday night, we were looking forward to watching Mark Jackson’s under-18 side take on Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
It was no surprise to see the Whites line up in the 4-1-4-1 formation that is used by each side from the academy all the way to the first-team in the Championship.
Even if the pitch wasn’t up to scratch, Leeds immediately struggled to take any control of the game. The young Whites seemed to be trying too hard to replicate the older sides above them.
Carlos Corberan’s under-23s side have been superb compared to that. The Spaniard has the right players for it too. Ryan Edmondson leading the line, holding up the ball. Alfie McCalmont anchoring the midfield but can also get forward.
Add to that two full-backs who can bomb forward, Corberan’s side are fearless. Each one of those compartments proves that they have taken to Bielsa ball perfectly in the past couple of years.
The under-18s, on the other hand, are nowhere near that level. Players such as Niklas Haugland and Max McMillan didn’t have the ability in the final third to hold the ball up but also failed to put pressure on the opposing defence – two of the most important things to uphold this style.
Having an over-reliance on a couple of players in a Bielsa system can see a side become unstuck. The under-18s may have won on penalties on Thursday, but they were way too reliant on the likes of Charlie Cresswell and Jack Jenkins.
Jackson is clearly trying his hardest to implement a similar style on his side, but sometimes you need to play to the strengths of the players you have.
The under-18s were trying way too hard, and when they were direct, they caused Wednesday problems.
It could prove that the so-called Bielsa effect stops with the under-23s and Corberan, with the under-18s not yet good enough to consistently perform to that level.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa claims ‘excellent’ Leeds player passed ‘exam’ in recent Arsenal defeat