MOT View: Jamie Redknapp completely wide of the mark with lazy comments on Leeds
There are a lot of myths thrown about when it comes to Leeds United and their ongoing issues in the Championship.
One of the most persistent is that Marcelo Bielsa’s training sessions are too intensive.
Jamie Redknapp was the latest pundit to roll that one out as he questioned whether Bielsa’s training was to blame for the recent collapse of form.
Writing in his Daily Mail column on Monday, Redknapp said, “We hear stories about how intense Marcelo Bielsa’s training sessions are, so has that played a part in Leeds’ poor form?
“This is not the first time this has happened, of course. Last season Leeds were top of the table on Boxing Day, six points clear of third. Then they went on to miss out on automatic promotion. Their players will be desperate to avoid the lottery of the play-offs again.”
Fitness isn’t an issue for Leeds. Trailing off in games isn’t an issue for Leeds. In fact, Leeds are probably the fittest team in the Championship.
All you’ve got to do is watch Leeds and how they play to see that the players aren’t out on their feet, and are buzzing around the pitch in the 90th minute.
And all you’ve got to do is look at the stats to see what the real issue is for Leeds.
They had 76% of possession against Wigan and 19 shots to five. That’s not the stats of a team who are struggling with fitness.
In terms of xG, Leeds won the game 2.1 – 0.2. The game really should have finished two nill to Leeds.
That’s the big problem – converting chances, and unfortunately, that’s not something Bielsa can directly mitigate against.
Jack Harrison hit the post then inexplicably missed a sitter from a couple of yards out. Patrick Bamford missed an easy header. It must keep Bielsa up at night.
If Leeds were converting all their big chances, Redknapp wouldn’t be talking about whether Leeds’ training is too intensive.
And we don’t see pundits like Redknapp queuing up to say the same about teams like West Brom.
It’s just lazy journalism.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani reacts on Twitter as Dorigo slams some Leeds fans