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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Some pretty major dilemmas have already occurred for Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds.
This season has seen fans call for Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah to start as the form of Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford starts to subside.
The former has completed one accurate cross all term while Bamford hasn’t scored in his last three outings.
One of his selection headaches was solved because of Pablo Hernandez’s injury. That will see Costa finally earn a league start but it’s in midfield where, arguably, his greatest dilemma of 2019/20 has now come up.
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On the chalkboard
Two positions in Bielsa’s midfield are absolutely nailed down – Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich.
However, who starts beside the Poland international is very much up for debate.
Adam Forshaw started the season in solid fashion and has so far completed over 90% of his passes as he’s kept a disciplined lid on proceedings.
He’s been better going forward this season, taking two shots per game compared to the 0.8 he averaged in 2018/19, via WhoScored.
But Jamie Shackleton proved he had what it takes against Barnsley, completing the same number of tackles as Phillips which was four, and also playing three key passes.
The youngster’s performance was a little more timid against Derby, failing to register a single shot or key pass on this occasion but that doesn’t stop him from being a feasible option.
The final name who could start in that role next to Klich is Tyler Roberts.
He has recently returned from an injury where he had fluid drained from his knee and after appearing for the U23s a couple of weeks ago, he has been on the bench for the senior side.
Whether he has the capability to start yet remains to be seen but there are a vast number of options at Bielsa’s disposal.
If the 64-year-old wants more influence in the final third he could opt for Roberts who was involved in eight goals last season. Forshaw hasn’t found the back of the net in the Championship since 2015/16 and Shackleton is yet to score a single senior goal.
That being said, the former Middlesbrough man is probably the most viable option given the fact he started the season in the side.
Who Bielsa opts to go with will be interesting to see. It’s certainly open for debate.