Leeds must make tough Marcelo Bielsa call after horror Spurs display
"This is end times stuff. I’m absolutely beyond furious at what everybody - Bielsa, Orta, Kinnear, the players - have allowed to happen this season. It’s been a disaster since pre-season and none of them escape blame here."
Those the words of a freelance football writer and disgruntled Leeds supporter on social media, clearly at his wits' end with what he's seeing at Elland Road after the 4-0 thrashing by Tottenham.
To be honest, it's hard to argue with a single word of what was written.
Leeds have been the architects of their own downfall, both on and off the field this season, and have conceded a whopping 60 Premier League goals in just 26 outings this season - five more than any other team in the division.
Only Norwich, who sit plum bottom of the table, have a worse goal difference than Leeds' pretty pathetic -31.
The above are Leeds' results in their last five Premier League games. Zero won, one draw and four defeats - but more alarmingly, five goals scored and 20 let in. TWENTY.
When Leeds supporters talk about Marcelo Bielsa, they usually beam from ear to ear about and wax lyrical about all he has done for the club. He has delivered promotion back to the Premier League after close to 20 years away, after all, and brought unbridled joy and togetherness to a fallen giant of English football.
He has united a community and given belief back to one of the most passionate set of football supporters in the country.
But that feeling of undivided love and warm affection that has previously been felt for Bielsa is ebbing away with every passing week. Can the Argentine really continue trading on his past glories? The answer is no.
Make no mistake about it, Leeds can be utterly brilliant at times. Blistering on the counter attack, full of verve and vigour, they are capable of taking the game to an opposition like no other. They are impossible to live with when on-song, and you dare not rule them out of any game they are involved in - even if they are 3-1 down, like they were at Villa a number of weeks ago.
Yet interspersed between the brilliance, which we're seeing less and less of, are periods of brainlessness, stupidity and a blind naivety from Bielsa to think things can carry on going the way they are.
Leeds are careless in possession, sloppy with their decision making and seemingly never, ever, learn from their mistakes, They are either incredibly brave in the tackle or meek, timid and honestly not worthy of playing at the highest level - Diego Llorente the prime example of that on Saturday.
Yet Bielsa sticks to his principles and insists that Plan A is the only way, instead changing personnel in bulk for those he deems to be underperforming rather than making any kind of tweak to his all guns blazing system.
Players like Stuart Dallas, Daniel James, Luke Ayling and Robin Koch end up playing in multiple positions during a game, so it's no wonder they don't know whether they are coming or going at times. There is no flexibility to Leeds' overall approach and that rigidness, stubbornness and reluctance to change is emanating from one man on the touchlines.
Leeds' problems extend further than on the field – though talk of their transfer dealings, or lack of, is best saved for another day – but the fundamental change that's needed to ensure the club retain their Premier League status is now strikingly obvious.
Bielsa may ultimately walk away and take the decision out of Leeds' hands, his legend in tact, but with former RB Leipzig and Salzburg boss Jesse Marsch already in the frame to take over, and several others interested, the board must act swiftly and make a change.
