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Leeds United’s season has largely been defined by widespread optimism with the club in with a genuine chance of clinching promotion. Marcelo Bielsa has been an inspired appointment and his influence has sent individual reputations soaring, but a handful of players have been a touch overrated amid the hype.
Indeed, here at Football Fancast we’ve been discussing which Leeds players flatter to deceive within a widely lauded squad. Here’s what some of FFC’s writers have had to say on the matter…
Ben Goodwin – Mateusz Klich
“The Polish international had an excellent start to life under Bielsa, grabbing five goals and five assists by November, but has managed just two goals and two assists since then, with both of those goals coming in the same game against Rotherham. The 28 year-old is nowhere near as influential in the attacking third as the true creators like Pablo Hernandez, yet doesn’t offer the defensive protection that Kalvin Phillips will in midfield. Jack-of-all-trades, master of none.”
James Beavis – Luke Ayling
“Yes, he works hard and is clearly committed to the cause, but in my eyes he doesn’t quite produce the quality needed from a full-back – especially from an attacking point of view. Youngster Jamie Shackleton did a brilliant job in his absence through injury earlier this season, and the Yorkshire outfit didn’t really miss the 27-year-old too much given they won six of their seven Championship fixtures without him. Although he has been a regular fixture in the XI under Bielsa term, he would be cast aside in the Premier League.”
Billy Myers – Barry Douglas
“Having arrived to much fanfare after starring for Wolves in the previous campaign with five goals and 14 assists, Douglas has struggled to maintain his fitness this season and has found it tough to replicate his form from last season as a consequence. Luckily for him, Gjanni Alioski has helped to cover for his occasional absence at left-back, but if it weren’t for the Macedonian, Douglas’ poor form would’ve been spoken of more frequently.”