This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
You can’t really fault Marcelo Bielsa for much during his time as Leeds United manager.
The Whites boss took them from being a side languishing in 13th place to being genuine promotion contenders, but we’d be lying if we didn’t say there were areas for improvement.
Indeed, one obvious department where Leeds can improve is from set-pieces.
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The Yorkshire club have scored just three times from dead-ball situations this season, and their poor record from corners led to one journalist asking Bielsa about them at his press conference.
The Argentine gave a very assured reply that indicated he has faith in the current system his team are using.
“We have a player who is great when he delivers [the ball], and [we have] good headers [to finish]. In this, [Phillips] delivers a lot, and a lot of players will run in to look for this ball. When you have a good deliverer with this strength, this is better than any other possibility for me.” Bielsa said.
“When the ball arrives fast, the other features of corners – the size of the players, how they are coordinated with the ball, how they run in – they are secondary because the situation is dangerous [because of] the speed of the ball and where the ball falls in the last part of the delivery.”
This is a really naive view from the former Marseille manager here.
The fact that he believes everything from set-pieces is secondary as long as the ball that is delivered is fast and lands in the right position is just silly.
It’s a case of square pegs in round holes if Bielsa continues to persevere with putting balls into the box when there is nobody there to head them in.
Leeds get more corners than anyone else in the division, so this should be something the Whites are able to capitalise on, but their team just isn’t built for it.
Only six of United’s outfield players stand at 6 foot or above and none are over 6 foot 2, and you’re unlikely to win many aerial duels with a squad that small.
Bielsa needs to rethink how his team approach corners in the near future in order to make the most of them.
In other news, Phil Hay has delivered a triple transfer blow to Leeds.
