The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 30th April) Alioski wanted at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium
Alioski wanted at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium
Galatasaray face a fight with Italian giants Napoli over the services of versatile Ezgjan Alioksi. The loveable North Macedonian may not be the most skillful player ever to grace Elland Road, but what he lacks in prowess, he makes up in heart, experience and fitness. The 29yo has certainly put a shift in when needed for the Whites. He's happy to play anywhere on the pitch, and has also netted 21 times in 156 appearances. Have we underestimated Alioski? There's a contract still on the table at Elland Road , but is it time to move on?
Dallas performances earn contract talks
Another player who's contributions regularly fly under the radar is Stuart Dallas. The Northern Ireland International has graced Elland Road since signing from Brentford in 2015 for 1.3m. Similar to Alioski, Dallas can virtually play anywhere on the pitch. In 208 appearances, he has scored 23 times. His performances this season have led to new contract negotiations. Dallas has just turned 30, and has two years left, and earns £20,000 a week; far less than most of his team mates. The hierarchy want him to commit to a further year, and will increase salary to £30,000 - £35,000
Bielsa's pre match press conference
Marcelo Bielsa met the media yesterday ahead of his side's trip to down to the seaside...
What is the latest team news?
Bielsa: Raphinha - no. Rodrigo - yes. It's difficult to know when he [Raphinha] will be back. It's a problem in the hip, until the hematoma disappears it causes pain. It can be resolved quickly or it can take a long time. When he is no longer in pain he will return. The impression we have is that he is in the final stages.
Is Rodrigo fit enough to start?
Bielsa: He's healthy. It doesn't mean he is fit to play - we will see how many minutes he can play.
Are you surprised to see Brighton fighting relegation? They won at Elland Road earlier in the season?
Bielsa: The results can sometimes coincide with the performances and other times they don't. Brighton is a team that is unfairly in the bottom part of the table. All the parameters you can consider to evaluate the team - how they attack and defend, where they spend more time on the pitch, possession, losses of the ball, their offensive intensity, all the values you can analyse has them in a higher place than they occupy.
Can finishing the season strongly give you a platform for next season?
Bielsa: To predict results is impossible. We're never going to do anything other than give 100 percent for the next game. In every game there are arguments that need to be taken into consideration. With regards to this weekend's game, the reality is what we have faced all season.
Kalvin Phillips - do you want to explore his versatility?
Bielsa: It's an option but it will take more time to verify. For Kalvin it is easy to play as a defensive midfielder or as a centre-back. But to play as a mixed midfielder - to play in front - is a position which he has already played and has done this for the England national team. For us it is an option but he's less verified for us because we have Dallas and Klich who are positioned in front of him. He can be an option.
What do you need to do better against Brighton this time?
Bielsa: What happened so many months ago is not comparable - nor for better or worse. They are not the same team and we are not. The games are not particularly alike just because the two teams are the same. To find modifications that facilitate to obtain a better result - we don't think about a game that happened such a long time ago. [We know] in ourselves we need to improve and conserve and in the analysis of the team in more recent games.
Do you share Andrea Radrizzani's optimism that you'll sign a new deal?
Bielsa: Any reference to this subject I prefer to make it after the competition is finished. I appreciate the words of the owner and president with regards to my possible continuity. I also agree with what he said in that Leeds is above any others. Due to the solidness of the organisation they have the facility to make correct decisions.