Marcelo Bielsa has announced his line-up for the Carabao Cup game against Bolton tonight and fans are thrilled at seeing some of the young players get their chance to show how much the new manager has taught them.
They’re also more than a bit surprised that star man Samu Saiz is playing.
Bielsa revealed that he was going to play a heavily changed side tonight and he was true to his word, with eight changes from Saturday’s fantastic 4-1 win against Derby.
The team news was announced on the official Leeds Twitter page ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off.
? | Your #LUFC Starting XI presented by @Ladbrokes:
Blackman, Pearce, Jansson, Ayling (c), Shackleton, Baker, Phillips, Harrison, Saiz, Roberts, Bamford pic.twitter.com/qB2ggc56Aa
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 14, 2018
It’s a first start for new summer signings Patrick Bamford, Jamal Blackman and Lewis Baker, with Samu Saiz getting the nod too.
And it’s the inclusion of Saiz that got most of the fans talking, with some happy to see him in the line-up and some worried he’ll get injured.
A couple of fans also made mention to the spitting incident from last season’s FA Cup that saw him banned for six games.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans to the starting XI:
https://twitter.com/cjfoster99/status/1029426587886866432
https://twitter.com/redskinsfanuk/status/1029424261209833477
Hope someone tells Saiz not to spit.
— jamie croft ?? (@CroftLeeds) August 14, 2018
Hope you have swapped Saiz shin pads for a spit hood for this cup game…… we could do with him in the team for the next couple of months
— Kar11os????? (@KarlRennison) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/BANTERSQUAD0701/status/1029424402176372738
https://twitter.com/RyanLUFC91/status/1029424069190541312
Wrap Saiz up in cotton woll!!!
— LUFC Worldwide ?? (@LUFC_WorldWide) August 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/ed_mcintyre98/status/1029425004713267200
Definitely would of rested Saiz #lufc
— Aaron Taylor (@AzzaLufc) August 14, 2018
I’d have rested Saiz tbh but what do I know
— Lee O (@stackerbo) August 14, 2018
OPINION
This is a great opportunity to prove that the Leeds ‘second-string’ team can step in if needed in the Championship. Bielsa will want to keep the momentum going and will want to beat Bolton tonight, and certainly the players that come in won’t want to lose. It could be an exciting game and players like Patrick Bamford – certainly not a second-string player, although he can’t get a start at the moment in the league – will be really keen to make an immediate impact. The inclusion of Saiz is surprising but it shows that Bielsa intends to beat Bolton tonight. Leeds fans everywhere will be hoping he’s not injured or suspended following the Carabao Cup tie.