OPINION
Kalvin Phillips was dropped for the first time under Marcelo Bielsa on Saturday and it backfired spectacularly as Leeds lost 3-1 to Norwich, who deposed them at the top of the table to rub salt into their wounds. Phillips seems to have been the victim of being forced to play out of position, deputising in defence, while Adam Forshaw has taken his place in midfield. After some impressive performances from Forshaw, he was preferred at midfield with both men available, with Liam Cooper and Pontus Jansson back in the heart of the Leeds defence. Forshaw wasn’t good on Saturday, though, and there’s been a backlash from Leeds fans, who want him dropped for Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough in favour of Phillips. That would seem to make a lot of sense. Bielsa doesn’t like to tinker with a team unless he has to, but leaving Phillips out for his side’s most important game of the season seemed counter-intuitive. Phillips must come back on Saturday, in his preferred position of midfield, and Forshaw must be the fall guy. Plenty of Leeds fans agree with this switch.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans:
https://twitter.com/1988AMP/status/1092362839275257862
So we all agree too much was being asked of a player of Forshaw ability and athlestism, Phillips is 5x better at the shielding job
— Adam (@Hertswhitelufc) February 4, 2019
2/3 goals was forshaw, why he wasent subbed is beyond me and why he even starts game after game even when he has mistakes EVERY game is also beyond me. Phillips was fit and should of started and we might of actually won the game
— All Leeds (@All_LeedsFB) February 4, 2019
I would like to see a front 4 at Boro of Clarke Hernandez Roofe & Bamford start the game. All good on the ball & capable of taking on defenders. Shackleton & Phillips for me too replacing Ayling & Forshaw #lufc
— Chris Wheeler (@ChrisHWheeler) February 3, 2019
For me Forshaw just slows everything down and passes sideways.. One of the keys to the start of the season was Phillips breaking up play and us bombing forward.. With Forshaw it takes an age to move the ball, opposition gets shape and nullifies Ayling and Douglas.
— Matt (@MWJS82) February 3, 2019
I agree with this. Phillips was so quick to pass back, and before you knew it he’d created space to enable himself to receive the ball and break forward. When Forshaw goes back with the ball, we look trapped. Puts the defence under pressure. Other teams are seeing this.
— Anthony Lockton (@anthonylockton) February 3, 2019
I’m not a huge Forshaw hater, but I am a Phillips lover and I just don’t see anything Forshaw does better than him at DM. Long passing: no, Breaking up play: no, sniffing out danger: no.
KP makes this team tick
— LUFC (@ThorpeArchUltra) February 3, 2019
Think Phillips plays that role better than forshaw. More aggressive and plugs any holes that appear quicker
— Paul Mundy (@mundy_paul) February 3, 2019
So, we all agree Forshaw should be dropped and F?e?r?n?a?n?d?i?n?h?o? Phillips must start against Middlesbrough? #lufc
— Daryl ? (@DarylRS29) February 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/the_scottmjones/status/1092111762156072962