OPINION
There is little doubting that Leeds United have done massively well this season with a squad which has been made up by a large amount of young players – but the influence of their older stars cannot be underestimated either.
The likes of Jack Clarke, Kalvin Phillips and Jack Harrison, all 23-years-old or younger, have been regulars among the starting XI this season while Tyler Roberts, Jamie Shackleton and Aapo Halme have all players a supporting role off the bench.
The lack of experience at Marcelo Bielsa’s disposal seems to be worrying one man in the form of Paul Merson, the former Arsenal star insisting that they could do with a player or two to guide the youngsters.
However, his verdict on why the manager is using so many up and coming talents is a bizarre one, suggesting that the manner in which the Argentine wants his football to be played is not possible for the older stars.
He told Sky Sports’ The Debate (18/02, 22:00) “I think they’re a young team because they have to play a certain way and you’re not going to be able to play that way at 30-odd years of age.”
Now Leeds may well have been reliant on a number of younger talents but you can be sure that the likes of 33-year-old Pablo Hernandez and 30-year-old Gaetano Berardi will be in fits of laughter if and when they read Merson’s claims.
The Spanish star might have suffered injury problems this season but when fit is almost the first name on the team sheet under Bielsa and suggesting he does not have what it takes is just insulting to someone of his quality.
Likewise Berardi, who has been sidelined for a large portion of the campaign, was a mainstay in the opening weeks of the season – losing just one of the eight games he featured in – looked entirely comfortable under Bielsa and is likely to be a regular once again if he can recover before the end of the season.
To suggest that older players cannot perform in this Leeds side is a silly suggestion and there are two shining examples which prove Merson wrong – at least they will be able to have a good laugh over his strange claims.