Leeds United: McGilligan blasts club’s predicament as “bizarre”

Leeds United’s discussions over potential transfer talks and staffing changes during the World Cup is “bizarre”.

That is according to presenter Conor McGilligan, who was speaking on Thursday’s One Leeds Fan Channel upload, ahead of the side’s Premier League trip to Liverpool this weekend.

Pressure has been surmounting on manager Jesse Marsch, after the Whites slipped into the Premier League relegation zone last weekend, after a 3-2 home defeat to Fulham.

Director of Football Victor Orta will now be turning his attention to the January transfer market in an attempt to get the Whites out of the current predicament they find themselves in, whether that is with Jesse Marsch at the helm or not. 

And McGilligan finds it odd that the two are talking about transfers with each other, despite the fact that the presenter feels that it’s highly likely Marsch will get sacked before the November break for the World Cup.

(08:56) “Jesse and Victor [Orta] and whoever it is now. I don’t even know who it is now, it might as well be Tom and Jerry talking about transfers,” McGilligan said on Thursday’s upload.

“Now the transfers bit irks me a little bit because that’s a bit unusual. Is Victor Orta just speaking to Jesse as a bit of a soundboard because we know that if he loses his next game, he should be gone anyway, but if he loses his next game he’ll be gone, then lose to Bournemouth he’ll be gone.

“But why are they discussing transfers with him? That doesn’t make any sense. Discussing staffing changes [during] the World Cup, bizarre as well.”

TIF Thoughts on McGilligan’s comments…

Whilst we agree that Leeds should probably be looking for more clarity on their head coach situation, the club would be accused of being unprepared if they didn’t prepare for a transfer market where Marsch was at the helm.

In defence of the club, the signings under the former RB Leipzig man have generally been successful with his United States compatriots in Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams impressing in the early stages of their careers at Elland Road.

Therefore, whilst we agree that there needs to be a swift decision regarding Marsch’s future, we understand why those at the boardroom level will be planning for a January transfer window for multiple different scenarios.