Leeds United: Failing to Prepare, Preparing to Fail
If Leeds fail to have a solid preseason, again, the problems of last season will likely cost Thomas Christiansen’s Whites too.
People often underestimate the role a preseason schedule can play on a team’s season. Overall, last season was a success in contrast to previous years, we cannot deny that. But a poor start coupled with a poor finish cost us. Had August 2016 not been so bad, had the lads not run out of energy by April 2017, we would have easily been top six.
There are numerous reasons to explain why this happened, but ultimately the lack of solid preparation in Summer 2016 under a new head coach was a major factor.
We saw in the first few games of last season how the fitness of the squad was not on par with the teams we played. The home game against Birmingham highlighted this point perfectly. For the first 45 minutes, we were the dominating side and looked poised to win the match. However, after the break we fell apart and became tired and jaded… and lost the game.
It took until Cardiff in mid-September for us to be at the required level. In that early period of the season, we dropped 13 points — those 13 points could have seen us finish in third, 10 points clear of Fulham.
I also believe that fitness was our downfall towards the end of the season — we only won once in the final eight games, and it looked like the legs had just gone.
I know it is difficult to judge and say if this would not have happened then things could have been different, but my fear is that we are seeing signs that the same thing will happen again this season.
It is the first time I can remember that we know the season fixtures but still have no clue about the preparations for the preseason schedule. Moreover, we need to see a tougher challenge than previous years, especially as we head towards the back of July.
We will definitely see the usual trip to Nethermoor Park to face Guiseley and most likely a trip South to Oxford, as was agreed as part of the Kemar Roofe deal. These two fixtures are standard friendly matches where you’re just making the final arrangements for certain formations and players.
However, it’s the tour prior that could have an impact on the squad match fitness on the 6th August.
I expect to see us travel to Ireland to face Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers who are currently playing out their league season and will be unwilling to play their top players at the expense of injuries and loss of league momentum. I would prefer for us to travel to a country and play teams who are also getting ready for the upcoming season, teams who can give the lads a more physical challenge. The lower-league French sides will be preparing to start their campaigns on 28th July and would be a step ahead for our lads, and provide a decent test.
Last year we played Atlanta in the final friendly of the schedule. The game felt a little flat and we need a more stern challenge against a big name opponent to be ready for the week after.
For me, after the announcement of Thomas Christiansen’s appointment last week, the very next thing should have been the preseason schedule. It may take time for Christiansen’s philosophy to take hold, and I understand that, but if the team are not physically right at the beginning of the season, that is not acceptable. It was not last year, it would not be in 2017.
I have been impressed with how Andrea has run the club so far, but this needs sorting fast. We don’t need to suffer because of a poor preseason, not when promotion to the Premier League is once again our goal. MOT.
