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Who should start for Leeds against Birmingham

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The first home game of the season is upon us, an expectant Elland Road crowd which has seen near 30,000 tickets sold. It’s gearing up to be a cracker but who should be in the starting line-up for Leeds on Saturday? This is my view.




GK – Rob Green – The penalty save should do his confidence the world of good after his howler last weekend. Here’s hoping he recreates the form that made him England’s number 1.




RB – Lewie Coyle – I would expect Coyle continue at right-back. He was at fault for Fleetwood’s opener but he’ll learn from his mistakes. Ayling signing gives Monk another option given Berardi’s injury but I would expect Coyle to start given that Ayling won’t have trained too much with the first-team.

CB – Kyle Bartley – He’s looked assured in both games so far, apart from that crunching tackle on Wednesday. Has to start for me.

CB – Liam Cooper – He played his first 45 minutes of the season on Wednesday. I would expect him to start on Saturday, although Monk may have other plans. We desperately need another centre-back.

LB – Charlie Taylor – He’s come in for plenty of criticism already this season but you play your best team and until he’s sold, he’s our best left-back. People seem to be picking holes in everything Taylor does at the moment which can’t help the lad – get behind him.

Into midfield…







CM – Kalvin Phillips – Phillips wasn’t at his best on Wednesday but I think it was a tough game for the whole team, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Birmingham will be a completely different test in my opinion, I think we’ll have a lot more time and lot more of the ball so I would expect Phillips to put in a much better performance.

CM – Alex Mowatt – I think Monk will rest Ronaldo Vieira and Mowatt made a decent impact on Wednesday. I know Mowatt is better when he’s higher up but that spot is reserved for a certain Spaniard until further notice. If not Mowatt I would start Grimes – he would give us energy and I think he’ll be better in a deeper role.

CAM – Pablo Hernandez – Hernandez was class against Fleetwood. Yes it’s only League One opposition but he was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch on Wednesday and he managed 120 minutes of football. More of the same Saturday please, Pablo.

Onto the forwards..







RM – Stuart Dallas – Hadi Sacko probably deserves another chance but I think Monk will start with Dallas. He needs to start performing or he could well see himself out of the first-team picture.

LM – Kemar Roofe – Roofe was very good on Wednesday, he provided the ball in which Antonsson won the penalty with and was unlucky not to score. A must-start for me.

ST – Marcus Antonsson – Antonsson saved the game with a fantastic finish on Wednesday. He has to be given a chance for me and Wood hasn’t been up to it in the first couple of games.

I know there were cries for 4-4-2 after the Fleetwood game but I can’t see Monk moving from his preferred 4-2-3-1 so early on. If the attacking three can get in and around Antonsson then for me 4-2-3-1 will work perfectly. I think Leeds will win on Saturday, I’m still very optimistic. Let’s see what happens.

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  • ropey wyla says:

    It’s hard to be optimistic after the horror show against Q.P.R. and I take very little solace from the fact it took us penalties to beat lowly little Fleetwood.

  • jdc44 says:

    I would be tempted to make one change from the suggested line up … without apportioning any blame whatsoever to Lewie Coyle, who I believe has a tremendous future in front of him, I would be tempted to select Luke Ayling at RB. his experience would be beneficial to an already fragile back line and his fitness shouldn’t be a problem … he completed a full pre-season with Bristol and played 90 minutes in their 1st Championship game against Wigan; left out of their midweek game in The League Cup, presumably because of the imminent transfer.

  • Gary says:

    Leeds are still week in front of the back four, needing a joey Barton ,batty type player , this was evident as two poor teams ripped them apart, hopefully bridcut or a similar player can be brought in urgent , until this happens I see Birmingham who are very well organised with this manager winning ,1-2

  • Jimmy Ward says:

    I’d put Murphy in for Phillips unless he isn’t fit?

  • Bob says:

    You’ve got to take the 120 minutes played on wednesday into account so a bit of rest, like the substitution bench for some and give ‘their chance’to start for some fresher legs.

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