Why it is time for Bielsa to bench Ezgjan Alioski for the next few games
After making a perfect start to the season in the first four games, Leeds United are now struggling to win games. It is partly due to the fact that some of their first-choice key players are injured but the players who are starting on a regular basis after suffered a dip as well.
Marcelo Bielsa would be disappointed with the way his team has dropped off a level after making a dream start. It is true that his footballing philosophy requires intensity and quality of the highest order, hence player rotation is necessary especially because Championship teams play three games a week on most occasions.
One such player – Ezgjan Alioski, who began the campaign in fine fashion, has rapidly fallen off the cliff in the last few weeks. The Macedonian’s ability to be an effective impact player on the left wing has been hamstrung in the previous few games.
Taking his game against Sheffield Wednesday as an example, the 26-year-old is struggling to deliver crosses into the box and is getting caught offside too many times. This shows that the confidence level is pretty low at the moment.
When a player is overdoing things and making runs which he shouldn’t make, he is either lacking confidence in himself or he doesn’t trust his teammates’ passing ability. But with Alioski, it seems like the former has struck him big time in the past few games.
Hence, Bielsa can give him a rest for the next few games. It will help the player to regain his focus and concentrate on the basics. The 26-year-old is a quality player who is just going through a bad patch, so if he gets back on the training field with no game pressure for a few days, he will be able to get back to what he does best.
Verdict
For the best interest of the team, it is clear that Alioski is the one who is labouring to perform at a high level. With Leeds United winning only one of their last six league games, a change or two should be made in the line-up. The first one should be the demotion of the Macedonian to the bench for the next few matches.
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It is a surety that a small break would help the 26-year-old come back rejuvenated and perform well again.