It’s been an interesting few weeks for Leeds United in the absence of key man Kalvin Phillips, with plenty of harsh lessons learned by Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
With Phillips sidelined, things got off to an exceptional start with an impressive victory away to in-form Aston Villa, but his absence has been more keenly felt in two heavy defeats since then.
Academy graduate Pascal Struijk was given the nod to replace Phillips in a like-for-like switch against Aston Villa, but was taken off after just 20 minutes after receiving an early booking.
Things worked well with Jamie Shackleton in his place, as Leeds went on win 3-0 at Villa Park, and Bielsa kept the faith with the energetic youngster alongside Mateusz Klich against Leicester City.
It was much less successful against Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes, who produced a counter-attacking masterclass at Elland Road.
“I didn’t distribute the players correctly on the field,” United’s Argentinian coach said post-match as he took responsibility for the defeat.
“It was difficult for us to win the ball back and this caused us to defend poorly.”
Critics certainly shared Bielsa's analysis, questioning whether the absence of a natural defensive midfielder contributed to the eventual 4-1 humbling. Struijk was on the bench but never made it onto the pitch.
But the 21-year-old – nominally more in the Phillips mould in his style, build and experience – couldn’t stop Leeds losing via the same scoreline on his return to action against Crystal Palace.
The 3-3-1-3 formation deployed by Bielsa at Selhurst Park looked like it would help Struijk, who had the safety net of a back three behind him, and Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski in midfield alongside him.
There are perhaps mitigating circumstances, and the heavy defeat can scarcely be levelled at Struijk, with an argument that Leeds were unfortunate to be 3-1 down at the break.
Having conceded three times by half-time, it would be easy to conclude Leeds struggled for control, but it was anything but that on the balance of play.
Palace’s summer signing Eberechi Eze, previously Queens Park Rangers' difference-maker in the Championship, showed his considerable talents, ending the first half with his first assist and first goal in the Premier League.
But he wasn’t running the show, as that might suggest, kept relatively quiet in open play but rather showing his exceptional dead-ball ability, sending in a dangerous corner for Scott Dann to attack for their opener before striking an unstoppable free-kick past Illan Meslier.
Palace were able to progress the ball incisively up the field with some good build-up play for their third goal, but there can be little blame at Struijk’s door for it, which was ultimately due to a mix of misfortune, a deflection off Helder Costa, and poor positioning from Meslier.
As is so often the case when Leeds go behind, the state of the game from there played to the opposition’s advantage, especially with Palace a natural counter-attacking team that is in its natural habitat when soaking up pressure and springing on the break.
In the second half especially, Struijk would often receive the ball in the centre circle – either sweeping up as Palace got rid, or played through as the ball was built up from Meslier – and be asked questions by a side with two banks of four, denying space to any of the options ahead of him.
There was certainly some ambition from the youngster, who on more than one occasion attempted to break through Palace’s well-organised lines with crisp passes drilled low in towards Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, or half-time substitute Raphinha, but he could never quite place them right.
While there were no questions to be asked of Struijk’s role in any of Palace’s first three goals, there could for his final act on the pitch, just as Tyler Roberts was warming up on the touchline to replace him.
It’s impossible to say whether if first-choice defensive midfielder Phillips was on the pitch, he would have been switched-on enough to drop back and deny Jordan Ayew the space that he was afforded by Struijk, but it’s certainly what fans have come to expect from the England international.
Bielsa’s second offensive substitution, it was ultimately too little, too late for Roberts to make a difference when he stepped onto the pitch for Struijk, seconds after Ayew had fired Palace into a three-goal lead.
As was the case against Leicester on Monday evening, the goal to make it 4-1 was a killer sucker-punch for Leeds, who were putting pressure on the hosts as they looked to find a way back into the game.
Leeds once again dominated possession and territory, outpassing their opponents, but ultimately having little to show for it as they were punished by a more incisive team.
That was the case with and without Struijk, but whatever the case is in terms of personnel, United need to improve on breaking through deep-lying defences while becoming sturdier in defensive transitions.
Phillips is missed on both counts.
