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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Leeds will go into the new season without Gaetano Berardi. They will also head into it without Pontus Jansson.
To say the Whites could be in bother defensively would perhaps be an understatement.
Jansson has, of course, departed for Brentford whilst Berardi’s red card from the play-offs last term will carry into the opening weekend.
As a result, Ben White will likely form a defensive pairing alongside Liam Cooper.
On the chalkboard
Leeds’ pre-season provided mixed results as Marcelo Bielsa’s men thrashed York before being beaten heavily themselves by Manchester United.
That 4-0 loss was a timely reminder of the work that’s still required in defence but a draw with Serie A outfit Cagliari again proved that work is needed.
The Whites weren’t poor defensively last season and ended the term with the third-best record in the Championship.
That may be surprising given some of the concerns by supporters during pre-season but despite White looking as though he’ll feature on the opening weekend, he still has lessons to learn.
His showing against Cagliari, despite looking composed in flashes, showed that unless he’s careful a baptism of fire may be on the cards.
A failed clearance led to the Italian side scoring against Leeds last weekend and if that had happened in a league outing, it would have been near unforgivable, especially if it cost them two points.
White may still only be 21 years of age but it shows why he needs to learn quickly if Leeds are to avoid a defensive calamity early on.
Placing faith in the young defender is a risk from Bielsa and with Leeds not signing another centre-back, he’ll have to step up.
An opening-day clash against Bristol City provides him with the ideal platform in which to stamp down his authority, especially with Berardi suspended.
Whether he can prove to be an able replacement for Jansson, only time will tell.
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