---
title: "Leeds United: Phil Hay highlights major defensive issue"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-phil-hay-highlights-major-defensive-issue/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Seychell"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2021-03-09T16:05:25Z"
modified: "2021-03-09T16:05:25Z"
---

# Leeds United: Phil Hay highlights major defensive issue

**Leeds United struggled and ended up [losing](https://www.sofascore.com/west-ham-united-leeds-united/JsM) against high-flying West Ham on Monday night, and popular Whites journalist Phil Hay has highlighted what he thinks needs to be rectified.**

### Phil Hay highlights clear problem

Speaking in [The Athletic’s](https://theathletic.co.uk/2433342/2021/03/07/leeds-united-west-ham-united-score/) discussion thread after the match, Hay said ([via Give Me Sport](https://www.givemesport.com/1657824-west-ham-20-leeds-phil-hay-identifies-clear-problem-for-marcelo-bielsa)): “A much bigger issue is why Leeds cannot get it together when they’re defending set-pieces. It’s a clear problem which hasn’t been resolved.

“There’s a variety of reasons. Firstly, Leeds are not a strong side aerially. If you look at the stats, you can see that. Secondly, man-marking runs the risk that if someone loses their man, he’s free to score with no-one available to step in. To put it bluntly, it’s a bit of a shambles.

“Without getting into the zonal vs man-marking debate, the basic problem is that Leeds lose their men too often. And when you do in a man-marking system, no-one else is going to pick them up.”

### Fine margins

Set-pieces are a crucial part of the game, and despite Leeds converting six of them this term, it is the amount they concede which makes corners and free-kicks such a worry for the club.

Bielsa’s side have conceded [14](https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/8228/Stages/18685/TeamStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021) of their [46](https://www.sofascore.com/tournament/football/england/premier-league/17) goals in the top division from set-pieces. This is the most in the division ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/8228/Stages/18685/TeamStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021)), so it is understandable to see Hay so worried about them.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”347980″\]

If they had not conceded these goals, they would have only let in 32 and this would rank them with the joint-sixth fewest goals conceded in the division ([SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/tournament/football/england/premier-league/17)). If they get stronger at defending such moments in a game, then instead of battling for a top-half finish, they could be battling for a European spot.

**[*In other news, Paul Robinson discussed crucial Leeds transfer issue!*](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-paul-robinson-premier-league-marcelo-bielsa-elland-road-transfer-gossip-rumours-news/)**