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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… 

Ahead of 2019/20 there was a dilemma at left-back for Leeds.

Stuart Dallas ended last term brilliantly with two goals in the playoffs against Derby as he stepped in for Barry Douglas astutely. The Scot became an option again heading into the new season but Ezgjan Alioski and Leif Davis were also in the frame.

Douglas looked in good form against Wigan, putting in a performance which earned him an average rating of above 7 via WhoScored. But aside from that he hasn’t managed to achieve anything above 6.55.

With that in mind, it would make sense if Marcelo Bielsa stuck with Alioski, even now Douglas is back and fully fit.

On the chalkboard

After that match against the Latics, it looked as though Douglas was on his way to providing a solution to Leeds’ pre-season dilemma.

He looked comfortable and was able to provide two key passes, as well as winning two aerial duels.

But since the left-back’s time on the sidelines, Alioski has come in and been a revelation, thus making it incredibly difficult to drop him.

Douglas is the more senior of the two at 30 and that perhaps suggests why he started over the North Macedonian at the beginning of the term.

He spent a period out and came back against Stoke in the Carabao Cup. He then missed out the weekend after possibly over a lack of match fitness.

But he’s now had the international break to fully recover and get himself in gear, thus making him a viable option against Barnsley.

However, Alioski was in fine form for the Whites before the international break, contributing to two clean sheets in three games. He won five aerial battles in the process, per WhoScored, so if there is a decision to be made he is the right choice.

Against Swansea last time out the 27-year-old made a massive six tackles, as well as having three shots. Versus Brentford, he created the most goal scoring opportunities of any Leeds man with three key passes.

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Those outings provided evidence that he can cope in defensive and attacking scenarios. The latter will likely come in handy against a Barnsley side who have conceded nine and scored just four. Douglas is yet to score this season so that presents another reason as to why Alioski should play against a more defensive opposition.

The 5 foot 8 Leeds man can be used as a traditional full-back or even as a wing-back and after producing the goods for his country last week, claiming an assist, he should still be trusted. That’s despite his main competition for that role in the side now being fully available once again.

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