YEP Jury: Questions remain, but it'll be an exciting ride following Leeds United this season

ANDY RHODES

In the first game of Marcelo Biesla’s reign it will be interesting to see how much of an influence he has had on this group of players in a relatively short space on time. From what we’ve seen so far we could be in for an exciting ride.

At the end of pre-season the question remains of how the starting XI will take shape following the influx of new players.

You would imagine that once Barry Douglas and Patrick Bamford find their feet they will be regular starters, but with Jamal Blackman, Lewis Baker and Jack Harrison it remains to be seen.

Stoke City have gone about their business just as Newcastle did two years ago by signing proven Championship quality.

With the likes of Benik Afobe and Nigerian World Cup star Oghenekaro Etebo coming in, as well as Joe Allen staying at the club, Stoke will turn over a lot of good sides this season.

But under Bielsa’s guidance Leeds could well have the drive to match them.

Prediction: Leeds United 1 Stoke City 1.

DAVID WATKINS

So, another season begins under a new coach – the fifth consecutive season we’ve done so.

This time it’s Marcelo Bielsa and great things are expected.As they will be at Stoke. Relegated from the Premier League and now with new coach Gary Rowett, they spent big this summer. They did lose Shaqiri to Liverpool but have added £30m of talent already in Afobe, McClean and Tom Ince.

With the uncertainty over the Leeds line up and the strong look about Stoke, I’m going to start by forecasting a Leeds defeat.

Sorry folks! But in our dress rehearsal last Sunday, the starting XI comprised players regularly featured last season and, as we know too well, they were not good enough.

For the first time in years therefore, we go into the first game unsure who’ll start following the arrival this week of three players who are all expected to be regulars. But are they ready?

Will we see Barry Douglas, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford or will they need more schooling in the Bielsa way?

Will Pontus start having played no part in pre-season? Will Forshaw’s injury keep him out and if so who will replace him now that Vieira has gone?

And, despite lacklustre displays in pre-season, will Bielsa persevere with Alioski, Sáiz and Hernandez? There really are more questions than answers.

Prediction: Leeds United 0 Stoke City 2.

KEITH INGHAM

So it starts! Ten months of joy and without doubt a little pain, but I’m still glad Championship football is back.

Not surprisingly, Leeds United start the season with a new head coach. Marcelo Bielsa comes with an impressive pedigree, a former Argentina and Chile manager with spells in Spain and France. He’s known as ‘El Loco’ and many feel that he must be mad to try and succeed where many have failed in recent years.

The squad has been trimmed, many who disappointed last season have gone on to pastures new. Five players (Blackman, Baker, Douglas, Harrison and Bamford) have replaced them, there may be one or two more before the transfer window slams shut. All five have quality and in Bamford, Leeds have a natural number nine and Douglas is a ‘steal’ at £3 million, the Scotsman had a superb season with last season’s champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tyler Roberts starts a campaign after missing most of the latter part of the last one because of injury, Mateusz Klitch has shown he could well be a worthy addition after a disappointing start to his Elland Road career. Both have impressed me in the pre-season games, as have a few of the youngsters.