Leeds United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours 2020/2021

maximoose

Next two matches are huge now and will not be easy. Don't feel great about them tbh and a fair chance we slip out of 2nd place.

That said, I still have hope but we need to turn it around quickly.

Keyzer

maximoose wrote: »

Next two matches are huge now and will not be easy. Don't feel great about them tbh and a fair chance we slip out of 2nd place.

Big time -

Forest Away (2W, 2D,1L) - Patchy form of late, still a very dangerous side, hopefully there patchy form allows Leeds to nick a win

Brentford Away (3W, 1D, 1L) - Good run of form of late, still beatable though.

Bristol Home (4W, 1L) - This will be the toughest of the three. Great run of form o late.

These 3 games are, arguably, the most important three matches in recent Leeds history.

Always Be Closing

Some absolute WHOPPERS supporting us

PabloAndRoy

Augustin starting for the 23s today.

stryker mcqueen

folks when I buy tickets online can i get them posted to another address? I am getting tickets for Reading for someone but I am away next week until Friday, anyone know?

Or if I choose collection will he have any issue collecting them if they're ordered in my name?

maximoose

You can set the shipping address at checkout from what I remember

Always Be Closing

Live stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfnGeYaHAC4

Always Be Closing

Augustin gone off injured a HT

Keyzer

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Live stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfnGeYaHAC4

Augustin taken off at half time... 0-0.

purple hands

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Augustin gone off injured a HT

Seems like he took a knock, was running it off and HT came before he could come back on. So hopefully all okay.

edit: and it was pre-planned to take him off at HT apparently

Still, nervous wait till pre-forest press conference probably

stryker mcqueen

Big Kev looked way off the pace

Keyzer

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

Big Kev looked way off the pace

I say play him against Forest - leave him a target man and let him blem in a few goals...

is_that_so

Agustin is expected to train tomorrow. The plan was for 45m anyway it seems. Poveda was good and Berardi may also be in reckoning for weekend.

purple hands

JKA should at least be on the bench for Forest if fit. Paddy Bamford needs proper competition




and a kick up the hole

Always Be Closing

Bielsa will have JKA playing murderball and doing laps of Thorpe Arch

Get him into the team, screw how he looks physically. For what it's worth, he looked 0% body fat in those medical videos last week, so I'd have no worries in that regard.

Lasogga looked like he just downed 12 pints and a kebab and was absolutely lethal in front of goal so I don't buy this getting up to speed stuff, especially for a striker

Always Be Closing

is_that_so wrote: »

Agustin is expected to train tomorrow. The plan was for 45m anyway it seems. Poveda was good and Berardi may also be in reckoning for weekend.

Shackleton too hopefully

is_that_so

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Shackleton too hopefully

Oh yeah, think he's good to go too. Might cover that missing lad's position.

Always Be Closing

is_that_so wrote: »

Oh yeah, think he's good to go too. Might cover that missing lad's position.

Phillips?

Realistically there could be 5 changes, I suspect we'll be lucky to see 1

is_that_so

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Phillips?

Realistically there could be 5 changes, I suspect we'll be lucky to see 1

Poveda for Costa/Alioski and I reckon Shackleton for Phillips with Agustin on the bench.

Always Be Closing

is_that_so wrote: »

Poveda for Costa/Alioski and I reckon Shackleton for Phillips with Agustin on the bench.

Out goes Bamford, Dallas, Hernandez and Costa

In come Augustin, Shackleton, Poveda and Roberts

Fresh legs, fresh impetus. You just never know


Casilla

Ayling
White
Cooper
Alioski

Klich
Shackleton

Poveda
Roberts
Harrison

Augustin



I'd like to see that - either way, the bench will be a darn sight stronger

stryker mcqueen

It'll be the same team lads and we know it ha

championc

In fairness to JKA, as I understand it, he hasn't been playing competitively. So he may well have passed a medical but yet, that's possibly a far cry from the level of fitness required for the Championship. In addition, the English game is different and he'll need adjusting to it. When he's presented with his opportunity, he'll need to grasp it with both hands. Ideally for him, he'll want to take the shirt from Pat. But the likes of Saturday will heap even more pressure on him to deliver at his first opportunity.

We all remember Ross McCormack's start.

stryker mcqueen

Forshaw back to full training tomorrow, guaranteed to catch the coronavirus, he'll probably pass it to Roberts

Always Be Closing

championc wrote: »

In fairness to JKA, as I understand it, he hasn't been playing competitively. So he may well have passed a medical but yet, that's possibly a far cry from the level of fitness required for the Championship. In addition, the English game is different and he'll need adjusting to it. When he's presented with his opportunity, he'll need to grasp it with both hands. Ideally for him, he'll want to take the shirt from Pat. But the likes of Saturday will heap even more pressure on him to deliver at his first opportunity.

We all remember Ross McCormack's start.

McCormack was warming the bench for a team with 5 players in double digits in Becchio, Somma, Howson, Gradel and Snodgrass and looked good in his brief cameos off the bench.

JKA hasn’t got that luxury.

Carcharodon

stryker mcqueen wrote: »

Forshaw back to full training tomorrow, guaranteed to catch the coronavirus, he'll probably pass it to Roberts

Underrated post

Keyzer

Based on the absolute howler he let in vs Wigan, I'd drop Casilla and bring in the young lad who played against Arsenal.

Always Be Closing

Keyzer wrote: »

Based on the absolute howler he let in vs Wigan, I'd drop Casilla and bring in the young lad who played against Arsenal.

He also had chocolate fingers yesterday against the Wendies

is_that_so

Edmonson not going to be an option for the rest of the season. Knee operation, not back till March, maybe late March.

Always Be Closing

is_that_so wrote: »

Edmonson not going to be an option for the rest of the season. Knee operation, not back till March, maybe late March.

Doubt he was ever an option to be honest

Bielsa will be happy with Bamford, JKA and Roberts even needed

event

I really wouldnt want to see 5 changes ahead of a crucial game tbh. Thats nice on paper but rarely works in the real world and there's a reason you dont see managers do it. Would like Poveda to come in for Costa though, he needs a spell out of the team. He also needs to let someone have a consistent run at LB. Instead its just change it every 2 games which is helping no one

Always Be Closing

event wrote: »

I really wouldnt want to see 5 changes ahead of a crucial game tbh. Thats nice on paper but rarely works in the real world and there's a reason you dont see managers do it. Would like Poveda to come in for Costa though, he needs a spell out of the team. He also needs to let someone have a consistent run at LB. Instead its just change it every 2 games which is helping no one

Douglas can’t stay fit. And then it’s square pegs in round holes.

Whatever happens, getting Bamford out of the firing line is imperative.

event

Yeah but either let Dallas or Alioski (I'd rather Dallas) play themselves in to form.
Bamford does need a rest. Its been very poor by the club to not get another striker in quicker tbh

Always Be Closing

event wrote: »

Yeah but either let Dallas or Alioski (I'd rather Dallas) play themselves in to form.
Bamford does need a rest. Its been very poor by the club to not get another striker in quicker tbh

Alioski is a lb by trade so I'd go with him.

Dallas can be our Swiss Army Knife off the bench I guess

PabloAndRoy

event wrote: »

Yeah but either let Dallas or Alioski (I'd rather Dallas) play themselves in to form.
Bamford does need a rest. Its been very poor by the club to not get another striker in quicker tbh

As soon as Nketiah was gone, they went for Che Adams and in parallel started looking at JKA. As soon as Adams was completley rejected, they had JKA in the bag within 4 days. I am not sure how much more quickly they could have moved.

Hypothetically, if we had got Adams quickly, would he have been on the bench last weekend? Probably not.

Always Be Closing

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

As soon as Nketiah was gone, they went for Che Adams and in parallel started looking at JKA. As soon as Adams was completley rejected, they had JKA in the bag within 4 days. I am not sure how much more quickly they could have moved.

Hypothetically, if we had got Adams quickly, would he have been on the bench last weekend? Probably not.

Should not have started the season with 2 recognized strikers in the first place, one unproven and one hit and miss Chsmpionship journeyman, if we were serious about automatic promotion

PabloAndRoy

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Should not have started the season with 2 recognized strikers in the first place, one unproven and one hit and miss Chsmpionship journeyman, if we were serious about automatic promotion

This I agree with.

Maybe should have gone straight for Adams as soon as summer window opened. Southampton have deeper pockets though and don't have to worry about the P&S rules of the Championship.

Or held on to Roofe, although he was as hit and miss as Bambo.

event

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

As soon as Nketiah was gone, they went for Che Adams and in parallel started looking at JKA. As soon as Adams was completley rejected, they had JKA in the bag within 4 days. I am not sure how much more quickly they could have moved.

Hypothetically, if we had got Adams quickly, would he have been on the bench last weekend? Probably not.

its been known Nketiah has been going back since December.
Surely you have contingencies. Did no one say in November "Hey lads, what if Arsenal want this kid back, what then?"

event

SAT 8TH FEBRUARY
Nottingham Forest 17:30 Leeds United
Championship, Sky Sports Football (17:00), Sky Sports Main Event (17:00)

TUE 11TH FEBRUARY
Brentford 19:45 Leeds United
Championship, Sky Sports Football - Red Button (19:40)

WED 26TH FEBRUARY
Middlesbrough 19:45 Leeds United
Championship, Sky Sports Action (19:40)

SAT 29TH FEBRUARY
Hull City 12:30 Leeds United
Championship, Sky Sports Football (12:00), Sky Sports Main Event (12:00)

Live fixtures for February folks

Always Be Closing

Echo the sentiments about keeping Roofe

He was starting to really buy into Bielsa's ideas

Oh well.

Saturday can't come soon enough lads

PabloAndRoy

event wrote: »

its been known Nketiah has been going back since December.
Surely you have contingencies. Did no one say in November "Hey lads, what if Arsenal want this kid back, what then?"

I think the rules say that you cannot approach anyone until the window opens. So probably the contingency was Adams, then Gray, then Bowen, then "Victor ring around your European mates and see whats available".

The annoying things was that we used the money from the Roofe move to pay for Nketiah's loan fee. What a waste of money that was.

PabloAndRoy

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Echo the sentiments about keeping Roofe

He was starting to really buy into Bielsa's ideas

Oh well.

Saturday can't come soon enough lads

I feel the opposite!

Always Be Closing

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

I think the rules say that you cannot approach anyone until the window opens. So probably the contingency was Adams, then Gray, then Bowen, then "Victor ring around your European mates and see whats available".

The annoying things was that we used the money from the Roofe move to pay for Nketiah's loan fee. What a waste of money that was.

You'd have thought Bielsa could have called in a few favours, although I'd give Bielsa alot more credit than Orta for the JKA signing - JKA best pals with Benjamin Mendy who idolizes MB

event

PabloAndRoy wrote: »

I think the rules say that you cannot approach anyone until the window opens. So probably the contingency was Adams, then Gray, then Bowen, then "Victor ring around your European mates and see whats available".

The annoying things was that we used the money from the Roofe move to pay for Nketiah's loan fee. What a waste of money that was.

.......................

Well there's the rules then what every single club does. You approach through an intermediary. I just thought we were a bit slow is all.

On a side note, I really dont think this new lad is going to do much for us. Nketia was incredibly highly rated but couldnt get in the team and when he did, he was just ok. This chaps goal record is pretty poor plus he's very young. Might prove me wrong but I think we should have pushed harder for Adams or went for Gayle. If we dont go up in the summer we will have to sell loads of players anyway, whats another one

I think one thing we have to bear in mind about Bamford is...he was a £7 mill purchase and he's playing at pretty much that level. Mitrovic cost 3 times that amount, Bowen is rated at £15-£20 mill. He's scored twice as much as Assombalonga and cost half as much. He's hardly a disaster.

Always Be Closing

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I think one thing we have to bear in mind about Bamford is...he was a £7 mill purchase and he's playing at pretty much that level. Mitrovic cost 3 times that amount, Bowen is rated at £15-£20 mill. He's scored twice as much as Assombalonga and cost half as much. He's hardly a disaster.

No he’s not a disaster- he’s absolutely hopeless in front of goal, it’s staggering the chances he’s missed.

The fact he cost 7 million has nothing to do with it- Ollie Watkins cost just £1.8 million and has 19 goals this season. Likewise, Lewis Grabban cost a million less than Bamford and has 17 goals this term

Always Be Closing

Bielsa Presser

No JKA again :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Marcelo Bielsa's pre Forest press conference is coming up from 12.30pm



At Thorp Arch for Bielsa's presser. Asked if this, Forest and Brentford away, is the most important stage of the season yet: "To play with opponents who are close to us in the table has another value. But points are always going to be important. The opponent doesn't matter.

Bielsa on Augustin's condition and when he might be involved. Promises a long answer: "Augustin in a player who can make a lot of impact. He has a lot of skills. You realise that from how much he cost and the teams he played for. But in the last 8 months he played 3 full matches" (FOR **** SAKE)

"when this happens, the conclusions about his fitness levels are clear. Would a player with the ability of Augustin would arrive to our club if he wasn't in the situation that he's in now? A player of his level, with his skills, if he's playing he could cost £30m or £40m."

"If he arrived here without us paying that money, it's because he has to resolve a problem - that he wasn't playing. His fitness performance is very important."

Now talking about Edmondson. Says his performances for the Under-23s "were never enough to be considered" for the first team. Then, in his last training session, he was excellent - but injured his knee and needed surgery

back to speaking about Nketiah again. Not letting this one go. And Jack Clarke. Bielsa says he sent a message to Clarke after his last 23s appearance to congratulate him for his display. "The next day he left Leeds."

"I'm confident in Augustin's ability. I believe he's a player with great skills. But in football, and even more in a league like the Championship, a player can't arrive and play without being at an ideal level."

this, essentially, sounds like a defence of his handling of loan players and an explanation for why he is taking his time with Augustin - because he'll use him when he feels it's right. "Players who arrive here are going to play if they're better than the players who are playing"

Bielsa on Edmondson's injury - says he pushed him hard in his last training session because he didn't realise that he had a knee problem. Says he pushed Edmondson hard because he was doing so well in that session, and making the impact Bielsa wanted

Bielsa: "If Augustin gets to 70 per cent of his skills, it is enough for him to play here. If he can only use 50 per cent of his skills then it is not enough. It's very easy to criticise Bamford because he misses chances but he scored 12 times. We shouldn't under-estimate him."

This answer (20 minutes so far) makes you realise how aware Bielsa has been of the debate about why Augustin hasn't featured yet. To sum it up - he's head coach and he uses players when he thinks they're ready.

Always Be Closing

Ridiculous signing then going off this. We needed a striker come in straight away so we signed someone who can't play. Logic.

Sorry Bielsa, but we needed a striker to hit the ground running. You've f**ked this one royally

Keyzer

Ludicrous statement really.

We can't convert our chances. Logic says we need a player who can convert. We sign a player who has barely played for 8 months and wont get into the team for at least a month based on the managers fitness requirements.

I'm starting to feel really pessimistic about our promotion chances.

Bad results in the next 3 matches could be the end of our season.

NuckChorris1

Chin up lads. We're still well able to play any team off the park. Just need someone to start sticking in a few goals. Not just Bamford. Pablo, Costa, Klich and Harrison are all well able to score. Just need one or two of them to find some form and we'll be there or thereabouts. If Bielsa says JKA needs time then he'll work around it. He's turned Alioski into a (slightly mental) LB and Dallas into a CM without anyone really complaining. He might turn Meslier into our super striker yet!! Shackleton or Roberts coming in at 10 might be the injection of tempo we need too.

event

Always Be Closing wrote: »

Ridiculous signing then going off this. We needed a striker come in straight away so we signed someone who can't play. Logic.

Sorry Bielsa, but we needed a striker to hit the ground running. You've f**ked this one royally

Not the fault of the board, to leave a signing to the last week? And for then said signing to be unfit?