please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Aston Villa Friday 1st December [email protected] Streaming links to follow Good Morning Everyone Villa travel to Elland Road on Friday night for a clash of the sleeping giants. It will be interesting to see whether TC will keep with Ekuban or whether Lasogga will start (assuming he's fit). To me, having Ekuban is like having an extra player on the pitch. I think the lad covered every blade of grass at Oakwell Park last week, and I think it showed in our performance. Lasogga is dangerous at set pieces and good with the ball if and when he gets it, but that is far to seldom in my eyes. Could Ekuban be the answer, at least until the January transfer window. Who here would let Lasogga go back to his parent club (Hamburg) in January? Even if it meant he went to one of our competitors in the Championship? We have seen what good man management can do, look at Billy Sharp? Where do Leeds fans see O'Kane? Should he start, or should be be on the bench? Who is our best midfielder?
There was an interesting debate on Talk Sport last night regarding people that leave matches early to avoid the rush, and whether these people are true supporters? They gave the midweek clash between Brentford and QPR as an example when the Hoops scored twice in injury time to draw. Has that ever happened to you? Leaving a game 5 minutes early could effectively save an hours drive, but would you be any less a supporter by doing so?
Morning all I hope the Kop give a good reception to Felix at the kick about he will appreciate the support. Team is now beginning to gel I like Roofes mobility but I think Ekuban could turn out to be a decent number 9. Fill yer boots lads home win Friday.
Morning all. Suppose it goes without saying we have to score first. Really worrying stat that we’ve failed to come from behind even once this season. Not sure what that says about the team or fighting spirit. One things for sure, that’ll need sorting or we’ll see many defeats before end of season
If Ekuban looks sharp in training I would give him another go up front with Lassoga (if fit) on the bench. If Ekuban gets a goal it could mean he scores more because hes a handful but a confidence player. Lassoga is getting a bad press on here and elsewhere, but think everyone knows my views - give him the ball and he will score, dont expect him to do a Roofe legging it all over looking for scraps. His stats show he makes goals and scores goals and those stats are right up there in the top 6 this season for goals & assists per minutes on the pitch. Best midfielder is a great question and think this is an area where Tommy seems to be lost too. At the start of the season my list of best midfield players in order would be: Klich Saiz Alioski O'Kane Viera Hernandez Dallas Roofe Sacko Phillips See how that went ffs as Phillips has had a storming start to the season so has to be the most improved player, at least. Who would have even thought about Pablo and Samu in the same starting 11?
A few years ago we were losing 3-0 by half time away at Southampton, my 3 mates left, we went on to win 3-4 and the scenes in the away end were like we had just won the cup final.
Good morning to Matt Eric Kevin WJ and co from a clear Bardsey I see that rumours have already started that Klitch is on his way back to Holland in order to get onto the Polish world cup squad I believe Terry will not feature on Friday which is a pity because I think Ekuban could have spoilt his night
Strange thing for me was we came back to equalise against both Sheff U and Brentford but didn’t look like we knew what to do next and went on to lose both! Anyway, here we go, we’ve started out ten match winning run now so the rest is history
Evening Ell, 60 and all. Taking a leaf from your book 60 - it is a very wet evening here in the Sunshine State, warm but lots of rain. I have never liked Bruce so I'm wanting us to beat them 3-1 with them scoring first. I would really like us at sometime to try Ekuban and Roofe as a strike partnership. I think their speed and mobility would cause some serious issues for slower defenders. If it didn't work then take one off and go back to the standard formation. Maybe tomorrow is not the game to do it though ?
Morning all... Last season was a prime example of all the small cogs making the bigger cog turn. We don’t need the best 11 on paper, we need the 11 who compliment each other and play best as a team. O’Kane, Vieira, Phillips, whoever starts they allow the attacking three to do their stuff, I don’t think there is a lot in it myself. I’d be happy to see Ekuban starting with Roofe on the bench, we’re not going to sign Lasogga permanently, he isn’t as good as either Roofe or Ekuban in “our set-up” or style of play so send him home.
Good morning Eric at least its warm very chilly here and yes its nice to know that it does sometimes rain in Australia I like the look Of Nessie and I told WJ this he came to us on a free transfer from Reading what on earth were they thinking about he will make a splendid CB reminded me of the great Des Walker at Forest
... 60, not sure reading ever tried him as a centre back. He does look promising - had a couple of very good games... but also had one where his positioning was badly shown up. Not surprising with his lack of experience there. Certainly looks a promising talent but one for the future and backup rather than the here and now for me.
Agree with some of that although I would add that because we aint had a settled back 4 all season it can affect kids. If Pontus was having a good season playing every game, he would show Nessie what to do, but when its a shambles ......
Think the best example of that was the first match this season. CBJ was left back with Pennington at CB. Both were brilliant but then Pennington gets injured and we thought oh fk, but CBJ slotted into CB with Anita slipping in at left back, great defensive performance from those 6 defenders and all done without Pontus who was banned. So why didnt we build on that? It could be argued that that since Pontus came back & Berardi came back we have been worse ..... no Anita, CBJ or Pennington involved? But hey Tommy has a choice
Felix or Lonners At a basic level, Leeds have conceded a goal a game with Wiedwald behind their defence and close to two a game with Lonergan on the pitch. Phil Hay There were errors from him during that run – two in particular which cost Leeds in a 3-1 defeat at Brentford – but Leeds’ defence has done more for Wiedwald, asking the German to face fewer on average of three efforts on target while Lonergan was dealing with closer to five. There are certain marked differences between Wiedwald and Lonergan, one of which points to the tactical style which Christiansen set his mind on implementing when Leeds appointed him. Wiedwald’s pass completion rate stands at almost 65 per cent, compared to Lonergan’s percentage of 35. Leeds’ rationale for replacing Rob Green in the summer – a keeper who played in every minute of the club’s 2016-17 Championship season and did so with distinction – was that Wiedwald’s distribution, and specifically his passing on the floor, would assist the football Christiansen planned to play. Green’s form at Elland Road was above criticism but his passing had a tendency to go long. In the early part of this season, as Leeds were climbing towards the top of the Championship, the shift in mindset was obvious. When Christiansen’s players routed Burton 5-0 in September, Wiedwald’s 52 passes included just 14 long balls and yielded a completion rate of more than 80 per cent.
Wiedwald was selected over green because of his distribution. Pass short, draw the press, create space behind. That’s the theory. Green was an old fashioned hoof-it-long guy. Lonergan is like green (an error prone version). Lonergan has let more goals in than Felix but has been given much more to do. That help Eire? As it goes BPF has the best distribution of the keepers at the club... but way too inexperienced to blood in the championship. Not that he could do a lot worse than those with experience have been doing.
