Good Morning. Its Friday 27th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds grind out draw Leeds dug deep to grind out a one all draw at Elland Road yesterday against the Lilywhites as the gap between second and third narrows to eight points. Leeds found themselves deservedly behind at Elland Road for only the second time this season on 22 minutes when Republic of Ireland midfielder Browne calmly slotted the ball past Casilla following Leeds defence being carved open like a Christmas Turkey! The Whites improved in the second half, creating chance after chance, and were finally rewarded in the 89th minutes courtesy of a 20 yard piledriver from Stuart Dallas. Whilst you sometimes have to dig deep, and show a gritty resolve, especially in a demanding league like the Championship, it would be fair to say that especially Leeds first half contribution was extremely disappointing. Two players who were singled out on social media for their poor displays were Luke Ayling and Liam Cooper. One tweet summed up Cooper very well:- Liam cooper went to pick up the midfielder and left White 3 v 1 at the back. He’s having a car crash game like Derby on semi's last season!! Lastly, has anyone else noticed whenever a team get a good result against Leeds, their Manager receives overwhelming praise for having done their homework so well! Surely, all an opposition Manager needs to do is to listen to Bielsa's pre match press conference, and check last Saturday's starting XI. That will give them all the information they need!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntJ0nAzQEAE Will Jack Clarke come back to haunt us? Jack Clarke has returned early from his loan spell to Spurs. The 19yo joined the North London outfit in the Summer in a deal that could rise to 13m depending on appearances. Unfortunately for the York born Winger, apart from a couple of games against lower league opposition in the Carabau Cup, Clarke was given just the one second half cameo appearance to try and prove himself. Unsurprisingly, almost every team with promotion aspirations in the Championship have been in contact with Mourinho about his availability? Was Clarke given an opportunity to prove himself? please log in to view this image Nketiah is off too! In the same report which leaked Clarke returning to Spurs, former Chief Football Writer for the Yorkshire Evening Post Phil Hay has also suggested that he expects Eddie Nketiah to return to the Emirates where he will be loaned out to one of Leeds arch rivals. Whilst there are many of you that will suggest that Nketiah's style of play did not suit Bielsa, I cannot help but think that why could we not use a predatory striker in our team, someone with the natural gift of knowing where the back of the net is? Many of us who have played football at some sort of level will know how difficult it is to come on cold, as a second half substitute trying to get up to speed with the game, knowing you only have fifteen minutes to do so! please log in to view this image Bielsa's post match press conference
Morning mein fuhrer quick point fast Eddie came on at 64 mins and with injury time got 30 mins. He failed to score or even look creative and ran away to the sides looking for the ball. Seems to me all our main problems lay in midfield as Phillips is left exposed time after time. What do Dallas and klich create?. Poor recruiting in the summer will cost us dear. This team looks worn out already a typical Bielsa over trained outfit. How come Preston looked so lively and alert?.
Morning all Yesterday’s game against Preston we were piss poor for most of the game. Got a little bit better when Nketiah came on, we got a little bit more threatening against their goal. Sorry to say it, but Bambi is not a striker end of. The reason Nketiah have not played much is because Bielsa is not such a great manager as many thinks, there is a reason he has not won much. And another thing, what the hell is Dallas doing in central midfield??? He is slow, can’t pass, can’t shot and he is not creative!!!! If Nketiah goes back to Arsenal I will fully understand it. The worrying thing is, who the hell will want to lend any players to Leeds that is any good. Knowing that they will spend their time on the bench????? I hope that this is just a small blip and we will start winning games again. The thing is that all the warning signs from last season are there to be seen and it is really worrying. Other that that I have had a great Christmas, had some time off and just enjoyed myself
Ups forgot about Clarke. Not that worried about Clark leaving to be honest, ever since he was sold to Spurs his head has not been in it. So it’s great we can free up a place for someone else if, and that is a big if, anyone are willing to lend us any player
Morning all, Klich, Ayling and Cooper were marginally the worst on the pitch yesterday. I’m sure Klich has his worse games when Dallas is alongside him. Alioski was probably our best player despite missing one sitter
I thought Klich was very poor, lost the ball which led to their goal and didn't contribute much except to get himself a needless booking. I hope it was just a bad day at the office but Sunday at St Andrews is going to tell us a lot. Are we on a downward spiral or was it just a blip? I think Eddie will be a big loss if he goes. I thought he was very good when he came on, himself and Costa seem to have a great understanding. There will be plenty of game time for him between now and end of season, he should stay.
Morning all. Same eleven to start against Birmingham but will be tired so not as good as last night. I predict a 9-0 Leeds win
Don't like Dallas in CM myself, but who would you have played there instead? Did you see who was on the subs bench?
Afternoon all. Trust you all had a good Christmas, football apart. Brentford beginning to look a real threat (Pontus is their captain I see). I agree with whoever posted that if Eddie goes back, prem clubs will be reluctant to loan us anyone as they don't seem to play enough. So it is either buy or struggle along with Bamford and using Tyler Roberts and Costa as back-up CF (though he'd probably put Dallas there).
