Good Morning. It's Friday 7th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Angus Kinnear - We’re going to be right at the upper limit of the profit and sustainability threshold. Angus Kinnear has revealed that Leeds are right at the upper limit of the profit and sustainability threshold, and that was why Leeds were unable to capture Jarrod Bowen during the January Transfer Window. The Leeds Utd Managing Director was discussing these matters during a recent interview on BBC Radio Leeds. please log in to view this image Bielsa's Pre Match Press Conference Bielsa discusses Saturdays crunch game at the City Ground, and reveals that Augustin has only played three games in eight months. hence his decision not to include the French man in a match day squad so far! Leeds careless talk helps ramp up value of target Leeds United are keeping close tabs on Peterborough United's 15m-rated wonderkid striker Ricky-Jade Jones. The 17yo can either play in midfield or up front, and has caught the eye of many clubs in both the Championship as well as Arsenal and Manchester United. The Whites enquired about Jones in the January transfer window on three separate occasions. During these negotiations Leeds told Barry Fry that they felt Jones could be the next Tammy Abraham's. Unfortunately for the Whites, this only ramped the asking price higher. Posh Director of Football gave the following statement:- “They were all after him. United, Liverpool, Arsenal, but we told them all the same thing and that it was a waste of time bidding as we were determined to hold on to him… “Leeds were actually the most determined to sign Ricky. They were on several times as they think Ricky is going to be the next Tammy Abraham. I told them if that’s the case he must be worth £15 million already! “In our opinion Ricky is better off developing with us and helping us be successful. He’s a lovely lad with his feet on the ground.” please log in to view this image
Morning all... I’m hoping we haven’t made a huge error in judgement over Augustin. Everything you read leads you to believe he won’t be match ready for at least another month, maybe two months. Surely we needed a ready made striker, we got Poveda who was match fit from City, I’m amazed there wasn’t another somewhere in the world. Does Orta have a network of old fashioned scouts going out watching players or do we just rely on agents calling us up asking if we want a player? Radz divides some opinion but I’d be spitting nails if I were him on the amount with blown on loans this season for strikers who have done little. If Augustin gets match fit and contributes at the end of the season great, but they all come here expecting to play a whole lot sooner than they actually do, I just can’t see Augustin being happy in 4 weeks time still playing for the U23s In regards to Barry Fry said.... I wouldn’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth. He is just bumping his price up ready for selling in July
A 50% fit Big Kev is still better than our other options when we need a goal 70 minutes in to a game. We have nobody else unless we count Robert's as a striker. Big Kev should be on the bench.
Two points!! What’s this buying young players for the future ffs, we need promotion now, not in 5 yrs time. This point over Augustin being rusty? Thought Amigo did not want a player that could not enhance the team!! There seems to be some contradictory statements flying around atm. One statement that seems to be repetitive atm is if we loose the next two games we could be in big trouble........AGAIN!!!!
Morning all. How the hell can Kinnear claim we've had a successful January window. None of the signings have kicked a ball yet for the first team. If and when they do and they are good, then it'll be a successful window. Until then, I wish these guys would keep their traps shut
The gist of Bielsa's interview about Big Kev is basically that he needs a pre-season. Which is sensible for a player who's only played 3 matches in 8 months - especially with the fitness levels that Bielsa expects. Bamford went through the same, if you remember back. What concerns me is WHY he only played 3 in 8 months. One other thing Bielsa is saying is that Big Kev has the skills & attribures to be a £30-40m player - but only when up to speed & playing. Again though, he's not, & my concern is that such a skilled player is not getting into a team. If Bielsa can get him up to speed, we'll have won a watch! Re. Orta's scouts - I posted up an interview with him a few days ago. He has an incredibly good setup & for instance, Big Kev has been monitored for over 4 years. He also has a database of 8080 match reports, which includes player reviews of up to 8 players per match that he is tracking. Agree about old Baz. What a character. Love him to bits. His autobiography is a fantastic read. If I recall correctly, he mortgaged his house at one time to save his club the he was managing. Absolutely besotted with football. An old school legend. Poveda is NOT match fit, btw. The lad has never played for a 1st team, I believe. I'm sure he has lots of promise, but I wouldn't expect more than some impact minutes for a good while, which is quite a step-up from u23s. Starting is an even bigger jump & there are no guarantees. Remember Jack Clarke. Good impact, then absolute ****e when starting. I'm still convinced that the shock of that reality messed with his head.
Just one point before the weekend Call yourself a professional footballer and you don’t keep yourself match fit !?
You get match fit by playing matches, maybe 10-15 mins at first then build up, Bielsa will still be saying he's played 3 games in 9 months, because he won't play him.
Morning all, if anyone wants to come out after being married for 27 years Now’s the time, apparently.
Would that be allowed out on your own, for the first time after 27 years , cause my wifes still thinking about it after 38 years . Morning all btw still can't see how you become match fit without some proper game time,first week play u23's,so far so good-2nd week on the bench, to get the feel of match day, 3rd week being braught on late in game for first team experience, week four/five now hopefully up to speed and in the starting eleven.
Very true and also, what's plan if Paddy picks up a knock before big Kev is ready. Do we relocate Dallas to the cf position?
Tyler Roberts, when he played as a striker last season when both Bamford and Roofe were out, did well and had a decent goals per game ratio, so not too worried there.
I hope I'm wrong about our new striker and that he goes on to score a bucket load of goals, but I just can't get excited about his signing. Now I will give him a chance just like I do with every new signing, but I just have this niggling gut feeling that he maybe the wrong signing. I will just have to trust Bielsa's judgement.
He's played 3 FULL games in the last 8 months. 3 months of that was Summer break with no games to play. He made 10 appearances (mainly from the bench and then played out of position wide right) for Monaco since beginning of October. He's not that unfit that he can't impact from the bench. Stop with this 3 games in 8 months nonsense. Get him on the bench. Give him minutes and we might have a solution. Or.... we can make the same mistake we did with Eddie.
He was also unlucky that at both Leipzig and Monaco the first choice striker hit a rich vein of form (unlikely to happen here ) so his playing time was limited. I reckon he’ll do well for us.
Yes but a first team players not going to want to get injured playing for the U23s,so won't go all out.
Be interesting to see how he gets on tonight vs Derby u23's, who are of a much higher standard than Sheff Wed. Didn't they beat us 7-1 earlier this season?
Interestingly, as part of yesterdays presser, Bielsa said he didn't read much into u23 performances such is the gulf in standard. Many believe its only a slight step up. Its clearly not
