please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Barnsley Town Thursday 16th July at 17.00 pm | Elland Road Top of the Championship Leeds entertain relegation threatened Barnsley on Thursday tea time, as the Whites look to move within a point of automatic Promotion. The Tykes are not going to make life easy for Bielsa's men - not only is it a local derby, but Barnsley, who are fighting for their lives, have only lost once since the season restarted and have picked up valuable wins against QPR and Blackburn in recent games. Leeds have been dealt a major blow after it was revealed that Kalvin Phillips is likely to miss the rest f the season with a leg injury. Phillips played the second half of Sunday’s win at Swansea City with heavy strapping on his left leg, and was expected to be fit for Barnsley's visit, However, Bielsa has now confirmed, in his pre match press conference that he has not recovered in time! Ben White is expected to deputise. The 24yo defensive midfielder has been instrumental in ensuring the Whites have kept twenty clean sheets so far this term, four more than their closest rivals Fulham. With White stepping into Phillips shoes, we can expect to see crowd favourite Gaetano Berardi partner Liam Cooper at centre back. Kiko Casilla's is once again, available for selection. The former Real Madrid shot stopper was given an eight game ban after an FA investigation found him guilty of using racist language towards Charlton loanee Jonathan Leko. However, the Spaniard will have to make do with a place as 20yo Illan Meslier has impressed between the sticks, and has made the number one jersey his own.
I read yesterday that he'd been in training all along. Whether that's training with the team or on his own I don't know.
Less confident with Phillips out just because I’m not 100% convinced with White in the holding role but realistically we should still be far too good for Barnsley.
What is in our favour is that a draw is no use to Barnsley. As it stands with their goal difference they'd be effectively down. Taking Wigan out of the equation (I think they'll get more points anyway) Luton are picking up points too. Barnsley have to go for a win.
Maybe he’s training for a new career? plumber perhaps? Let’s wish him well in his new career of fixing leaks rather than causing them.
they’re a strange side... for a while around Mid season they were playing some really good stuff - I watched them play West Brom off the park. Clearly, most of the time they’ve been... a bit ... sh*t.
They’ve only lost once in their last 5. Luton had a bit of form coming into their game with us too. We must treat this game as a cup final, they will. Going for 2 nil but still concerned about missing Kalvin and having Ba red cardi playing.
I think we can deal without Phillips but putting Ben White in his role worries me. He's been nowhere near his best playing in the Kalvin role before meaning we end up missing both Phillips and White. I'd keep White at CB and find someone else to plug that gap.
We've only lost once in the last ten. They've just been mullered by 4 at Stoke, a team we played off the park. They have the worst away record in the league. I know results can be ad hoc in the Championship but Barnsley are not a team to be feared. It's not a foregone conclusion by any means but come on. We aren't a bad side ourselves.
You're at 1/4 to win it, but they're even on offer at 11/4 for the win/draw double chance.......now let's think about this.....
The odds on teams playing Leeds (especially the last two seasons) are very generous. Basically to break even Barnsley only have to win once in eleven games. I think they are more than capable of that. When we were in League 1 the odds were even crazier. Even though we were ****e for the most part.
What happened to all the positive people on here oh how the tides have turned. I am very confident we will dispatch Barnsley to the lower league. We have a team that has bonded and fought for points as one. This is not the same leeds as last season as fear of failing drives them on. Just enjoy the game today and hold those buttocks tight together.
Morning all. I think tonights match is the most difficult of the three matches still to play, but the bookies think we will win and they are good judges.
