1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 24th September)

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by ellandback, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    perfect1.jpg
    Good Morning. It's Friday 24th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


    Should Leeds have invested heavier in the Summer

    Five games in, and Leeds are still without a win, languishing dangerously close to the drop zone. Since the first kick of pre-season, the cogs have not been turning. The players who months earlier were earning rave reviews for their performances week in, week out, look a shadow of their former selves.

    To make matters worse, an injury crisis threatens our position further. Harrison, Llorente, Koch, Bamford, Struijk and Ayling are all likely to miss the visit of David Moyes in form side team. Even the most staunch Leeds supporters will be wondering when Yorkshire's finest will record their first three points. Every team suffers a lapse during the season, every team suffers an injury crisis, but this seems more than just a bad run of form!

    Many have been critical of Leeds recruitment this Summer, especially when it was obvious we desperately needed a midfielder, and a backup for Bamford, alas this did not happen, and we could be paying the price now!

    Being able to replicate last season's feat was always going to be difficult, and whilst the jury's out on our new recruits, I can't help thinking that Victor Orta must have been pulling his hair out, having been denied the opportunity to sign the likes of Nandez, Cunha and Lang who are flourishing at their respective clubs!

    To be told the coffers were empty halfway through the Summer was a disgrace, especially when investors are lining up to invest! Is Radrizzani now regretting his actions?

    please log in to view this image


    Was buying Firpo a mistake

    Many of us were concerned to hear that Leeds had lost interest in long term target Romain Perraud this Summer. The 23yo had built up a solid pedigree with Brest, following his move from Nice, and at 8.5m, he looked a bargain. Concern however turned to joy after it was disclosed that we had signed Junior Firpo from the Camp Nou! He played for Barcelona, so he must be good, right?

    In truth, it's very difficult to judge a player's capability when he's playing alongside such a strong line up. Even their second string would have given Serie A outfits nightmares. A weak link is far more difficult to exploit if you have a superior team.

    During his short Elland Road career, the former Spanish U21 International has looked like a rabbit in the headlights. He does not look comfortable on the ball, has lost possession multiple times, and has been exploited for pace time and again.

    Have we made a mistake with Firpo, or is it too early to tell?

    please log in to view this image


    Bielsa's pre match press conference v West Ham

     
    #1
  2. hemase

    hemase Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Messages:
    1,539
    Likes Received:
    4,012
    Morning all,

    Nice to see another positive breakfast debate to take us into match weekend.
     
    #2
  3. 2 pennth

    2 pennth Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2016
    Messages:
    11,040
    Likes Received:
    13,134
    We don’t do positive on here anymore.
    I’ll settle for a point tomorrow
     
    #3
  4. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo Carlos

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2019
    Messages:
    12,379
    Likes Received:
    22,460
    Played 7. Lost 2. (To Liverpool and Man Utd). Not bad to say we are out of form.

    Easy to look good at Barca? Not so easy at Betis where he was head and shoulders the best player.

    More investment? We been down that road and ended up in League 1. We spent over 50 million this summer btw.

    3 and a half years ago we had Cellino in charge with no youth team, no canteen, poor facilities and losing millions a month.

    We are doing fine.


    All depends which way you look at it.
     
    #4
  5. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    Morning pal

    It's far easier to get a reaction by posting controversial posts.

    Don't know why, but positive posts don't seem to create the same traffic.

    That's not to say people can't and won't disagree with the posts and call me out - I welcome it! <cheers>
     
    #5
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  6. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809

    Morning pal

    Which teams have had easier fixtures?

    We've played two from the bottom three, and guess where Burnley's only point this season came from?

    Would we do better if we were playing Villa, Arsenal, Wolves, Leicester, Spurs or even Brighton?

    The only cannon fodder this season will be Norwich.
     
    #6
    leeds down south likes this.
  7. Jammy 07

    Jammy 07 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    13,204
    Likes Received:
    20,413
    **** off with the doom & gloom.

    We are not in bad form, just haven't hit top form yet...there is a middle ground you know.
     
    #7
    Whitejock, hemase and NostradEmus like this.
  8. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    This is brilliant. It's an hour long but well worth it


     
    #8
  9. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    <nahnah>

    At what point would you worry?
     
    #9
  10. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    My team for tomorrow


    ------------------------Meslier--------------------
    Shackleton---Cresswell--Cooper---Firpo
    ---------------------Phillips----------------------
    Raphinha-----Klich-----Rodrigo----James
    ---------------------Gelhardt--------------------
     
    #10

  11. Jammy 07

    Jammy 07 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    13,204
    Likes Received:
    20,413
    Probably if we're in the bottom 3 in January....even then I wouldn't be overly concerned as long as we were still in touch with the teams above us.

    There's absolutely no reason to create a mood of anxiety which undoubtably will transfer to the players on the pitch. The PL is tough and the only thing we need to achieve is retaining our status in it, if that takes until the last day of the season then that's just how it will have to be <ok>
     
    #11
    Marcos Barber, hemase and NostradEmus like this.
  12. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    If we were in the bottom three at Christmas, I fear we may lose one of our star players, so I'd want to be clear of the bottom three way before that!

    Also the January transfer window is next to useless to try to pick up talent.
     
    #12
  13. Gessa

    Gessa Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2018
    Messages:
    15,001
    Likes Received:
    28,153
    There's not a cat in hells chance Gelhardt will start tomorrow. I know ow it's your team not MB's, just saying, the rest of it works though with what we've got available.
    Is Harrison fit? If so what you've picked move Rod to 9, Raph inside and Jack on the right
     
    #13
  14. Jammy 07

    Jammy 07 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    13,204
    Likes Received:
    20,413
    Just bear in mind elland that no team in the bottom half of the table is safe by xmas...you could be sitting comfortably in 12th and still be relegated.

    Last season we did brilliantly, but it's football so there are no guarantees and we just have wait and see what happens. Far better to get fully behind the team/squad rather than creating fear and anxiety amongst the support.

    All that matters is that after 38 games we are 17th or better.

    Final point...it's September remember and the season has barely begun, definitely not the time to be hitting the panic button.
     
    #14
    foolee, hemase and NostradEmus like this.
  15. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    I'm guessing if Harrison had Covid, he may have to shield still
     
    #15
  16. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    Good point about being dragged down into the scrap for survival. The way we play, can we scrap it out?

    How many points will be safe this season?

    If we finished 17th, or even 15th, would Bielsa, Phillips and Raphinha stay?
     
    #16
  17. Gessa

    Gessa Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2018
    Messages:
    15,001
    Likes Received:
    28,153
    Matt, tbh mate other than finishing in a CL position, which we obviouslywon't, I can see us losing Phillips and Raphinha regardless where else we finish, top players want to play in the CL, regardless of their love for a club they want to play at the highest level. As with Grealish, no doubting his love for Villa but his career had to come first.
     
    #17
    foolee and Jammy 07 like this.
  18. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member
    Forum Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2011
    Messages:
    62,312
    Likes Received:
    36,809
    In January, if we were offered 100m for Phillips, would you accept!
     
    #18
  19. Doc

    Doc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    Messages:
    20,009
    Likes Received:
    27,639
    Controversial maybe but here goes: Junior Firpo will be a great signing, there said it now.

    Yes we should have bought a midfielder but were not going to be ripped off. We tried to buy one 3 windows ago and have still not managed it. Yes linked to some great players but have consistently refused to pay over the odds.
     
    #19
    Marcos Barber, hemase and Jammy 07 like this.
  20. NostradEmus

    NostradEmus Firpo Carlos

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2019
    Messages:
    12,379
    Likes Received:
    22,460
    Out of form and with injuries we've played both the bottom two away from home, missed chances, had a certain red against Burnley not given, a certain penalty against Newcastle not given and still not lost....and created chances.

    My main gripe would not be how the team is playing but individual errors throughout. Missing chances at one end and losing possession at the other is our biggest fault but it will switch around at some point.
     
    #20
    foolee, southernwhite and ellandback like this.

Share This Page