Good Morning. It's Tuesday 23rd November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Why is Firpo is struggling Junior Firpo has struggled since his 13m move from Barcelona according to former White, Matt Kilgallon. The former centre back is of the opinion that Firpo thought a move to West Yorkshire would be a lot easier than what he was used to at the Camp Nou, but insists it's twice as hard! "He’s struggling at the minute," "I think he’s come from Barcelona and maybe thought coming to the Premier League with Leeds might be not as hard; it’s twice as hard, you’ve got to give everything. "He had Covid and he’s been injured and injured again. You can’t be like that in the Premier League here. "You’ve got to be fit because your team-mates get bored of it very quickly 'oh he’s injured again'. "It is hard to come over from another country and everything, but he’s got to be settling in." Why is Firpo struggling so much? Didn't Leeds do their homework properly? Did they think he played for Barcelona, so he must be good? please log in to view this image Once Bamford is back, nobody will get a look in Once Bamford is back in action, nobody else will get a look in. These are the words of Elland Road journalist Phil Hay who believes that Gelhardt will be benched in favour of Leeds No 9 once he returns :- "I’m largely swayed by that argument too - that once Bamford is back, nobody gets a look in up front. But I’m also starting to feel that the line of ‘once we’re up to full strength’ is a little fanciful because Leeds don’t ever seem to be at full strength. I think Gelhardt is going to be an outstanding player and I do want to see him play more but options would be nice and there have been too many games this season (in my view) where Leeds haven’t had enough of them". It's absolute madness that Leeds thought they could go a second season in the Premiership with one goalscoring forward please log in to view this image Jan transfer window at ER is like an uncomfortable family wedding Phil Hay has likened a January transfer window at Elland Road with an uncomfortable family wedding during his latest segment on 'The Athletic'. He further stipulates that any incoming signing will not just need to be fit, but Bielsa fit before they can grace the turf at Elland Road; and the New Year window rarely represents good value for money. "Thoughts, then, turn to the January window which Leeds tend to treat like an uncomfortable family wedding. You’re in there, you have to play the game but it’s not much fun, last orders will be called before you know it so don’t spend money if you can avoid it". "There are, it should be said, some good reasons for that and they have been discussed here at length: Bielsa’s stipulations on the attributes he wants, Bielsa’s insistence on tip-top fitness in a window where many available players are surplus at their current clubs, and Victor Orta’s view that transfer fees in January often represent poor value. Through the early part of this season, the message from Leeds was that they intended to sit this January out, unless sitting it out was obviously asking for trouble". "What happens in practice will depend on budget and what is actually out there. Bielsa pointed out yesterday that adding to his squad “should not be evaluated without looking at the economic possibilities” but there was no way of watching a 2-1 defeat at Spurs and avoiding the fact that some mid-season transfer action, even a little, might do Leeds a favour". "At the crux of the discussion about future recruitment is a broader point. Leeds would surely benefit from more players at their disposal in the second half of this season. But whether those players are perfect in their head coach’s eyes, they also need a squad that is shored up not just for Bielsa but for whoever might follow him". please log in to view this image
Morning all Phil Hay is like a kite and gets blown around whichever way the wind blows. Or put another way its like Boris’s shopping trolley. Major problems are caused by too many injuries to a very small squad. Not hard to see but the damage done to our season so far has been tough to take. The club now realise that having just 18 first teamers and half a dozen U23s doesnt work when more than 2 first teamers are injured. We have gone through a period when 9 players from the 18 were out through injury and suspension and obviously no team can over for half the squad being out. I firmly believe Leeds will rectify it but in the hope its not too late. Remember that the U23s are now in a relegation fight too after being 2nd simply because they cannot put out their best team as most are needed for the first team. So having Phil Hay now inform us that he thinks we will bring in players in January after telling us we wouldnt for months…… I believe Bamfords cover is now Joffy and I believe he will be part of the first team squad full time in January. I think Roberts goes out on loan or sold and I think a new midfielder comes in. Mateo Fernandez will replace Joffy in the 23s but Joffy will also get some game time with the 23s to keep his levels up whilst waiting for Bamford to fail. Our defence has been solid all season besides the odd Cooper error, but we have covered for Ayling and Firpo pretty well although a lack of right side wing back play missed. Firpo was just about showing what he could do when he got injured again. He will be frustrated but dont write him off because he is highly thought of in Spain and we got him cheap. Orta and Bielsa know what they want and what their players can do and are capable of, so Firpo will produce when he gets a run of games.having Bamford and Joffy covering the 9 shirt leaves a hole in midfielder a creative player to play alongside Rodrigo. We need another Dallas/Klich. Defence and attack is sound just the middle where we’re short and we need to have at least 20 first teamers from now on to reduce square pegging and kids
Morning all KEVIN SINFIELD what a guy Firpo - We got it wrong, we were interested in Maxwel Cornet and Bielsa decided on Firpo. You can’t get it right every time. Before Bielsa took over we truly felt we had a very poor team and I for one felt sack Orta. Bielsa transformed what he had, it was like he had a magic wand. Now that he has a larger say or shall we say final say on signings it’s very hit and miss which I find quite strange
Morning all, Firpos biggest problem is he hasnt had a long run in the team and as yet to play with the same settled back four or person in front of him. He was just starting to show signs of what he is about when he got injured. He returns to be brought on into a team that is square pegs in Round holes. He needs a proper run before we give up on him
Bielsa got rid of a lot of dead wood when he arrived and transformed what was left. So he did seem to have a good eye for potential when he had time to assess a player up close. Perhaps the reason the incoming transfers since are hit and miss is because he doesn't have that luxury ? Bielsa tells Orta what he needs and Orta goes out and gets a player that fits the budget, not always Bielsa's number one choice. Got to agree on the squad size, it's now biting us hard.
Anyone feeling sorry for Xavi at Barcelona because he has a CB in Samuel Umtiti who doesnt get picked unless Barca play with a back 3. Umtiti has a release clause of €500m (Firpo had a release clause of €200m) but because Barca need money and need new players they have to offload some. Negotiations with Umtiti have collapsed so they are looking to get rid by terminating his contract. He has refused to take a pay cut on his £212k per week, so looks like he will be looking for a new club but no chance of ever getting a wage like that again. So we know release clauses only work if the player is performing and wanted by other clubs. If the player is hardly used and surplus to requirements or you need cash, sell cheap
Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield should be honoured for his work. He's actually out there doing it himself.
I knew Poveda was stretchered off on Saturday, but its now official a broken fibula and ankle ligament damage. He will be on his way back to Leeds once he has had a plate fitted and looks like being out for most of the season now. Yet another long term injury on the books as Poveda has a contract until 2024. He was showing his worth to Blackburn fans by scoring and getting an assist in last weeks game.
But a defender of his supposed quality should at least know and understand the basics of what’s required. Did Drameh look better at RB with his limited time, Cresswell at CB. It’s not like we got him for free to develop, if he had a £200m release clause you’d expect better no excuses surely? He has no pace, no positional sense, he looks totally lost. If you’re a player of a certain quality, you should be able to walk into a team and show something that everyone thinks, yes he’s going to be good. I’ve got to admit, a few are saying “showed signs” before his injury, I didn’t see any signs and I think it’s more hope than genuine belief.
He got rid of our best player Saiz and then best defender Pontus because he didn’t like their attitude, he benched Pablo for the same reason. I’m pretty sure he used virtually the same team as the previous guy though, not too much dead wood. I’m not doubting he has an eye for talent but in general he seems to have done better with what he inherited over the signings. Let’s not forget the money wasted on Nketiah and Augustin as well
So I think we agree, he improved the players he decided to keep but not so much the ones he's brought in (bar some exceptions - Bamford for example). Saiz is now playing in the Spanish second division and he replaced Pontus with Ben White (so perhaps another one that he got right, even though he couldn't keep hold of him).
Apart from Firpo his defender signings and development have been ace and that includes developing Alioski and Dallas as much as he did in those positions. Bamford was far from first choice though, we were chasing Adams and some other guy who I’ve forgotten. Bamford had a storming season with no fans, we miss what he does off the ball but as an out and out goal scorer and finisher…. Which reminds me, Roofe was another allowed to leave, far better player and goal scorer than Roberts
Bamford still a far better player than he was. Good point about Roofe, I forgot about him, should not have let him go.
Just to get a pause in the slap Firpo thread, I have had a scan through the Boggers Bar thread. Some good bants on there but notice lots of old mates have stopped posting on here for some reason. Good to see Pags posted too. I appreciate the old BBC posters split into two camps but most used both sites until it was easier to slash your wrist and stuck it out over here. Sad though that so many seem to have walked off here in recent months
Roofe has only played 35 games for Rangers in 2 years, so is he injury prone or not good enough for the SPL? Good scoring record 19 in 35 but…….
Not two years, 35 games since August 2020 but it does look like he's missed a few games in that period.
Eire stopped when the Glory LeedsLover Brb thing happened, he’s still well I keep in touch on Twitter I think Davy left for the same reason. Chesh said he’s very busy but still looks in and 20/20 had a run in with someone on the politics thread miss them posting though
I ised to be in touch with Eire and a few on twitter but I binned twitter so miss not having a bit of a laugh with Eire and Co but cannot stand the cesspit of twitter
Morning Rich - morning all Firstly, I don't think Bielsa got rid of Saiz at all - I thought Saiz and his missus wanted to go back to Spain and he pretty much refused to play for us any longer and Bielsa wouldn't keep a sulker in the camp. It all blew up after he farcically got himself sent off against Newport in the cup. Secondly, Roofe was just Championship economics. Yes, a better goalscorer than Roberts by far but nobody was offering £ 5 million (and probably never will) for Roberts. Bit the same as the Viera situation and, no I don't blame Rads for selling and keeping things sensible - it worked for us without Saiz and Roofe in the end (and even with Roberts if we are going to stick to facts )
Remember that we got back what we paid for Siaz which was dead lucky as he has never fulfilled his promise. Yet another Adrian situation, crap mostly. We got profits on everyone else Bielsa got rid of except Grot who we released and LDB who is out on loan and still on the books. We made profits on the Jap and good profits on the black barn door sniper we sold to a Turkish club. Bielsa made the correct choice of getting rid of Viera instead of Phillips and I wanted Phillips out rather than Viera but Bielsa was right, I even got upset when he chose Meslier over the Northern Ireland failure whos now at the wendies after bench warming at Burnley.
