Good Morning. It's Wednesday 8th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Hay responds to Radrizzani backlash Phil Hay has defended his position in the latest war of words between the former Chief Football Writer of the YEP and Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani. The Italian ultrapreneur was furious that Messrs Slater and Hay leaked, and (apparently) misrepresented the finer details of the proposed takeover; and took to social media to try to belittle the duo. In response Hay has retorted:- "The details are public (and he disagrees with the interpretation of where this is going). Very much stand by what we’ve written though, today and yesterday". please log in to view this image Bamford hamstring injury following goal celebration Reports from Elland Road suggest Patrick Bamford's latest injury was self-inflicted following his goal celebration in the dying seconds of the Brentford game last Sunday. Although not considered to be serious, the Leeds marksman is set to be out for a game or two. He was seen clutching his thigh following his trademark knee skid in front of the Elland Road faithful. please log in to view this image Phillips out until February Kalvin Phillips faces a two-month lay-off following the hamstring injury he sustained at the weekend. The England midfielder hobbled off after 55 minutes, much to the dismay of Bielsa, and 36,000 screaming Leeds fans. The Whites have only won twice (out of 12 games) without the England midfielder in the starting line up since their return to the top flight. Their plight is not made any easier with their festive fixture list featuring Chelsea, Livrpool, Citeh and Arsenal. Liam Cooper will also space a spell on the sidelines following jarring his knee after just 14 mins, against the Bees! please log in to view this image Takeover is off if Whites get relegated The financial impact of relegation would more or less destroy any hopes of a takeover, according to Phil Hay. He went on to explain that the sustainability of Championship football is fragile at best (as Leeds fans know all too well), and clubs have to spend beyond their means just to compete:- "This takeover isn’t going to happen as quickly as next month (unless something changes drastically) so any signings done in January would have to be done/funded within the existing 56-44 share split. As for the Championship, that would change the club’s valuation, without a doubt. Leeds wouldn’t be worth £475m at that level. But all bets are off if a club gets relegated from the EPL. The ramifications can be huge". "The Championship becoming a loss making league (in which very few owners can actually sustain losses for long) is a huge problem and arguably the biggest issue in the structure of the pyramid. You’re almost forced to gamble and overspend to compete, otherwise you’re an also ran. That needs to change - but it won’t". please log in to view this image
Morning all, Made sure to chuck a story with the old relegation word in it at the end there Ell, gotta keep the doom and gloomers happy. So if it wasn't for bad luck there would be no luck at all this season at Leeds. Just get back to a near full strength squad and boom Phillips gets injured. We have struggled without Phillips in the past but that was without Forshaw available. Hopefully Struijk will be fit to play alongside him. Let Struijk do the defensive work while Forshaw pulls the strings.
Morning all Problem with Phil Hay he thinks he has made it because he got the job at The Athletic as Leeds Utd correspondent. He has started making shyt up to get clicks and I mentioned plenty last week. On the 49ers thing I said yesterday he and Matt Slater were barking up the wrong tree in their assumptions and Radz proved me right. All Hay had to do was look at what options in the deal could happen but they ignored that and just stated as if fact one scenario. Hay used to be pretty reliable but he has nobody inside the club who feeds him info. Leeds are pretty good with secrets these days. So Hay resorts to making shyt up like Bielsa could leave in January, Leeds will now buy a midfielder in January, 3 Leeds players to leave in January and more….. Nobody has any clue about the Phillips and Paddy injury situation yet. If indeed Paddy did a hamstring celebrating then he needs fining. I would fine any player for doing the stupid knee glide celebration because the groundsman have to repair the gouges. If Phillips has torn a hamstring we are in trouble unless Bielsa finds a square peg that works. Cooper out so e need Struijk on the LCB with Llorente on the righht. How far is Koch off? Can Forshaw do DM? klich cant. Injuries and small squad hurting us every week
Saturday 11/12 Chelsea A Tuesday 14/12 Man City A Saturday 18/12 Arsenal H Boxing Day Liverpool A Tuesday 28/12 Aston Villa H Sunday 2/1 Burnley H Saturday 8/1 West Ham A (FA Cup) Sunday 16/1 West Ham A Can see a maximum of 5 points, bottom 3 and out of the cup by the time these fixtures are completed.
The injuries have occurred at the wrong time for us. The difference will be whether Forshaw can fill in for Phillips, and if I'm honest we wouldn't lose our balance with that switch. Klich must re-find his form, and quickly, or drop him in favour of Bate.
……………….…….Meslier…………………….. Ayling…..Llorente…………..Struijk………..Dallas ……………………..Forshaw………………………. James….Raphinha………….Rodrigo…..Harrison.. ……………………..Roberts…………………………