Good Morning. It's Tuesday 15th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Hjelde set to start against Manchester Utd Marcelo Bielsa is set to give Norwegian U21 International Leo Hjelde a rare start on Sunday for the visit of Manchester Utd. The Leeds gaffer was forced to throw the 18yo in at the deep end after just nine minutes against Everton last weekend, due to an injury to Stuart Dallas. Although his injury hasn't been fully assessed yet, it's safe to say he won't be available this weekend. Unfortunately for Leeds, Junior Firpo isn't fit either, which leaves Bielsa with a dilemma! Move Koch to centre back, and replace him with Forshaw, and move Struijk to left back or hand a rare start to Hjelde! please log in to view this image What constitutes a real football fan Several generations ago, most people used to support a football team based on family or where they were born. The growth of technology and better transport links have made it far more assessable to watch your hero's in action, whether you're jumping on a plane from the other side of the World or watching the game from the comfort of your living room. Many reading this, commit thousands of pounds each year to watch their club in action; whether it's a sunny Autumn afternoon at Elland Road or a freezing rain soaked midweek fixture at St Mary's. These supporters are the lifeline of our club, without them Leeds Utd couldn't function, but what about those who can't attend games? An 'armchair supporter' or a 'plastic' is the modern day term to describe those who follow a team without any real affinity to the club in question. Commonly, they cling to a club based on success. Is it fair to label those who don't or can't attend games as plastics? Just because they / we can't attend matches, does it make us any less a Leeds fan? please log in to view this image Leeds are safe - Ferdinand Former player, now pundit Rio Ferdinand has claimed that the current bottom three in the top flight will playing Championship football next season. The former Leeds and Manchester Utd star believes Norwich City, Watford and Burnley 'have to win too many games and the others have to lose too many to get out'. Leeds are six points clear of 18th place Norwich and are ahead of Newcastle and Everton. Speaking on Vibe with five, Ferdinand claimed:- “I think the three teams that are in the bottom three now go down. That’s it. Newcastle are out. “Leeds and Brentford could get dragged in. But I just think the three teams in the bottom three, they have to win too many games and the others have to lose too many to get out.” please log in to view this image
Morning all I’m not going to even suggest what my starting 11 would be, we know what Bielsa will do, the only exciting thing will be does he start with Hjelde or Struijk at LB Without plastic fans in front of their Sky TV boxes we wouldn’t have the PL and the money involved although I could see how that could easily be a positive
I've got more time for fans who never attend games for whatever reason than people who claim to be fans but only attend during the good times.
That'd be my definition of a plastic - more like a glory hunter. See the rise in demand for ST and game tickets now that we're in the Prem.
Morning all My understanding from the last presser was that firpo was healthy but not using him for Everton but back next week. So panic not anf in any case Hjelde did well last week and even blocked a certain Richarlson goal. This board reflects football fans from most clubs. There are those of us born and bred in Leeds who couldnt ollow any other club. There are those who live in all parts of the UK, Europe, Far East, USA, Australia who love this club just as much as me who was born in Leeds, many of those ex pats were also born in Leeds but emigrated. There are others like Shaks and many more have followed Leeds through thick and thin and have spent fortune attending as many games as he can afford. We have the Scandinavians who also push the boat out. It makes no difference how you support the club in my opinion because being a Leeds fan is a way of life almost like filling in a government form asking about nationality. Brtish/English/Leeds Utd
I've always wondered if we built or redeveloped ER into a 60,000 capacity stadium would we fill it ? History would suggest not, but it's modern times and the city of Leeds has changed beyond all recognition so maybe we would. It would have to be nearly all home fans though as even clubs with huge stadiums only allocate away fans 3,000 as it's just too much hassle with policing/stewarding to have any more these days. Personally I'm happy as it as but what do you lot who can't get tickets think ?
We're selling out every game at 37K or so at the moment. 20K on season ticket waiting list (doesn't mean they'll all buy one of course and doesn't mean the club would suddenly put an extra 20K season tickets on sale either but it shows there's potential). Although as has already been pointed out on here, it would depend on us staying in the Prem and IMO, not just surviving but playing competitive/attractive football. We saw how crowds dropped each time we've fallen down a level.
We're a one City club. We should sell out at least 40k every week. If Villa can fill 42k during a midweek game in a 3 city club, we should at least be able to fill 50k
.. doesn't always work like that.. an argument that multi club cities create a rivalry that increases overall attendance. For the size of the city and only one club... our support has never been as great (numerically at least) as we like to tell everyone it is! In the current climate would we fill 50-60k? The wait list suggest yes... at least during the good times. Interesting example is west ham... i've never considered them a 'big club'.... but move stadium and go from being 35k to 60k support.
In the 21st century Leeds will market itself for FA Cup Semi’s, ladies football cup games, international matches if England win Euros, WC matches if England get involved, rock concerts, major rugby finals, world 7s RU Nd RL, boxing. Leeds City is now excelling as a venue for theatre and the arts, galleries, financial centre and now a go to destination from anywhere in the world. 49ers involvement along with the Aussie king of stadium and shopping mall development skills will rocket Leeds Utd into a different orbit. We will never see the days of 15,000 gates again due to the twat known as Bates. Chin up and strap in for the rest of the season
My choice is options 3 & 4: 3 - incompetent policing 4 - shocking security by the organisers If 3 & 4 were executed with any sort of expertise, they fans / low life scum wouldn't have been able to do this. They simply took advantage of 3 & 4. Like I would have for a Scotland game.
5 wembley should sue the police who would have been paid to do this and sue whoever ran the stewarding
As far as I remember, it was only stewards that were operating in & around the stadium in any numbers at Wembley during the Euros. The police covered the outer perimeter of public roads etc. Down to cost. Stewards cost a fraction of pigs. Pretty sure this all came to a head when Bates took them on, & this 'divide' was established. It's not 100% - you'll still get some cops in the stadium & some stewards outside the ground (e.g. traffic management plan). This is only based on 1 game at Wembley during the Euros (& alcohol was involved), so apologies if not correctly reported. Btw, I got in without my ticket or C19 pass being shown - there was no internet, so I couldn't get them up on my phone for inspection!
Nope. Lawn now finished. Put my collection to good use. .... due to using turf from various locations (didn't want to incriminate myself), my lawn is now tartan(ish). Result!
Yes but, if “ardent” fans only choose to go to one home game every 5 years or so it isn’t that straightforward is it?
