Good Morning. It's Friday 1st April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Bamford's ER future could be in doubt Patrick Bamford has had a wretched time this season with injuries. The 28yo has managed to clock up just 560 minutes of game since August (2 goals), compared to 3066 minutes, the season before (17 goals). Leeds Director of Medicine Rob Price believes Bamford's latest injury set back (a ruptured plantar fascia) will rule him out of action for another five weeks, but fellow injury expert Ben Dinnery believes Price is being optimistic in his assessment. “I’d be very surprised if we see him again this season,” “Some of the research I’ve read gives him an outside chance, but it’s very, very small. “Typically, we’re looking at around the nine or 10-week return timeline. “When you look at how heavily his season has been disrupted, it makes a lot more sense to focus on his recovery. “I think he’ll be looking at pre-season and they won’t want to take any unnecessary risks with this one. It’s very painful. “He’ll initially be immobile. It’s all about gradual reintroduction but I wouldn’t expect that to be before the end of the season. “But hopefully the fact it has been ruptured now means he’ll be in a much better place than he has been in the last year. “We know he has been managing this problem But because of the rupture, that tension in the foot has been released. “It’s going to be non-surgical because the foot has really good blood flow. That is the silver lining. Hopefully, he can move forward now.” Former player Alan Hutton also believes Bamford should not hurry back to action, and warns that this type of injury may plague the striker throughout his career. “It’s one of those niggly ones that it’s forever if you don’t sort it out early. For me, I would like to see him take his time with it and get it right. I know he’s been desperate to get back to playing. “Especially in the position that Leeds are in at this moment, they need him. He’s done his best to try and get back. “But if this is constantly affecting him and his play, take the time and get it right now. Because if you don’t and you keep rushing back, it becomes a problem throughout your whole career. “It’s one of those ones that is constantly sore when you’re playing. I’ve come across a lot of players that have had it and they’re always complaining that you can never get it right. “So I think now is the key time to take your time with it. Make sure you’re 100 per cent and then come back fresh for the new season. They have to really be careful with things like this.” Does Bamford have a long term future at Elland Road? He's still only 28! With Bielsa's help, he has become a lot more than just a goal scorer, but does Jesse Marsch see Paddy as part of his long term future? If Leeds are to march up the table next season (as Radrizzani has promised), will Bamford be part of the master plan? please log in to view this image Joffy will play a much bigger role now going forward During his pre-match press conference yesterday, Leeds Head Coach Jesse Marsch has promised that Joe Gehardt 'will play a much bigger role now going forward'. Joffy, who turns 20 next month, has actually played 100 minutes less than Bamford this season, which has prompted speculation that the youngster is becoming despondent at the lack of first team opportunities this season. "Joffy was a little bit injured in the Wolves game and wasn't at 100%,". "Certainly with me and with us in this process, we have to get him going more and more and more. So certainly he will play a much bigger role now going forward," "We were considering him to start against Wolves," Marsch said, referencing 19-year-old Gelhardt. "And then the whole week he didn't train because - well, first he was going to play against Man U in the 23s match - and then we wanted to make [it the] intention for Wolves [for him to play] from the start or [to get] more minutes and then he just had this back spasm that prevented him a little bit from training." "He has to play, you know, young players have to play in order to improve and he has the quality to do so. So I'm not so concerned about it. I believe in him entirely. And I know he's going to get better and better," please log in to view this image Leeds eye up Barca defender Leeds United are reportedly monitoring the progress of USA International right back Sergino Dest. The 21yo has fallen out of favour at the Camp Nou and expected to leave this Summer. He joined Barcelona in the summer of 2020 from Ajax, where he played alongside Pascal Struijk for the reserves. Since joining the Catalan giants, he has clocked up 68 appearances. Dest is one of many fringe players Barcelona are looking to move on this Summer, to raise cash for transfers. They value him at 17m. He is predominantly a right wing back, but he is also comfortable playing on the left. If true, where does this leave Luke Ayling and Cody Drameh? please log in to view this image
Joe Gelhardt and Rodrigo up front for me, with Harrison on the bench and Raphinha and James on the flanks
RB is one area I wouldnt be looking at straight away Morning all Joffy has the rest of the season to show what he can do. Even if he shines I think it would be madness not to bring in another centre forward for next term. Then a centre mid and a left back and anywhere else we can strengthen
Morning all. Very unlikely Joffy will start tomorrow as he's another one who doesn't have 90 mins in his legs. It's obviously great to have players returning to the squad but it will be tricky getting them up to speed whilst also focusing on the only thing that really matters...results.
I remember it well OLOF. If I'm correct it was his debut. I was at work, but was listening to it on the radio, while I copied a bootlegged Chubby Brown tape.
Think its pretty safe for Jesse to say with no Bamford and no Roberts that we'll see more of Joffy from now on. As Jammy says, if Marsch is saying it will be Coops or KP because neither will last 90, he's unlikely to then start someone else that will need subbing - as it restricts injury or tactical subs during the game. My guess is KP plays and James starts up front. Harrison along with Ayling, dragged us back into the Wolves game, he'll play. Possible also that for all KP is (in my view) our most important player, that the performance of our centre halves in recent games means that JM starts with Coops and keeps KP on the bench.
I think if we stay up we need the next generation of players who are over 30. Cooper has plenty of cover, but Forshaw, Dallas, Klich and Ayling need it. All of yhem will make great subs but we can see none of them can do a full season. Dallas has come close this season and Klich did it for 2 seasons but at what cost. A striker yes, a DM yes, an 8 & a 10 yes. No doubt the club will decide on Drameh for Ayling
Basing this just on my dodgy memory but doesn't Phillips usually require a couple of games before he starts performing at his usual level ? If so then nothing unusual in that, most players need to feel their way back in after injury but the question is can we afford to wait any longer balanced against we really need to be at our best for the next 2 matches against Southampton & Watford.
Maybe...but the next question would be whether half of Phillips is a better option than Koch, Forshaw or Klich?
yeh, i do recall him looking rusty a few times coming back from injury. I guess the question is, does a rusty phillips (sounds like a porn star) do a better job at dm than a fully fit forshaw? Guess you weigh that up against the form of struijk... if JM likes a left foot/right foot combination in his centre backs (no idea if he does) then he might think coops for Struijk is more important for the team. Seems to like Llorrente over Koch at RCB - which i would have totally agreed with last year. This year? Dunno, I think Koch has adapted better to the pace of the PL this year (says he's had to bulk up as well to cope with fast strong strikers over here) though he's been mainly used as DM... and Llorente looks an accident waiting to happen. Centre backs are often about the partnership... maybe Coops would bring the best out of him? Who'd be a manager... we'll leave such conundrums to Ted to resolve!
Just read a great article in Wales on-line about Cody Drameh. YEP have lifted bits and done a cut and paste job, but it was interview with Morison and the take away bits are that Cardiff cannot afford Drameh Drameh will be a premier league player next season either at Leeds or at one of a number of clubs who want him. Drameh is ghe best right back in the Championship and will be one of ghe best right backs in the orem next season. Drameh and Morison took a lot of stick from Leeds fans when he went to Cardiff, he understood that as Morison isnt popular in Leeds and Cody left to play football. A paragraph on Drameh answering questions about next season, no he hasnt spoken to the new manager, but hes in regular contact with Mark Jackson and Jacko told him to carry on doing what hes doing
I don't agree with what Cody did in January and I stand by it. However, I said at the time I hope he does well so we possibly get a much improved player or we sell a player worth much more than he was.
My view is that if we stay up it will act as a catalyst for next season. The players have really bonded since Bielsa left and you can see they really care about the club and the fans etc. Not saying they didn't before but some have really stood up to be counted. We're not there yet but the signs are really positive. Not sure where/how Drameh fits into that to be honest and maybe it's best if he just ****s off for good
I think Drameh will want more money as his agent bigs up his ego. I for one don't want him back as we needed him and he sulked off so not the attitude for Leeds Utd.
