please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Manchester City Wednesday 28th December@20:00 | Elland Road Leeds Utd return to action against Manchester City on Wednesday evening, following the five-week World Cup break without a number of keys players. Jesse Marsch's team sit peerlessly close to the drop zone, and with the trip to third place Newcastle Utd at the weekend, festive cheer may quickly turn to anguish going into the New Year. Leeds have concerns over ten first team players. Patrick Bamford's return from injury has coincided with illness, leaving the 29yo unable to train, thus ruling him out for the foreseeable future. Luis Sinisterra is out too, but should at least resume training in a couple of weeks. Stuart Dallas's return to action has been put on hold, after it was revealed that the 31yo had to undergo surgery (again) on his broken femur. Tyler Adams is ruled out through suspension. Crysencio Summerville (ankle) and Mateusz Klich (illness) are both rated doubtful. Rodrigo (thigh), Harrison (groin), Cooper (shin/heel), and Ilan Meslier (glandular fever) all face late fitness tests. Former Leeds favourite Kalvin Phillips will miss the trip back to Elland Road following conditioning concerns. Pep Guardiola is furious with the 27yo, who recently returned to training 'overweight', therefore losing his place in the first team squad. Argentine World Cup winner Alvarez has been given an extended period of rest, whilst central defender Ruben Dias has a hamstring injury. Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are set to compete for Dias’ spot. Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva and Jones Stones are all hoping for a return to action.
It's cover your eyes time and hope we get a bit of lady luck. If City turn up they will beat us simple as that. I'm not being a defeatist they are just better than us all over the pitch. but so they should with there backers. still got to believe though its 11 men against 11 men and sometimes things don't always go to plan. A red card, A off day, A home ref (lol not any hope in getting one of those against a team that rules differ from the rest) Not expecting anything so if we do gain any points it will be like a win. Good luck lads !
Doubt the fans will turn on you with darts, but just in case anyone has any bright ideas, supporters caught throwing darts will be banned until the New Year!
City are always a strong team lets, hope they have a few injuries, and have a few that's eaten too much pud. So that they can be crushed then Santa's stuffed loads of dosh, in the sock for a good transfer window, its that time of the year for wishes to come true
That is a perfect example of the wrong mentality. We are in the same division as them, it's 11vs11, we are at home. They are playing catch up to the Arse, it's all on them. We can win this.
spot on este. You have to knock these feckers out of their stride and we’re capable of doing it if we’re at it. Sure we need them to be not at their best and to ride our luck, but the players should look forward to these games. There’s no pressure, no expectation. Go out and give it your best shot. If we get spanked, so what.
Isn’t that why some wanted Bielsa sacked? Because he gave it his best shot against everyone no matter what and got spanked? Then the wise old sages said he should park the bus effectively against the top teams or is my memory playing tricks on me?
Maybe I didn’t phrase it very well, but I think este, and certainly myself were talking more about not having a defeatist mentality than sticking to a brand of football. That says I think our best chance of beating city is our aggressive press forcing errors, at the same time the next passing side in the league is best equipped to beat it, and have a field day in the open spaces we leave behind. For what it’s worth I don’t think I criticised bielsa for sticking to his principles in those games and not employing plan B… but plenty of pundits and some fans certainly did.
