Good Morning. It's Thursday 12th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Gnonto is a marked man Since joining Leeds in the dying hours of the Summer transfer window, Wilfred Gnonto has quickly become an integral part of Leeds survival hopes this season. His speed, movement and close ball control have given the Leeds team the shot in the arm they have needed to turn defence into attack. As a team, Leeds have always lacked creativity, but with Gnonto and Summerville at their disposal, the future looks bright. The young Italian also has a footballing brain far beyond his years, and doesn't give the ball away cheaply. Quite simply, he's the cog that keeps us ticking over in the oppositions half. His constant threat levels have now made him a marked man, as Phil Hay explains:- "Gnonto was an unknown quantity when he joined with no reputation in England outside of recruitment circles, but he has brought electricity to the club, helping to prevent the battery from going flat. Irrespective of arrivals in the days ahead, it feels as if one attacking position in Jesse Marsch’s line-up is allocated, nailed down by Gnonto." "For all that the 19-year-old was a slightly obscure target, a raw Italy international playing in Switzerland, the tell about his ability was what prominent people in the game who had seen him evolve were saying. Roberto Mancini described Gnonto as knowing how to play football “like very few others”, which sounded like high praise and has not been contradicted by his earliest games in England. He has a good mix of attributes: deft, athletic and blessed with a brain which seems wired to do the right things with the ball. Gnonto’s runs create calculated mayhem; the opposite of the headless chicken." "Gnonto has played only six times in the Premier League but Opta already have him down as one of the division’s most-fouled players, drawing three free kicks a game and close to the numbers held by Wilfried Zaha and Jack Grealish — players considered to be among those most heavily targeted." PLAYER TEAM FOULS WON PER 90 Emmanuel Dennis - Nottingham Forest -3.9 Tariq Lamptey - Brighton - 3.36 Jack Grealish - Manchester City -3.28 Jordan Ayew - Crystal Palace - 3.18 Wilfried Zaha - Crystal Palace - 3.18 Hakim Ziyech - Chelsea - 3.06 Goncalo Guedes - Wolves - 3.05 Willy Gnonto - Leeds - 3.03 Bruno Guimaraes - Newcastle - 2.98 Samuel Edozie - Southampton -2.94 "Marsch was asked about the tackles Gnonto had been soaking up and said the forward’s speed and movement were in part responsible for opposition players lunging in; likewise with Crysencio Summerville, who was hurt by a foul in the first half against Cardiff and needed scans at the start of this week. “I think (Gnonto) is difficult to deal with,” Marsch said. “He’s quick on his last step, his first step, every step, so to defend him isn’t easy. Cree (Summerville) as well, by the way. Cree has been taking some knocks. So those guys are crafty and quick and they can cause issues for the opponent.” please log in to view this image Harrogate plot Dean capture Teen hotshot Max Dean could be on his way to Harrogate Town, if recent reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post are to be believed. The 18yo striker has just six months remaining of his two-year deal, and with the likes of Gelhardt, Joseph and Perkins ahead of him in the pecking order, the lure of local first team football would be an attractive proposition. Dean is well thought of by the Elland Road faithful, and it is surprising that he hasn't been tied down to a new contract. We all know that strikers command higher fee's, and Dean has the potential to make it as a Premier League future star! please log in to view this image Is a point good enough against Villa Leeds travel down to Villa Park on Friday night looking for their first win since Bonfire night. They have been scrapping for their lives recently, yet remain just two points from the drop zone. If recent reports are to be believed, Leeds lack confidence. A win against Unai Emery men would have a massive positive effect both on moral, and their bid to stave off relegation. In the last seven meetings both Leeds and Villa have two wins apiece, and three draws. If you were offered a draw now, would you take it, or do you believe Leeds could get the win? please log in to view this image
Morning all, Personally would take a draw at Villa. Hard place to go and better than nothing, need to be winning our home games though if we’re only getting the odd point away. Obviously would prefer a win but I’m expecting a loss so a draw would do.
Also settle for a point at Villa. In our haydays when we had great teams and weren't plagued with the threat of relegation, we struggled there and would have taken a draw. Shouldn't be any different now. Gnonto been the highlight of my season. More consistent than Rapha was
Probably too late to be registered in time for Villa. I still won't believe he signs until I see him on the pitch. I'm still saying he won't score a PL goal for us this season
I'm not saying Rutter is ****. I just think it's taking too long to sort out so it might not happen. If it does happen I'm guessing he won't be up to speed for a few weeks as the German league is on a mid season break. Then he's got to break in to the side containing the in form Gnonto, Summerville, Rodrigo and a returning Sinisterra. By the time he does that (if he does that) it will be knocking on for April and he'll only have a handful of games to start scoring and he's only scored 2 all season in a weaker league. I'm sure he'll be invaluable in the u21's for their run in though.
Need the win but will settle for a draw so that the whole weekend isn’t ruined by the Friday night fixture. I wonder who is going to be shipped (sold) out to pay for Rutter?
Hopefully Harrison as he's certainly not an integral part of the setup anymore. Hope not Meslier as we've waited decades for a quality keeper and he is
So the Rutter price is actually only £24.75m which could rise to £35m over the next 5 years if Rutter completes a lot of targets. So the headlines are just clickbait and no transfer records have been broken yet
I did think Harrison changed the game when he came in and played as a 10, much rather see him there rather than on the right?
That’s still a good profit for them on an outlay of 750K so I still don’t know what he’s done to justify that jump in value?
Top sports pundit in Germany is saying Rutter is a fantastic prospect but has struggled this season being targeted with heavy tackles, PL will be harder He fears too much will be expected too soon
Exactly why Mars h has just kicked off about our refereeing, he even refused to talk to the ref panels as he says it’s pointless. He wants his players like Summerville, Gnonto protected as they are being kicked off the park…
