Good Morning. It's Tuesday 21st February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Gracia accepts ER task Javi Gracia will be unveiled as head coach at Elland Road later today. Talks with Victor Orta continued into the early hours of this morning, with the 52yo agreeing a short term deal until the end of the season, with a massive financial incentive if Leeds stay up. All events and activities at Thorp Arch have been cancelled today in preparation of Gracia's arrival. The Spaniards previous recent roles include Valencia, Watford, Rubin Kasan and Malaga. This would be his 14th management position in 19 years, and has never stayed with a club longer than two years. It is believed that Leeds still have their eyes on Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot but will reassess the situation in the Summer. Where will Gracia's appointment leave Skubala and Armas? Will they stay? Will Skubala be happy to return to U21 duties? please log in to view this image U21's climb to 2nd after scrappy win Goals from Brenden Arronsen and Sean McGurk saw Leeds U21's record their first victory of 2023, and climb up to second place in the rankings, infront of a healthy 3214 Elland Road crowd. It was far from easy, against a stubborn Aston Villa side intent on causing an upset. With no wins from four, Leeds pulled out the big guns, but had to settle for Arronsen and Rutter instead. You'd imagine with £65m of talent on view, the hosts would turn on the style, instead they made a meal of it. To Arronsen's credit, he took his goal well; that's more than could be said of Rutter, who failed to muster a single shot on target for the 45 minutes he played. Villa equalised shortly after the interval, but to Leeds credit, they piled on the pressure. Second half substitute Sam Greenwood was a constant threat to the visitors. He rocked the woodwork from one effort , and was denied another following a fine save from Zych. McGurk struck the winner eight minutes from time, which from the balance of play, Leeds deserved. It wasn't pretty, and it was far from comfortable, but sometimes you have to dig deep, show a gritty resolve and fight your way to three points, something sadly lacking from the first team at the moment. please log in to view this image
Morning all. Fantastic. Superb appointment. Well worth waiting for. Is that positive enough for Marcos and Jammy. Have to change my damn avatar yet again to show my undying support for the new man
Not excited by his appointment, but look sometimes you have to take what you're given. personally I think it's a panic appointment, but I really hope it works out for him the team and for us.
Javi is the man. No one has any idea how things will go just the same as if we'd appointed Zidane or Poch. Get behind the man
Morning all… The day after Jesse was sacked and Radz made his white smoke tweet, if they’d have presented this guy all hell would have broken loose, the fact we’re all saying okay then (with reservation) shows how desperate it’s become. Bottom line is it’s a disgrace that Orta gets paid a healthy wage and this is the best he can come up with. Like everyone else, I’ll support him, I think with the hole the board have dug for themselves, a 4 month contract with huge bonus to keep us up is the best way out. Benitez was said to be not interested, rumours are he has been sounded out for West Ham
You had Jesse sussed early on. You might as well give your honest opinion about this lad. Should Orta be flat out looking for his successor from Sunday on
Not sure what to make of this appointment but if he succeeds it will show up all the so-called ‘big name’ managers who wouldn’t risk spoiling their apparently ‘impressive CV’s” by taking on a managerial job mid season. Good luck to the guy.
My ounce of hope is he can’t be worse than Jesse and he’s inheriting a better team than Jesse did, he’s also managed in the PL. A better option than Lampard, Gerrard, and that ex Ajax coach we were linked with. Apparently he likes a pressing high tempo 4-4-2 so we’re suited pretty much okay for that. I think he’ll lead us to safety, that’s all we’re asking for (so FA Cup final is a bonus ) He got Watford there so it would seem he takes it seriously, also he’s not going to be remembered for a 4 month stint at Leeds but an FA cup on his CV would be handy
He can afford to lose the next 9 and keep us up once he wins the last six Once again, mainly for the benefit of the twins Jammy and Marcos
I think many on here would be watching/listening to the final game of the season from their hospital beds if the season played out like that
yeh I did my own research this morning and concluded something similar. The main caveat is how frequently he gets the chop. Football is a mad world and rarely a fair one, but he seems a regular for the chop regardless for some reason
It's a worry isn't it. I just wonder when Orta became aware of his availability, he certainly wasn't on the radar two weeks ago. On the 18th March, we play Wolves then we have a two week break before our next game, you just hope the players are professional enough, and that the coach has enough experience to work with what he has and not try and make the players do something that is beyond them. Scrape some points between now and the break and get their arses in every day if he has to
So Orta has found someone to accept the poisoned chalice but I give the new guy my full support I like the idea of playing 442 Just hope the players get behind him
