Good Morning. It's Thursday 23rd February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Gracia fails work permit stipulation If Leeds on-field problems weren't bad enough, they now face a race against time to try and sort out Javi Gracia's work permit, ready for their crunch match against Southampton at the weekend. This could be a big problem as he fails to meet one of the Post-Brexit immigration stipulations set out by the FA. The 52yo does not qualify for his GBE (Governing Body Endorsement) visa having failed to meet the criteria set out in appendix four below:- 1) He must have overall responsibility for the first team of the club applying for a GBE. 2) He must hold a UEFA professional license or equivalent. 3) He must be filling a vacancy at a managerless club. 4) He must have managed at a club in an FA-determined ‘top league’ for at least 36 months cumulatively - or two years consecutively - within the five year period immediately prior to the date of his application. Leeds are likely to resubmit his application to the exceptions panel, but there's no guarantee the FA will make special allowances for Leeds Utd, they're more likely to dock us points for trying. Theoretically, Leeds may have to sack Gracia before he even starts. please log in to view this image Aranalde lined up as Gracia's assistant Zigor Aranalde is set to join Leeds United as Javi Gracia’s Assistant Manager, assuming Gracia's work permit can be sorted out. The pair worked together at Watford, Valencia and Al Sadd in Qatar, and as such the move makes perfect sense. The former left back enjoyed a 19 year playing career, which included spells at Walsall, Sheffield Wednesday and Carlisle. After he retired in 2010, he took up coaching at Albacete. In 2018, he linked up with Javi Gracia for the first time, and the pair have been inseparable ever since. Where this leaves Chris Armas is anybodies guess. We know that Michael Scubala has been promoted to the first team coaching staff, though Armas was more like an assistant to Marsch prior to his departure several weeks ago. please log in to view this image Rodrigo comeback ahead of schedule Rodrigo's recovery from ankle surgery is ahead of schedule, and is planning a come-back before the International break in late Marsch. Leeds leading scorer, who turns 32 in a couple of weeks has been out of action since the Accrington Stanley win almost four weeks ago, and wasn't expected back until April; but rehabilitation has been going well, prompting the Spanish International to bring forward his expected comeback date. “Feeling much, much better". “Things are progressing better than I expected, to be honest. We are trying to shorten the recovery period. “I'm happy for that. Injuries are always a frustrating moment for a football player, but I understand that's part of football as well. I'm trying to do everything I can to be back as soon as possible.” “I expect to be back before the international break,” “When I got the injury, they said probably I will be back just after the international break, but things are progressing better than we always expected." “I hope I can be available for the games before the international break, but let's see. We can’t confirm because it depends on my progression from now to the next two or three weeks, but if I keep this progression, I think I will be available before [the break].” please log in to view this image
Only at Leeds eh...... time to accept we are a basket case at the moment, move on to target number 50 and welcome clown clown the clown man
Only we could get a manager that doesnt qualify for a bloody work permit.. You just couldnt make this up! Shocking.. Morning all btw!
Gracia fails a work permit clause what with that and poor board decisions, and just plain bad luck at times in the extreme on the field, does anything at all go right for this club? no wonder i got no hair By the way good morning all A little joke for ya How can you tell how long someone has supported Leeds United? By how much hair they have
Hull City we’re allowed to bring in a manager who didn’t qualify, and it was done to the exceptions panel so should just be a formality. I see Rodrigo only has good words for Gracia as he was under him at Valencia. The club were in shyt and sold him so wasn’t with Gracia for long and other top players were sold too which means he did well keeping Valencia going. I’m sure if Rodrigo had not got injured he would have 15 league goals by now. Things would look different as the arrogant fk Bamford wouldnt be first choice.
Morning all. Bielsa's work permit situation was the same or similar, so other than taking longer to be approved it shouldn't be a problem.
Rod has been a huge miss. First the shoulder injury then this. As I know you all love a bit of xg analysis … Rod’s conversion rate is really high this year - he’s scored 10 from an xg of under 7. As a team we’ve scored 28 from an xg of around 34. So the rest of the team have scored 18 from an xg of 27… given that gnonto, Jimmy and luis are actually respectable in goals to xg… (just haven’t played enough to score enough) it shows that no one else could hit a cow’s arse with a banjo. Biggest culprit paddy, next biggest Jack and aaronson… And no one chipping in with goals from elsewhere really.
Morning all take no notice of the shytt stirrer Elland. An exception can be made on his work at Watford making the F.A.cup final. Our glorious leader just happened to omit that detail and i wonder why. He appears to have cast early today and hooked a few big ones. I suspect Gracias report on the soton v chelsea game and how to set Leeds up is being drilled into the squad already.
That got me thinking…… if and when the 49ers take over think a big board clear out is in order. Could they try and entice Bielsa back I wonder as he wouldn’t have to deal with the team that sacked him. Yes I know there are some who want to close down the Bielsa debate but how’s that going? If it happened they would win the fans over and it would also mean Bielsa will have been promised cash for the squad
Well the players who chipped in with goals were Alioski (Not replaced) Pablo (Not replaced) Harrison (Nowhere near his best) Raphinha (Sinisterra not played enough, Gnonto and Summerville. All 3 combined nearing Rapha) Goals from our midfield are rare and needs improving fast
Just hang on a minute whilst I ring my best ever girlfriend and see what she's up to. Mrs Jammy answered and said " all's good thanks but if you ever choose to sack me off I ain't coming back, so up to you babe " On balance then I've decided to keep her as that's the smart move
Id find it worrying that if they take over and have a clear out that the best they'd come up with is a former manager, albeit a great one. For club to move forward it's going to take quality owners with maybe new outlook on who runs the club, teams etc. Reverting back three seasons is pointless imo, need to be moving properly forward in event of survival and takeover
I don’t think there’s many ‘big corporate’ owners who would entertain Bielsa if they did their homework…. The level of control over everything his personality and methodology require. The circumstances at Leeds were ideal for him and it’s actually great credit to the board that they gave him the control he demanded to flourish. Rolling their eyes whilst sending a guy out with a paintbrush to re-mark the carparking etc. I just don’t think the Bielsa way lends itself to the corporate way. Bielsa is better suited in my opinion, to a private owner ready to cede control of everything for success on the field.
