So, here we are again, it seems like only yesterday that we were sat with our hands over our eyes praying for 3 points away at Rotherham in our re-arranged water polo match that would near certainly guarantee our safety in the division. Of course, this season will be much, much better won't it? New season, new manager, new players, renewed enthusiasm at board level and renewed optimism amongst the Bluebirds faithful..... what could possibly go wrong?? We start this campaign with arguably one of the toughest tests we could face, with a trip to newly relegated Leeds Utd in a live Sky clash. Now, it must be said that Elland Road has been a pretty happy hunting ground for us in the past, but our last visit in the FA Cup just last season proved anything but and we can only hope that the tide hasn't started turning with regards to our semi-hoodoo over the Yorkshire club. Our hosts' fortunes haven't been too dissimilar to our own over the last couple of seasons (albeit with theirs at the top tier level) witnessing a degrading slide which for them culminated in relegation from the top flight after a 3 years stint, something we managed to (just) avoid from our own division. Since relegation it's fair to say that the outgoing at Elland Road have far outweighed the incomings, with no fewer than 15 players having gone out of the exit door, either on-loan or permanently, including "star" player Rodrigo along with other relatively big arrivals such as Max Wober, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and Brenden Aaronson. Heading into LS11 have been the familiar face of Ethan Ampadu and the experienced gloveman Karl Darlow from Chelsea and Newcastle respectively. Hopefully Rambo has a trick or two up his sleeve to get one over on his Welsh team mate. Big things are still expected of the whites though with several highly rated/big name players still being at the club at the time of writing. Inside sources from Yorkshire though reveal that goal scoring could potentially be an issue for the relegated team this year (OK, it was Ellandback's Match Day Thread), so with our own bluntness in front of goal, could we be on for a cagey, drab 0-0 as an opening fixture and would we happily take a point away from home at this stage? Hopefully not and hopefully we can pick up our normal 3 points (who cares about the FA Cup result anyhow?). It's fair to say that our hosts appear to have a minor injury crisis on their hands already with both main strikers (Bamford & Rutter) missing for Sunday along with Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Matteo Joseph. Bulut's Bulletin For our beloved Bluebirds it's once again been a close season of change. I don't think I'm in the minority though when I say that our squad already has a much stronger look to it than the one that finished the last season. With newcomers in the shape of Karlan Grant, Yakou Meite and "stellar" signing Aaron Ramsey, plus the return of Jamilu Collins we can only hope that the experience and ability that we are gaining will propel our team up the league table to a minimum of a mid-table finish and who knows, with a couple more signings possible, even a cheeky crack at the play-offs (well, it's the start of season, if we can't dream now then it's a poor show). Team news for this one however isn't so good for the Bluebirds with No'1 keeper Allsop ruled out for at least 3 games and doubts over Rubin Colwill, Joe Ralls, first choice CB Mark McGuinness and Yakou Meite, though all 4 are said to be back in training. Romaine Sawyers will definitely be missing with an apparent knee issue following his late return to the camp after extended international duty. With the influx of new bodies in the attacking third and rumours of at least one more to come in it could be that the mercurial midfielder could be on his way out. Trying to guess what Erol has lined up is nigh on impossible for this one so let's just roll with it and see what he comes up with. Perhaps not a fair reflection for our hosts being as their last 6 were in the Premier League but it's all relative. With just 2 points from their last 18 offer it really must have been a miserable end to the season for our illustrious hosts but it's nice to have them back at a level where they really belong Of course, our 7 points from 18 isn't much to write home about but I'd temper that with the fact that previous manager Smoochie definitely started tinkering with our line up once safety was assured and the players visibly dropped off a bit too, so fingers crossed there is no hangover left for our boys in blue. Past Meetings Oh the joys... some brief highlights of some of our past meetings (I may have forgotten the meetings last season ) As mentioned earlier, our record against Leeds is generally very good and some of the goals outstanding... I'll never get bored of seeing that Tomlin flick for Bobby G For this season I have decided to do away with "Prutton Predicts" as I was getting bored of his negativity and anyhow, we know that there'll be the usual love in for the relegated sides, so we can easily predict that the predictions will favour them for almost every game... We do however still need to see what the bookies think so over to you Vince, what do you have for us? What Are The Odds On That? Well I Never Did you know that Leeds gave the world the board game Cluedo? Anthony E. Pratt’s created one of the most famous board games in history. He turned his love of detective novels into a crime caper called Murder – the game we now know as Cluedo. Pratt was actually a Birmingham lad, but in 1944, he took his idea to Waddington’s Games in Leeds. They saw its potential immediately, but it wasn’t released for another 5 years because production was stalled during the war. Nope I never knew that either, but I bet you come Sunday evening the Bluebirds will have gotten away with murder.... Robbo, in the 6 yard box with his left peg.... Additionally high street bigwigs Marks & Spencer began as a market stall in Leeds back in 1884. Michael Marks opened up a penny bazaar in Leeds Kirkgate Market. 10 years later, he teamed up with Tom Spencer to grow the business, leaving the market for new premises on Boar Lane before moving to Briggate where you’ll still find the store today. Well, Leeds fans always claim they're not just ANY club eh?? Sharing The Love After the success of this section last season I wanted to keep something in, but with there only being 6 new teams I figured we had to change it up a little or we'd end up repeating last years inputs, so instead I've picked up on a few prominent shared players and looked back at what has happened to them since they made the gut wrenching decision to walk away from CF11... happy to hear what you chaps think. So, will Bulut's boys be as quick out of the traps as a speeding bullet? Will the game be a Yorkshire ripper with the Bluebirds refusing to lay down for our enemy's attacks (too much???)?? Or can Rambo Part 2 help us to draw First Blood??? All I know is that it's great that football is back and with our boys being roared on by a bumper following I know they'll give it their all!! Bloooooooooooooooobirds!!
Mr Brizzle sir. I bow to you intellect, creativity, eloquence and style. I thought your work from last season was as good as anyone can get but you've surpassed yourself. Seriously mate it's brilliant work. Can't see us getting much from this unless we are lucky enough to catch them cold. Whatever the outcome, it's important that Bullut learns more about his squad for the 45 matches that come after Sunday. Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!
Well if there’s a better match day threader in the UK I’d like to meet them. Actually that won’t happen because this is beyond compare Brizzle. I do hope you have copyright because your chronicles surpass any journo I’ve ever read and you could easily be plagiarised. Love the ‘Well I Never’ section. I hadn’t a cluedo about the board game’s inventor. Looking forward to another season of football history, humour and general knowledge.
Brizzle - a master piece! Well done sir. VT's betting odds made me smile Aready looking forward to the next match now
Sorry mate, I appreciate it could be too many words for you but that's why I included some pictures too... Even moving pictures (I know that'll be a mystery to you northerners)..
What obnoxious trolls they are. Brizzle! As usual I enjoyed this very much. Got to day I was wondering how you'd manage the shared love part...but you've cracked it!!! This just gets better and better.
Just tell us why Leeds decided to change to white shirts, and while you’re at it tell us why Leeds were so reviled in the late 70’s through to Clough and go on then spoil yourself with chronologically setting out the plummet from the top of the PL to the 3rd tier
I found it interesting that on one of the clips I posted (the 0-4 drubbing with Bothroyd and Chopra scoring) that there appeared to be so many empty seats. Odd that for such a massive club. Wasn't Peter Ridsdale thrown out of the boardroom by Ken Bates one year for celebrating a Cardiff win and for commenting on the phone to someone about how low the crowds had dropped????