Good Morning. It's Thursday 28th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road When does simulation become cheating There is no doubt that Milutin Osmajić's theatrics contributed to Illan Meslier's sending off on Boxing Day, which completely changed the dynamics of the game. That decision was one of many we have seen this season where opposition players have gained an advantage by simulation, or at least over exaggeration in a bid to fool the referee. Call me bias, but it seems very one sided. The main difference (it seems to me) is that Leeds players generally get straight back up after being fouled, instead of rolling around in the dirt, looking to buy cheap set pieces or inflict red cards on their opponents. At what point does this constitute cheating, and with such fine lines between winning and losing, would it be fair to punish players, teams or both post game? please log in to view this image Betting giants predict a close race to coveted 2nd spot Despite a poor Christmas campaign, Leeds are still third favourites for promotion, just below Ipswich, according to leading Bookmakers Bet365. Leeds are eight points behind second place Ipswich Town, and have dropped to fourth in the table, three points below Southampton; yet the odds being offered suggest a must closer race to the coveted automatic second place spot. Leicester City are runaway favourites at 1/16, whilst the Tractor Boys a modest 4/5. The difference in price between Kieran McKenna's side and Leeds is not as vast as you'd imagine considering the points gap, with the betting conglomerate offering punters 6/4. Third place Southampton are next in line at 7/2. West Brom (80/1) and Sunderland (125/1) make up the top five. please log in to view this image Leeds preparing bid for teen sensation Leeds are plotting the capture of highly rated 17yo forward Jack Hastings. The Northern Ireland youth International currently applies his trade with Sports Direct Premiership outfit Larne, where, despite his age, has already broken into their first team. The Whites are looking to offset the disappointment of losing the services of Finlay Gorman to Manchester City on Christmas Eve, and see Hastings as a player who could be ready to break into their U21 side next season, but Leeds face a battle for his signature. Wolves, Crystal Palace and Southampton have all thrown their hat into the ring, whilst Newcastle Utd already have a strategic working relationship with the Country Antrim club. please log in to view this image
The youth players we invested in have all been dud’s, so let’s forget that for the moment and concentrate on getting two full backs for starters, morning btw from a very warm pleasant Thailand
Why do you always season after season throw the towel in ? True we might finish 4th but also might finish 2nd so maybe try giving the lads a chance before writing them off.
We are halfway and I can judge us on those games. Away we are abysmal and need a better squad. We had our chance to catch Ipswich before we played them but no blew it.
For comparison with 22 games left here is our form over the last 22 matches. P22 W13 D5 L4 GD +19 Pts 44 We could easily improve on that if things go well and give everyone above us a run for their money.
Oh and over those last 22 games Ipswich have gained only 3 points more than us and Southampton have accrued exactly the same. All to play for guys.
I agree but we will have to sort this away form out. The results have been poor but the worrying thing is that we've deserved those results.
I wouldn't go that far as in calling all of them duds. Caprile is going great guns in Italy. Sam Greenwood having a great season at Boro. Leif Davis at Ipswich is getting rave reviews. Cody Dramah has shown he can cope at Championship level. Huggins and Clarke are thriving at Sunderland. In our team, Meslier, Struijk, Gray, Summerville, Georginio, Joseph, Gnonto are all regulars now and all played u21 football for us at one time. We have Cresswell at England u21 level waiting to come through and the likes of McGurk and Gelhardt should show a profit. I'd say that integration to the first team for some of those have been poor.
On home form only we're only 2 points behind Leicester . So as some of us have been saying for quite a few months now it's the away perfomances and results which have to change and improve. Take Boxing Day at Preston when after 35 mins it's fairly obvious we've seen this type of performance before and when we go on to lose it's absolutely not a surprise. It's hard to say at this point what might work but to keep doing the same old game after game is clearly not the answer.
Just for those who haven't quite grasped yet that we are actually a good side, but also that our problems lie entirely away from home. Away compared to us; Leicester + 12 points Ipswich + 7 points Saints + 5 points Sort it out Farke.
Simulation is now an art form more than ever and like it or not has been gradually going skyward, the so called more technical footballers from every far flung field that now occupy most teams are generally the worst culprits by far.....the North end roller deserved a definite 'its a ten from len' for his performance.....get a new tutu ya big
Afternoon All. Can’t remember who it was but someone on here posted (and I paraphrase) words to the effect of. It would be very Leedsy to do the double over Ipswich, miss out on second to Southampton, then lose to Ipswich in the playoffs. That is beginning to haunt me already
Sort it out the owners. Dj Ed to right back and buy a left back and a non cripple striker and a goalie. Maybe then I could see us challenging.
Afternoon all Sort of agree with Emu. Yeah the kids we've let go are doing great guns but that doesn't help us. With what we're are trying to achieve this season I don't think that packing the academy with talent in a week's time is the best idea. We need to concentrate on the here and now not 2 or 3 years down the line. Let's get ourselves back in the premiership and get ourselves established then concentrate on bringing kids through.
