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The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 29th April)

Discussion in 'Leeds United' started by ellandback, Apr 29, 2024.

  1. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    perfect143451.jpg

    Good Morning. It's Monday 29th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

    Pitiful performances see's Whites punished

    Leeds run of bad form continued on Friday evening, with a pitiful performance against Championship strugglers QPR.

    To say Farke's men were second best is an insult to the runner up metaphor. There wasn't anything at all to get excited about. The hosts were hungrier, stronger, more inventive and clinical were it mattered.

    The 4-0 scoreline may have flattered the hosts, who spent much of the game with eight men behind the ball, but it worked. Leeds were outnumbered in their final third, and just couldn't break through; then punished the visitors on the counter-attack!

    By the grace of God, Ipswich were held to a 3-3 draw at the MKM Stadium at the weekend. Whereas normally, this would be a cause for celebration, I can't help thinking the tractor boys have too much in their arsenal not to lose at Coventry City tomorrow, and will comfortably see off Huddersfield Town at the weekend now that relegation is all but sealed.

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    Running out of steam when it matters most

    Farke's team has run out of steam when it matters most, but should we be surprised?

    His use of substitutions, unwillingness to rotate the squad and aerial inferiority has come under the microscope too late in the season to make any kind of difference.

    The squad looks knackered; a case-in point is Joe Rodon. Since breaking into the starting line-up, third game in (against West Brom), the Spurs loanee has been an inspiration, but 4324 minutes later (300 of these for Wales), the season is finally taking it's toll.

    He has been taking painkilling injections since the International break, and although he still puts a shift in, is undoubtable struggling with fitness. It's not surprising really when you delve deeper and discover that he has been substituted just once (v Huddersfield Town 63mins) all season.

    Ethan Ampadu's work load has been even more alarming. The only game he's missed all season is the FA Cup replay at Plymouth. For club and Country, the 23yo has amassed 4759 minutes of game time, and he too, has been substituted just once all season (90th minute at Preston on Boxing Day).

    Last season Leeds failed to prepare for the very real threat of relegation. This season, they've failed to prepare for promotion! Failure to strengthen in January will cost Leeds dear. The lack of loanees, and failure to replace Djed Spence (Roberts replaced Ayling) could mean another season in the Championship, and an annual exodus of first team talent.

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    #1
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  2. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    Morning,

    Let’s be realistic here. After the turmoil of the summer, with the rats jumping ship, leading to a slow start to the season, 90 points from 45 games isn’t too shabby.
     
    #2
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2024
  3. Eireleeds1

    Eireleeds1 Well-Known Member

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    Very true but 90 is even better <doh>
     
    #3
  4. Eireleeds1

    Eireleeds1 Well-Known Member

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    Morning all. Just to beat my old drum again. The bottom three teams in pl were promoted last season with next team above them the season before. They have 21 wins between the lot of them. If promoted, that's where Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds will likely be in twelve months. So excuse me for not being awful upset if we miss promotion. This season in general, has been thoroughly enjoyable. We will lose players, will we miss them, YES. Are they irreplaceable, absolutely NOT
     
    #4
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  5. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    <doh> Cheers Eire - edited :biggrin:
     
    #5
  6. blonogasoven

    blonogasoven Well-Known Member

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    This came up as a Facebook memory from a few years ago. I might have got it on here from someone.
    Can you imagine Citeh standing for this now.

    This is how it was way back when, in 1970:

    Don Revie's side were challenging for three trophies as the season neared its end, but 15 games in 46 days proved too much for his stretched Leeds United squad

    17 April ~ Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino recently bemoaned playing their Champions League ties 72 hours after a Premier League fixture. However, nothing can compare to the unbelievable schedule that Don Revie’s Leeds United side were forced to endure between March 14 and April 29, 1970. Even now, it defies belief.

    At the start of 1969-70 Revie set his side a target of winning the European Cup, the League and FA Cup. On the morning of March 14, 1970, they were top of Division One with seven games remaining, the European Cup and FA Cup still within their grasp. Leeds played Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final that afternoon. The tie at Hillsborough finished in a 0-0 draw after extra time. It was a complication that Revie hoped to avoid.

    Four days later, Leeds overcame Standard Liege 1-0 at Elland Road, ensuring qualification for a European Cup semi-final against Celtic. However, key defender Norman Hunter was injured and now unavailable for three weeks. Nevertheless, a 2-1 win at Wolves on Saturday March 21 ensured that ambitions of retaining the title remained. Just 48 hours later, the semi-final replay at Villa Park ended goalless. On Thursday March 26, at Burnden Park, Billy Bremner scored the only goal in the second replay to guarantee a Wembley appearance. The players had little time to celebrate, as two days later Southampton arrived at Elland Road for a league fixture. Revie’s medical team advised that several key players were close to breaking point, so he fielded an understrength side and lost 3-1. This meant title rivals Everton now led the table by five points. Two days later, Leeds travelled to Derby and lost 4-1, which was their seventh game in 16 days. Revie reinstated some first teamers for the European Cup semi against Celtic on April 1 but to no avail, as the visitors emerged with a 1-0 advantage. That same evening Everton clinched the title.

    The Football League secretary, Alan Hardaker, displayed scant sympathy with Leeds’ requests for postponements, stating: “The League can forbid clubs to take part in European competitions… if they cannot fulfil commitments at home.” Leeds were fined £5,000 for “fielding an understrength side”. Due to Hardaker’s dogmatic stance, Leeds journeyed to West Ham, just 24 hours later, for a league fixture. Revie, anxious to avoid further sanctions, fielded his strongest side. The decision backfired as full-back Paul Reaney broke his leg in a 2-2 draw. Revie’s plans were starting to disintegrate.

    He now gambled by selecting some reserves for the home game against Burnley two days later but fortuitously a 2-1 victory ensured that the League could take no action. In the first four days of April, Leeds participated in three matches. They now had a week to recover before the FA Cup final against Chelsea but, on an energy-sapping quagmire of a pitch, it ended 2-2 after extra time, necessitating the first replay since 1912.

    Four days later, on April 15, they encountered Celtic in the second leg of the European Cup semi at Hampden Park. It finished in a 2-1 defeat with keeper Gary Sprake being stretchered off after a collision. The inexperienced David Harvey was now the last line of defence. In the following six days a weary Leeds side suffered defeats in their remaining two league games.

    Until March 28, Leeds had only lost three games but as injuries mounted, in the subsequent 24 days they suffered six defeats. Leeds’ 62nd and ultimate game of the season took place on Wednesday April 29 at Old Trafford, where Chelsea ended their last hope of a trophy with a 2-1 win after extra time in the FA Cup final replay.

    In the space of 46 days, Leeds played 15 fixtures, an average of three per week. These included two FA Cup finals, three semi-finals, two European Cup semis, one quarter-final and seven league games. To assist England’s preparations for the 1970 World Cup, the League insisted all fixtures be completed by April 30. As Bill Shankly noted: “They would have done that treble had it been a normal season.” Revie remained convinced until his death that Hardaker’s intransigence had thwarted their hopes. Paul McParlan
     
    #6

  7. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Morning all

    Farke at the time, was the best coach we could have hoped for, he isn't bad at this level, he certainly ranks up there. However I have reservations about him, he has been gifted with an exceptional bunch of players, is he underperforming when it matters.

    Hindsight is great and I ask why there hasn't been a bit more rotation when players have dipped, Olof mentioned putting Cresswell in defence against Southampton, I forgot we had him, yet at the start of the season he was a big hope of mine, that he could develop for a season and be PL ready on promotion.

    I look at the issues at RB playing Gray for a long spell there, then Byram takes over, it's easy to forget we had Drameh and Ayling both shipped out. Farke insisting Rutter is a 9 and we all knew he wasn't and now he is okay at 10. Rutter has actually looked one of the worst players on the pitch for several games yet he isn't rotated out.

    Gnonto up to his old tactics, falling over, looking like he is going to start crying and all his antics ignored by Farke who sat motionless in the dugout.

    Yes we have 90 points, but look at the players we have. I could accept 90 points and Ipswich pipping us IF the players were playing to anywhere near their ability, if they were putting up a fight and playing decent football. We have looked poor for a while, when it matters the best coaches step up to the plate, they make the big calls and they outcoach their counterpart, it's easy when things are going as planned, it's got tough and Farke is falling down.

    Easy to keep looking back at Bielsa but would he stand for Rutter continually trying to be too fancy in the middle and giving the ball away, or Gnonto wasting time pretending to be injured (cheating) when we are behind and time was important. He would have hauled them off in the first half
     
    #7
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  8. Wakey

    Wakey Well-Known Member

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    No sissy goalies in those days. West brom keeper circa 1970s i believe. facebook_1714382483594_7190641308468791939.jpg
     
    #8
  9. Wakey

    Wakey Well-Known Member

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    You know it's ok saying rotate but rodon is the best and struijk been injured for ages now leaving cooper as cover. We are desperately short of a striker and the midfield is being propped up by gray who frankly is not ready for that role. The squad does not have enough quality in key areas and no cover. Who could we have used to give others a rest?. The answer of course is no one. I lay the blame firmly on the 49ers for not bringing a striker in january even if in his thirties as experience is what we needed. The 49ers have ridden their luck just like rads did and cost him millions when relegated.
     
    #9
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  10. DirtyLeeds

    DirtyLeeds Well-Known Member

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    Bloody hell, what happened there lads? I was stuck in Dublin airport on Friday night so had to keep an eye on the game via Twitter, glad now that I missed it.

    Still, with Ipswich continuing to falter it will go down to the last day. How the hell are we still in with a chance after the run we've had, it's is a bloody miracle.

    All eyes on Coventry v Ipswich tomorrow. Miracles do happen....... apparently.
     
    #10
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  11. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Farke shipped out Drameh, Greenwood and Ayling, we have Cresswell, we brought in Piroe, Kamara, Gruev. Anthony has hardly been used, Joseph a cameo here and there, sustitutes are always too little too late
     
    #11
  12. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    We also brought in a decent experienced replacement for Ayling in Connor Roberts tbf.

    Unfortunately he’s now injured but it looked a good piece of business at the time. He was also one of the few Leeds players capable of delivering a decent cross.
     
    #12
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  13. ellandback

    ellandback Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Perhaps when Struijk was injured in December, they should have bought in cover in January?
     
    #13
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  14. Johnnywarkstache

    Johnnywarkstache Well-Known Member

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    They must have been playing us at the time <laugh>
     
    #14
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  15. FORZA LEEDS

    FORZA LEEDS Well-Known Member

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    You had a very decent team at that time tbf.

    It’s more like the QPR keeper on Friday night <doh>
     
    #15
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  16. Johnnywarkstache

    Johnnywarkstache Well-Known Member

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    Alan Hunter and Kevin Beattie both used to run onto the pitch with a *** on at the start of the game <laugh> No one used to bat an eyelid <laugh>
     
    #16
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  17. Wakey

    Wakey Well-Known Member

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    But only two midfielders as you can't count gray and Anthony is a waste of a loan.
     
    #17
  18. Leedsdude

    Leedsdude Well-Known Member

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    I've said on here a few times that when Piroe starts, it's like Leeds are playing with 10 men. He was simply atrocious on Friday, everyone can see it except Farke. There's no doubt the the Welsh players have been much poorer since they lost to Poland and Gruev is on his own in midfield and not surprisingly is getting overrun. Kamara has to come back in, and Archie moves to RB.
     
    #18
  19. ristac

    ristac Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    Same old question though, previous seasons Anthony has been great, specially in this division, is Farke getting the best out of him. Piroe scored freely for Swansea but not the case for us, obviously not playing the same role or being asked to do something he is not comfortable doing.

    Why did Farke say yes to the pair of them if they are no good. I see two players who should be much better than they are but they seem to have went backwards signing for us.

    Piroe still has 12 goals this season with a 59% shot accuracy which is up there in the top few percent
    Championship Top Scorers - BBC Sport
     
    #19
  20. LeedsRover1

    LeedsRover1 Well-Known Member

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    I’ve now, just about, gotten over Friday’s shocking performance. I’ve accepted it’s the playoffs, if for some reason it’s still in our hands after Tuesday, I’m still resigned to that, because I cannot believe this group of players are good enough, at this moment in time to get the job done.

    Whatever his shortcomings as a finisher (there are many), we often don’t turn up if Paddy B’s not playing. We have a lightweight midfield, together with a lack of experience throughout the team. Unlike some, I don’t believe we have the best squad, Leicester has by some distance imo. But on our day we can beat anyone. It’d be very Leeds for us to be the only team in the Championship to do the double over the 2 teams achieving automatic promotion.
     
    #20
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