Good Morning. It's Friday 3rd May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Farke gets his excuses in early Daniel Farke has blamed injuries and busy schedule for Leeds sudden decline in form since the International break. Two wins, two draws and four losses have seen Leeds chances of automatic promotion almost diminish. They must beat Southampton and prey that somehow Huddersfield Town can overcome Ipswich, or pin all their hopes on the play-offs! This isn't Farke's first gig in the Championship. He is well aware of the draining and debilitating challenges it brings; and if truth be known we have actually been quite fortunate this season with injuries! The Summer transfer window was hurried. Leeds had the chance to complete the rebuild in January but decided not to. Last season Radrizzani failed to prepare for life in the Championship. This campaign, the club still refuse to learn by their mistakes! "If you want to bring it over the line you also need a bit of luck. There were a few things we couldn’t influence. Key players like Gnonto, Gruev, Roberts came back injured from international duty, Georgi Rutter needed surgery." "Couldn’t influence the schedule. The run-in, normally you think why do you have to play Monday and Friday. You need a bit of luck in these terms. Sadly in these games we didn’t have the experience of Connor Roberts, didn’t have Dan James who has been fantastic, best goals and assists season in his life." "Bamford not available for QPR. Struijk, we’re playing without our cornerstone in defence. For a team like Ipswich, when the schedule came out it’s also not great for them, two weeks without a game then play three times in a week." "Credit to them. Two weeks without a game does them a favour. All their key players are back. Sometimes you need a bit of luck with the run-in that the schedule does you a favour and that your key players are available and in the best chance." please log in to view this image Farke excited by play-off hopes Speaking at a packed out Elland Road press conference, Leeds gaffer Daniel Farke revealed that when he took the ER gig, he didn't think the Whites had a chance of even reaching the play offs. The club's failure to prepare for life in the Championship, was further compounded by relegation clauses in many of the players contracts, allowing them to leave en masse on loan (for free), making Farke's mission all the harder. The 49ers must take some of the responsibility for this. When buying into a club, who wouldn't scrutinise the paperwork relating to your biggest asset (the players)? This could damage the club for many years to come. “We still have a chance of the top two. If second doesn’t happen, then I’m excited by the play-offs. If you told me in September we’d have a chance of the Premier League in the first year of asking. “I didn’t say this in public but internally I would have said no chance, because of the situation we were in [last summer]. It’s a great situation,” please log in to view this image
It's almost impossible to use any of the fringe players like Cresswell now during the play offs are they are unproven. It would be like getting the car out of the garage after not using it for 9 months.
He’s not unproven, he’s unused. Proved himself at Millwall. Start him at CB tomorrow and move Ampadu to bolster midfield. Cresswell gives the impression he has the fighting qualities and mental strength needed for the playoffs. Worth a go imo.
The international break and sky sports has cost us autos. Without the break we would have already been promoted. Rodon/roberts/james and ampadu all came back knackered. Farke is correct in saying we were not expecting to do well with the rats leaving and don't forget Gnonto sulking the little ****. He owes us some big performances if he can stop play acting i think it's embarrassing what he does.
Think we need to go back to Gruev and Kamara in midfield, perhaps it’s not perfect, cos I thought Kamara’s form had dipped immediately before Gray took over in midfield. However they seemingly shield to the defence better, perhaps at the expense of us going forward. Part of me would like to see Joseph given a reasonable run out, to see what he can do - however I feel Paddy should start and give the lad a run for the last half hour. We need to win, and win well. They owe it to themselves and us. Doubt it’ll be enough, but we desperately need to take an upturn in form into the playoffs.
Farke blames Internationals and injuries and a busy schedule, have we had it harder than anyone else. Leicester African Nations, Ipswich Burns and Hirst out for a time, Southampton a crazy busy schedule, Ipswich were at Hull 8pm Saturday and had to be at Coventry 8pm Tuesday . Farke is to blame, he hasn’t had the players playing to their potential. He ignored Gruev and Kamara to begin with. He shipped out three RBs and had to play Gray there. Farke is the one who said to trust him with strikers and insisting Rutter was a 9. If we don’t get promoted Farke has underperformed. If we get promoted he still needs replacing, it would be a very bold move but Farke is not PL material. Like someone else said, he picks his best 11 on paper and hopes for individual skill to win games. He’s being constantly out coached over the last few games
So what was happening when we won twelve games in a row? Did he just get lucky no one out coached him then? But okay for argument sake we get rid, who do you (a collective you for those calling for his head), want as a replacement. And I want names
Totally agree, give the guy a chance, constantly changing managers is never good. We have had a great season even if we don't go up.
Update from City centre. Long day but that’s what us Irish are designed for. Get real folks. Farkes done a remarkable job so far. Promotion or Not. Guaranteed we’ll lift the roof off this old derelict stadium tomorrow. However season ends we start again in August
His target was 2 points a game. He is bang on what he said he wanted to do. I didn't hear anyone crying about "2 points a game" until it wasn't enough to go up. Now 2 points a game seems a sacking offence which is crazy to me.
Of course you realise that if we don't win today, then that means we wont have achieved 2 points per game, and thus those wanting him gone, will be replying to you telling you he didnt even achieve that
