please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v Norwich City Thursday 16th May@20:00 | Elland Road Leeds must see off Norwich City on Thursday night if they want to progress to the play-off final against either Southampton or West Brom, in what will be their biggest game in both their recent histories! After keeping the Canaries caged during the first leg, home advantage gives the Yorkshire outfit a slight edge. Up until the International Break, Leeds were undefeated at home but back to back defeats against Blackburn and Southampton may give David Wagner a glimmer of hope. Patrick Bamford has been ruled out of the second leg. The 30yo forward has ben out of action since bruising his knee during the 4-3 win at Middlesbrough last month, but a new diagnosis shows a minor trauma in his patellar tendon which connects the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). His absence will give Leeds boss Daniel Farke a major selection dilemma. He obviously doesn't fancy Joel Piroe, Rutter is not a goal scorer and it would be too much of a risk to throw Joseph Matteo into the starting line-up after just 220 minutes of league game time all season. please log in to view this image Reverting to a five man midfield (like Farke did at Carrow Road on Sunday) may be an option, but without a centre forward to spear-head the side, where will the goals come from. Leeds have no new injury concerns. Dan James and Connor Roberts have overcome their respective injuries but are more likely to start on the bench. Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas are once again ruled out! The visitors will be without the services of Onel Hernandez (foot) and Liam Gibbs (thigh). Veteran striker Ashley Barnes is doubtful with a calf injury, though leading scorer Josh Sargent is expected to shake off an ankle injury he picked up in the closing stages of the first leg on Sunday.
He needs to pick the 11 who are mentally up for it. Norwich forums and X (formerly twitter) are already saying lets press Meslier, with the pressure of the home fans he is going to be a bag of nerves and make mistakes. We can see it, Norwich fans can see it, he has been poor but Farke will pick him still. We can and should win this if the players don't let it get to them. Looks like Josh Sargent is going to be fit to play which is a shame
In fairness it would be daft to bring in an inexperienced keeper at this stage regardless how bad Meslier is, Its an area that needed strengthening same as getting a proper striker but we never bothered, So we are where we are
Sorry Eire but I have to disagree with you on Meslier, he has lost confidence with the back four and it breeds uncertainty throughout the team. Remember when the Don ousted Gladys Sprake for David Harvey the Friday night prior to the FA cup final against Arsenal, worked perfect, the French man will fck up, I just hope it’s not in the near future.
I agree but point I was making is he’d be replaced with someone who’s not played all season. Not sure that’s ideal. We might have backed ourselves into a corner on this one
Good morning everyone. I agree with Infidel on this, Meslier is not a confident keeper, and that emotion spreads throughout the defence in particular, we (and Eire probably included) and the team are just waiting for that mistake to happen and it shows on field. I have said it before, the most solid at the back i have seen us this season, was when Klaesen was keeper, i know he didn't look class before that run of three games or so he had, but in that brief spell, he grabbed his chance and matured immensely, commanded his area and looked confident, this showed from the way the defence/midfield played up to the forwards and as we all know confidence brings performances. Obviously he must not be showing that kind of form in training, otherwise Farke would give him the chance on matchday, but to me it was refreshing to see a keeper come and claim/catch balls without parrying more often than not in dangerous areas, i also noticed on a number of occasions when he hoofed the ball upfield it was either directly to one of our forwards or they had to work to claim it, i for one liked that. But when all is said and done he is only our number three, Darlow imo at number two is worse than Messlier. So work that out if you agree
If we’re frightened by Josh Sargent then we really are in trouble and don’t deserve to be in the final. I don’t care about age, Mes has played enough games to be able to handle the pressure, perhaps he’s just not very good ? Farke saw on many occasions that Rutter at 9 and Piroe at 10 wastes both their strengths. If he wants someone to press Bamford-like, then Joseph has the legs to do it. He also played pretty well in a one-off game against Chelsea and this is now basically a cup competition.
Joseph is the obvious choice especially against inferior opposition compared to Chelsea but for some reason Farke won’t do it.
When you say inexperienced vs the experience of Meslier, what will that experience of Meslier bring to the table that the other wont. If the other keeper won't flap at crosses and will have better distribution and not be a bag or nerves, I don't see it as a Gamble. It's not like Meslier pulls off worldly saves each game, we are fortunate if he actually makes one. I think he causes more of a risk over the next leg and hopefully the final than he does saving us.
You just know reading this thread, Meslier is going to screw up and Sargent is going to score. Sargent is actually 6th in the leading scorers chart, we only have Summerville ahead of him.
I'm wondering where all the 'look at his clean sheets', 'he's so much more confident now he has a decent defence in front of him' type comments have disappeared to from earlier in the season £40m... Chelsea after him...
I’m all for replacing meslier if we had a replacement for him. He even played in some of the cup ties didn’t he
Now look !!!! one thing i can say for sure, and i think we would all agree on this, is Meslier is a step up from Kiko
Nothing wrong with Meslier. Let’s face it in the division we’re in we’re not going to get a Nigel Martyn.
Solid foundations for a good team always start at the base, Imo ie the goal keeper, we have had a few David Harvey, Mervyn day, Nigel martin, Kasper schmeichel apart from Kasper they all kept goal in very good Leeds sides at the highest level, this is why it is important that wherever we are next season a rebuild should start with our Keeper.
