The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 21st August)

Good Morning. It's Thursday 21st August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Seventeen points by Christmas or else...

While the Elland Road faithful celebrated a superb opening day victory against Everton, pressure continues to loom over manager Daniel Farke. Despite securing promotion and receiving a subsequent vote of confidence from the 49ers, the summer was rife with links to high-profile replacements, a clear signal that Farke’s position is anything but guaranteed.

According to Beren Cross, the Leeds Utd correspondent for the 'New York Times', the manager's fate hinges on the festive period. With 17 league matches between now and Boxing Day, Cross believes that achieving a point a game is the minimum requirement—a total that would keep the Whites on track for the traditional 38-point safety mark.

By contrast, exceeding 20 points by the same deadline would likely cement his role and turn anxieties into optimism. For Farke, the early win was a crucial first step, but the clock is already ticking on a much longer and more demanding race.

Messrs Keith Andrews (Brentford), Scott Parker (Burnley) and Nuno Espirito Santo (Nottingham Forest) are the early front runners to be the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season, followed closely by Ruben Amorim (Manchester Utd), Vitor Pereira (Wolves) and then our very own Daniel Farke.

"There are 17 league matches between now and Boxing Day. The basic arithmetic of 38 points keeping you up, would mean 17 points should be around par, wouldn't you say?

"Anything below that and you would imagine the pressure on him is going to be intense. The distance he is from that points-per-game average will dictate how early he is sacked. By contrast, if he's beyond 20 points at that point, everyone is feeling pretty good."

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From Muniz to DCL felt like a come down - Beren Cross

Leeds United's summer transfer activity has sparked a mixed bag of excitement and trepidation amongst the Elland Road faithful. Reflecting on the business done so far, New York Times correspondent Beren Cross revealed that the club are particularly thrilled with the capture of Anton Stach.

This acquisition was seen as a significant win, as Leeds had anticipated a protracted battle with numerous suitors, making his swift arrival all the more pleasing, especially after missing out on Habib Diarra.
Similarly, the deals for Perri and Bijol were described as "very reassuring," suggesting a smooth and effective recruitment process for these key talents.

However, the narrative surrounding Dominic Calvert-Lewin has sparked varied reactions among the Elland Road faithful. While many recognise his potential as an experienced Premier League striker, his history of injuries casts doubt on his future contributions.

Cross notes a contrast between the club's internal optimism and some external skepticism. While the swift signing of a player with a "chequered medical record" felt like a "come-down" for some after the long pursuit of Rodrigo Muniz, the feeling inside Elland Road is one of genuine excitement.

The club believes they have acquired an experienced Premier League goalscorer who, under the supportive management of Daniel Farke, can rediscover his best form if they can keep him fit.

"Stach is one I know they were very happy to land. They did expect that one to drag out and for the suitors to be lining up. Getting him in, and the timing of it, really pleased them. Perri and Bijol were very reassuring deals for them too.

"The narrative around Calvert-Lewin is going to be fascinating. I can't speak for every supporter and tar everyone with the same opinion, but it's fair to say he has had a lot of injury issues over the last few years. To go from months of chasing Muniz, a robust, powerful forward on an upward curve, to what seemed to be a quickfire free signing of someone with such a chequered medical record, felt like a come-down, at least for me.

"However, people at the club do seem genuinely excited about getting him in and seeing what he can do with Farke's arm around the shoulder. They see an experienced Premier League striker who, when fit, has had several good spells in the division. They just have to keep him fit."

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Morning all. Oh how fickle is football. Last week Farke was favourite to be fir st sacked. Now there's three or four ahead of him after one game. Win at Arsenal and hell be bookies favourite for manager of the season, lose and favourite again for the first sacking

 

Ain't that the truth. If the 49rs were so desperate for 17 points before Christmas and have been prepping for signings for a year then they should be held just as accountable for a poor point return if we haven't had the players required through the doors

Surely any win is a bonus if we aren't the finished product, this is the most competitive flight in the world after all

 

Morning all

Were Everton poor or did we make them look that bad, time will tell. Sunderland took points off a team we hope might be in the mix at the bottom, the more teams down there the more nerves set in for them all, a big week next week with final transfer activity sorted.

A few teams will be missing key players over the festive period with the AFCON starting

I was watching a YouTube channel this morning, the guy loves his stats and isn't associated with any one team, he was talking about Okafor and by the use of heat maps and past performances he feels he will either replace Gnonto or we will see him alongside DCL in a 4-4-2. (can't see 4-4-2 myself)

He also pointed out that Piroe with 18 goals last season has to be taken into context, he was in a team that managed 100 points and was in a team head and shoulders above the rest, so 18 goals is very average and nothing special.

Just food for thought

 

Bookmakers don't equate to fans and followers, they don't lose money though so they are usually somewhere near when giving odds

In fairness, I think Farke had already gone out to 3rd or 4th favourite before we kicked off

 

We could do with Burnley taking something from Sunderland at home this week.

West Ham face Chelsea at home.

Wolves are at Bournemouth. Bournemouth looked frustratingly decent last week at Liverpool.

We need Villa to step up after last week's poor performance against Newcastle as they travel to Brentford.

We need Everton to lose at home to Brighton.

Unfortunately we have Arsenal away and this is where the PL is **** because im thinking a narrow defeat would be ok. I hate going in to games knowing you dont really have a chance of winning.

 

Must say Im actually looking for ward to the Arsenal game. Not expecting anything from it but more of a yardstick of where we were. We were good against Milan then some claimed it was reserve opposition. We were good against Everton again some claiming opposition were crap and likely they were, so feel Arsenal game might surprise a few. A defeat by a goal or two would be acceptable once it wouldn't be a 90th minute winner

 

Honestly not expecting anything from Arsenal but with how solid we’re looking in the defence and midfield I wouldn’t be surprised if we could keep Arsenal at bay and come out with a 0-0 which would be an outstanding result. They’ll also attack us even more than Everton so may leave some gaps in behind for Bogle and James.

 

I was thinking along similar lines. I suspect our midfield and defence will get a good workout but it will allow (if we’re good enough) opportunities to counter. I’d be delighted with a draw.

 

Miracles do happen

 

It's a free hit, like you said, see where we are at, we know we are behind them, if we defend well and frustrate them we could nick an unexpected draw, after the win against Everton it is a no pressure enjoy yourself game. Their home record last season was 11-6-2 not the tightest of ships but still impressive. We then have the Wendies game which we need to try and win to get some forward momentum whilst using it as game time for those that need it

 

https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/leeds-united-sign-noah-okafor

 

Amps out until the international break.

 

I think Farke needed more backing in this window and it’s a fact we have been too slow with quite a few targets. We have missed just about every forward target and now seem to be just hanging around to see if we can pick up a bargain. We are also still trying to offload players who nobody seems to want, but we all know they will hang around until the window starts to close and go on the cheap. The facts are we are shyt buying and selling players, probably all down to Orta and the contracts he dished out

 

Luckily we don't expect any change from Arsenal then a cup game, Newcastle at ER and Longstaff to score anyone

 

Think we will see gruev in for Arsenal but yeah let's hope its written in the stars!

Such a shame to make a change to a very well drilled midfield already, but arsenal have quite a few injury concerns themselves.

 

That’s why pl demands large squads with cover for every position. Expect more injuries than last season. Also Farke indicated there may still be two more offensive players and a rb yet to come in

 

It makes sense for the Emir Dimirovic story to be true because he is now being asked to come off the bench due to having Undav and the very tall German U21 international Nik Watemode (or whatever he’s called) this is the kid Bayern have been trying to buy but Stuttgart say no chance. Dimirovic is quality and gives us something we dont have and not many in the prem have it either. If not him Orri Oskarsson is going to be a worldy

 

What does he have?