please log in to view this image Leeds United vs Middlesbrough please log in to view this image Saturday November 23rd, 2013 - K.O 15:00 - Elland Road please log in to view this image As the 27th November marks 2 years since the tragic news of Gary Speed's death, there will be tribute paid at Elland Road to the footballing legend and genuinely nice man that he was. It is planned that Speed's name will be chanted for 11 minutes, starting from the 11th minute of the game, while a tribute banner is passed around the ground. R.I.P Speedo It's been a long old while since the last round of games thanks to the internationals, but Leeds fans will be hoping the team keep up the momentum of back to back wins, culminating in that superb 4 goal performance from Ross McCormack against Charlton last time out. A couple of the Leeds players picked up niggles in that match, due in no small part to the atrocious state of the pitch. Middlesbrough come into this one off the back of a 2-2 draw with Watford, and find themselves 16th in the Championship at the moment. There is always the danger of new manager momentum, and Karanka will be hoping for a healthy dose of that as he gets a baptism of fire coming to Elland Road for his first game in charge. However, Karanka still doesn't have his backroom staff in place, with two coaches departing the club today. That lack of organisation could lead to a little instability, however the players are likely to play their hearts out to impress the new gaffer. The history books suggest that this one could go either way. Leeds have the slight upper hand in recent fixtures, but you're looking at a one game swing either way. It's certainly traditionally a close fixture! Form Guide (Last 5 League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD]L - W - L - W - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]13[/TD] [TD="align: center"]8[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Middlesbro[/TD] [TD]W - L - W - L - X[/TD] [TD="align: center"]12[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7[/TD] [TD="align: center"]7[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]84[/TD] [TD="align: center"]32[/TD] [TD="align: center"]24[/TD] [TD="align: center"]28[/TD] [TD="align: center"]129[/TD] [TD="align: center"]112[/TD] [TD="align: center"]17[/TD] [TD="align: center"]120[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Middlesbro[/TD] [TD="align: center"]84[/TD] [TD="align: center"]28[/TD] [TD="align: center"]24[/TD] [TD="align: center"]32[/TD] [TD="align: center"]112[/TD] [TD="align: center"]129[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-17[/TD] [TD="align: center"]108[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 21/11/13) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Leeds Win[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Draw[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Middlesbro Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="align: center"]5/4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9/4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]11/5[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leeds United Top Scorers (League) Ross McCormack...11 Matt Smith...4 Luke Varney...2 After the international break, the only certain player unavailable to Brian McDermott is centre back Scott Wooton. McDermott refused to put a timescale on the injury when announcing that Wooton won't feature, but this represents a chance for Marius Zaliukas to stake his claim to one of the three starting berths. McDermott also hinted that while he is now back to full fitness, Sam Byram might not get an immediate recall to the starting lineup, suggesting he is happy with the performances of Peltier over the last couple of games. Championship leading top scorer () Ross McCormack had to pull out of the Scotland squad with a slight injury, but he is determined he is ready to play against the team who pursued him in summer. Middlesbrough Top Scorers (League) Albert Adomah...7 Kei Kamara...4 Grant Leadbitter...3 Karanka has spoken out this week about how influential he thinks Leeds old boy Jonathan Woodgate is to his plans. There are however doubts as to whether he will have fully recovered from his latest injury in time for this fixture. Another centre back, Seb Hines is also undergoing treatment and may yet miss out. Other than that, it's anyones guess who Karanka (a man who laughs at the idea that football should be played right) will field at Elland Road. Albert Adomah and Kei Kamara are good bets for the Leeds defence to prepare for though. Durham's Prediction: 2-1 Win Middlesbrough are going to go all out to please their manager, but we should have bags of confidence too going into this fixture. The Charlton fixture might have been "won ugly" because of the conditions on the pitch, but it was an encouraging performance nonetheless. I think Boro will score here, but I don't think they'll have the answers defensively. please log in to view this image I see us settling into a pattern of a more standard starting XI rather than the chopping and changing of the early season. Zaliukas in for Wooton is one I'd expect, and despite what McDermott has said about Byram maybe not walking back into the team, I'd fully expect him to. Peltier just doesn't offer the same attacking threat. At LWB I think Warnock will be recalled, despite Pugh having a fine game against Charlton. I'd fully expect Pugh to be on the bench, and similarly with Brown. I just don't think this will be the sort of game for Brown to start, maybe he'll get a sub appearance though. I'm assuming Ross is fit, and it isn't a risk to play him, otherwise move Blackstock back to the supporting role with Smith upfront. Over to the not606 faithful, let's have some score and team predictions
Great thread LID and great to have a thread to discuss football. So woody recovering from injury, where did we read that before. What sort of reception does he get when he returns to Elland Road. He's one of those I don't believe deserves one. Him and Bowyer did untold harm to the club. Would love to see Ross bang in a couple Saturday and Im quietly confident well win this one maybe 3-1 in a cauldron of an atmosphere
Cheers Eire Right there with you on Woody and Bowyer, they don't deserve a warm welcome in my book either. I found it quite funny to read that Karanka is putting Woody up there as his most important player given how often he gets injured too!
Bit of a Leeds Team update this morning: Apparently Diouf is suffering from an illness at the moment - do we think this is what has kept him from being anywhere near the squad? Hunt, Ashdown, and Drury are also injured (didn't know realise Hunt was). Drury is surely going to struggle to get a game in the 3-5-2 now after Pugh did well against Charlton.
Not sure on Diouf. Personally, I don't think McD rates him. Wont say anything of course as hell be trying to move him out in January. Has hardly kicked a ball this season so is rapidly turning into a monumental waste of wages
I had similar thoughts myself. Seem to remember someone (can't remember who) saying that he may have a clause in his contract that BMD was trying to avoid activating too. Monumental wastes of wages seem to be something of a theme for us over the last few years!
Yeah, I think that was someone who had been in contact with Gary Kelly, or maybe that was another post. Would certainly make sense though. Perhaps he gets a wage increase or whatever. Either way, he's not needed any more
It was me who commented on Diouf's not getting a game whilst sitting on 49 caps for us. Pure guess work but its not uncommon for causes to be inserted into contracts for when players hit the 50 mark. Maybe a bonus or a contract extension who knows. Leeds60 also said something simular happened with Gary Kelly towards the end of his career Great thread Durham, im looking forward to this one and think we will win it. 3-1 Leeds
Good thread but I hate Adrian Durham We should win this one by at least two clear goals. Don't care about the new coach asn not worried about their players either. Woody will always be welcome for me, even though he was a stupid twat with no brain who followed the lead of the thug Bowyer. That was the begoning of the end for that team and we've suffered ever since. Woody was thick but a Rolls Royce of a player but broke down like an Allegro. Product of the academy and pure class, but over the hill, crocked now so no worries. Will be good for our centre backs to compare themselves
I reckon Leeds 0-1 Middlesbrough with the worst refereeing display ever resulting in 3 players sent off Gradel and Howson for Leeds and someone else for them... ahhh the memories
On a side note. Are you or anyone else keeping an eye on Gradels career in France.? Just curious how he's getting on now. Seem to remember him missing some of last season through injury. Probably wrong again, my memory is crap
Started off slowly getting 5/10 minutes here and there. Ended the season playing a lot scored a fair few goals but had a bad knee injury in the summer and now just working his way back.
Heard Diouf cannot play anymore games for us, as it would activate some sort of payout or extention to contract???? Brilliant match thread Durham
Good thread as allways LID, So tonights game sees donny beat yeovil, And our little friends from bermondsey slipping nearer the drop zone
Super thread!! Really worried about "prove my worth to the new boss" mentality ... boys need to be on it from the first whistle. MOT!
Good thread Durham I don't know why fans all of a sudden get too over confident and "expect" to roll over whatever team we play next. I think a similar thing happened against Huddersfield and we lost that. I expect a very tough game, hate being the first team to play against a new manager.
