The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 22nd March)

Good Morning. It's Monday 222nd March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Leeds break 170 week hoodoo

The Whites broke their 170 week hoodoo at Craven Cottage on Friday evening, sending Scott Parkers Fulham ever closer to the Premiership trap door.

The last time Leeds won in the Capital City, was the 9th December 2017. A Kemar Roofe hat trick helped Leeds on their way that day, under the guidance of Manager Thomas Christiansen.

Bielsa's side started quickly, and were unlucky not to take the lead early on when Roberts inch perfect cross found Ayling 20 yards old. His equally sublime looping header found the far corner of the goal leaving Areola stranded. Unfortunately for the visitors, Leeds celebrations were short lived. Referee David Coote chalked off the effort after consulting VAR as Leeds had strayed fractionally offside.

Fulham should have taken the lead on 20 minutes. The ball fell nicely for Maja in the box. He struck a rasping shot goalward. Only the brilliance of Meslier spared Leeds blushes. The French mans outstretched hand followed by a goal line clearance from Ayling stopped the home side taking the lead.

The Whites took the lead on the half hour mark when Patrick Bamford helped himself to his 14th goal of the season. A quick throw in, deep in the Cottagers territory (from Alioski) found Harrison. He swiveled, then launched a hopeful cross into the Fulham penalty area. Leeds no 9 stepped in front of two Fulham defenders to fire in the opener.

Five minutes before half time Fulham were level. Defender Joachim Andersen volleyed in from Ademola Lookman's corner. Will they ever learn? Leeds have conceded 11 Premier League goals from corners this season, at least three more than any other side.

Leeds could have gone behind early in the second half when Struijk's headed back pass fell well short of Meslier, but directly in the path of Cavaleiro. Meslier raced off his line, and ensured he got a strong hand on the ball, away from immediate danger. Anguissa's resulting drive sent Leeds No1 diving at full stretch to keep the Cameroonian's effort out.

Bielsa's team scored the winner with half an hour left. Goal scorer Bamford turned provider releasing Raphinha goalward. The Brazilian had the strength to hold off two defenders before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.

The game was never going to be pretty. but sometimes you have to dig deep and show a gritty resolve- and that's what Leeds did on Friday night!

Leeds' seventh away win in the Premier League this season, the most by a newly promoted side since 2005-06.

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Nine games left

After their win on Friday night, Leeds are now 11th in the table on 39 points, two away from Villa, and three from Arsenal. After the International break, Paul Heckingbottom's Blades visit Elland Road, followed by an away trip to the Etihad, and home games against Liverpool and Manchester Utd.

After that, there is an away trip to the Seaside (Brighton), a home game v Spurs; before a trip down the road to Turf Moor (Burnley). Their last two fixtures of the Premier League season is a trip down to see see Ell (at St Mary's) before waving goodbye to West Brom from the Premier League (At Elland Road).

There are some very winnable games there. How many points do you think Leeds will collect between now and the end of the season?

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We all Love Leeds

A report from Samford University in the United States have completed a study on the Whites, and how their popularity has grown since their arrival in the top flight!

At the beginning of the season, the Whites had gained an additional 55,000 followers on Twitter alone. That figure has now multiplied to well over 700,000!

Unsurprisingly Leeds following is largest in England and Ireland, but that the third-biggest following comes from Australia. Making up the top five countries with the largest Leeds following is Canada and rather interestingly Kenya.

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Our adopted Leeds fan Makem has connections to Kenya so probably all his extended family

 

Morning all

2pm today at WBA the 23s are playing and wonder how many 1st teamers will be involved for 45mins or so. I think Koch will play and be interesting to see if he has a DM role again. Berardi will probably play and we could also see Poveda do a half to keep his fitness up. Is it too soon for Forshaw as he was seen in training last week?

 

Surprised they aren't higher up the table

 

I just thought he was lost!

 

Our Under 18s play the next round of the FA Youth Cup against Newcastle Utd. The tie will take place at Whitley Park on Saturday, 3rd April, with kick-off at 3pm (BST). Newcastle scraped through on penalties against Huddersfield town whilst Leeds smashed MK Dons 8-2

 

VAR is not helping us, Roberts shoulder was offside, it's a load of cobblers. And if someone did stats (I'm too lazy) I reckon the attacking teams get more goals chalked off than the defensive teams. As Lord Bamford says, the game is about scoring goals and VAR is making a mockery of it.

 

The rules of the game for a linesman state that if its tight its onside as the attacker is given benefit of the doubt. How hard is that for the shytbrain satin his office looking at the screen doing VAR. He can see its tight, but no he gets a slide rule out and starts doing measurements on lines his computer puts on screen. Then rules it out because a fly on a players elbow means his arm is over an imaginary line. Bollox

 

Afternoon all,

Good win on Friday. I think it looked comfortable enough all the way through and I never really worried about the result.

Great goal and assist from Bamford. Nice little f you to Southgate. As much as I was disappointed for him to miss out it is most definitely good timing to get over whatever niggle he has picked up.

Harrison looked back to his best and worked hard. Raphinia overall had a quieter night than usual but the important thing is a player of his quality is still in the right place at the right time.

Meslier impressed again. When his stats are looked at in regard to clean sheets and goals conceded people must take into consideration how many times he has been let down by his defence. It is not his fault Ayling lost his man or Llorente the other week.

 

After this international break we should be at full strength for the first time this season, that's all the new signings we acquired last summer, the fully drilled Bielsa ball squad, all should have had a short rest and recoup.......gonna be interesting who Amigo picks, how he sets the team up etc.

Oh and when is someone going to tell that racist **** Roberts to stop the black power salute.

 

When the fans are allowed back into Elland Road

 

WBA 0-2 Leeds Utd at half time 2 goals for Joffy. Match report in the sticky above

 

Afternoon all

 

WBA 0-5 Leeds

some brilliant goals and a hat trick from Joffy and a worldy from Greenwood. Match report above

 

Watch this from Sam Greenwood and keep your eyes on Gelhardts reaction after. Joffy is stood to Sams right and puts both hands over his mouth in disbelief

 

Good to know we saw the same game and marked them similar

https://throughitalltogether.sbnati...-player-ratings-west-brom-u23s-0-5-leeds-u23s

 

It is utter cobblers and needs to be reviewed. I would accept it if they looked just at a players feet to determine if he is ahead or behind the last defender.

 

Always thought this then there would be no argument, well there would as always but it's the only rule that makes any sense.