please log in to view this image Leeds Utd v West Bromwich Albion Sunday 23rd May@16:00 | Elland Road After sixteen years of hurt, a selective 8,000 lucky fans will be able to see their beloved Leeds Utd in the top flight of English football, albeit in the last game of the season. Their only saving grace is that, unlike their opponents, Whites fans will be able to see their team compete in the Premiership next season. Midweek wins for Arsenal and Everton have pushed the Whites back to 10th place. They are guaranteed to finish in the top half, even though Villa beat Spurs in North London last night, they are still four points behind. Leeds will have to beat already relegated West Brom and hope that Citeh beat the Toffee's at home, and Brighton win at the Emirates if the Whites were to climb above them! Alioski, Berardi and Hernandez may get an opportunity to say their fond farewells to the Leeds fans, whilst the future is still up in the air concerning Casilla, Roberts and Costa. Leeds have already surpassed Sheffield Utd's record breaking total of 54 points last season. Should the Whites put out their strongest team possible? We know that Meslier, Koch and Klich will all be rested! Is this a chance to give some of the youngsters an opportunity to impress?
Its now a dead rubber for us and WBA we cannot be overtaken and its unlikely we will move up to 9th. Bielsa has already picked Kiko and at some stage Berardi and Pablo will wave bye bye. Klich and Koch already on holiday so will Bielsa finally show us Gelhardt, Summerville, Greenwood and Drameh I wonder? I would start Roberts up front and bench Paddy. I would also start Rodrigo at 8 and Pablo at 10 roberts gets the nod because WBA is where he came from and to see if he can grab another goal. I would swap Roberts then for Gelhardt and swap Ayling for Drameh
I see 8th Arsenal 9th Leeds 10th Everton Providing we beat West Brom and Man City beat Everton we would go above Everton on goal difference Surely Man City will put a decent team out for their last game of the season at home But whatever it’s been a great time to be Leeds
This is brilliant because when you think about the stunning play and goals from Joe Gelhardt, the play, goals and dead ball kicks if Sam Greenwood and the slippery silky skills and goals of Crycensio Summerville, another outstanding reward for the ever present ever reliable rock at the back Cody Drameh
Can't believe the season is nearly over. I was quietly confident we had enough to stay up, but to finish in the top half in the style we have I have been presently surprised. I'm so proud ! Pressure well and truly off Sunday even though there is still a few million quid to play for in league position. We saw Bielsa easing off a little in the last game and now 7th is gone I see this game going in a similar way. Yes He will want to win it for the fans. but, he will also see the fans wanting to wave goodbye and see some popular figures bow out in the right way. In a way I'm glad I'm not there Sunday as I'm a bit emotional even now typing about it. Loved this squad of the past 3 seasons. Honest Pro's giving everything for our Club. Proper Grafters and Fighters. They hit the very lows (Playoff Loss) and instead of caving they came back even stronger and got that Very High in Promotion. Sadly now some of this squad has to make way for the new generation. Everyone wants to keep it all together because of the passion and loyalty shown from this group but this is how Football is. The Result Sunday doesn't really mean a lot to me. yes of course I still want us to win but this is a day for the Club and Fans to say Hello and welcome the new boys and say Goodbye to some of the Leeds soldiers who have given all over the past few years. As well as all the people we've lost over this time in the Leeds History and community. One more time Pablo Let us see it one more time before you go ! Just don't score as I swear if you do you will bring grown men to tears One last push Lads. Always Proud to be a Leeds Fan but this season you have took it to another level to a point people are even liking us (but we don't want that do we!!!!!!!!!)
Big Sam will insist they don't role over,in fact the baggies have had a couple of good displays of late and where unlucky against the pool so it won't be so easy. But I can't see us taking our foot off the gas with the limited fans back in the temple and will make sure they are in top voice, would like to see Pablo,Berardi get at least half a game, and hopefully a couple of the young guns given at least 15 mins to give them a sample of elland road with some noise!.... Great season and performance's from one and all and a two fingered salute to all the experts and twitteratti who where itching for us to implode..... let's hear it for them, We are Leeds, not weeds now pick your chins off the floor muppets
Then team I would like to see turn out on Sunday taking into account Kiko gets in Kiko Drameh (Ayling) - Llorente - Cooper - Berardi Phillips Raphinha - Roberts (Pablo) - Rodrigo - Harrison Gelhardt (Bamford)
Surely only 1 of Roberts / Pablo / Rodrigo can play in the middle? None of them can do box to box, or consistently tackle back.
I know, but only 1 of the 3 will be #10 at any point. Who will be doing the box to box duty, as none of these 3 is capable?
I thought Philips was captured limping a little as he was leaving Southampton? I believe either way Bielsa will give him time to fully recover for his England duties, I don’t believe we’ll see him start, maybe Llorente will be rested too so Berardi, Cooper and Struijk? We know it’s Kiko in goal, I don’t believe we’ll see much change in the attack, I really wanted some of the U23s to get a chance but I resigned myself to it not happening after seeing the team selection for Southampton
I've heard rumours of Leeds fans planning to boo the taking of the knee, whatever you views please do not do this. Just think to yourself do you want Leeds to be known as the racist fans that booed taking the knee and get in the headlines because of this. Whatever your views, those will be the headlines and it will take away the celebration of seeing the first game since promotion, cheering on our new signings (Is this the first impression of Leeds fans you want the likes of Raphinha, Rodrigo and Llorente to see?) and the send off we can give Berardi/Pablo.
Your own personal views may not be the same as our Spanish players mate. In Spain not all take the knee and in most sports taking the knee is frowned upon except by some virtue signalling people like Hamilton in F1 where he kneels and most of the other drivers refuse. There will not be any kneeling next season and it has been EFL teams who have blown it out. It should be booed in my opinion and I dont give a crap if the media comments about racist fans, everyone knows by now that the media is the problem, not the fans. I see the media have now backed down on calling Milwall fans racist because other clubs boo and some dont even kneel
I don't feel any of the players have higher motivates to taking the knee and I think it hasn't really highlighted the issues because people are more annoyed with it. But I feel it is just a show of respect that some of our players and a lot of people out there believe in and want to stamp out racism in the game and in life in general. Because of this I think it'll show us in a bad light and I know some of our players would be annoyed about the booing.
Sure most people on here know my stance on taking the knee which in my personal view is racist in itself. If the fans wish to boo they have my full support The authorities need to have some backbone and show the way forward some say it will cease at the end of this season, I will believe it when I see it. If they don’t stop it then who knows what violence it could lead to, then who is guilty of inciting violence? Ben White as good as he was is ancient history let’s forget him and move on. Would I sell Llorente for 50m no chance I don’t see the point in selling one of our best players to replace him with someone who has then to learn the Bielsa way
If there's booing at Elland Road on Sunday when the players take the knee Roberts might finally **** off and take his delusions of being entitled to more than £20k pw with him. And the last time I checked, free speech was still allowed in this country (only just) so if you disagree with something you should be able to express your sentiments without the race card being played.
