The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 2nd May)

Good Morning. It's Monday 2nd May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Leeds outclassed by City

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after a comfortable 4-0 victory at Elland Road on Saturday evening. Although the result flattered the Blues, the differential in class was plain to see. City took the lead after just 13 minutes. Rodri's glancing header from a well executed free kick gave Meslier no hope.

Eager not to fall further behind, Leeds dug in. Not only did they frustrate their opponents, but they created chances of their own. Unfortunately, the quality in the final third was sadly lacking. City doubled their lead just after half-time from another set piece. Foden's deep inswinging corner found Dias. The Leeds defence stood static as he headed the ball back into the Leeds penalty area. Ake responded quickest, hooking the ball in, from close range.

Leeds had a guilt edged opportunity to reduce the deficit straight after, but a City deflection saved them from what would have been a magical goal from Raphinha. Gabrial Jesus added a third on 78 minutes when Foden's through ball sliced through the Leeds Utd defence, and Fernandinho's long range drive deep into stoppage time gave them a fourth.

please log in to view this image

A weekend to forget

A weekend of turmoil saw Jesse Marsch's men slip to within two points of the drop zone. Anything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong for luckless Leeds. The weekend started brightly. Watford led Burnley for almost eighty minutes before two late goals turned the game on it's head. The result saw the Lancashire minnows leap-frog Leeds on goal difference.

Then, Liam Cooper injured his knee during the warm-up at Elland Road. This was followed by Stuart Dallas breaking his leg. To make matters worse, Citeh's flattering scoreline only adds to Leeds atrocious goal difference. The icing on the cake saw Everton beat Chelsea at Goodison Park yesterday.

please log in to view this image

Dallas suffers career threatening injury

Stuart Dallas faces more than a year on the sidelines after a freak accident left him sprawled on the pitch, riling in agony! The incident occurred during the closing stages of the first half, between Leeds and Manchester City. The Northern Ireland International 'went in hard' on Jack Grealish (as is customary when the ex Villa man is playing) but broke his leg in the challenge.

He left the pitch on a stretcher before being rushed to Leeds General Infirmary, where he spent the night. News filtered through that the 31yo had sustained a femoral fracture (a broken thigh bone) and would need surgery. The femur is one of the strongest bones in our bodies, and such injuries are normally associated with falling from a great height or a high impact car accident. Dallas will travel down to London for further tests and surgery. A published medical paper dealing with 'Femur fractures in professional athletes' stated:-

"Return to play is expected in patients with femur fractures, but recovery can take more than 1 year, with an expected decrease in performance".

please log in to view this image

Leeds 'numpties' left the ER pitch looking like Glastonbury after the festival finished

Gary Neville described Leeds fans as 'numpties' as hundreds of Whites supporters threw paper balls onto the Elland Road pitch during Saturday's mauling against Manchester City. It left the Elland Road pitch looking like Glastonbury after the festival finished

Whilst light-hearted, we all know that any opportunity the media have of portraying Leeds fans in a negative light, they will jump at. Paper balls they may have been, though projectiles sounds far more interesting to the press! Why do we have to behave like this?

please log in to view this image

 

**** weekend alright, the City loss was expected, at 4.40 Watford were looking good for the win, then we know what happened next, then the half arsed Chelsea show put a cap on it.

So many things going through my mind with regard the club and football atm, the players, the owners even the manager, lot of mixed emotions, too many to put down it would take too long and quite possibly be contradictory, other than to say I'm pissed off right now.

 

Morning all,

So an improved performance from the palace game. Just a shame it came against Man City who can hurt you no matter how you play.

Heart broken for Dallas who has given everything for Leeds in the last few years. I really hope he can come back from this but it sounds like he may never be the same player again.

I am no longer gonna be optimistic about relegation but I will not be pessimistic either. What will be will be now.

This has been a disaster of a weekend for Leeds but it is still up to us to fight.

Another performance like Saturday gives us a chance against Arsenal. Hopefully Everton's win against Chelsea was similar to their win against us, raising their game for the opponent before reverting back to their true form next game.

 

Dumb decision by Kinnear and the rest to lay out these placards in the first place.
This is symptomatic of the stupid commercial attitude that has taken precedence over the running of the club at the expense of the
needs of the sporting element, i.e. Football.

 

Absolutely, the complacency the 3 amigos have shown to the footballing side this season as been astounding.
I've noticed since the Bielsa sacking Radz as gone from, the man who got us back, to, the chancer that needs to leave, with a lot more fans, even rumblings of a protest of sorts in the ground at the Brighton game, if we're as good as relegated by then. Regardless of what happens, imo owners, like managers and players have a level and getting us out of the Championship was Radz, he needs to move on now, before it turns sour. Only problem then is, who takes control.

 

Gutted for Dallas, no one as given more to the club the last 4 years, really grabbed his chance under Bielsa and week in week out gave his all, no matter what position he played. Hopefully he can come back strong.

 

Good morning it's a pity for Dallas as he may be finished at this level. By the time he gets fit again his chance may be in the lower leagues. Cooper is another who not going to stay fit long enough to contribute. Ayling got praise on Saturday but all i saw was him being short on pace and easily beat.
Truthfully i have not enjoyed this season and its panned out the way i predicted. Not that has given me any pleasure. I can only repeat what Bielsa said about this side not being able to repeat their previous efforts this season. So why the hell did Leeds not overhaul in pre season. Bielsa must have convinced the club he could keep us up. I never believed he could with this squad. We should have played like Burnley and time wasted like others do. Tried to keep the games tight from xmas onwards and gone for 40+ points with games to spare.
I feel for Dallas but he will be paid a lot of money while healing. He needed replacing as do about six others.

 

I reckon Bielsa told Radz he was happy with the squad.

How quick was Radz when Dan James became available.

 

It’s been a disastrous season, not just the weekend. The whole things been a shambles since pre season rubbish. Nothing else to add at this point except at this moment. Just wondering will my upcoming trip for the Brighton game be our last hurrah in the pl circus

 

No idea who was at fault out of the 2 for signings, or rather lack of but we were constantly told, there would be no signings unless it improved the team, now I know the majority of the team gave their all and that's all you can ask of them but there is no way in the big world of football that there wasn't a couple of players available that were an upgrade on what we have and not to sign another striker was unforgivable.
What does Orta actually do for his money?

 

As it stands, that's looking very likely now.

 

It would be very Leeds wouldn't it, promoted and win the league behind closed doors, successful 1st season back in the PL behind closed doors, fans let back in and relegated

 

LDS, how down South are you?

 

Maybe Marsch now feels he should have kept his trap shut about i juries. Under him we now have

1. Dallas
2. Forshaw
3. Shackelton
4. Roberts
5. Cooper
6. Bamford
7. Summerville
8. Hjelde

All out injured on his watch with most done out on the pitch. This season has been a nightmare, but JM needs to show his leadership credentials now and get whats left of this squad to start winning games. Points against Arsenal and Chelsea should be possible and wins against Brighton and Brentford probable

 

I'm sensing a change in mood on the forum this morning ?

However those of us that were expecting our survival to come down to the last few games are not getting angry or apportioning blame as this situation was always likely. Two experienced PL teams in Burnley & Everton have seen a massive up turn in results and now we have to respond.

Four games remaining and it's time for strong minds not bedwetters.

 

Who's going to fill in for Dallas?

 

1

1..7..8 they are the new ones and the others are total sicknotes.

 

I think we were all expecting defeat Saturday but the unexpected upturn of the other 2 results have dampened the mood, most certainly. The atmosphere after the final whistle Saturday, shows the team still have the support in the ground and I think if any of us that are there for the final games would 100 % give them our support. But I do also think as it's a forum for discussion we should be able to vent,personally I've tried to remain positive on the whole for the most part but chewing things over, over the weekend, we shouldn't be in the position in the first place and it's fecking annoying mate. I don't think many expected an Everton win yesterday, so the mood was still fairly positive, up to that point, 5 points clear , games running down but that win really as put a big portion of realisation our way.

 

What position?

 

T

Two wins may not be enough now.