Good Morning. It's Wednesday 17th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Sarr close to signing Various media sources are claiming that Leeds are close to signing Ismaila Sarr from Watford. The Senegalese International joined the Hornets three years for a club record £30m; netting 24 times in 92 appearances. Since their relegation to the Championship, the Hertfordshire side are keen to recoup as much money as possible, to be able to strengthen in other areas of the pitch. Reports suggest a fee of £25m has been agreed for the talented marksman, and only personal terms are outstanding. It has been suggested that Leeds sped up negotiations after Crystal Palace started showing an interest in the 24yo. There is no doubt that Sarr would make an impact for Leeds, but he certainly isn't the marquee signing many of us were hoping for! Would you take Sarr for £25m? please log in to view this image Leeds vulnerable to attacks out wide There's an interesting article in 'The Athletic' this morning from Phil Hay. The former Chief Football writer for the YEP has been analysing all goals Leeds have conceded since pre-season, and has concluded that they are most vulnerable down the wing. Whilst this would make sense, as Marsch's wing backs like nothing more than bombing forward, their defensive duties have to come into question! In the past, Leeds had the luxury of relying on Kalvin Phillips to help snuff out attacks from out wide, but even playing with two defensive midfielders (Roca and Adams), Leeds have still looked exposed from wide positions. Do Roca and Adams need to be more disciplined, or do Leeds have a problem with both wing backs? According to Hay "There was, all the same, more to Southampton’s fightback than tired legs and minds. The closing stages of Saturday’s match shone a light on Leeds’ setup defensively and where they are most open to attacks. The trend of teams cutting through them out wide, hitting the flanks and finding Leeds compromised, was there again as Hasenhuttl went for broke and loaded his team with attacking players. The wings have rapidly become the areas which Marsch’s side find most difficult to control." "That weakness stands to reason because by asking his full-backs to push on but using a narrow line of three in behind his centre-forward, Marsch’s setup does not provide ample amounts of cover out wide. One of the upsides of the system is that a strong presence in central areas allows Leeds to attack very quickly and directly." please log in to view this image What makes a true Leeds fan What makes a true Leeds fan? Are all Leeds fans the same, regardless of where they live, and how much, (if any) they contribute to the club? There are those who will follow their club to far and beyond, regardless of whether it's a sunny Saturday afternoon at Elland Road or a rain soaked midweek Cup fixture at Plymouth Argyle; but does that make them any more of a fan than a fanatic armchair fan? Some may believe that unless you're born in the City, you're not a proper supporter; and what about those who lose interest if their beloved club drops down the league? Should those who contribute more, be better rewarded by the club or are all Leeds fans on the same level regardless? please log in to view this image
Morning all Sarr for £25m I just don’t know. It depends on all the others we’ve been linked with and were those other linked players ever a possibility.
Morning Sarr would be a decent addition to the squad, but is he worth 25 mil? And even if he is, is he the player we need for 25 mil? I'm not so sure. I don't think it will happen anyway. I don't really have an opinion on what makes a Leeds fan, but I see all the members moaning they can't get tickets aren't turning up for the Barnsley game. Cresswell is taking a lot of flack from Milwall fans. After a good first game he made a howler against Sheff Utd and was whipped off after another poor performance yesterday. Charlie will be a great player, but it's a cautionary tale for the section of Leeds fans that see a teenager play ten minutes and convince themselves they're already better than the first team and i'd rather he make these mistakes against Swansea than Man City. Bielsa only used the loan system for out of favour players, but would Joffy have been better off having a season on loan in the 20/21 season?
Morning The problem re our wingbacks is that we don’t have one on the left because Struijk is a quality CB but wingback he ain’t. It’s not rocket science ffs.
Morning all Hay says Sarr is a non flyer and wont be. Too many journos claiming all sorts right now simply because of Bamford and Joffy issues last week. Would imagine that if we are spending £25m on a forward it would be a striker not a poor mans Raphinha and we already have that with Dan James
I think the problem is twofold. JMs set up encourages team to attack down the wings so you need centre backs that command the penalty box when the ball comes in and we haven’t really had that since Pontus was sold.
Not the old who is a true Leeds Utd fan ****e. **** stirring again Elland. I support Leeds Utd end of, so do my lads and we get over when we can. My priority membeship says I may be.
What makes a true fan… When your team lose and the following morning you wake up, your first thought is the defeat and it makes you feel ****ty again.
Good Morning from a damp Bardsey Sarr if we can get him in a right frame of mind maybe a great signing ,He appeares to me he his hit and missbut likes to play against MU which will do for me.I think that Rodrigo seems to be playing with enjoyment clearlyprefers Jesse to Beilsa management What do we do about James he is not the player that Beilsa thought and to me needs a fresh club
spot on.. you're a fan if you care about the result People who go to matches do it because they enjoy going to matches and have the opportunity to do so. Some of them like to claim this as them giving back to the club and therefore more deserving of fan status. Like it's important in your life to be considered a better fan than someone else.
...some truth in this. Lorrente is a good footballer but was ranked bottom last year among premiership centre halves for arial duels won. Irrespective of full backs bombing forward, (which lets be honest was more common under bielsa) we keep players narrow with a view to them crowding the ball on one side of the pitch, so we're vulnerable to sides that can beat the press and switch play. Everyone knows this... it's not like some huge secret that's just been discovered. The defensive theory is that we have numbers in the box and deal with the problem there, so reduce sides to speculative efforts from wide and strangle them when they cut in. Great when it works but obviously when it doesn't our goals will be conceded from the wings... because that it where most of the opponents attacks originate from! Funny that.
Fair point.....I went for 40 years here there and all points in between, now I don't but I don't obviously consider myself a lesser "fan" these days because I no longer attend seems rather a pathetic stance to take tbh....alaw aren't we eh or not
Afternoon all, Bringing up the what makes a fan debate really is opening Pandora's box. Everyone will have reasons why they think they are a great fan but the main thing is they want to see the team win. That's the most important part. I am grateful to all the super fans who aren't bothering to go to the Barnsley game, I have managed to get tickets for my first game since Bielsas first season.
Best fans? Clickbait Elland? I was around when we were in the old second division so that means I’ve been a fan longer than most Ristac got it right early on when he said it hurts on Monday morning after a defeat. Through the season we have a crap week after loss or a great week after a win. Me and Wakey are not best mates and have different opinions about the club, but hes just as passionate about the club as me, Shaks and Eire exactly the same and in some respects the Irish lads the Scandinavian contingent, the Ausies, the yanks, the lads like Este, Chicago, Bucks, Elland, Ristac, LDS and all the rest are all propper fans who have varying problems of logistics, funds issues to deal with. The only plastics I know are a few celebs in hospitality
Except for me I'm never down for long and a defeat is nothing but a blip. No way it lasts all week till the next game.