The =#LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 18th August)

Good Morning. It's Thursday 18th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Leeds face competition over Italian International hitman

Italian media are claiming Leeds are locked in battle with Dutch giants Feyenoord over 18yo forward Wilfried Gnonto. The Zurich hitman is in his final year of his contract, and as such is available at the knock down price of €5million (£4.2million).

Gnonto is versatile. He can play as a forward, winger or attacking midfielder, and is already a part of Roberto Mancini's Italy squad, winning four caps this year. He may not be the big money signing many of us were looking for, but surely, we all like a bargain, don't we!

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Hay expresses concern about Kristensen

During his latest podcast, Elland Road journalist Phil Hay has admitted his surprise, that Rasmus Kristensen has struggled thus far, since his £10m transfer from RB Salzburg. The 25yo penned a five-year contract, ten weeks ago, but is yet to find his form for the Whites. His impressive physique and hard man demeanour led many comparisons to our no nonsense players of yesteryear, but two games in, the great Dane has yet to stamp his authority!

According to Hay: “I think he’s had two difficult games, I can’t disagree with that at all – and it is a surprise to me. I felt and I said a couple of times that signing him for £10m or thereabouts seemed like a no-brainer in the sense that he’d had a good pedigree, he’d had a good reputation at Salzburg; analysis of his game seems to find a lot of strengths in it and cast him as a pretty capable and a good right-back.

“But he’s found his positioning a challenge. I think a lot of people were surprised at the Wolves goal, how easily he was brushed off the ball for that, because he has this hardcore demeanour about him, doesn’t he? He looks like what you’d call a kind of classic hardman, he looks like somebody who could easily be a crowd favourite, a bit of a cult hero – definitely got that streak in him.

“But it’s been tougher for him to settle than it has for somebody like Tyler Adams, somebody like Marc Roca, Aaronson, others on the pitch. It is, at the moment, a position of weakness for Leeds – both on the right and the left-hand side.”

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Struijk tops players ratings

Two games in, Pascal Struijk leads the players ratings for 'Whoscored', just ahead of Jack Harrison and Rodrigo. The versatile Dutch defender, who turned 23 last week, has impressed the statisticians for his performances at left back, in the absence of Junior Firpo. He burst onto the scene two years ago, rising up the ranks at pace following injuries to Llorente, Koch and Cooper. Last season, he seemed to lose a lot of confidence (and form) following his red card for the challenge on Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, and dropped down the pecking order at Elland Road.

Some of the ratings may seem a little odd, but they are considered to be the most accurate, respected and well-known performance indicators in the world of football, and are used by media giants, bookmakers and football clubs based on a unique, comprehensive statistical algorithm.

 

I'm not writing Kristensen off after two games. The majority of our goals will be conceded down either flanks, it's the way we set up

I don't expect anymore incomings either, although we do love a deadline day signing I won't be holding my breath

Morning all

 

I don't listen to anything phil hay says anymore.

 

Morning all

Struijk has had Harrison in front of him, I am sure that makes a difference

Like Bucks said, most attacks will come down one flank, the attack will probably start due to someone further forward losing the ball

Wait until Firpo is back then you'll see it even out

 

Kristensen looked wobbly against Wolves to start with and was pushed off the ball too easy for their goal. He was unbalanced though so it looked bad. He did however pull off a goal saving tackle in the box and Besides the goal concession he looked pretty good. Saints he was like a boxer with 2 black eyes and was roughed up and should have had a penalty. We can criticise players but I think about the number of penalties Ayling gives away? He will come good

 

Kristensen and Struijk are left high and dry .... alot.

Struijk is the better defender but I like Kristensen presence in the attacking half. He gets on the end of crosses, should have had a pen against Wolves and should have scored against Southampton. He will come good but expect the fullbacks to get beat quite often defensively in the system we play.

 

He's played two games and he's already getting stick..............

 

Yep, yet I get stick for saying Firpo is **** yet I have a full season of evidence to back it up. Strange game innit.

 

it certainly is Emu.

 

Agree. Need the CBs to cut out the passes and crosses and the midfield to flood back to counter their runners.

 

Not to worry Emu you have my full support and that’s all that matters

 

Thanks mate!

 

I want to find out who's weighing Struijk, Greenwood & Sumerville. That's the weigh-in guy for me!

 

West Ham lining up against Jay Roy Grot

 

He must've improved a lot if he's taking them all on his own

 

If Grot was still at Leeds he would be our third choice striker and probably our best left back.