Good Morning. It's Tuesday 23rd August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Spurs lining up £20m bid for James Sun journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Spurs are lining up a £20m bid for versatile winger Dan James. The 24yo has struggled to hit the kind most of us were expecting since his surprise £25m move two years ago, but has frequently been asked to play out of position, and lead the line, due to injury problems up front. With four goals from 37 appearances, many could be tempted to cash in on the Welsh International, though we need to remember, that not only would Leeds be making a £5m loss, but Manchester Utd have a sell-on clause too. With just over a week to go before the transfer window slams shut, would it leave Leeds short of personnel, or is Summerville ready to step up to the plate? please log in to view this image Marsch no longer living in Bielsa's shadow Scottish football legend Graeme Souness believes Leeds victory over Chelsea at the weekend has lifted Jesse Marsch's stature among Leeds fans, and he no longer lives in his predecessor's shadow. It was never going to be easy to replace somebody as loved and respected as Bielsa, let alone an American Coach that none of us had heard of before, yet almost five months on, we're beginning to see an exciting new chapter take place at Elland Road. Souness told talkSPORT: "Chelsea last week were fabulous, although they still only had three shots on target, scored with two, Lloris made a save, they’re still in need of that goal getter. The football they played (vs Spurs) was top notch, they looked a team and you’re thinking they’re just missing someone who can put the ball in the back of the net for them. "They’ve gone to Leeds, Leeds historically has always been a difficult place to play, a hostile crowd, it must be great to play in front of, they get behind you, abuse the opposition - sometimes they go overboard but that’s the nature of our business. It’s a hell of a result, the manager deserves credit. "I like most people, an American coming into our game will find life very difficult, just the terminology that they use and understanding what the Premier League is all about but that result yesterday, maybe until yesterday was living in the shadow of Bielsa, maybe that’s lifted somewhat. The results do that (lift him out of the shadows), it’s not just talking, it’s winning football matches will lift that shadow." please log in to view this image Highly rated keeper on his way to Elland Road Rory Mahady is set to become Leeds ninth Summer signing. The highly rated young shot stopper, 16, had been heavily scouted by Manchester City, but after talks with Victor Orta has decided that Elland Road Although Mahady cannot sign a Professional contract until he turns 17, he will initially join the Thorp Arch academy on an initial scholarship. The Scotland U17 star has been described as one of the best young keepers in Britain by the Daily Record, and Celtic are not happy about losing another one of their rising stars to Leeds. Two years ago, Orta poached Leo Hjelde away from Parkhead for a deal worth £1m, plus add-ons. please log in to view this image Is a top half finish possible With seven points out of a possible nine, Leeds have jumped ahead of Southampton and Wolves in the race against relegation, according to Bet365. Many leading bookies believed that the Whites would struggle this season having lost Raphinha and Phillips, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Performances thus far have been strong, stats have dramatically improved, and the team looks balanced. Leeds find themselves joint third in the table, along with Tottenham. Interestingly, the figures between the two sides are identical, as are the opponents they have faced. As a measure of how Leeds have started the new campaign, fans must be happy with this. Leeds are now ahead of Bournemouth, Forest, Everton, Southampton, Fulham and Wolves in their quest to avoid the drop, and are just marginally behind Leicester City and Brentford. Whilst many may have settled for 14th or 15th a month ago, what are the chances that Jesse Marsch can replicate (or beat) Bielsa's 9th place finish during our 20/21 season? please log in to view this image
Morning all Relegation battle or top half finish, I am not going to get ahead of myself, it's a far better start than I could have dreamt but at the same time a couple of injuries could throw a major spanner in the works. I am still not impressed we haven't brought in another striker, I really wish we would rectify that. I think James would be equally as good as Harrison if he was played in his left position for a season, Jack always has a bad spell so I wouldn't be too quick to jump on the cash in scenario. Cash in and get who? For £20m you are not going to get someone with over 80 premier league appearances. **When I say equally as good, I accept Jack is on fire and the best form of his life. Equally as good when you look back over a 20+ game spell averaging out** If we did have our eye on a new player who would be better suited and if it was a case of tight on funds and selling James would solve that issue then fine Sixteen year old keeper, he won't ever play for us, his name will be long forgotten in 2 years time and when we sell him on in a few years nobody will bat an eye lid.
Morning all I wouldn't get rid of James not at this point in the window. It's 7 days till the end of the window and it would be a player we'd have to replace him and I don't think we would be able to find a replacement in time if our search for a forward is going.
Good morning dan james is going nowhere. Maybe summerville will be loaned out but it's a different season with the world cup. I went for 8th and will stick with that. Only wish i had gone for 6th but no going back. We need to sort our right back out he was out of position on Sunday many times.
Talk of Leeds accepti g £35m from Newcastle now and if that happens we get James or Sinisterra down the left and still have Summerville. We are overstocked with wingers and yes Harrison is flying at ghe moment but can he string lots if top performances together? He has never been consistent but he always tops the stats every season for assists and chips in with 10 goals. James has never had a run of games down the left….. so for me Im comfortable with one leaving
We need to recoup the money on James if we are to sell. If that includes sell on clauses then Tottenham will have to pay that as well. If they won't go as high as approximately 30 mill then keep him. We have Harrison, James, Aaronson, Sinisterra, Summerville, Rodrigo who can play 'wide playmaker' roles with Greenwood and Klich able to play centrally allowing the others to play wide.
I'm comfortable with one leaving as long as its not Harrison. He has consistently provided goals and assists every season for us. If we sell him then we will have sold all three of our best players.
Start of the season I would have sold Jack and played James, maybe like Rodrigo the system Jesse plays is going to suit him better, only time will tell. I agree with you, it has to be one of the others or none and I don't see how Sinisterra can be ahead of Jack at the moment, he is a complete unknown quantity
I'd keep Jack for now. His end product is getting better and James still lacks that, though he is often played out of position. On the transfer window, I am assuming (hoping) that the recent performances have raised our profile in the eyes of potential signings who might see us as more of a team with a top flight future.
I personally think its all bull **** Harrison and James being head hunted, Harrison to Barcodes?? to replace Maximam.....dont think so. James to oust Son, again don't think so because the spuds only play with two up front, its all paper talk in my eyes. What i would do if i was JM is pull the players in and ask them if they are wanting out, if the answer is no then i suggest you go to the useless money grabbing agent you employ and tell him straight, end of. On another note has anyone worked out the average age of our current team !! its alarmingly young, just might have a bright future on the way.
Enough selling done. Draw a line under that nonsense. Use the supposed spare cash and get in that striker. Who knows might even allow us to push for a top ten instead of looking over our shoulders all season
Agree we have to keep Harrison. I understand some folks frustrations at times but the few other PL games I watch, we're not involved in, I particularly look at wide players and the majority are the same, for me he's one of the better ones. We shouldn't sell anyone we'll need a big squad to get through the season. It was great to hear Marsch's name chanted after the game on Sunday, bloke as been on a bit of a hiding to nothing and really needed a good start to the season to get some of the doubters off his back, obviously it's early and we shouldn't get carried away and let's not forget we threw away a 2 goal lead at Soton so lots of bumps along the way, but if we could get a mid table finish, I think that would be a great achievement for him and the team.
One other thing that irks me about views on Harrison is this fictional rumour about him not being a good crosser. He is a great crosser. He put some lovely crosses in last season in to dangerous areas but we had nobody attacking those areas. The majority of crosses are just fired in to areas. Very rarely will wingers have time to pick somebody out, they just lash it with pace in to an area where a striker should be. Harrison is very good at that. We need players getting on the end of it.
Think about it this way. If we had signed Harrison this summer we would be drooling over his performances. If he goes we might as well put the whole squad up for sale and prepare for life in the championship again
Just had a read of scum match day thread on Liverpool forum. Lot of the complaints look familiar. Injuries, squad not big enough, players playing out of position. It’s like they copied and pasted from here
Harrison has improved his decision making, he’s been encouraged to hit the early ball rather than run round in circles. Never doubted his ability, just what went on between the ears. As Gessa says, all wingers are hit and miss, it’s the nature of the job. Jack is a yard of pace from being a really top winger. What he is is a very good one. Who works really hard. His end product stats have been as good as Raphinha’s.
