The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 2nd November)

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


Forshaw off in January

Leeds are willing to offload Adam Forshaw in January according to a recent report from 'Football Insider'. The 31yo has spent much of his four-year stay on the treatment table. His latest ailment has restricted him to 47 minutes of game time this season. This may devastate Andrea Radrizzani who, last season tried to convince Leeds fans Forshaw's comeback would be like 'a new signing' (they were not convinced).

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How much dead weight are Leeds still carrying

Perhaps Adam Forshaw is not the only player who should be surplus to requirements. Whilst the jury is still out on Rasmus Christensen, the majority of new recruits have settled in, and starting to earn rave reviews. Bearing this in mind, why are Leeds at the wrong end of the table?

Well over half of Bielsa's old guard still feature heavily in Jesse Marsch's squad. If they were unable to perform for the Argentine, what makes us think they will shine now? Ayling, Cooper, Llorente, Dallas, Klich, Bamford and Rodrigo are surely close to reaching their expiry date, not to mention Firpo and James (who has failed so far to break into Fulham's side).

Shackleton, Costa, Roberts, Povada and Davis all came off our books during the Summer, but it looks like Leeds are still carrying a lot of deadweight from players on lucrative long term deals.

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West Yorkshire Terrier

Over the past couple of weeks, Leeds scouts have been in attendance, watching Rennes star Martin Terrier in action. The 25yo was strongly linked with a move to Elland Road during the Summer, but were put off by his somewhat hefty price tag. Rennes were demanding £34m, and even though he had bagged 21 goals and four assists (in 37 appearances) during their 21/22 season, he hadn't been consistent during previous campaigns.

The French League (Ligue 1) may not be as strong as the Premier League, but we need to remember that Neymar only netted 10 times last season, whilst Messi only managed five! It may have been a gamble to bring Terrier to West Yorkshire, but the likelihood is, it would have paid off. So far this season, he has netted 11 times and contributed 4 assists in all competitions (and has a Whoscored rating of 7.78). His performances thus far have attracted the attention of Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Wolves, Aston Villa and Leicester City.

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U21's dumped out of Cup after dramatic shoot out

Leeds U21's were knocked out of the Papa John's Trophy, after a dramatic penalty shoot out, at Gresty Road last night.

Crewe Alexandra offered little up front, they were well-organised and difficult to break down. Gyabi and Perkins both went close for the visitors, but the Railwaymen were difficult to break down, and defended in numbers to keep the scoreline goalless after 90 minutes.

Team Manager Michael Skubala named a strong line-up which included Klich, Firpo, Gelhardt and Gnonto, knowing that a win was needed to guarantee them safe passage out of the group stages, but it was not to be, as Firpo, Joseph, Perkins and Gyabi all failed to convert their spot kicks (Klich scored his), giving Crewe a 2-1 win on the night.

After the match, a disappointed Michael Skubala rued Leeds missed opportunities:-

“We did enough to go through,” “We dominated the game, we just couldn’t unlock their low block. It was one of those days where you don’t want to have one of those days." “It’s not very often you come the away ground and they set up as the away team. They just sat in, they got back quick and they made it awkward."

“We just didn’t have that little bit of guile in the final third just to really open them up. We created chances, we opened them up but we couldn’t get on the end of things. We had a lot of ball but not good enough in the final third tonight."

“Positives, Klichy got through 90 minutes and I thought he was all over the pitch, he did really well. Firpo got through 90 minutes again and did well. Leo has come back from a long-term injury. I thought he played well and dominated as a centre-half. Some positives to take but work to do in the final third.”

“It wasn’t the greatest shootout in the world,” Skubala laughed. “It’s funny, when one person misses the pressure comes, but for our younger players to have shootouts, again, you have to deal with it, learn from it and get better at it.”

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Morning all…

I don’t think we have too much deadweight to be honest, it was idiotic to give Forshaw a new contract but it’s done now, if we can offload him great.

There are players I’d like to see go and better replacements come in, Bamford, Llorente and Firpo spring to mind, then there is the question of Harrison and James, if Jesse picks up enough points and saves his career James is finished here.

Harrison is running down his contract, he’s played out of position a lot now but he has always been hot and cold. I don’t mind who we sell as long as we replace with better even if that simply means better suited to our squad and style

 

I made a case for Terrier in the summer. Having watched him i think his game suits the PL and us. He's a proper all round centre forward, works hard, bit of pace, good control, eye for a goal... and good in the air. He was portrayed as a 1 season wonder, but had often not been played as a striker, and had a good youth pedigree. I've kept an eye on him this season and after a slowish start the goals are flowing in. His only crime was being 25.. so not young enough to guarantee being sold at a profit!

 

Feel sad for Forshaw, he really deserves some luck ... hopefully a move in January does the trick

Terrier will be priced out of Leeds' reach, unless Rennes are desperate

No dead weight, a competitive squad now, just need at least three more in Jan, probably sign three goalkeepers just to avoid the left back/striker issue

Less said about U21s last night the better ... they were off the pace, and played nowhere near their ability ... as for the penalty shootout, it was proper Halloween and made my fkn eyes bleed

 

Yup, that’s why terrier/gakpo needed to be got across the line in the summer. Easier said than done I know. Word is Rennes wanted 35m eur - which isn’t cheap but strikers aren’t. A second season of more of the same isn’t going to make him cheaper.. and I’m sure champions league sides are watching

 

The jury is NOT still out on Rasmas imo!
I'm unsure why some doubt his ability tbh.

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Cooper, Klich, Ayling, Forshaw and Dallas all need a review. All part of Bielsa’s promotion team and all showing issues. For me Dallas if he can get back anywhere near fit is a must keep as he can be used as back up for various roles. Drameh needs to replace Ayling next season as he is having another stand out season. We either need to sell Llorente or Cooper because we can’t have a full Spanish international sat on his ass and we have Struijk as a proper LCB. Forshaw has only played 75 times in 5 years ffs get rid and Klich well he needs to go now

 

Morning all

 

If we were to flog Bamford, how much would we get for him?

 

Would likely cost us money. He's on a huge wage that few would match given his fitness or goals over last two seasons, so Id imagine wed be subsidising his wages wherever he goes

 

Looks like Paddy will get minutes against Bournemouth so it’s his duty and to his benefit to bang a couple it would ease the pressure on him and his manager, the fans would be loving Bamford again and his confidence will boom. #Comeonpaddy

 

Well done rads another astute decision.

 

Historically he usually goes on a run of goals once he breaks his duck. He just needs one to bounce of his knee or arse or something.

 

Judging from his touch recently, he seems to have been practising for such en eventuality

 

Good afternoon all

 

Well, unless we’re donating his body to medical science I can’t see how we can offload Forshaw in January

 

That was one of the things that amused me when I read about this on the BBC football gossip page.

I'd have changed it to "hoping" instead of "willing", because I somehow don't imagine that there is a long list of clubs who are going to be queueing up to sign Forshaw when he becomes a free agent on 1st July, never mind actually pay money for him

 

to be fair they don’t make it explicit who they’re listening to offers from. Pedigree chum perhaps?

 

Feel sorry for forshaw tbh. Yeh he’s very well paid etc, but footballers want to play and hate being injured - and he’s had horrendous luck. Likewise Paddy really - his career was flourishing and then hit a wall with injuries and now struggling to get form back