Good Morning. It's Wednesday 11th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds set to recall Cresswell Leeds Utd are set to recall Charlie Cresswell halfway through his season long loan at Millwall. The 20yo England Under 21 International has made 13 league starts (plus two as substitute) for the Bermondsey based club, yet Leeds were hoping for significantly more than that. Cressy has slipped down to fourth in the 'Whoscored' ratings, having dominated the stats early doors. Perhaps a change of scenery is what is needed. The news comes, as Gary Rowett's Championship outfit are linked with Joe Gelhardt whose fledgling career has taken a nosedive this season. It is hoped regular first team football will help the 20yo rediscover his goalscoring touch. Having parted with Benik Afobe, Millwall are in need of a replacement, and Gelhardt ticks the boxes. According to Phil Hay "He has been in and out of their Championship line-up and failed to establish himself under manager Gary Rowett in the way that he hoped. A January recall clause in his deal is understood to have elapsed already but a number of expressions of interest from other Championship sides are now encouraging Leeds to negotiate his release from Millwall. Clubs in England’s second tier are considering tabling both loan and permanent offers for Cresswell, a player who spent a decade in Leeds’ academy and made his senior debut last season." please log in to view this image Has Drameh earned his opportunity to shine After a turbulent first half of the season, where his attitude was continually questioned, Cody Drameh has knuckled down, and let the football do the talking. Undeniably, the 21yo right back has bags of talent, and even more potential, yet, with Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen in front of him in the pecking order, his opportunities have been limited to the odd cameo appearance. Drameh has made his position perfectly clear - he wants first team football, and if he can't get it at Elland Road, he'll find it elsewhere. He has 18 months left on his contract, but is amenable to contract talks, if he gets game time. His recent second half performance against Cardiff City, didn't go unnoticed by many Leeds fans, who took to social media demanding he should be given an opportunity to shine. Speaking ahead of the Villa game on Friday, Jesse Marsch admits he faces a selection dilemma regarding the England U21 starlet. “Then he came into pre-season and he's kind of worked through the year, played with the 21s a lot and the idea of being here has grown on him a lot. Maybe it could have gone differently if that feeling was there from the beginning. We're in a good place now with Cody and I like him a lot. He's committing to this at the highest level." “We have to figure out what that means and how we continue to have him as part of our group and in the long-term vision, I want him to be here. Period.” “Every player wants playing time and when they don't get it obviously they want to be part of it. Cody is, for me, knocking on the door in a big way, in a big way. Right now he just has to continue with the same mentality and keep every day pushing to show how good he is and he's done that.” please log in to view this image Reason why Llorente was awarded new contract Jesse Marsch has revealed the reasons why he decided to reward Diego Llorente with a new, lucrative deal, tying him down to 2026, when he'll be weeks away from his 33rd birthday. After an impressive debut season, the 29yo centre back has been in erratic form, yet Marsch sees quality in the Spanish fringe International, also exclaiming that centre backs aren't easy to find. Leeds have leaked 31 goals so far this season. Only Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Southampton have conceded more. The stats don't lie - Leeds need better defenders, so why the new contract? “Diego, first of all, at the beginning stages of the season was playing very well,” “Then Coops (Liam Cooper) came back and at the time we made that decision (to leave out Llorente). “Coops is an important player for us from a leadership perspective, from a player perspective, everything. "When Diego came on against Monaco we gave up three goals right away, he was almost just getting himself going, so it was a little unfortunate for him, but (against Manchester City) he played well. “The reason [we offered him the new contract] is because we think he has quality. Centre-backs aren't easy to find and so when you have a good one you want to find a way to hold onto them.” please log in to view this image
Morning all… I think Jesse is nuts offering Llorente a new contract Cresswell hasn’t played enough games, it’s a good idea to call him back and send him out somewhere else, Joffy is another who needs to go out on loan Drameh I’d start him against Villa, he’d be my number one choice. We risk losing him if he doesn’t start playing and we’ve seen how hard it is to get a quality LB, I’d imagine RB would prove the same hurdles, Kristensen isn’t up to standard at RB although he may improve
Time for Drameh to be given a prolonged run in the side imo. Had high hopes for Kristensen but he seems slow and cumbersome. Drameh looks by far the better of the two and has pace. The pecking order for RB should from now on be Drameh, Ayling then Kristensen.
Morning all Not going to go into the mixed messages Marsch gives out about players, but just to say this; Cody Drameh on present form is the best RB at the club. Yes he hasn’t been given a start yet but what we have seen is less mistakes than either the Dane or Luke, so deserves a chance. Use him or lose him, it’s not hard. Cresswell and Hjelde wanted by Championship clubs, Joffy wanted by plenty of clubs home and abroad and I suspect we will see others going out maybe a keeper?
Morning all. I get the whole loaning out of players, its necessary but as Ive previously said I don't see loaning players to the Milwalls or Oxfords is much benefit. The standard is so far below PL level. The Cardiff example Sunday a good example. Their second string team and were awful when we started to play a bit. You couldn't judge anyone against that and I don't see a player learning much from playing a half season there. I just don't believe we should be sending lads to below mid table championship teams as I can't see what they'll learn. Any word on the new lad. He was pictured on a plane two days ago. Is he flying around the world a few times to get to us. As for Llorente. if he can't keep Coops out of the team, I fail to see how he deserved a new contract. But then again maybe the 49ers have a say in that end of things now. Who knows
When i've seen drameh for the 23's/21's I've been impressed - didn't get to see much of him at cardiff where by all accounts he excelled in a 5 with more licence to get forward. When he got game time last year under bielsa he was a bit of a car crash... but... it was in a side in dissarray and it was his first games at that level. We've seen it can take time to adapt... jimmy, sam looked lost when they first came in. I'm not sure Cardiff game showed that much re cody to be honest, they were hemmed in and he was offering an outlet - but i'd be happy for him to be given another run in the first team to show if that run of championship games has helped him find his feet in man's football. Kristenson has had plenty of chances and just not really settled, Bill i still feel offers the most going forward and has experience on his side... but drameh has what they both lack... pace. But just as a comparable.... the other highly rated full back (probably higher-rated) from the champ last year was djed spence... i read recently he's had maybe 40 mins at spurs since they signed him.
Morning all and calls for Drameh to be first choice is baffling. He never in his entire career has played a full game at Leeds at a high level.
Off the top of my head wakey I'd say he's started 2 PL games for us. Arsenal (h) which was in a depleted and makeshift team. Brentford (a) never an easy place to go if you look at their home form. That said they were opportunites which clearly he didn't take otherwise he'd have featured more often since.
Good Morning to Matt and co from sunny but chilly Bardsey seems like an awful lot of money for a player who has scored 2 goals is it just paper talk re Dramet h give him a chance especially Villa are hurting after their last result
Morning All Spent all yesterday afternoon in meetings for work and didn't get home till 9 pm so I'm still catching up on the news. If we're going to recall Cresswell then send him out again. I'd dangle him in front of Sheff United as they wanted him in the summer, I want to know what he can do exactly before we properly promote him to the seniors. From what I understand he's been hit-and-miss at Millwall. Give Drameh a start or 2 and see what he can do. The worst thing possible is that he doesn't get the chance he deserves and he goes to another club. I'm not sure but I think Dortmund wants him and that could bite us in the ass in a couple of years when he comes back and signs for the likes of Liverpool or Chelsea. Llorente getting a new contract is bizarre. Firstly he's pants but then if you look at who we've brought in since Jesse started he's old. Hopefully the idea is 2 keep him for another 2 years or so and then sell him when we've found a decent replacement.
Which is why i don't understand fans saying he is a great player. To me he is third choice and so does the coach.
But that’s the norm on forums social media twitter etc. fans constantly picking out young fellas and demanding they’re given a starting spot. Been going on for years. I suppose born from the frustration of the displays of some of the senior lads. Same applies to getting rid of the coach. The next lad Dyche or whoever will always be better. It’s called the grass is always greener on the other side
Don’t think emu is too concerned about that.. he’s already booked firpo’s flight to Spain and taxi to the airport
