Good Morning. It's Wednesday 30th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Cairns delivers KO blow to Leeds Leeds were unceremoniously dumped out of the Caribou Cup on penalties by League 2 outfit Salford City, as three former players from yesteryear came back to haunt them. Matt Smith had put the hosts ahead on 34 minutes, rising highest to head Luke Garbutt's cross past the despairing dive of Karl Darlow; and it stayed that way until fifteen minutes before the end. Sam Greenwood had just been bought on, at the expense of Archie Gray. His first touch of the ball, a free kick on the edge of the Accies penalty area caused panic amongst their defenders, allowing Pascal Struijk to double his tally for the season from close range.. It was nothing more than Leeds deserved. With 70% possession and 33 strikes at goal (a new Leeds record) the Whites must have been wondering why they weren't comfortably ahead. The answer being Alex Cairns, the Salford shot stopper. The 30yo had spent four years at Elland Road learning his trade, before moving around in the lower leagues. He was equal to everything Leeds threw at him, and on the odd occasion he was beaten, the woodwork came to his rescue. With the scoreline deadlocked after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. If it had been settled by dodge ball, Leeds would have won handsomely. Somehow Darlow managed to evade the ball on every occasion, even when diving the right way. Rutter and Shackleton missed for Leeds as Salford City ran out 9-8 winners, progressing to the third round of the League Cup for the first time in their history. please log in to view this image Spence arrives as Drameh set to depart Djed Spence has sailed through his Thorp Arch medical, and will be unveiled as a Leeds Utd player later on today. The 23yo right back (who can also play as a right sided midfielder) arrives on a season long loan, with no option to buy. Spence joined Spurs last Summer from Middlesbrough for £20m, but failed to establish himself in the top flight. He spent the second half of the season on loan at Rennes, managing just eight appearances, but if he can replicate the form he showed whilst on loan at the City Ground two years ago, he'll be well worth the £1m loan fee Leeds have paid for him. The news comes as Leeds prepare for Cody Drameh's departure from Elland Road after three years at Elland Road. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the 21yo is both keen, and expected to move before Friday's deadline. please log in to view this image German Press lay into Amiri German media outlet 'Bild.de' have labelled Nadiem Amiri arrogant, spoiled and unreliable after talks broke down at Elland Road on Monday afternoon. The 26yo was highly expected to pen a lucrative four year deal with Leeds after flying him to West Yorkshire via private jet at the beginning of the week. Officials gave him the guided tour, before sitting down to discuss personal terms. German media reports suggest Amiri's wage demands were unreasonable, and he had to pay for his own plane ticket back to Germany. This had been the third time he had turned Leeds down in the space of a week. Bayer Leverkusen Manager Xabi Alonso had apparently made it clear that the attacking midfielder does not have a future at the Bay Arena, and with two days left of the transfer window, his options are very limited. please log in to view this image
Morning all We lost in the league cup big woops. Tbh I'm not really that bothered. I'll get excited I'm January when we start with the FA Cup. Amiri can go do one. Made me laugh that the club him but his own ticket back. I wonder which idiot is going for him now. DJed Spence has signed. That's a massive positive. Can't wait for the reveal video later later today. Watch Drameh have a killer season when Southampton sign him. On another note there's talk that we've signed Luke Thomas from Thomas.
Morning all, A couple of notes from last night. Firstly, is Shackleton gonna be one of our best players this season? He seems to be getting better with every match and in multiple positions. Secondly, last night answered the question as to why Darlow was 400,000 not 5 mill. He, not the two who missed, cost us that penalty shootout. I've seen nothing to suggest he should be taking over from Meslier. Thirdly, people on twitter moaning about the cbs for their goal. I think the problem was zonal marking. Watch Ampadu, he was closest to Smith at the start of the play and knew exactly where he was and going but didn't follow him as it wasn't his area.
Good morning all Appears on paper a great signing, i just hope Spurs are not having a snigger in the background thinking what goes around comes around, after the Jack Clarke signing
We now have 4 right backs. Once again we are short of a left back. Pablo was never replaced and Struijk is not capable at his main job.
Roll on Saturday when we've a settled squad. Difficult trying to assess much when we don't know who'll be knocking around
Spence in has to be good news but he'll have to earn the right back spot as it won't just be gifted to him on reputation. Expect he'll have to settle for a place on the bench this weekend and then look to impress on the training ground over the international break. If we can hang onto to what we've already got then just an attacking midfielder will be enough for now. Although some cover for Amedu and Gray (possibly Kamara) would be ideal we'll just have to mix and match until January if we can't get the right player. Left back shouldn't be a major concern unless we can get someone in who's better than what we already have. That's Firpo, Byram, Shackleton, Hjelde plus Dallas if he ever gets back.
Ampadu passes him on to Struijk. He even looks over his shoulder to make sure Struijk is aware. It's not Ampadus job to defend Matt Smith whether it's zonal or man to man. Cresswell has to move forward to cover his man and Smith sits in between Struijk and Cresswell. Ball comes in, Struijk slow to react, doesn't get there in time, Smith gets up first and over Struijk and guides a wonderful header in to the corner. Do I expect Struijk to beat Smith in the air? Not really. Do I expect him to make life a little more difficult for him? Abso-****ing-lutely! Can someone explain Struijks positioning to the first chance of the game after only a couple of minutes? The one where he decides to cover the front post instead of the cut back? ****ing ****e! Buy a ****ing left back and a ****ing left sided centre half.
You're relentless when you don't rate someone aren't you Struijk's no world beater but he's perfectly adequate for where we are right now.
Most teams (inc Man City) at best have 2 players for each position. Without going through the squad list I'd say we're pretty much covered apart from in central midfield and the aquisitions have so far been very good. In fact given the summer of turmoil I'd actually say the signings are outstanding given the circumstances.
They are also trying to play good football by building from the back and switching the point of attack until an opportunity to drive into the box presents itself. Given time this means we're likely to only get better as understandings and patterns of play develop allowing us to improve further.
Absolutely. Great squad, developing an attractive style of play with a proven goal scorer to convert the many chances that will be created, a manager who’s been there done that (twice) and knows what he’s doing - what’s not to like
