Good Morning. It's Monday 5th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Gnonto fires Leeds into promotion mix Wilfred Gnonto's 47th minute strike temporarily elevated Leeds into the top two of the Championship for the first time this season, as Daniel Farke's side kept their 100% league record intact in 2024. Not only have Leeds won five on the trot (in the league), but they've only conceded once, scoring ten in the process, but their resilience will be put to the test this month, as they face five games in fifteen days. Leeds dominated much of the game, but found it difficult to break down a stubborn City defence content on getting men behind the ball in numbers, to frustrate the visitors. Even so, Max O'Leary had to be at his very best to deny Summerville and Rutter from one on one situations, when perhaps the Leeds forwards should have done better. please log in to view this image Can Shackleton survive cull Leeds are set to open talks with Jamie Shackleton over a new contract, in a bid to keep the 24yo at Elland Road beyond the Summer. Shacks has been part of the Leeds Utd set up since he was eight, but has never quite managed a sustained run of games in the starting XI. He is quick, versatile and is a good passer of the ball, though many are critical of his physical strength. Daniel Farke's cull is well and truly under way, and he's not holding back. So far this season we have seen Leo Hjelde, Helder Costa, Luke Ayling, Ian Poveda, Cody Drameh, Jack Jenkins and Lewis Bate all depart. It is also unlikely that Sam Greenwood, Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper will see another season at Elland Road, proving there is no room for sentiment in football. please log in to view this image Are Ipswich out of auto promotion race It was always going to be difficult for Ipswich Town to maintain their staggering run of form, going into the second half of the season, but with seven points from as many games (starting with a 4-0 loss to Leeds), can the Tractor boys recover? The wheels well and truly came off during the first half at Preston, but to their credit came back strongly after the break, and were unlucky not to leave Deepdale with something! The recent signings of Lewis Travis, Ali Al-Hamadi, Kieffer Moore and Jeremy Sarmiento will no doubt boost Kieran McKenna's side, but integrating new faces into a settled line-up is a gamble. Ipswich will leapfrog Leeds if they win their game in hand, but their once unattainable lead has all but deteriorated. please log in to view this image
Morning all. Ipswich are far from done and they will bounce back from this difficult spell which many forecast would happen over the December and January period. From our point of view things simply couldn't be better other than getting Dan James and Struijk back to bolster the squad, but as they are predicted to return soon it shouldn't really be a concern. The massive pluses though from their absences are that we might have both revived Gnonto's Leeds career and stumbled across a midfield combination that works a treat
Difficult one is Shackleton, never really had a good run out in the team, always been one better ahead of him but he's never let us down when called upon, a new contract would possibly depend on what division we're in next season, great squad player for the championship but don't think he'll still be here if we go up, presuming the club strengthen if we go up. Of course Ipswich are still in with a chance of auto's but looking more likely Soton will get it, especially if they continue with the form they've been in since beating us. Ipswich showing why the January window is a dilemma, they needed a few new faces, players that sign in January want assurances of game time, why go somewhere and sit on someone else's bench, or give up game time to do so, then you have the problem of disrupting the balance of the team that as done so well so far by making too many changes. Will be a test on McKenna's management skills, now they've been taken to the next level.
Great Result once again, which puts, us as Elland said right in the mix, Bloody Southampton, same as us also in a rich vein of form, need them to start having a few Blips, but if this continues, as it is amongst the top three, what a finale game of the season Leeds v Southampton with a winner takes all scenario. Leicester crushing Stoke has all but stopped their wheels coming off. So it would still be between two, us and Southampton for that finale spot. Guess, i right Ipswich off at our peril.
Just as a point of discussion it's maybe worth considering how Piroe is feeling ? Signed in the summer for big money he's now basically on the bench for the rest of the season unless Paddy or Georginio pick up an injury.
Morning all. Bank holiday here although that means nothing to some of us at work. High point of my weekend was seeing a happy Willy enjoying his football and the travelling fans showing him terrific support. Well done all
Morning all If WBA beat Ipswich then they really will be struggling, they are in a terrible patch of form, the saving grace is they have managed a lot of draws. Kieffer Moore scored two on his debut, not sure how good they were or if they converted to lumping it into the middle. I think the Leeds team should just keep focusing on the next three points available and not what those around us are doing. One or two teams always come with a run, have we got our timing right, did Southampton peak to soon and will they start to slip up. We know how easy it is to have a nice lead in the autos and watch it chipped away
Seeing the players reaction to Gnonto, when he scored, suggests he’s still a firm favourite with them all. They were delighted we’d scored, but seemed genuinely delighted he was the one to do it. That to me tells me everything about the squad togetherness. Piroe will get his chance again, at some point, maybe 2mrw night. I doubt he was promised game time, when he signed, just based on the way DF conducts himself generally, always pushing them to improve. Main thing is for him to make his mark when he does play. Silly to discount Ipswich, I do believe they will likely fall away a bit. But reckon they will be there or thereabouts.
Ipswich are having one of those runs where nothing goes their way. As Leeds fans we can relate to that in recent times. They were 3-0 down to a Preston side who had 2 shots on target, one of those a deflection. Ipswich has double the ;possession 3 times as many shots and shots on target. When they lost to Maidstone in the cup it was bordering on ridiculous... 38 shots to maidstones 2 and lost 2-1. My take is Ipswich were never quite as good as their results showed earlier in the season... and they haven't been as bad as their results show now. What can happen though is that poor results effect form, but i don't think they're a busted flush just yet. Do i think they are as good as us or Southampton? No. You're right, it's pointless worrying what others do... just need to focus on the next match. I'm sure Farke will have them doing that.
Saints, Ipswich and us are all clearly well matched as the table indicates. Just a question of who can handle the pressure when the going gets tough and hopefully this is where Farke's experience will be pay dividends. If not then sack the fecker
Good Morning from a cold Bardsey I see that Phillips makes another mistake which costs a goal.His holidays at City have taken a toll on him .I would be surprised if his value is now 10m.He should have stayed at LeedsI think it will take time for him to get up to speed As for the promotion race anything could happen only Leicester are certain.Do we really want it I ask my selft its such a big gulf to go up
Injuries and suspensions to squads will also take its toll. We’ve shown we can handle two or three of our main men being absent at any one time. Hope our luck holds out and we can keep to those numbers
I'd rather play Ipswich than Soton in the playoffs if we have to endure that again. But guess who we play in the final game this season. Has anyone produced a form guide for the top 6 v each other?
If my calcs are correct ( I did it very quickly)I reckon Saints have the best points average at 1.8, we are second at 1.5. These are appropriate as we and Ipswich have played 7 times against current top 6 sides. Hull have only played 4. Maybe Aski will give us the full breakdown, as I’m dashing to a hospital appointment.
Southampton have the best average points against the other top 6 sides, but of the 5 games they have played, 4 of those have been at home, still to play Hull. They have us, Leicester, Ipswich and WBA to visit. Likewise WBA have also played 4 of their 6 games at home, hence why they sit second in the table for average points, with only Southampton left to play at home. They still have to visit Leicester, Ipswich and Hull. Us and Ipswich have played the most games against the current top 6, however our 3 remaining games are all at home, whilst Ipswich need to visit Hull, with Southampton and WBA to play at Portman Road. Hull still have to entertain Leicester, Ipswich and WBA at home, with visits still to come at Southampton and ourselves Leicester have Southampton and WBA to play at home, and us and Hull away .
It's fine. We make our own bad luck, always have done and always will. Anyone who doesn't like it can go support one of those more favoured clubs if all they want is trophies and success. The flip side is though that when we do achieve something then boy is it oh so sweet.
Ok as I was looking at the info that Brizzle requested, I noticed that FotMob did a team of the week. Now whilst players ratings are all very subjective, especially those based on some sort of algorithm, with a spare 30 minutes at hand, I thought I would give you all some more pointless stats to fall asleep to Total Number of players per position selected for each club in FotMobs team of the week (total of 319 positions selected) Rutter and Summerville have been selected the most times for ourselves, both selected 4 times, with Struijk next having been selected 3 times. James and Meslier been selected twice, with Rodon, Byram, Piroe and Sinisterra each being selected once.
