Good Morning. It's Monday 13th May, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds gain upper hand after goalless goal Caution was utmost as Norwich City and Leeds played out a goalless draw in the first leg of the Championship play-off Semi-final at Carrow Road on Sunday lunchtime. With so much at stake (and Bamford still injured), Daniel Farke sacrificed Joel Piroe, and went with a five man midfield to keep the Canaries at bay, and it worked. It may not have been pretty, but the hosts were restricted to just one shot on target. It was a similar story at the other end of the pitch, though the draw will definitely suit Leeds better. Norwich' away form has let them down this season. Away from Carrow Road, the Canaries have won six out of 23, placing them 19th in the away form guide against a team with (up until recently) an impeccable home record. Back to back losses at Elland Road saw Leeds slip to second place in the home form guide, behind the Tractor Boys whose only home defeat was against Leeds. Even so, Leeds are firm favourites to book their place in the final against either Southampton or West Brom. please log in to view this image If we had used VAR this season, we'd be automatically promoted Speaking at his post match press conference, Leeds Manager Daniel Farke expressed anger and bewilderment regarding the amount of decisions that have gone against the Whites this season. The gaffer was discussing Firpo's goal that had been ruled out by the referee's assistant as Rutter was judged to have been ruled out in the build up. Without VAR and Hawk-Eye's virtual offside line technology, it was impossible to gage whether it was the correct decision or not, but Farke was clearly not happy with the outcome! Furthermore, Farke revealed he has twelve letters of apologies from match officials, admitting mistakes that have cost Leeds points this season, leading to claims that his side would have won automatic promotion had VAR been in place. please log in to view this image Norfolk Police searching for third man who assaulted Leeds fan Norfolk Police have arrested two men, and searching for a third, after a Leeds fan was attacked whilst leaving Carrow Road yesterday. The victim, a man in his 60's was punched, struck with a can, and slashed in the face and neck with a sharp object of some description. He was treated by paramedics at the scene, and allowed to head home without the need for hospital treatment. please log in to view this image
Awful game. Norwich hopeless and were no better. We’re fooling ourselves if we think we’re remotely ready to move up a division. I don’t agree we’ve any advantage going into second leg btw. Atmosphere just as likely to terrify our lads. Beginning to wonder about the safety of going to games when you see that stabbing and the awful attack a few years back on the Irish liverpool fan that’s left him disabled
Morning all On the run in, we obviously allowed the nerves to get the better of us, players don't turn from a talented bunch to talentless in such a short space of time. A team who wins (was it) 9 consecutive games and hardly concede a goal and who even looked like automatic favourites to the team we have seen recently, it is not the skill levels falling away, it is either how they are being asked to play or just nerves or both. You don't fix it in one game either, yesterday was about not conceding, being more compact and if you can grab a winner on the break great, it's how the majority of teams have played against us this season. If yesterdays game was at ER we would be fearing the worst on the away leg, of course we have an advantage, look at Norwich City's home form compared to the away. The play offs are about two legs, not one, we have done the first part, we have hopefully shook off some nerves and got a bit of confidence back. James has had a stretch of the legs, we looked like the only ones who were going to score as the game went on, Norwich looked devoid of ideas at the end, their main striker went off injured. On the game, I felt Rutter was awful, he gave the ball away constantly, swung and missed in the opening minutes, never created much in the way of chances, we really carried him yesterday and I can't understand why he continually gets selected. Meslier had terrible distribution the entire game, nerves have really took hold of him. The final will have VAR operating, there is an argument that it should be for the playoff legs too, I am however saying that as a fan feeling we would have benefited from it yesterday, if we make the final it is sods law a VAR decision will go against us and we'll be regretting it's useage.
Morning, Need some pace up front. Norwich look slow at the back. We all moaned when Bielsa played Dan James as the lone striker, but given Farke’s reluctance to play Joseph, even James up top would be an improvement on Rutter. Get the speed merchants running at their back four.
Slow slow and slower... It was a yawwn fest of the highest order. Thought i would drop off at half time and said it's got a nil.. nil bore written all over it. Rutter is not a striker he needs to be dropping back where he operates better. Farke orrff must play piroe or joseph at home with fast wingers creating chances.
Before anyone says play Anthony he is not for me. He is just so weak for a big lad a total waste of a loan so far.
Morning Leeds fans. It was dull, it was uninspiring, but if you'd said to me before kick-off if I would take the draw I'd have bitten your hand off. "Leeds are firm favourites to book their place in the final" - that's stretching it a............. lot!! I'd say very, very slight favourites but I now have at least some belief that we might actually get there.
Slightly more chance of Leeds going to Wembley than Man City winning the league. Will Man City win the league?
Think under VAR we'd have had a goal and a pen (and possibly a red for the 'penalty' tackle on Gnonto).
That was a good game yesterday ... tactical battle which Leeds won ... after about 30 minutes Leeds controlled the game without going full on attack, choosing to ensure they kept a clean sheet to have a shot at ER ... Norwich's talented playmakers were stifled, they looked blunt up front and Leeds never came under any real pressure ... Thursday should be a rip-roaring affair with a rabid ER a cauldron of aggression Amazed that the toad Hinchcliffe gave MoM to McLean ... Kamara totally dominated him, in fact McLean's name rarely came up in commentary ... Sky clearly trying to lift Norwich for the 2nd leg, the cnuts Don't understand all this "rubbish football" and "talentless players" nonsense ... with £140m at stake it would have been foolish for either team to go balls out and risk being countered ... both have pace out wide, so first priority is to deny those players the space to do damage As for Leeds being nowhere near good enough to survive in the Prem, utter nonsense ... the Prem is all about six teams trying to get four Chumps Lge places, another two trying to get top six, and twelve trying to finish seventeenth ... Leeds are a lot better than teams like Luton, Blunts, Burnley, Everton, Forest, Bournemouth, Brentford, Sham, Wolves, Fulham, etc. ... our forwards are exceptional as a unit, our defence has shown it can keep clean sheets, our midfield can battle when on song ... sure, a few quality additions will be very welcome, and that will push us on if we go up ... nothing to fear In the Bielsa promotion season I said I felt Leeds would be good enough to get as high as tenth place in our first season back ... we finished ninth, and went toe to toe with all comers ... Raphinha was a key addition, as was keeping Phillips ... our problems started in the second season when Radz refused to invest in properly improving the team, and then getting the Yank in to completely balls everything up Now that we have established owners with the financial clout to attack the transfer markets properly, the Prem should hold no fears for Leeds United ... Farke is a good manager who will help to stabilise the club for a good while, and the owners seem to have their heads screwed on the right way ... they refuse to make rash decisions, they keep the faith and they don't make lots of noise ... nah, we're ready for the Prem Thanks for another good thread Matt
On a positive, it’s still all to play for in the 2nd leg. I’m off to sunny Espana tomorrow morning so hopefully watching us win in my local bar.
I like positivity in people but I think you are overselling our forward line with that description. The premier league is a whole different ball game as Burnley found out and they walked this division. The likes of Forest etc benefited from the fact that the three teams that went up were so poor.
Norwich were crap and our lot hadn't a clue how to break them down. Tipping and tapping and going nowhere. Anyway, it's only a football game and time will tell re owners etc. The last lot were gods gift two years ago according to some I seem to recall
Personally i think Farke is a chancer. Norwich are the poorest team of the last four and we are next, I watched the other semi and we have to step up somewhat. Meslier…. 4/10 max walking disaster. Byram…. 6/10 did one good tackle. Rodon….. 6/10 did enough but I think he his having second thoughts over his future. Ampadu….6/10 nothing special not a great deal to do. Firpo…. 6/10 Still has me on edge when being attacked one on one. Gruev….5/10 Gave some silly fouls away Kamara…. 5/10 does not commit, had chance to shoot on a few occasions. Gray…. 7/10 pick of a poor bunch but still think he ain’t a midfielder. Summerville… 3/10 over rated, did nothing very poor, sell and get what we can. Rutter …2/10 another who thinks he is better than he is, I blame Farke for not subbing him at halftime for Joseph. Gnonto…. 4/10 Fed up of seeing that stupid laugh come grin when something happens, needs to man up. Piroe…. 4/10 what does he bring to the team, please someone tell me. Farke…. Bad substitutions the book stays with him, his interviews are repetitive and IF we don’t get to PL will be interested what he has to say.
Only saw brief highlights but Rutter looked onside to me. We got away with one the other week. Still prefer no VAR.
