Good Morning. It's Monday 9th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Whites go second after comfortable win Joe Rodon and Max Wober fired Leeds back to the automatic promotion places with a comfortable victory over a well organised Derby County team on Saturday lunchtime. The cogs were once again turning in unison as the Whites used their attacking options from both flanks to move the visitors out of position; patiently creating openings whilst retaining the ball. Although not a walk in the park which many suggested (it never is), Farke's side rarely had to step out of third gear, conserving their energy for what lies ahead. Joe Rodon put Leeds one-up on 39 minutes with only his second league goal of his career - even more astonishingly, it came from a corner (their second of the season from 134 attempts). With the deadlock now broken, the visitors lost much of the impetus, and started to look vulnerable! Max Wober, a 20th minute substitute for Junior Firpo, dealt the Rams a hammer blow just before the interval, popping up in the six yard area to double the Whites advantage. Surrounded by three defenders, the RB Salzburg target stayed focused after James fluffed his lines, as the ball landed kindly for him to smash home from close range. Zetterstrom pulled off a string of fine saves from James, Tanaka and Piroe in the second half, to keep the damage to a minimal; but Derby never looked like troubling the visitors. It was a much better performance from Leeds. They were so much better organised, and had a game plan which the visitors could not compete with - long may it continue! please log in to view this image Should Leeds keep hold of Wober Max Wober still has a lot to prove, and to make amends for, after deserting the Whites in their hour of need. He had just been entrusted with the Captains armband when he jumped ship in favour of a loan move with Borussia Mönchengladbach, expected never to be heard of again! Eighteen months later, Wober finds himself back in contention for first team action by way of injuries to Junior Firpo and Sam Byram, given his faultless display against Derby. Written off by so many, the versatile defender gave the Elland Road faithful a glimpse into what they would be missing out on, if the 49ers were to sell him back to RB Salzburg next month. Given he's contracted to the Whites until the Summer of 2027, there's no immediate rush to sell him, but money talks. If Leeds can recoup the £10m (or more) that they paid for him almost two yeas ago, would they be stupid not to take it, and perhaps help fund a big January signing either up front or No 10 role? please log in to view this image
Morning all I thought Wober might have an important part to play this season, but at CB, we would be mad to let him go. Firpo is a strange one, he needs to play every game otherwise he seems vulnerable to breaking down injured after a longer than usual gap between games. Looking at the top 6, we have managed to create a gap between 5th and 6th but the top 4 is too close for comfort at the moment. After Boro we have some comfortable looking games, Sheffield and Burnley have an equally comfortable ride until they face each other on Boxing Day, Sunderland could also win their next three, I can't see any stand out problems for them I have a feeling we are going to be going into the New Year with it being very tight and still a 4 horse race
We might be heading into May like that. The gap to 5th won't look so clear if we lose to Boro. Big game Tuesday.
Morning all. Will be interesting to see how we respond to Saturdays excellent performance in next game V Boro. Sort of half expecting one of those disappointing performances. Hopefully not
It’s great when we win, better still when we win convincingly. I think it’s gonna be tight all season and I’m not of the opinion that they’ll be any breakaway teams this year. I can’t see the Blades falling away, Wilder won’t allow it. Think Burnley will hang around as will a few of the others. The advantage they all have over us, is their level of fan expectation is lower than ours. So a great deal less pressure. Moreover most (possibly all) teams at this level, see us as their cup final, they raise their game or the poorer sides look to limit the damage. I don’t see the other teams in the mix have to deal with this every game of the season. Think autos will be as difficult this year, as last. I’d like us to blow everyone away and do it comfortably, but just don’t see it. Financially the club needs promotion, the reasons have been discussed widely on here. But can’t deny I do like the championship.
It will be a very different game... they will come to play - they play good football and have some genuine pace up front. Because they will be more adventurous than most, they will give us gaps to exploit too. It would be a major surprise for there not to be chances at both ends. 12 goals in 2 games last year and they put 3 past is in the carabou cup a few months back. So, get your money on 0-0 bore draw
The Wober scenario is a difficult one, does he stay or does he go, I think he is wanting to go on the quiet, but if he does we need to see some money for him, good money at that. We have sufficient cover IMO, Ampadu is more or less ready, he can go side of Rondon, Struijk can go left back. Firpo can either warm bench or go do one for me. Tanaka is the find of the season Farke cannot drop him surely, Rothwell stays in there as well. Yes Mr. Farke you have lots of games coming up, you have more player option and a quality squad than any other team in this league please don’t blow it.
No, Struijk is very poor at left back if memory serves. Ampadu has been our best midfielder and centre half so can play one and cover the other position. If Schmidt isn’t up to it then we need to keep Wober as left back. If it was his hamstring then Firpo will be out for a good few weeks. Also as has been proven Byram can’t play two games in quick succession.
I agree, we can't ruin Struijk at LB again, he always starts a season well, then we do something to shatter his confidence and he looks a shell of a player. Let's use Wober at LB, if he performs well then clubs will want him, we can review it at the end of the season. At the moment we have Firpo set to leave on a free, we have Byram in possibly his last season and it's a wonder we get any games out of him, unless Wober is a dressing room distraction we have to hold on
Wober’s a decent player certainly at this level… and has plenty of experience at left back. Hell he's even left footed! The worry is he has no pace whatsoever… which gets shown up way more at left back than cb. Ben Doak will be a good test of how big an issue that is if wober plays tomorrow.
No point selling wober, only fit left back we have at the moment, even that is a bit of a square peg.
