Good Morning. It's Monday 23rd December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds knock the stuffing out of Oxford Utd Leeds served up a pre-Christmas treat for their fans at the weekend, smashing four past Oxford Utd and maintaining their hopes of automatic promotion. Using the full width of the pitch to good effect, the Whites looked balanced, well organised and dangerous every time they went forward. The pace and guile of Messrs James and Solomon would cause havoc among the visitors defence, constantly moving them out of position. The two linked up well for the opener after just nine minutes. Solomon showed his Premier League class, holding off a posse of Oxford players before delivering a teasing ball across the six yard box for the Welshman to bundle home at the back post. Despite one-way traffic, the visitors held their shape pretty well but seemed content to go in at half time a goal down. Conceding possession and getting ten men behind the ball is nothing new to Leeds this season, but the O's lacked both the physicality and desire to get back in the game, and were made to pay after the break. With little over 30 minutes on the clock, Jayden Bogle carved out the visitors, dancing through a melee of players before stabbing the ball past Cumming. This knocked the Christmas stuffing out of Gary Rowett's men as he looked on from the stands, wondering what he's signed himself up for! Brendon Aaronson and Manor Solomon both got in on the act in the last 25 minutes to ensure Farke's men hold the best goal difference in the division despite Sheffield Utd and Burnley conceding less. The two clubs play each other on Boxing day, perhaps giving the Whites an opportunity to go top, as we see in the New Year. please log in to view this image Farke linked with Omobamidele reunion According to The Telegraph, Daniel Farke has identified Nottingham Forest defender Andrew Omobamidele as a potential target for the Whites, as the January transfer window approaches. The towering centre-back, signed from Norwich City for £11m almost 18 months ago, has yet to feature this season, finding himself as fifth-choice central defender at the City Ground. Leeds enquired about him back in the Summer, but Forest opted to retain him as Nuno Espirito Santo wanted time to assess his squad. Now, with Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, and Willy Boly all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, a January move seems likely. Once hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Republic of Ireland legend Paul McGrath during his teenage years, Omobamidele's potential is undeniable. He even marked his Forest debut with a goal in the FA Cup against Blackpool last season, earning a subsequent run of games. However, the current strength in depth at Forest simply means they have alternative options, which isn't necessarily a reflection on Omobamidele's capabilities. please log in to view this image
Morning all. That's the stuff. Sign all Irish lads in January. Were the only ones with real passion for the club
Morning all Christmas shopping being delivered today, they’ve run out of potatoes (of all things) now I have to battle the hoards for a bag of spuds, didn’t think a bag of potatoes would ever pee me off
Hard one on the transfer front as as if we were to sign someone who deserves to lose there place? As I can't see us just buying a squad player we will only buy to strengthen the 11 so someone has to be ousted if we do. 3 Keepers: - you generally only use 1. Alot of people say yes we need one but only way we will is if Mes is to leave and I just don't see that happening in Jan. 2-4 L/Backs: Firpo-Schmidt- Both Wober & Byram can also play there that's 4 solid options can't see any movement there. 2 R/Backs: Bogle - Byram 2 solid options for this division again not needed unless someone goes. 3-5 C/Backs: Rodon-Struijk-Wober and Ampadu & Guilavogui as cover. again solid options in both positions someone has to go surely? 5 Def/Central Midfield: Tanaka-Rothwell-Ampadu-Guilavogui-Gruev ok one long term injury here. but all good enough and all can mix from Defence to Centrally. 1 Att/Mid: Aaronson maybe 1 place in the team we could do with some help. 4 Wingers: Soloman-James-Gnonto-Ramazani probably have the best combined wingers in the league and we are struggling to play them all now not a cat in hells chance we will see a winger in Jan unless someone goes. 4 Strikers: Piroe-Bamford-Jospeh-Gelhardt plenty numbers here but how many are good enough? Maybe a shift around might be good even 2 out Bammers-Gelhardt and a good one in as with only playing one you cant hold onto many.
I think if they want a move we can make it happen but obviously we would have to bring atleast one in Gelhardt should be sold and Bammers would prob have to go out on loan as not many people will touch him under his wages and injury record. I don't see us doing much business but these 2 are probably the key ones.
I’ve a feeling we’ll not see Schmidt start another game for us. When Firpo is out, Farke prefers Byram and then Wober, Schmidt is 25, if he’s not good enough at this level he definitely not be good enough in the PL
Watched an interesting vid on YouTube about the top four. They are all imperious at home, only losing 1 game in 43 and we know who that was. Very importantly though the predicted points total for them is 380. Last year it was 370. The rest of the Championship is poor but it's going to be a slugfest at the top. Our home form will not carry us through because they're all doing it. I think Sheff Utd are going to do a Leicester so we need to stay ahead of Burnley. But I'm probably wrong.
Gruev struggled for the first half of last season. Give Schmidt a chance. Too early to write him off.
Maybe just me but I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him so far, which admittedly isn’t much, but he seems to have a bit of pace and physicality about him.
