Match Day Thread Leeds United v Newcastle United

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Leeds United v Newcastle United
Saturday 30th August@17:30 | Elland Road

Newcastle Utd will be looking to pile the pressure on Daniel Farke when they visit Elland Road on Saturday tea-time. The Magpies are yet to win this season, and Eddie Howe will be desperate to make that happen against a Leeds squad who have had a truly torrid week; culminating in a humbling 5-0 defeat at the Emirates last weekend, swiftly followed by a woeful performance and subsequent Cup exit at the hands of crisis club Sheffield Wednesday.

For Daniel Farke and his squad, the immediate expectation is not necessarily a win, but a significant bounce-back in attitude and, crucially, performance. He faces a challenging task in reshaping his lineup, with key midfielders Ethan Ampadu and AO Tanaka both sidelined until after the international break due to MCL knee injuries. In central defence, a reshuffle is on the cards, with Jaka Bijol potentially being preferred over Pascal Struijk as the manager seeks to shore up a leaky backline.

However, there's a glimmer of excitement for the home support, as new recruits Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be poised to make their highly anticipated Elland Road bows, offering fresh impetus and attacking threat after a week where goals were sorely missing.

Across the dugout, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe arrives in West Yorkshire grappling with his own significant personnel headaches. The Magpies are reeling from a string of injuries and suspensions that threaten to derail their strong start to the season.

Crucial midfield lynchpin Joelinton was forced off with a groin injury, while Sandro Tonali sustained damage to his shoulder, leaving both as major doubts for the fixture. Adding to Howe's defensive worries, Fabian Schar is out after enduring a knock to the head, and dynamic winger Anthony Gordon begins a three-match ban.

These absences mean Howe may be forced to turn to new faces or those on the periphery. Former Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey and Malick Thiaw are on standby, with both potentially set to make their full debuts for Newcastle in what promises to be an intense atmosphere.

 

The injuries for Newcastle seem like good news for us but probably not as good as first thoughts, not when they can bring in £35m players to deputise.

Perri
Bogle Rodon Struijk Gudmundsson
Gruev
Longstaff Stach
James DCL Gnonto

 

Can see us starting Bijol for Struijk & Okafor for James and have Gnoto on the right but otherwise spot on.

 

Okafor injured already

DCL won't be starting, may get some minutes.
International break will help getting his fitness up.

 

Hoping for a repeat performance to Everton game Bothe from players and the cracking atmosphere. A win would be brilliant but Id settle for the performance to settle the ship. We need some form of stability over next couple of seasons and not this nonsensical knee jerk Farke out rubbish after a couple of games. Remember a win on Saturday could see us in the top eight