The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 29th September)

Good Morning. It's Monday 29th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Two points dropped as Cherries snatch late draw

Bournemouth snatched a dramatic injury time equaliser at Elland Road, denying Leeds United their first back-to-back victory this season. Daniel Farke’s men had looked poised to claim a deserved victory after an almost faultless performance, but poor set-piece defending proved costly.

The visitors drew first blood shortly before the half-hour mark when Antoine Semenyo’s low free-kick skipped under the wall and somehow around Brenden Aaronson, leaving goalkeeper Karl Darlow helpless and raising questions about his setup. Leeds responded just before the interval, with Joe Rodon left unmarked to thunder home his first Premier League goal from a corner, restoring parity and igniting the home supporters.

After the restart, Leeds turned their dominance into a lead. Summer signing Sean Longstaff marked his arrival from Newcastle with a stunning volley from the edge of the box, rifling past Djordje Petrovic after intelligent link-up play with Noah Okafor. That strike seemed destined to seal the points, especially as Leeds controlled much of the game, outworking and outpassing their opponents in key areas.

However, Bournemouth refused to fold and their persistence was rewarded at the death. Another poorly defended free-kick from the home side found Kroupi untracked on the left, and the youngster calmly slotted in from close range to salvage a precious draw. For Leeds, it will feel like two points dropped, while the Cherries will be relieved to leave Yorkshire with something to show for their efforts. This contest was a reminder of the fine margins and defensive lapses that can swing Premier League matches in an instant.

please log in to view this image

Farke may have to rethink set piece coach stance after weekend

Conceding twice from set pieces at the weekend has once again shone an uncomfortable light on Daniel Farke’s stubborn refusal to bring in a specialist set-piece coach at Thorp Arch. In a Premier League climate where all but four clubs employ such expertise, Leeds stand among a minority who continue to rely on traditional coaching staff to address these fine margins.

Farke defended his stance before the Bournemouth game, insisting that assistant manager Edmund Riemer and additional backroom figures are capable of handling the responsibility. He views the growing trend of specialist coaches as something of a modern “hype,” arguing that the spotlight should remain firmly on the players rather than members of the support team.

Yet results on the pitch suggest otherwise. Leeds have been consistently poor at both defending and attacking set pieces, and with survival on the line, it is difficult to argue against tapping into every possible advantage. The logic feels simple: if expertise is available, why not utilise it? Indeed, if Leeds eventually opt to appoint a specialist and reap the benefits, questions will inevitably arise as to why the move was not made sooner.

In a league of small margins, set plays often prove decisive—whether through conceding soft goals or missing valuable opportunities to score them. Only Aston Villa (64), Fulham (64), Brighton & Hove Albion (63), Everton (62) and Newcastle United (62) have been fouled more frequently than Leeds (61). We need to be making the most of every free kick!

According to Farke:- “Assistant coach Edmund Riemer takes charge (over set piece routines), also promoted two guys in the background to help out. "Nowadays, every corner, broadcasters say the name of the set piece coach then always his face on the camera. It's a team effort. I don’t believe in this, it should in general be my responsibility.

“We produce some superstars who shouldn’t be in the spotlight. I don’t believe in this so much. I don’t believe in this modern hype. For me the players should be in the spotlight, definitely not someone from the backroom staff.”

please log in to view this image

Whites only fifth favourites for relegation

Leeds United remain fifth favourites for relegation this season, according to leading bookmakers Bet365, despite a relatively good start to their campaign. The Whites have collected a respectable eight points from their opening six fixtures, a return that places them in mid-table and suggests they are capable of competing at this level.

However, there will be frustration within the Leeds camp after conceding late goals against Bournemouth and Fulham, costly lapses that have denied them three additional points. Those dropped opportunities highlight a recurring problem with conceding against set pieces, an issue that could become a defining factors as the season progresses.

Even with those setbacks, the bookmakers’ odds reflect a sense of relative security around the club compared with some of their rivals. Burnley, priced at 1/3, are seen as strong candidates for the drop, while Wolves (1/2), West Ham (5/4), and Sunderland (13/8) all sit ahead of Leeds (9/4) in the relegation market.

please log in to view this image

Aaronson cannot make himself nine feet long

New York Times journalist Beren Cross has voiced his criticism of Leeds' defensive wall which led to Antoine Semenyo’s opening goal at Elland Road on Saturday. In particular, he points to the manner in which Leeds positioned themselves to defend it. Anton Stach’s careless foul created the opportunity, but it was the organisation of the wall that came under heaviest scrutiny.

With Bournemouth deploying a smart tactical ploy by placing three of their players inside the 10-yard zone, Leeds were left juggling defensive responsibilities. Brenden Aaronson, stationed on the turf behind the wall to block a potential low effort, became the focal point of discussion after Semenyo’s shot fizzed underneath and into the net.

Cross was keen to stress, however, that Aaronson cannot be fairly blamed for failing to cover an impossible distance. At five-foot-eight, the American midfielder could hardly be expected to stretch across the full width of the goalmouth, and the criticism may be better directed at the alignment of Leeds’ wall.

It highlights the fine margins in set-piece defending, where a momentary lapse or a clever attacking distraction can tip the balance. For Leeds, it will serve as both a chastening reminder of the cost of small errors and an opportunity to refine their approach in future matches.

"Semenyo kept his strike low, and it found its way past the wall and Aaronson and beyond Darlow. Bournemouth’s own wall certainly played a part as it broke away, but ultimately the ball was struck beyond the edge of Aaronson’s boots.

"The American cannot make himself nine feet long to cover the full width of the goal (he’s only 5ft 8in/177cm), but there will be questions asked of his positioning. The Leeds wall could have arguably been shuffled over more, too."

please log in to view this image

 

Morning all. More than happy with our start to the season. Every game a battle but so far quite enjoyable. Wall looked setup wrong and that's Darlows responsibility

 

Morning all,

Bit of a kick in the happy sacks at the end of the game. If you'd been offered a point before the game i think we'd have all taken it. But....

In isolation dropping points like that can be written off as bad luck but that is now 3pts dropped from 3 games in the 93rd minute.

That is a concern for me.

 

Think both our teams are looking relatively good to stop up.

About time one or more of the other 17 got a relegation.

 

Morning all

If Bournemouth had beaten us, they would have been second in the table, we probably all feared a defeat at 0-1 down

 

Thought Farke's lengthy rant about set piece coaches was a bit OTT. I'm fine with not having one, if the other coaches in the team are all up to speed and have the time to dedicate to it. It aint rocket science but it demands enough bandwidth in the backroom team to watch opposition tactics defensively and offensively and prepare for them... whilst having a playbook of our own that's practised. As long as that happens i don't care who does it, but on balance it makes sense to me to have someone dedicated to it, who's given access to the players for long enough for it to be beneficial.

 

5 goals in 2 games scored too

Morning all

 

Set piece coach a must because zonal marking ain’t working and I believe we have now conceded 5 goals from set pieces, so Farke needs to wind his neck in. Arsenal win games because they have a set piece coach, Villa have one and most prem teams do.

Darlow at fault for the free kick from Samenyo as he sets the wall and had Aaronson laid where he was. We have big lads who didn’t need to jump from that range anyway. Set piece territory again

 

Poor at set pieces when we possibly have the tallest team in all four divisions, couldn't make it up

 

Lying a player along the floor is a signal that your wall is going to jump, and the keeper thinks that side is covered... so the free kick taker knows that if he goes low and misses Aaronson, the keeper will be expecting a shot to his side. So the wall and aaronson's position needs to be right but Darlow also needs to be ready to cover the central low shot. Either way you spin it, it was good execution from Semenya and poor organisation/positioning from Darlow.

 

No need to jump with the height of the players we have.

 

Morning all

Just to follow on from Docs' reasons to be cheerful theme from the weekend...

We have "thrown away" 3 Points but we have also gained 4 points from losing positions.

Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich also had 8 Points after 6 Games last year, but that was between them.

I don't think I am being biased saying we have been the better team in 5 out of our 6 games and they have all been against established Premier League Sides.

When we got relegated we played Spurs and I feared a drubbing, we got one. I am looking forward to the challenge on Saturday with a quiet confidence (verging on expecting) that we will get something out of the game (fingers crossed).