The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 10th June)

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ellandback

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Good Morning. It's Wednesday 10th June, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Bookies expect comfortable campaign for Leeds next season

The latest relegation odds from Bet365 have been released, and for Leeds United fans, there is plenty of optimism. While the three promoted clubs Hull City, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City, and Ipswich Town are the clear favourites to make an immediate return to the Championship, the Whites find themselves bundled together with Crystal Palace and Fulham at the 11/2 “Safety Threshold.” Oddsmakers view Leeds as a stable, mid‑tier side with enough structure and squad depth to remain clear of trouble. In practical terms, the 11/2 odds imply roughly a one‑in‑six chance of a second season collapse, a low risk in the volatile world of Premier League survival.

Unsurprisingly, the promoted clubs sit at the top of the relegation list. Hull City are outright favourites to be relegated, priced at 1/4, while Frank Lampard’s Coventry side is close behind at 8/13. Ipswich Town are just a fraction further back at 4/6. These numbers reflect the expectation that the jump from the Championship to the top flight will be too steep for the newly‑promoted sides, especially given the financial and tactical adjustments required.

One of the biggest surprises is Sunderland. Despite finishing seventh and securing European qualification, the Black Cats are priced among the teams most likely to drop. The concern among pundits is whether the club has spread itself too thin by balancing domestic league duties with the added demands of European competition. The wear and tear of Thursday‑night matches could prove decisive in their battle to avoid the drop.

For Leeds, the odds paint a rather comfortable picture. Bet365 also lists them at 33/1 for a top‑four finish (we can wish). More realistically is the 5/2 price for a top‑half finish, which suggests the bookies believe Leeds are well‑placed to push into the upper half of the table. It’s worth remembering that last season, Leeds were only four points shy of that target, highlighting how close they are to breaking into the club’s ambitious mid‑term goals.

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Magical move for McKenna

Kieran McKenna has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to fill the managerial vacancy at Fulham, with betting markets now pricing the Northern Irishman at just 1/5 (an implied 83.3% chance) on Betfair. The odds‑on status follows intense speculation that the 40yo is keen on a move to West London after guiding the Tractor Boys to a remarkable promotion–relegation–promotion roller‑coaster over the past three seasons.

Reports from talkSPORT suggest that McKenna is “exceptionally keen” on making the switch, and Fulham are currently deliberating whether to trigger the £8 million release clause in his contract at Portman Road. The vacancy itself was created after Marco Silva ended a highly successful five‑year stint at Craven Cottage to return to his native Portugal, taking over at Benfica.

For Ipswich Town, the prospective loss could hardly come at a worse moment. McKenna’s tenure has been nothing short of transformative: he steered the club out of League One, secured a historic return to the Premier League, and then masterminded an immediate automatic promotion back to the top flight after the 2024/25 relegation. His tactical identity and man‑management have been credited with giving Ipswich a realistic shot at Premier League survival this season.

His departure would be one less thing to worry about for Leeds fans. Traditionally, the three promoted clubs from the Championship have a hard enough time keeping their heads above water as it is. McKenna adds both stability and good tactical awareness which realistically gives the East Anglian side a better chance than both Hull City and Coventry of staying up, yet McKenna leaving would disrupt their summer plans irreparably.

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Morning all

I can see Lampard leaving Coventry before the season starts as well, I think all three promoted teams are going to struggle massively, the new way of doing fair play must certainly hinder all three

I don't feel this coming season is the one to worry about for ourselves, it is next season if West Ham and Southampton make a return along with maybe Wolves, those three coming back up with some money to spend, momentum and decent starting squads will make next season difficult for all bottom half teams.

A Saudi team want the Forest manager too, it looks like he might be going for big money wages

It is very important for us to build on last seasons platform
 
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I’ve absolutely no doubt the three promoted teams are going back down. In fact I’d say by Xmas theyll be pretty much done and dusted. Gives us another season of strengthening towards a top eight finisher
 
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Morning all,

I'm convinced Fat Frank will start the season at Palace, chance to manage in Europe, but will definitely not end it there when he gets found out again.
 
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I mentioned Sunderland's relegation odds a week or so back. It's not a surprise to anyone who watches football and looks at stats rather than just results and tables. It's fine margins in football and for all their endeavour they were on regularly on the right side of lady luck, as well as having strikers and a keeper on form. Is that repeatable? Who knows. But LOL will be pleased that those crazy bookies pay homage to xg <laugh> <laugh>
 
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Morning all

To borrow a description Farke used about Brentford, the Leeds team that finished the season was much more mature than the one that started the season. If we carry that maturity over and add two or three astute additions I think we should be comfortable.

Who goes down? As long as it’s not us I don’t really care. Unfortunately, Spurs will be much stronger this year. Sunderland with Europe may find things much harder, if Forest lose Anderson and/or Gibbs White they will have some big gaps to fill. Palace without Glasner, Fulham without Silva and Bournemouth without Iraola could all be interesting so, possibly Ipswich or Coventry have someone to target but I can’t see beyond relegation for Hull.
 
LEEDS-LIVE



Leeds are meanwhile in talks with defender Sam Byram and reserve goalkeeper Alex Cairns over new deals with both of their respective contracts expiring by July 1. Byram made just two late-substitute league appearances for his boyhood club last season and just five games overall.



His cameo against Brighton & Hove Albion in the final home game of the season - in which his overhit pass ultimately led to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s winner - was widely expected to be his final Leeds appearance.
 
Good Afternoon Everyone

Regarding McKenna, I said he was primed for a medium-sized job. This will be his real test to see if he can make the step up to the big six.

On the retain list. I'm not impressed with it. I would have let all 4 free agents leave, especially Byram, as he's not featured much this season
 
Resigning Byram suggests to me a one out one in strategy and he'll be a cheap reliable option if we get an injury crisis.
Cairns makes sense, when does a third choice keeper get used, very rarely and he's supposed to be taking up a coaching role within the club
 
Morning all,

I'm convinced Fat Frank will start the season at Palace, chance to manage in Europe, but will definitely not end it there when he gets found out again.

I think Lampard will have learned his lesson when he left Derby to manage Chelsea and was quickly found out and fired.
If he has any sense at all, he stay at Coventry and try to build from there....he needs to stick with the team he knows.
 
I think Lampard will have learned his lesson when he left Derby to manage Chelsea and was quickly found out and fired.
If he has any sense at all, he stay at Coventry and try to build from there....he needs to stick with the team he knows.
Not a chance he will stick with them and have a relegation on his CV and also a risk of the worst ever record in the PL