please log in to view this image Fresh back from the international break. The proper football is back, And Leeds visit Wales to play there Bogey team, Cardiff City. Team News Cardiff City Craig Bellamy is expected to be named a place on the bench after returning from a calf injury earlier this week Ben Turner will have his foot injury assessed closer to kick off Leeds United Michael Tongue is expected to be named in the squad following his loan arrival this week Paul Green and David Norris still sidelined along with Davide Somma Dangermen Cardiff City Peter Whittingham- With 3 goals since the beginning of the season all coming in the match at home to Wolves, Whittingham is showing to the championship as to why he is one of the best players outside the top flight. Rudolph Austin will have to be on top of his game to prevent Whittingham repeating his actions from Wolves against The Whites Craig Bellamy- One of the finest if not the finest player outside the top flight. Bellamy has proven what he is capable of at this level before and will be looking to do it again. Expect Pearce and Lees to have a hard day at the office. Leeds United Luciano Becchio- In my opinion, one of the best strikers in this division. With 5 goals this season (4 in the league) Luciano has been firing on all cylinders this year and Cardiff, Like us, Will have to have top defensive efforts to keep our main man out of scoring. Ross Mccormack- Our top scorer last season and will be hoping to reproduce that form this season. He's managed only one goal in the league this season but I fully expect him to deliver against his former club. With Becchio and Ross on top form goals are guranteed. Expected Leeds Lineup Kenny Peltier Lees Pearce White Diouf Tongue Austin Varney Becchio Mccormack Enochs Prediction If Warnock brings in a couple of midfield faces such as Jenas and Michael Tongue, I can't see past a Leeds win even if Cardiff seem to love beating us. Without the loan signings and a likely midfield centre pairing of Austin and probably Zac Thompson I can see us getting a point, maybe a win but it depends what Cardiff team come out to face us. Attacking wise, We are second to none when both Beccs and Rossco are on top form and defensively we look alot more solid but the midfield could potentially get overrun with someone as young and inexperienced as both Thompson and Byram in the middle. In Warnock I trust though and as I said on a previous thread, under the circumstances he is doing a magnificent job. 7th in the table above teams such as Cardiff, Bolton and Leicester I think the start we have had has been brilliant. predict- Cardiff 1-2 Leeds United. Over to the Elland Road faithful, Keep banter flowing. X
Sure I read somewhere that Peltier used to play CM at Leicester and apparently that's where he looked best for them. If no loan signings are made I'd partner Pelts with Austin. Byram at right back and Drury at left back maybe?
Well we got an unlikely point at Cardiff back in April considering we had nothing to play for and they were trying to secure a playoff spot, and on that day our midfield included Thompson and Pugh. Our back 5 is certainly better going into this game than last season, but so is Cardiff's attack with the additions of Helguson, Maynard and Bellamy (if he plays). I'd definitely take a point from this one.
I see no reason why we can't win this game. Hopefully bring a CM in on loan to play alongside Austin (hopefully he isn't injured from international duty)
Having seen Cardiff against Wolves last week we will do well to get a draw down there.......They didnt even have bellemy against Wolves but looked very good. Maynard was coveted by Leeds and then went to Cardiff for £2.5 Million - a fee we can only dream about paying out again in the short/medium term. Cardiff have signed quality youngsters like Maynard and Jordan Muth and intergrated experience like Helguson and Bellemy which is exactly why they will be in the mix come May and we wont unfortunately.
Cardiff, the perennial underachievers and proof positive that throwing money at it, wont guarantee promotion. Wouldn't mind seeing us try it of course. I think we might sneak a win with Warnock to resign straight afterwards and sticking two fingers up at Bates.
Hate betting against leeds but head has to rule heart and Cardiff will be on my acca this week. I hope I lose of course.
Got to admit the 11/10 odds on a Cardiff win are tempting. Still it's not as bad as backing Leeds to win on your accumulator and then Rachubka gifting Coventry a goal in the last minute Yes it still hurts now thinking about it.
http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/168081-Cardiff-City-v-Leeds-United! Lets hope Mick sort out the cross threads soon
First Bluebird opinion on here! Bet your all waiting for Sparky to show up.... First of all well done to Leeds so far. Colin has put his usual blueprint of tough physical players in your team, lacking a Taraat so far. Ross has been hot so far but as you probably know can turn very cold quickly. He's usually dire against us. Don't agree with the signing of Diouf (shouldn't be unemployed in my opinion) and deserves the reception he's going to get. Losing Snoddy must have hurt? If we play like we did against Wolves, we'll put a fair few past your average defence. Presuming its as bad as it was before? Hopefully Ben Turner will be back to keep Bechio under control Enjoy
last season it was a drab 1-1. i suspect most of you would take that. against wolves we started quite well and they took the lead against the run of play, but after we got in front they collapsed and their players had zero fight and desire to get back into the game, so although we brushed aside what was in front of us, wolves were shocking. as for this game these games always seem to be cagey affairs (hence why i went for a 3-2 win ) , we all know what to expect of a warnock team, a battle if nothing else....
cardiff will be much to strong for leeds on their own pitch im afraid...( imagine saying that a few years ago) I can see the score 4-1....
