Morning guys. Elland doesn't tend to do a Morning thread for saturdays (probably just too lazy to get out of bed I say) Game against Brighton today, we've all been talking about it so I'll try not go over old ground too much but how do we think that'll go? For me a 2-1 victory, there's a feel good vibe around the club and I think that'll help us win the game. I imagine ER will be rocking, really wish I could attend. Another leeds 11 played against Ossett Town and drew 2-2. In which Both Ryan Hall and Alex Mowatt scored. Seeings Ryan Hall seems to be doing well and getting his match fitness back, could you see him featuring this season in the first team. We have a lack of options and if he can show some decent form I have no problem with him playing, I actually still think he is probably a better option than White out wide. We have also reportedly rejected a double bid from Blackpool believed to be around 250k for White and 750k for Ross. Would you have rejected that? I don't think either fee is enough to be honest but I definitely wouldn't be looking to sell Ross. White I would consider if the bid was around 500k though.
Lovely weather, full house at Elland Road, Bates gone and a lot of his rubbish work undone! Brighton roll into town without Gus and Mackail-Smith (who can't stop scoring against us) so the positive vibes will be ringing around ER today. Leeds to win. All three new signings in the squad, Murphy and Hunt to start, Smith coming off the bench to cause havoc. Blackpool bid for McCormack and White confirmed as rejected, but Ibce expected to make an improved offer. Can Leeds resist it? Well, if major investment is on the way to help fund a stadium buy back of £15m, you would think that McD should be in a position to keep two players who are part of his plans. Are you going today? If not, how will you follow the Mighty Whites?
Morning gents I'm glad to hear that Hall is progressing well, definitely agree with you Josh that I'd like to see him given his chance over White out wide. I think Id keep White though, at least for the minute. Even if Hall steps up, we still need to buy another winger for me so we have two out and out wide players. Selling White for 500k wouldn't allow us to do that and also sign another backup wide player, so I think Id hold onto White and use him as a Pugh 2.0 to cover a lot of positions from the bench. Definitely don't want to see Ross sold though, even for a larger bid than 750k, I think he is going to be a big part of any success we have this season.
Good Morning!! (and it is!) I'd merge the threads. I have two thoughts for the day so far: 1. Does PoshMinx exist? Do you believe in her or is she a myth? After she begged Elland to let her run the Frisky Friday thread............. not a sniff. I am gutted. 2. expectations. What are yours? To be honest, despite what I am about to write (all sensible, sober, balanced stuff), mine are SKY HIGH! Its all about momentum and as of this minute there's a feeling of momentum about Leeds. But, being more objective, I asked myself - what would I regard as a successful August? We have obviously not transformed the squad the way BM wanted, so we are relying on the NW squad he inherited, plus a few add ons, and we are missing possibly two of our best players in Austin and Byram, not to mention Diouf who sometimes can make a big difference. We also have a manager whose teams do not always start fast. I took a look at our fixtures for August and how we did last year, and it makes sober reading. Brighton home (Lost), Leicester away (draw), Wednesday home (win), Ipswich away (lost), QPR home (substituting for the 3rd place team, as QPR were bottom on the Prem = Watford - Lost). A monumental 4 points from 5 games, or if you prefer to put Palace in for QPR, 7 points from 5 games. So, I guess, as I am not expecting miracles, anything better than last season should be seen as positive - at least a point today would be an improvement, 8 points in August ditto. Here's hoping.
I think we are getting to the point with White where if he can't convince BM he's worth a regular place, he should go. He's been a player who "deserves a chance" for a long time now.
Morning Billy. I'll be on LUTV later today knowing that the only cloud on this silver lining is the potential for our players to bottle it in front of 30k screaming Yorkshiremen & we get turned over badly. Time will tell, but here goes another bumpy ride. In BMD we trust. MOT
Hmm, I don't really have any to be honest. Probably pushing for a top 6 spot but really viewing this as a progression year but I do see where you are coming from
Morning all, Well we have to aim for top 6 really, as unlikely as that may sound. Aiming for mid table consolidation would be dangerously flirting with relegation, seeing as last season we ended up 7 points outside playoffs and 7 points from relegation The sooner we have enough points to be considered safe the better, then consolidate/push for top 6
Afternoon all. I'm feeling positive and excited about our opening match. I'll be listening to it on LUTV. Apparently only 400 tickets left. Hope we don't freeze in front of such a big gate and I hope the crowd don't get on the team's backs if things aren't going our way. A couple of my lads are over representing me today. Hope they get the result WE all deserve... LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS
I think so Essex, Bates ****** it up with his corporate boxes...200 tickets left and according to the Leeds United site a crowd of over 33,000 will be there. It would have been higher but the away fans didn't sell all theirs...
Listening to BBC Leeds on tunein radio app on iphone, can't deal with the negative Eddie Gray today!!
One approach is to take last season as the benchmark, and work on the basis that any improvement game by game is good news. Last Augast, as I put earlier, we managed 7 points from the 5 equivalent games: Brighton home (Lost), Leicester away (draw), Wednesday home (win), Ipswich away (lost), QPR home (substituting for the 3rd promoted team, as QPR were bottom of the Prem = Palace - Won). Remember last season we finished only 7 points off the playoff places, 18 points off an auto promotion slot. We are therefore on that yardstick already 3 points up on last year, close to half of the gap to a playoff place already closed (I know, I am getting carried away, after just one game, its the general euphoria that's got to me) Looking forward to seeing Yeovil on the football league show tonight, btw
