please log in to view this image Leeds United v Chesterfield please log in to view this image Wednesday August 7th, 2013 - K.O 19:45 - Elland Road please log in to view this image The first round of this season's League Cup sees League Two side Chesterfield make the short trip from Derbyshire to Elland Road. The two teams haven't met competitively since a League Cup clash in November 1960 in which Leeds ran out 4-0 winners. Both teams enjoyed wins on the opening weekend of the league season, with the Spireites picking up a comfortable 2-0 win on the road to Bury. Leeds new boy Luke Murphy stole the show for the Whites with a last gasp winner coming in the 95th minute. While Chesterfield are focused on promotion this year, the prospect of a lucrative second round clash against Premiership opposition will be enough to keep the visitors interested in this tie. Leeds are expected to take advantage of their favourites tag and field a team which will include some of the youngsters and fringe players who featured in pre-season. Brian McDermott will relish the chance to have a look at a couple of them in a competitive setting before deciding on their futures in and around the first team. The Whites will want to strike a balance between youth and experience to avoid an upset though, with the visitors coming into the fixture with some form against higher league opposition through the close season. Chesterfield recorded draws against Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forrest before picking up a victory against Huddersfield Town. Elland Road was packed to the rafters on Saturday with an impressive 34,000 fans turning out to start the celebrations of a new era without Ken Bates. While this midweek fixture will likely see a much more modest crowd, the general feel around the club is positive so the atmosphere will still be lively. The Spireites are bringing their fair share of fans, having just been allocated a further 500 tickets for sale after selling out their 2,000 allocation. Form Guide (Last 5 Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Form[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds United[/TD] [TD]L - W - L - W - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]9[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Chesterfield[/TD] [TD]X - L - L - X - W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [TD="align: center"]6[/TD] [TD="align: center"]5[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Head to Head (Previous League Cup Games) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD="align: center"]Team[/TD] [TD="align: center"]P[/TD] [TD="align: center"]W[/TD] [TD="align: center"]D[/TD] [TD="align: center"]L[/TD] [TD="align: center"]F[/TD] [TD="align: center"]A[/TD] [TD="align: center"]GD[/TD] [TD="align: center"]Pts[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Leeds[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]+4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]3[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Chesterfield[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]1[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [TD="align: center"]4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]-4[/TD] [TD="align: center"]0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early Betting Odds (Correct on 5/8/13) [TABLE="width: 500, align: center"] [TR] [TD]Leeds Win[/TD] [TD]Draw[/TD] [TD]Chesterfield Win[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]8/15[/TD] [TD]3/1[/TD] [TD]5/1[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Team News Leeds United Sam Byram continues to be out through injury, while Rodolph Austin will be missing again for this game as he serves the last of his 3 match suspension carrying over from last season. El-Hadji Diouf has served his ban, but is still fighting back to fitness following his injury lay off. Stephen Warnock was injured on Saturday, and he's unlikely to be risked if there is a chance of aggravating any problems in this fixture. Other than those issues McDermott has his pick of the squad, and Ryan Hall may well feature to give the Whites some much needed width and service into Matt Smith. Ones to Watch Matt Smith - towering in at 6'6", Smith will cause all sorts of problems for the Chesterfield defence, particularly as they're missing 6'3" defender Ian Evatt. Dominic Poleon - used as an impact sub on Saturday, Poleon may get his chance to start in his preferred striker position for this one. Ryan Hall - Leeds fans have been waiting for a chance to see what the young winger can do, and he might just get his chance to show them in this game. Chesterfield Chesterfield boss Paul Cook had to start the season without his first choice central defence partnership of Liam Cooper and Ian Evatt, who were both missing due to injury. Cooper is expected back in full training on Monday and should be available for this game, which eases the headache somewhat. One of the options available to Cook to fill the vacant CB role is Leeds academy graduate Sam Hird. Hird suffered a poor first season with the Spireites last season and despite being made captain immediately after his arrival, Hird was transfer listed in April. However, he has impressed in pre-season, but it remains to be seen wether those performances have earned him his future at the club. At the other end of the pitch new signing Jimmy Ryan has been making an impression from midfield, while the main attacking threat will come from last season's top scorer Marc Richards. Ones to Watch Marc Richards - Chesterfields main goal scoring threat, an experienced head who plied his trade with Barnsley in both League One and the Championship. Jimmy Ryan - A lively young midfield. He is a ROI under 21 international, and is known for powerful shots from distance. Jay O'Shea - While he failed to make an impact as a youngster at Birmingham, playing as either a winger or support striker O'Shea chipped in plenty of goals and assists last season. Durham's Prediction I think we'll record a comfortable 2-0 over Chesterfield in this one, with some time given to a few of the youngsters. I think Ryan Hall will start, even if he only plays the first 45 or 60 minutes depending on how much he's managed to get his fitness back on track. He needs a match, and it'll be a good opportunity for us all to have a proper look at him, something we've not really been given since he has been here. With Warnock out, I fully expect Drury to start with White on the bench. To be honest this was a difficult team to pick, because while I want to see a lot of the young players given a chance, it's still early in the season and this is another good opportunity to bond areas of the team. Here's how I'd like to see us lineup at the start please log in to view this image Ashdown played really well in the cup last year, and I can't see why he wouldn't be given his chance to continue that this season. I'd start Lees and Pearce in this one rather than giving Killock some game time, purely to help gel our central defensive partnership this season. That's something we really didn't do last season and we paid for it so the more game time they get together the better for me. For the same reason, I'd keep Murphy in midfield so he can work with Lees and Pearce both defensively and as an outlet for them when we have the ball. Brown is in there because everyone loves a bit of Michael Brown. Lower league teams can often have a bit of a Blood and Thunder approach to them and Brown will let them know who is boss early on, though I'd replace him with Dawson part way through if everything is going our way. In terms of attack I'd rather see Hunt on the wing than playing White there, he's still not a right winger. I think Smith and Poleon up front would be a good pairing for this one, and it will give us a chance to see if Smith can have any joy holding the ball up so Poleon can run on to it. If so, that could be a lethal combination. Not to mention Smith getting on the end of crosses coming in from Hall and Hunt. Possible Audio Links for Wednesday: BBC Radio Leeds FM Coverage (whitenoisefc on ustream) & ustream leeds are two pretty reliable options. Alright, over to you guys. Let's get some team & score predictions going...
Cheers Elland If I wasn't worried about gelling the core of the team, I'd have put Norris in instead of Murphy to be honest. I suppose there is still a chance McDermott will try out White as a winger again and save Hunt to come off the bench.
Great thread this! Liking that team although I do think McCormack will play a part. I'm going Wednesday, I can't wait
Afternoon all. I think Hall has to start with Hunt and Smith up front. BMD can always put Varney and Ross on the bench if things don't go to plan. I'd have Drury at LB & White at LW just to give him game time in a match we should win. I'd also play Diouf at the head of the diamond to help his fitness with Brown at the base. I'd put Poleon on the bench, as we wouldn't want to risk him getting a knock. Should be straightforward, albeit eventually after an hour's blood and thunder from Chesterfield. Think we may get 18k in the ground if we're lucky.
Was hoping he would play the young ens tbh Charlie Taylor left back Mowatt and Dawson in midfield with brown defensive mid. Smith Poleon up top
He might well do that I'd almost forgotten about Taylor, he'd be a good shout for LB actually. Mowatt and Dawson mid with Brown holding, so thinking a diamond with someone like Ross or Hunt at the head?
Just been doing the rounds checking on things from the Chesterfield camp, and depending on whether their CB Cooper makes it back to full fitness they might have to give a debut to a young CB by the name of Brown who has just made the step up from the Northern Premier to League Two this summer. Talk about a baptism of fire playing away at Elland Road for your debut! Remember when Moyes tried that with Fransisco Junior in the cup against us last season? Fast skilled incredibly lightweight midfielder who got kicked off the park by Brown and Austin and got subbed at half time!
LiD another good thread, keep em coming. Would like to see Smith up front, Poleon feeding off him, when Hall puts the crosses in. BM will have permatations in hand, and it will be interesting to see how he plays it.
I really wanna see Hall have a run out in this. I think if he does play Hall he'll probably play White on the other wing with maybe Brown and perhaps Dawson in midfield. Wont be much change in defence I don't think but I like Poleon and Smith up front, think thats a good idea
Awesome thread, thanks for the splendid effort LiD, looking forward to this high standard for rest of season!! Love your Leeds salute. For me, Hall and White on wings will be a good choice, give us a chance to see if the wide play works. Also, I'd stick Mowatt in for an hour, he runs and runs and can tackle, so a better bet than Dawson in this game against a physical team. Smith will love crosses coming in from all over and could have a field day. Play McCormack or Hunt up front to add experience in pulling defenders about. Taylor at left back a great shout as well, brilliant crosser of the ball and a lad we really need to start pushing on. MOT!!
Theres a few young ens that are clinging on to their leeds united contract. too old to be classed as young and not good enough for us to even see them in a Leeds shirt. Should be looking to ship them out and concentrate on the next generation
Cheers Billys Fair play with the comments about Mowatt, I don't really know an awful lot about him, but if he's more of a tackler he could well feature. Although, he is one of the players I expect to go out on loan and maybe Dawson too at least for half a season just because we're so loaded in midfield at the minute so their opportunities are probably going to be limited here at first. Kissa/YNBK/YBH/MTMB or just Messiah? Never sure what to call you these days! Do you mean people like Thompson and Taylor who have already had a few brief stints in the first team but then disappeared when Warnock came through the door? I know that the general consensus around Gimpel towards the end of last season was that he probably isn't the great prospect we all though, which is a shame.
LID Call me what you want mate I was thinking the turner twins both 21 in September and nowhere near the first team. Taylor is 20 soon none look any good so get rid and work on younger ones lol
Completely forgot about the Turner twins. That reminds me, is Sanchez Payne still on our books? He was another who people were pretty excited about but seems to have disappeared, can't see him listed on the wikipedia page for our reserves/academy, but that doesn't mean it's true. Although that does have the Turner twins contracts down as expiring in 2013? I still think Taylor could do something given a bit of run in the team. He looked decent when Grayson was here, but Warnock quickly quashed any of our young talent getting a place in the first team...
Payne was older than them all and was released end of last season. I also think Cairns can leave hes not good enough and deserves game time elsewhere
Agree with everything above about chopping the youngsters there and there abouts. Let them try and forge a career where there going to get game time and a chance to develop Gimpel we let go did we not?
