please log in to view this image Bristol City v Leeds Utd Saturday 9th March at 3pm Streaming links to follow Ashton Gate is the destination for Leeds on Saturday afternoon as the Whites look to heap the pressure on Norwich and attempt to extend their two point advantage over third place Sheffield United! Leeds should be refreshed, having had eight days to recover since putting West Brom to the sword. Alioski, who remains the only player to participate in every game this season looks likely to keep Douglas benched as the Macedonian International grows from strength to strength. Jack Clarke finally returned to training on Monday. It remains to be seen whether he'll make the bench. Izzy Brown not only scored yet again for the U23's on Monday at Vicarage Road, but more importantly completed 87 mins. Surely Bielsa has to make use of the Chelsea youngster! The Robins currently occupy the last play off place, which they now share with Derby who beat Wigan midweek. Their need for a win is as desperate as Leeds!
Why this obsession with playing Brown, Ell? So far, he's unproven in the first team, admittedly due to lack of opportunity, but nevertheless it's all about aspiration & hope, rather than expectation. This against the background that Roberts played an exemplary game at #10 against the Baggies.
Shackleton has done exactly that in the short time he's had in the last 2 games. Our Jack should hopefully be on the bench too. I've no objection to Izzy, just can't understand the widespread clamour to get him straight into the team. To me, that has to be earned & he clearly hasn't earned it yet or Bielsa would have him right in there. It's all hope with him atm. There is no track record that we can realistically count on. That's history, hidden behind a long injury lay-off. Hopefully he'll recapture his previous form, but there's no guarantee. Fingers crossed. I think I mentioned on her that I think Roberts performance against the Baggies was inspired by 2 particular factors: 1. Revenge against the club that got rid. 2. Izzy emerging as a real threat to his #10 shirt If I'm right, then Roberts is seeing Izzy as a threat. Which is good news.
Morning all. Whatever our team or bench is on Saturday you cannot help but be excited at the wealth of genuine potential of the youngsters on the verge of breaking through.
The The Izzy obsession with Leeds fans on social media forums etc has puzzled me. It’s not as if it’s Pontus returning from a six month injury, a player who we can judge on past performances. Majority of those clamouring for Brown are basing it on his performance in one game against us and most are Probably like myself, and haven’t watched him at all with his precious clubs. It’s all hype at the moment
Good Morning to Matt and co from a dull Bardsey I have seen Izzie a few times and when he is on song he his such a strong player lets hope he comes throughand we buy him for the PL Have Bristol got any injuries that we know off I know the keeper is a doubtand O;Dowda was injured as well for us we will have the same team
I think it’s fear and grasping for some hope myself. Prior to the WBA game it looked like our wheels had fallen off, we hadn’t strengthened in January, Saiz had departed and we knew we lacked a creative spark, Pablo is great but we needed someone to help him out. You look through our entire 12-20 and apart from Clarke who was suffering an illness you ticked off the entire lot as being unlikely to come off the bench and influence a game. The only unknown was Izzy, we’d heard great things, we’d maybe seen him in action last season and he was the final hope, we knew what the rest had to offer and we know we needed a bit more. Then the WBA game arrived, Harrison looked decent, Roberts looked top class and suddenly our wheels are bolted back on. Now I’m hoping we don’t see much of Izzy because that will mean Roberts is playing like he did against WBA and it will also mean Pablo has managed to stay injury free.
I have to agree with WJ, Shackleton makes a great impact when he comes on, the West Brom game was over but those direct runs he does into the opponents box are exciting, with an end product, as seen with 4th goal, he can tackle, Clarke is a very good prospect, for me Shackleton is as every bit as exciting. West Brom was a good opportunity for Brown to come on but MB decided against it, I'll trust his judgement as to why not. Also Shackleton is one of ours, rather him or the Polish kid given the chance over a loanee, if they are producing, which they are. People are looking at what Brown did before coming here, rather than what he's doing for us.
Our first AND second choice keepers are both injured; Maenpaa with a leg strain and Fielding with a broken hand. Fielding is unlikely to play again this season, but Maenpaa may even recover in time for Saturday - Johnson might be playing mind games by talking it up. Worst case for us we will have 3rd choice Max O’Leary between the sticks. He’s actually a good keeper to be fair - it’s just that the other 2 have been fantastic and Max hasn’t been getting games (that’s how it is for players in that position I’m afraid). Don’t know about O’Dowda ........
Yeah I read that - someone who was rejected by Hull and Glasgow Rangers - still, we do need SOMEONE I suppose in case Max gets injured!!
Just listened to the Guillen Balague podcast, brilliant. Not sure what Lee Johnson expects to get out of it, it's a bit like looking over a wall at a training session.
