Leeds Utd v Cardiff City Sunday 6th August@14:30 | Elland Road Leeds welcome Cardiff City to Elland Road on Sunday lunchtime, hoping to start their 23/24 campaign with three points on the board. Bookies make the Whites second favourites for promotion, just behind Leicester City, but marginally ahead of Southampton in what promises to be a roller coaster of a season. In just over a month Daniel Farke has knocked his new look Leeds side into shape, concentrating on ball retention and tightening up at the back, but finding goals maybe more problematic, especially with their growing injury list, and players departing en masse! The lure of £200k a week was too good an opportunity for last seasons leading scorer Rodrigo to turn down, even if it meant playing in the Middle-East. Team mates Robin Koch, Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente have all gone too, whilst Joel Robles, Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw are adjudged to be surplus to requirements. In have come Ethan Ampadu, a highly skillful and versatile defensive midfielder, who is also well versed with operating at centre back; Karl Darlow, a safe pair of hands from Newcastle Utd, and Sam Byram, an adaptable wing back who came through the Leeds academy. In total, Leeds have spent £7.4m, with more signings expected soon. Tyler Adams (recovering from hamstring surgery), Stuart Dallas (leg), Patrick Bamford (hamstring), Jack Harrison (hip), Junior Firpo (ligament injury), Cody Drameh (hamstring), Georginio Rutter (muscular) and Sam Greenwood (foot) are all ruled out for the Whites. It looks likely that Illan Meslier will start the season between the sticks for Leeds. The French U21 shot-stopper had a poor campaign last season, even by Leeds standards, but after consecutive clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Hearts, should be ahead of Darlow in the rankings. With Drameh sidelined, Luke Ayling should get the nod over new recruit Sam Byram or Jamie Shackleton. Byram may get his chance at left back, but faces competition from Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde. Captain Liam Cooper starts his 10th Elland Road campaign in his favoured centre-back role, probably alongside Charlie Cresswell, who signed a new four year deal earlier this week. Ethan Ampadu will occupy Tyler Adams role, with 17yo Archie Gray alongside him for company. Crysencio Summerville, Wilfred Gnonto, Dan James, Luis Sinisterra and Ian Povada are all wide players capable of playing up front. In the absence of Messrs Bamford and Rutter, should Leeds turn to Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph or a more experienced duo up front, but out of position? Cardiff have had mixed fortunes during pre-season, with two wins, two losses and two draws. They are currently under a FIFA transfer embargo which prevents them paying fees for players. This relates to non payment of Emiliano Sala's £15m transfer fee. The player tragically died when the light aircraft he was in, plunged into the English Channel, on his way to Wales.
Welcome back to the crazy world of the championship. I’d hope there won’t be another humiliation as in the Cup replay last season rather a more even contest. City have a few new players even with our constraints, including Aaron Ramsey. Goals were a real problems last season for City, and it’s patent a decent & reliable marksman is needed but we’ll do what we can with what we’ve got. I read City have taken up their full allocation so it should be a good atmosphere up there.
Jeez and so it begins. 50 game slog of a season against the likes of Rotherham. I can hardly wait. It's obvious to say but we need to get this campaign off to a kicker or we'll be ****ed.
You were given 3k as standard practise. You could not sell them all its only a couple of days since one section was allocated back to leeds fans.
Thank you for the invite ellandback. I’m really looking forward to the new season and it will be interesting to see how the first game pans out. Some of our posters are actually predicting that we will be in the promotion race come May. Personally I think they’ve been on some sort of happy pills. But I would take a mid table finish right now. As for you guys you should be expected to go straight back up, so no pressure then. I’ve gone for a 2-0 Leeds win on our prediction league but you never know we might nick a draw. Anyway best of luck to us all for the new season. p.s. My brother is a life long Leeds fan so lots of family rivalry. Mind you he was dropped on his head at a very young age so that probably explains it!
We’ve a couple of clowns like that here too but by October they’ll be back in the real world with the rest of us
