Good Morning. It's Friday 4th June, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Orta has a hot list of five! Leeds Director of Football Victor Orta is currently in talks with five players regarding a Summer move to Elland Road. Out of the five, he is expected to bring three first team players to West Yorkshire. The news comes from Yorkshire Evening Posts Chief football writer Graham Smythe “Orta and his team monitor many, many players. They enquire about many players – he’s talking to five right now in the hope of bringing three of them to Elland Road this summer. “Some of the calls they make will be about players who could be alternative, back-up plans if the priority signings fall through and some are not a realistic target for right now, but it’s worth checking in and registering even just a hint of interest, just in case – Raphinha is the living, breathing, goalscoring, nutmegging proof of that.” please log in to view this image Leeds miss out on Bielsa target Leeds have missed out on signing Lucas Vazquez from Real Madrid. The 29yo Spanish International had been disillusioned at the Bernabeu, and was looking for an escape route. However, the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti's has convinced him not only to stay, but sign an extension to 2024. Vazquez was solely a Bielsa target. He specifically requested that Leeds made an attempt to bring him to Elland Road! please log in to view this image Pereira not a priority signing Leeds Utd journalist Beren Cross does not believe that Matheus Pereira is a serious target for Leeds this Summer. The 25yo has been the only shining light in what has been a shambolic season for the Baggies last season. This stand out play has attracted the attention of many clubs, not just in the Premiership, but across Europe. Speaking online to Leeds fans, Cross disclosed:- "There's not an overall figure for the transfer kitty knocking around because I don't think such a figure exists. As we know, Raphinha was not a deal Leeds were expecting they would do last autumn, but when he became available they had to move and drew on the finance available from 49ers Enterprises to get it done. The club has to be agile in the transfer market and will use more or less money as each deal sees fit. Of course, they will always look for the best value they can". "On Pereira, he's someone Leeds are aware of, but so is the rest of the Premier League and Europe. They will keep an eye on him, but I don't think he will be anywhere near the list of priorities. Expect his price to rocket when the bids start going in". please log in to view this image Former Leeds ace blasts Bielsa for recalling Casilla Former Leeds defender, now pundit Jon Newsome has torn into Marcelo Bielsa for recalling Kiko Casilla for the last two games of the season. The 50yo was part of the Leeds squad that won the old first division in 91/92 before it became the Premiership. Casilla's past came back to haunt him following an incident in September 2019, when it was alleged that the former Real Madrid shot stopper racially abused Charlton's Jonathan Leko. The case was bought before the FA who ruled that Casilla probably did use racist language, and received an eight game ban and a large fine. Had the matter gone to Court, there would have been no way that Casilla would have been convicted, but as the FA can convict on probability, a guilty verdict was passed. Newsome felt that because of Casilla's past, Bielsa should have left the 34yo on the bench. However, Bielsa was quick to defend the Spaniard, praising his behaviour as a player and a team-mate. Newsome was quoted as saying:- “What happened and what he was found guilty of, it’s a really important issue in society, not just the game of football. I found it a very difficult decision to understand, really. “Meslier has had such a great season. Is Casilla leaving? Was it his chance to say goodbye? “Well, if that was the case, surely you just play him in the last game of the season like he did with (Gaetano) Berardi and Pablo Hernandez. “So yeah, it was a difficult one for me. And I think I sit with the majority of the players scratching my head and wondering why that decision was made. I don’t think it particularly reflected too well on the club.” please log in to view this image
Newsome yet another talking head passing himself off as a serious football pundit. Really? I would never dream if telling Newsome how to bring up his children but yet he feels he can tell Bielsa what to do in selecting his team. Fook off John, that would be best right now mate. Maybe Bielsa knows the real facts about the racism case and you dont plank
not interested in the racism thing, more a cultural one with spanish,and south american people saying the word that coco was accused of....simply don't think he should have played because he should have been sold as he is a disaster for me, think he can thank his fellow spaniard llorente for being in the defence as to him keeping a decent 1 goal against(not his fault i concur) but the defence on a whole was a lot better since llorente was back up to speed...nah coco adios
Agreed. Very nearly two clean sheets for those two games but in reality he was all over the place as usual. Couple of routine saves you'd expect any keeper on £40k a week to make but he's terrible. Time for the wage-thief to go. But as no one will take him, pay up his contract and allow one of our younger keepers, maybe Caprile, to take his place in the squad. He couldn't possibly be any worse, and he'd be a lot cheaper too.
Bit harsh that. He was steady away was Jon. Always filled in at CB or FB and did well. Extremely well thought of at Norwich. Played a part in our title win in 92. He's probably right about Casilla although not about the racism incident, more the fact that he is ****e. To be fair Kiko did alright when he played. He's probably just more suited to back up keeper. Apparently he is very good with the other keepers in training. That can be invaluable.
My view on the Kiko situation: 1. Kiko has a howler or two in him, but apart from that, he's solid. To hear some people assess him, you'd think these howlers happened several times a match, every match. They clearly don't. 2. I'd personally like us to replace him, but the reality of the situation is that no-one will pay his wages, so either we pay him off, or retain him for another year. I'd retain him, as he is perfectly adequate cover. What does buying him out achieve? It means we'd effectively pay 2 people to do 1 job, which is financially ludicrous, & does not smell like a sensible Radz/Orta/Bielsa solution. 3. On reflection, I'm actually a bit sorry for Kiko re. the 'racism' charge. I believe that if it happened, there was no malice involved. It was all about probability based on what the other cnut thought he heard. But think on - were we guilty of spying? Nope, but did Radz fight the punishment? Nope. I think the same might have happened with Kiko. I think he was asked to take one for the club by Radz.
Nketiah stuck up for Casilla at the FA charge after he had rejoined Arsenal as he was stood just feet away. please log in to view this image
I'll be amazed if the FA take that seriously. It's part of the problem with all the BLM ISSUES. People are looking for things that aren't there. A few years ago people would have said Alioski is pulling a face cos he's mental, today they'll say it was a monkey face - so racial!
If you remember last Summer we had Dallas Klich, Roberts, Phillips, White and 3 WBA players including Leko were all on holiday together.....
