Good Morning. It's Monday 4th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds edge five goal thriller Leeds kept their fabulous home record intact, edging a five goal thriller against Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough at the weekend. Fresh from their victory over Leicester City, and demolition of Preston (4-0), the Smoggies were always going to be a tough challenge. Their Championship standing doesn't give a true reflection of the threats they possess. We must remember they were rock bottom after seven games, with just one point, so have had to play catch up! Three goals in the opening seven minutes gave fans an insight into the chaos that would ensue. Emmanuel Latte Lath's third minute opener was soon cancelled out by Dan James rising highest at the far post to nod Leeds level. At 5ft 6', the Welsh International did well to outjump both Boro centre-backs. Two minutes later Leeds were ahead. Archie Gray's deep cross (into the Boro penalty area) was flicked away by McNair, but fell invitingly to Summerville at the back post. His header was too powerful for Dieng, who despite getting a hand on the ball, was unable to keep the effort out. Rutter should have made it three on 15 minutes, only for Dieng to save well with his legs. He was however instrumental in giving the Whites a two goal advantage after being bundled over in the box, six minutes before the half-time break. Piroe stepped up, and duly bagged his eighth of the season. Despite the scoreline, Carrick's men were far from done. They created further chances of their own, and narrowed Leeds advantage deep into first half injury time when Lath grabbed his second, following a well executed corner. There were no further goals in the second half, but there was plenty to talk about. The visitors were reduced to 10 men on the hour mark after Dijksteel picked up his second yellow card of the afternoon; but despite being a man down, created the best chance of the half when Jones rattled the woodwork. There were some nervy moments, but Leeds held firm to pick up their seventh home win of the season, and keep the pressure on the top two. please log in to view this image Carrick - We could have won During his post match press conference, Boro boss Michael Carrick remarked that his side were really disappointed that they didn't get anything from the game, and felt hard done. The former England midfielder felt his side should have been awarded a 2nd half penalty, and bemoaned his side's luck after being reduced to 10 men, and striking the bar. "The game had a bit of all sorts. There was a lot of good attacking play on the pitch, both teams looks dangerous at times and I felt we gave as good as we got. "It was a largely new back four and we were tested today, but the boys stuck at it unbelievably well against a really good team and looked really dangerous. "The changing room is quiet and really disappointed that we haven't got anything from the game, and in some ways we feel we could have won it. "They have had a number of chances but I thought we had chances at big times in the game, but [being down to] 10 men flips that a little bit and we still had a big shout for a penalty and hit the post. I'm hugely proud of the players for their effort." please log in to view this image Leeds drawn away from home in FA Cup for 13th consecutive time Leeds have been drawn against Darren Ferguson's Peterborough Utd in the third round of the FA Cup, to take place between 5th and 8th of January. For the 13th time in a row, the Whites have been drawn away from home. Although a Cup run would be nice, Leeds will be concentrating their efforts on a top two finish, and a return to the Promised Land. please log in to view this image Changing of the old guard It's never easy to let players go, especially when they've contributed so much to their club, but with sentiment aside, we may have seen the last of Luke Ayling. The 32yo was omitted from Daniel Farke's matchday squad for the second consecutive game of the week in what the German described as one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make. With 251 appearances, and 11 goals since his £200,000 arrival from Bristol City in 2016, he soon became not only a fans favourite, but a respected member of the dressing room. He was awarded the vice-Captaincy in Liam Cooper's absence, and always gave everything to the cause. It would be naive to think that Bill will be the only casualty - father time waits for no one. It is highly unlikely that Messrs Cooper and Dallas will also make it to next season at Elland Road. please log in to view this image
For me the changing of the old guard should have started 2 summers ago. Gradually fading the boys out. The truth is that they are slower, they are injury prone, they were late with tackles so gave away penalties are picked up suspensions. You now see why they should have started being faded out because we have a 17yo keeping Ayling out, Cooper kept out by Struijk, Bamford struggles to get on the bench. We got shut of Forshaw and hopefully I hope Dallas will come back as good as he was after a couple of years rest, but let’s see. These players were part of the problem last season, but that’s my view
We signed players with the intention of phasing Cooper, Ayling and Bamford out but unfortunately they either were rats like Wober, or just not good enough like Kristensen. Rutter has been the only one with the right qualities both as a player and a person which has seen Bamford drop to the bench.
carrick is just trying to influence his own players.we could and should have scored more goals and same the last game .Farke himself has pointed this out and what is all the hype about young grey.we need a proper right back not a young lad with not enough experience.when will we get a tune out of dj ed?.we need to sign some defenders in january because our reserves are not up to it.you can kiss autos goodbye if rodon gets injured.
And on that point thank God Rutter has been quality. Imagine if wed had to play Bamford for the majority of games. Farke would probably be sacked by now as wed be in bottom 6
At the risk of repeating myself for the 100th time Rutter should have been played last season but all our coaches/managers thought they knew better and stuck with Bamford. Far more to his game than just being a striker.
100% this What makes it worse is that whatshisname who replaced Skibby gave Rutter his first start inthe cup against Fulham. He was the best Leeds player on the park, scored his first goal that was unjustly ruled out and created a couple of chances that went begging plus forced their keeper into 2 worldy saves. Then overlooked and overlooked. Why wasn’t he given a real chance? Was it all about getting rid of Orta?
Another strange transfer rumour kind of day. Last week Ryan Kent stories came out again and the best one so far is Ben Brereton Diaz coming on loan in January. Fk me we were chasing him when Bielsa was here and every window since. Yet he walked out of Blackburn after running his contract down and signed for Villareal in Spain yet they are keen to offload him already? Oh and Boro have offered £4m for Charlie Cresswell……apparently
Afternoon all We were better than Boro, we should have had a second penalty, they should have had more yellow cards, we had more shots 20 to 11 and on target we had 9 they had five. Carrick is a knob if he believes they could have won, if he'd said a draw it would have been slightly more believable but they were never going to score two more goals than us. To win they would have needed to put 4 past us, that was never on the cards
Which player would you trust to hold his nerve and score the winner for promotion in the regular season or play off final. I would not trust utter and would go for summerville as he plays with no fear and is composed.
That would be good to get a young England player for 4 million. We should keep him and get four more if that's the going rate.
The opposite of Bamford then. Imagine him stepping up in the playoff final to take the decisive penalty ffs
Forget the Rangers reject Kent, Brereton also can do one, the one i would be pissed off with if we let him go is Cresswell, something just not right with him and Farke, hope it gets resolved.
