The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 14th October)

Good Morning. It's Thursday 13th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road


Raph set to make full International debut

Raphinha is set to make his full Brazilian debut against Uruguay in the early hours of tomorrow morning (UK time). The 24yo winger could not have wished for a better start to his International career; being credited with two assists, as the five time World Champions came from behind to beat Venezuela 3-1.

He was also used as a second half substitute in his last game against Columbia, and although Tite's team were unable to break the deadlock, Raph produced the kind of magic, the South American's have not seen for years!



During yesterday's press conference, Tite found it difficult to hide his excitement about the Leeds star.
“He can play wide, he is fast, he can cross, he can finish from middle range,” “But let's take it easy, too much expectation is not good. This is a moment for the team, to structure. I will keep opening chances.

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Bielsa must address worrying statistic

Leeds need to stop conceding shots so freely if they are to avoid the same fate as Sheffield Utd last season. That is the stark warning given by football data Analysts Mark Carey and Tom Worville. The duo are employed by 'The Athletic', and are specialists in their field. On average, Leeds have conceded 16.6 efforts on goal per game this season, higher than any other top flight team.

"Teams will always know they have been in a battle with Leeds. They continue to dominate the physical metrics across the league. Marcelo Bielsa’s side can blow a team away one week and then be on the end of a crushing defeat. As a consequence, that makes for mixed underlying numbers".

"Due to their man-marking style of play out of possession, there are times when Leeds look open defensively — most notably where new signing Junior Firpo found himself pulled onto the opposite side of the pitch in the lead-up to his subsequent own goal at home to West Ham United".

"The generosity in defence means they average the highest shots conceded so far, with 16.6 per 90 minutes. Bielsa must address that quickly to ensure that Leeds do not suffer the same fate as Sheffield United last season. Leeds should have enough quality to avoid relegation, but to stand a fighting chance they will need to stop conceding shots so freely".

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Orta and Radz almost came to blows in a Japanese restaurant

In a recent interview, Leeds Director of Football, Victor Orta disclosed that he and Andrea Radrizzani would have heated arguments during the early days of Rads tenure. Remarkably, the pair almost came to blows in a Japanese restaurant, with a famous F1 driver on the next table preparing to separate them! Fortunately, with the assistance of Angus Kinnear, the duo were able to agree on a plan moving forward!

"When Andrea bought the club he presented to us the project — a club that needed a medium-term project, developing players, a young manager — an important club model. I knew the history of Leeds but didn't know the current situation.

“I had a very tough meeting with Andrea, I remember it perfectly, in a Japanese restaurant. There was a famous F1 driver next to us and I'm not saying that it got physical but there was a moment in which the F1 driver nearly got up to separate us because we were shouting so much, but it was because of the passion. We wanted to talk about what club model we wanted; I had an offer to go back to Spain — he knew that, I'd told him — and I was doubting whether or not to go back.

“So, after that and, above all, due to the intelligence of Angus Kinnear, we decided on the model of the project that we wanted. I told Andrea that Leeds is not a club that you can come in to do a medium-term project, relaxed, wait and see what happens with, for instance, Jay Roy Grot, having two good seasons, sell him for double etc, no. It's a club that has a historic demand and a historic weight that is incredible.

“We had to battle against the parachute payments since clubs could even keep their Premier League players while in the second division; the gap was huge so we had to go for a manager who could reduce that difference, one who went over the general pay-grade for a Championship manager and who was at the top level, also while moving towards a much more immediate model of transfers.

“Everything ended up with Marcelo Bielsa's name and it was either going to be an amazing success or a trip to the hospital; fortunately, it went well."

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The skill Raph showed in the above twitter clip is immense. If Ronaldo were to do that in the Prem, they'd be talking about it for weeks!

 

I don't usually condone picking out spellings on a forum but "Venuswalia" made me laugh. That's how I will pronounce it hence forth.

 

Morning all,

I do love the obvious passion both Radz & Orta have for the club. I have as lot of time for the both of them.

"Leeds need to stop other teams from having as many shots of goal."

These "experts" are being paid for this groundbreaking piece of punditry. No one in the history of the game has figured this out before

 

There's no denying that Raphinha is different gravy.

In the summer he'll be half way through his 4 year deal and that means the optimum time to sell will have arrived. Of course he could sign a new contract but the lad has been brilliant for us and deserves to play at the highest level.

 

They’re data analysts hemase… it means that when they count beans, and tell you how many you have, it’s really important. Even if the beans could have been counted by a 6 year old.

In next week’s release they’ll be pointing out that if we don’t score more goals than the opposition we won’t win the game.

 

Afternoon all…

I’d imagine every big club in Europe will be watching Raphinha

 

the question is whether they watch him on his sh*t days as well as his great days. Because he has them.

There are stacks of talented footballers out there, the key is doing it week in week out. Like every Leeds fan, I love Raphinha but he’s always trying stuff, often at high risk times, so when he’s bad, he’s bad. I’d be genuinely surprised if a real top champions league team went for him for that reason, but then maybe they can afford to take that chance. Next tier down definitely.

conversely I’d be surprised if a top champions league team wasn’t in for Phillips

don’t really expect either of them here next season

 

On Rapha all I say is enjoy him while we have him. Look we are a good club I also think we would challenge anyone on this planet as a Fanbase.
But The rich clubs will always overpower the good to average clubs when they want something.not just because of wages and transfer fees but the million dollar showcase ticket which is the Champions League.
We have a few players now ready to make that step up. Every Leeds fan wants that champions League adventure to be with us and we have to keep keep believing it can happen but it's a mammoth task ask 65-75% of the settled prem teams they still can't do it.
I'm just grateful to see him in a Leeds shirt he also seems a great lad. Whatever his future is will be. but, at this moment in time he's ours and loving every minute of him.

 

How about Mountanegro

 

Raphinha is better than anything Man City have got out wide on the right...and PSG.

Jaden Sancho, Sterling, Mahrez etc are not fit to lace his boots. The only one who is better is Mo Salah but then when you look at their respective ages and you'd still want to sign Raphinha. Plus he's Brazilian so he'll be happy anywhere...UK, Spain, France, Germany, Italy all not a problem.

Phillips is a bit different as he won't sign for scumchester utd and I can't see him moving overseas. That only really leaves Liverpool & Man City as I can't see Chelsea being interested or vica versa.

 

Glad you rate him that highly, i rate him highly too, on his good days he’s brilliant. He plays on the edge and tries things constantly so inevitably mixes brilliance with carp. It might be decision making but I think he’s mercurial but to date… lacking the consistency that top world class players have. Maybe injury free ling run eradicates that. Just my 2p in what we’ve seen to date.

 

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Well they obviously weren’t when he was at Rennes. He’s just broken into the Brazil team. He might be happy with how his career is developing at the moment. Playing instead of being’rotated’. His agent might be a different matter of course. As for teams abroad only PSG or Bayern can afford him. Spanish teams are bankrupt.

 

He aint that good yet and may never be. Brazil are a pretty ordinary team compared to what they were. Raph makes a lot of wrong plays. But we should see our players screaming for that killer pass he is capable of. That's the trouble with our squad too many nice guys.

 

Raphinha will know the score:

1. He joined Leeds because we wanted him, he joined Leeds because of Bielsa and he joined Leeds because he believed in the project and yes he joined Leeds because he wanted to play in the Premier League
2. He has been fantastic for Leeds and Leeds has been fantastic for him because now he starts for Brazil and he has the backing of his manager, his compatriots like Rodrigo and his Brazilian compatriots from other Prem Clubs.
3. Now you have to ask a simple question: is Raphinha so shallow that he would walk away from the club and the fans who made him for the promise of a bit of bold. This is ghe man that bust a gut fir Leeds against Watford and was shattered and on the deck at the final whistle. I think he knows he has a huge career ahead of him, I also think his agent Deco is smart and knows he has a cash cow on his hands at some stage, but I think Raphinha knows the project and can see the progress is still on track
4. The lad will leave when he believes the project has failed and we will see at the end if the season

 

Agree with all of that Doc.

I'm sure no one at the club wants him to leave but by the same token we can't allow his contract to run down. By all accounts he's a good lad so hopefully he'll do the right thing and make sure all parties are happy when it comes to his time to leave.

 

I’ve asked myself the simple question… He does seem like a good lad from the interview I read. But yes he’ll likely be that shallow. Except I don’t consider it shallow. He’s in his prime, he’ll want to play at the very top level… that means champions league and winning things. That’s not us yet is it.

Yes players like to feel welcomed at a club, but very few base their decisions solely on it… those that even contribute to the decisions as opposed to do what their agent tells them.

Like every Leeds fan, I hope the project is on track and that you’re right and I’m wrong.

 

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!


Raphinha