Good Morning. It's Thursday 25th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Hard fought victory brings Whites to within two points of second Leeds moved within two points of second placed Ipswich Town after a hard fought victory over their bitter neighbours Norwich City at Elland Road last night. For the most part, David Wagner's side provided stiff opposition; their spells of dominance created a tense atmosphere around Elland Road. As we have come to expect, Leeds wasted ample opportunities to put the game to bed, with Rutter, Bamford, Summerville, Anthony and even Firpo going agonisingly close, setting up a tense finale. The only goal of the game came on 16 minutes, with Bamford heading James' peach of a delivery across goal, beating Gunn at his far post, but just like the Norwich commentary team, the visitors never paused for breath, creating some nervy moments as the match progressed. Leeds have conceded just once in 2024, from five outings, scoring twelve in the process, and are the only team in the Championship, unbeaten at home. In fact, the only other clubs in the entire league unbeaten at home this season are Liverpool and Manchester City! please log in to view this image Gray to undergo scans for possible ligament damage An injury to Archie Gray may cause Daniel Farke to rethink his transfer strategy, in the final days of the Winter transfer market! The 17yo had too be helped off the pitch last night in obvious discomfort, by the ER medical team. If tests show he has sustained ligament damage, he could be out for months! The Thorp Arch medical team is among the best in the Country, and will perform tests to identify the extent of the injury! With Spence returning to Spurs, and Ayling signing for Boro, Leeds would have to go a long way down the roster to find a suitor for the right back role. Jamie Shackleton would be the obvious choice if a decision had to be made, but his form has been as erratic as his injury record! James sustained a hip injury that will see him miss this weekends FA Cup clash against the Pilgrims, but Leeds have ample strength in depth to cover wide positions. Leeds are a top team - Wagner Magnanimous in defeat, Canaries boss David Wagner heaped praise on Leeds Utd after his side slipped to their first defeat of 2024. Although obviously frustrated with the result, Wagner praised Leeds on their firepower upfront, claiming Leeds are a 'top team' and have a 'superb' home record:- “Frustrating result. Gave Leeds a real game. Competitive. Games like this are decided by small, margins. Saw it in the West Brom game. We were not ruthless and this is why we lost it. Leeds are a top team. “Super offensive. Congratulations to them on the win. Final punch in the box was missing. A very good game. Leeds away is never easy. Their home record is superb,” please log in to view this image Everton not interested in loaning Godfrey out Rumours from Goodison Park suggest Ben Godfrey will move abroad this month, ending speculation of a reunion with Daniel Farke. The 26yo worked under Farke during his tenure at Norwich. He joined Everton during the Summer of 2020 in a deal worth £25m. He has slipped down the pecking order after the arrival of James Tarkowski, and is ready to move on. Everton too, are keen to get Godfrey off their books, but are not interested in loaning him out. A number of European clubs have expressed an interest, though it will mean selling him on the cheap. please log in to view this image
Good morning everyone. Great three points last night, that's auto's form, by which i mean not playing at your best but still finding a way to win. Impressed by Wagner & his team who came to play football, & not to kick lumps out of us or try every dirty trick in the book as Preston did, i wish them well for the rest of the season.
a win is a win, think gruev is growing into this team and looking a relative snip for what we paid ............and apparently we have won the first five games in a calendar year for the first time in our history! ........+ our unbeaten home run is our best since the glory,glory 70's .....what's not to like
Despite all that (and it's great i know) were still not in the auto's, just goes to show how strong the championship is this season, particularly the top four, any other season and we would possibly be dominating the league. We still need Southampton & Ipswich to fall away, will that happen that's the sixty four thousand dollar question?
Personally my thoughts are that our results are slightly flattering us and we’re not quite good enough for the top 2. Not far off but possibly just a notch below Leicester & Southampton. Controversial maybe but on the other hand we’re well set to have a good chance of play off success.
Into the last week of the window and don’t care that I keep repeating the same thing, we need to sign a couple of defenders. Archie out injured and you just know Firpo is going to be injured very soon. Firpo is doing great in this league but we need a left back and a right back. will Gnonto be selected this weekend as DJ now inured?
Gnonto was talking with some fans last night and he was playing his cards very close to his chest regarding, fitness, contracts and everything else.
With injuries now to Gray, James & Struijk, plus Gnonto not yet confirmed as back fit it does look like there could be some late activity in the transfer market. Let's hope if we do bring someone in that they're the right quality and as we've a young dynamic group I'd personally be looking for someone of that ilk rather than a jouneyman pro. However if we can't get the right player then let's just go with what we've got plus the U21's. Only 17 league games left + possible play off matches.
Rutter took a selfie of himself and Gnonto celebrating last nights win in the team dressing room, he looked happy enough
Lots of stories around for players who wont come to Leeds because either their club or themselves feel they won’t get enough game time. The same reason Carvallio went to Hull as Klopp knew FARKE wouldn’t guarantee game time. Ben Godfrey is reported to have said he wants to go somewhere where he is selected to play……. Seems FARKE stubborness is a problem
I don't see that as stubbornness at all. All players coming on loan are doing so as they're not good enough to get game time at their own clubs. Like that dj effort from Spurs, if they're good enough they'll get a chance at Leeds. Maybe they know themselves they wont be
Get where coming from but not sure we want players who aren’t willing to fight and prove their worth. However it does sort of leave things in a bit of a stalemate situation and I’d say that’s more a consequence of it being the January window rather than holding Farke accountable.
It's a dangerous gig guaranteeing game time for loanees. It's why the average teams often end up with the better loanees. Could we guarantee Carvalio game time... ahead of who? The guys at the loanee end try and find sides who play the right way for their player AND who don't have much competition for places for them... so there's a good chance they'll play. We're largely looking for back up/competition so it's tougher to get the right players... and if we can't get the good ones - well what's the point. Don't get me wrong, I'd like the squad strengthening, just not sure we're the right fit at the moment for the 'super kid' loan market.
Nothing new there as last season we weren’t the right fit for £35M super kid on a permanent. Although we might have been if anyone had had the balls to play him
Nor Izzie Brown. There’s a long history of magnificent signings who were a waste of space it would seem.
Id be very surprised now if we don't bring in 1 or 2 defenders. We were struggling for numbers before injuries now we are in such a good position in the league we have to take a chance rather than go down that same path of hoping we have enough. we have been in this position so many times surely with our League position its time to act with a bit of risk we can't fall into that hole again. If Archie does have Lig damage hes out for a bit. Byram,Firpo we won't keep fit for the remainder of the season. Coops goes in and out Struijk in trouble. Let's not halt our season with square pegs in round holes. I know its not easy to pull players at January but we have too. We have 3 loans available make use of them its not as if we are are struggling to pay wages with all our loans gone. yes some Managers want players going out a certain amount of game time but there has to be someone let's not fail and end our season with if's or maybe's. We are in that position to go for it we aren't mid table struggling to make the playoffs we are right in the mix of automatic promotion. get it done Leeds
Plenty of sensible comments from guys regarding game time etc. But if I was Klopp and just brought back a player from loan due to not getting enough game time why would I send him to Leeds? That’s the issue you have a player you need to get experience and sending him somewhere he isn’t going to get much is a no no. We are talking about prem quality players you would expect to be better than Archie or Shackelton or even Byram or Firpo
Except that they’re not prem quality players yet, which is why they are being loaned to the Championship.
