Good Morning. It's Tuesday 21st December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Lampard firm favourites with bookies Bookies outfit Betfair have placed Frank Lampard as firm favourite to replace Marcelo Bielsa in the Elland Road hot seat. Whilst the Elland Road hierarchy have made it abundantly clear that they are 100% behind the Argentine, a succession of poor results have seen the Whites nosedive dangerously close the Premiership trap door, and even the Elland Road faithful are starting to panic. Lampard has been out of a job since he was sacked at Chelsea in January. He is best remembered for the infamous Spygate scandal during his tenure at Derby County. Bielsa had sent a scout to watch the Rams during training. Fat Frank screamed blue murder, and blew the situation out of all proportions. Leeds fans have a long memory!!! Argentine Jorge Sampaoli is also on the short list at 6/1. During his 35 matches in charge of Marseille, they have only lost six. Athletic Bilbao's Marcelino is 8/1, the same as Lee Bowyer with former team mate Jonathan Woodgate at 9/1. Mick McCarthy, who was sacked as Cardiff City boss last month, is also on the list at 40/1. please log in to view this image How many points are needed to stay up? Leeds have won three times in eighteen attempts, and have sixteen points on the board. They are on course for 33 / 34 points, come May, which may not be enough to escape the drop. Last season we saw Sheffield Utd (23pts), West Brom (26pts) and Fulham (28pts) plummet to the Championship; but compared to previous seasons, these totals were surprisingly low. Bournemouth suffered final day heartache with 34 points during the 19/20 season, Cardiff also lost their top flight status with 34 points (18/19) whilst their South Wales adversaries (Swansea) were relegated with a point less the season before. Hull (34 pts - 17/18), Newcastle (37 pts 16/17) and Hull again(35 pts 15/16) makes grim reading for Leeds fans, as they search for their next victory. After the trip to Anfield on Boxing Day, Leeds have home games against Aston Villa and Burnley. Surely, a minimum of four points are needed over these two games! How many points are needed this season to stay up? please log in to view this image
Why Bielsa’s refusal to adapt has allowed big teams to dominate depleted Leeds please log in to view this image By Mark Carey 4h ago Leeds United have had a tough few days. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have conceded 14 goals in their last three Premier League games, scoring three consolatory goals in that time. Given their performances and ninth-placed finish last season, you can be confident that — when all their players are available — Leeds have enough quality to ensure this poor run doesn’t become chronic, but the defensive numbers don’t read well for Leeds fans at the moment. Only Newcastle United have a worse non-penalty expected goals (xG) against than Leeds. Bielsa’s side are currently giving up chances worthy of 1.6 goals per 90 minutes. please log in to view this image That xG against rate is an increase on last season’s 1.4 per 90, fuelled by a higher volume of shots conceded that are of higher quality than the previous campaign — an unwanted combination of change. Context is key here when considering their recent run of form. Leeds have faced three of the current top four in their last three games, with away trips to Chelsea and Manchester City enough to test any Premier League defence before a dominant Arsenal visited Elland Road. Although they gave Chelsea a bloody nose in a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge, Bielsa’s men were comfortably beaten by City and Arsenal after playing into the hands of their opponents too often. The second contextual consideration is just how plagued they are by injuries and illness within the squad, leading to Bielsa having to name one of the youngest benches since he arrived at the club for Saturday’s game against Arsenal. Injuries or not, you still know what sort of end-to-end game you’re likely to get when watching a Bielsa side — typically a lot of shots taken, but a high volume of shots conceded. A game that can often go either way. please log in to view this image Entertaining, sure, and great for the neutral. But the organised chaos can quickly turn into disorder if teams play through their man-to-man style of play. As evidence of this, no team averages a higher rate of shots on target conceded than Leeds’ 5.4 per 90 this season. Illan Meslier is busier than he would like — the young goalkeeper has been too exposed for his, or Bielsa’s, liking. please log in to view this image Problems in defence are also magnified when some of your key attacking tools are out. Joe Gelhardt has performed admirably recently but injuries to Dan James, Rodrigo and most notably Patrick Bamford has meant Leeds have struggled in attack and been less able to sustain their pressure in the final third. This can lead to more vulnerability in midfield and defence during build-up play — especially with the absence of talisman Kalvin Phillips, too. Specifically, Leeds appear to have an issue in getting caught out on the ball in their defensive third recently — they have conceded possession in their defensive third and then their opponents have had a shot on 32 occasions. please log in to view this image For context, that is the highest rate of any team in the Premier League so far this season. On average, opponents are having a shot after winning possession in Leeds’ defensive third 1.7 times per game. please log in to view this image It is worth noting that more than one-third of that total tally has been in the last three games against some of the best players in Europe, but it goes to show that — at the moment, at least — Leeds cannot play the same way against sides who have an efficient, co-ordinated press that can exploit Bielsa’s style of play in moments of transition. Mason Mount’s goal for Chelsea was the first warning sign — Stuart Dallas was robbed of possession before Chelsea worked it down Leeds’ right-hand side to score within a matter of seconds. At the weekend, although not in their own defensive third, Dallas’ run forward from left-back took him from his own box into Arsenal’s half, bypassing his opponents and his own team-mates. please log in to view this image However, when Dallas’s pass to Klich went astray and was picked up by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka… please log in to view this image …the whole Leeds midfield was essentially empty with Adam Forshaw unable to make up the ground. The gaps within the back four look equally worrying. please log in to view this image This allowed Gabriel Martinelli to finish neatly from a possession that Leeds were building in their own half only a few seconds earlier. please log in to view this image The next example from their humbling against Manchester City did not lead to a goal but was equally worrying. Diego Llorente has time on the ball and some options to play to Forshaw or Junior Firpo. Instead, he hits a hopeful ball into space where there is no team-mate. please log in to view this image The ball is picked up by Rodri who plays it first time into the feet of Phil Foden in acres of space within one of the most dangerous areas of the pitch. please log in to view this image Within seven seconds, this turnover leads to a shot on goal that Bernardo Silva should have done better with. A gift from Leeds and a warning sign on the day that they did not learn from. please log in to view this image When considering Leeds’ own off-ball approach, their high-intensity, relentless man-marking style is admirable to many but when that approach is not quite firing on all cylinders, the consequences are more costly. Looking at Statsbomb data via FBref, you can see that positive results have typically followed when a higher share of the pressures they make have been successful — here, “pressure success” is the percentage of occasions they gained possession within five seconds of closing down an opponent. In their five most successful matches in terms of winning the ball back this season, Leeds have picked up eight points and only lost once (to Tottenham Hotspur). please log in to view this image When they have not implemented an effective press the results have been stark. A total of 21 goals conceded in the five games with their worst pressure success — which includes their three most recent games. please log in to view this image Granted, when comparing the opposition played in their pressure success, it is clear to see the difference in quality. But it points to a wider point that Leeds have not been successful when trying to implement their style against these top teams — they often get pulled across the pitch and picked off at will. Once again, these recent performances have been partly influenced by the disruption to Bielsa’s team selection, where he has been unable to call upon so many of the players he has trained as well-oiled cogs in his very specific stylistic machine. Given that there is no expectation for Bielsa to alter or compromise his style, the main hope will be that Leeds kick out the bad habits they have slipped into and reacquaint themselves with the good habits that have earned them success in recent years. Oh, and Leeds’ next fixture? The small matter of a trip to Liverpool, the league’s most prolific scorers, completing the set of playing the top four teams in the country within four games. A tough run of fixtures that no one would choose but in the circumstance that Bielsa finds himself in, you would imagine things might get worse before they get better if he continues refusing to alter Leeds’ style.
Not commenting on Lampard as thats just trolling us fans. On points required to stay up I was proved right last season when I said 32 would prove safe and I got criticised by everyone, but 29 points was safety. However this season could be different depending on how transfer window goes for Norwich, Watford and Newcastle. If things stay as they are 32 points will be safety, but if good players come into those clubs and the standard improves it will be a fight because those 3 managers have won promotion and know what it takes to play football with flair. On the defensive issues Leeds have we dont need a massive piece from the Athletic, we can all see the problems. It was the same last season too, but worse this season due to injuries and square pegging. Any team that presses us will find silly passing between defenders and Meslier. It then goes titsup because Meslier kicks the ball wide usually going out of play in our half or goes to their big CBs and comes straight back at us. We look panicky and not good enough to play these little triangles so we end up making a mistake which means we are then under pressure and end up with players out of position and we can concede. We need to have our full backs working with their winger and a midfielder to play the fast triangles and put us on the attack at pace, but not having Ayling or a settled LB wing formation is damaging. Raphinha is trying to do too much but double teamed because he doesnt have Ayling working with him and he charges back and he makes mistakes too. Its a clusterfuck
Not a chance Lampard will ever manage here. We don't like him and he don't like us, simple as. Regarding points, we need at least 1 more than 3 clubs below us, people keep moaning about our situation but there are 4 teams below us still. Choosing the right and slack passing as been osting us all season, t many wrong choices in and around the box, Saturday at 0-1 we break forward, Raphinha decides to scuff a shot rather than play a simple pass to Gelhardt who had got himself I a great position, 3 or 4 times against Brentford a simple pass was n to a man in space in the box but the wrong option was taken.
Morning all I just can’t get my head around bookmakers making Lampard favourite, not a single Leeds fan would place a bet on that, we all know it’s never going to happen. I’d love him to apply though, I can imagine him turning up for an interview and he walks into a room with Orta sitting there with a pair of binoculars around his neck. No idea on points needed, we just need to battle away and secure our place in the PL as soon as possible. It’s going to be a huge preseason and sweeping changes I’m sure. Defensive problems, trying to man mark far superior players who have good coaches who’ve totally worked out how to beat the system. Human nature is to look for excuses whilst we ignore the blatantly obvious, other teams are just better than us
This from Ristac: “Defensive problems, trying to man mark far superior players who have good coaches who’ve totally worked out how to beat the system. Human nature is to look for excuses whilst we ignore the blatantly obvious, other teams are just better than us“ Teams who can beat our way of playing are top 6 teams who all have far better players man for man. We do not have a team full of £50m, £60m, £70m players. We have mainly championship players backed by some less than £20m players. We also have half a squad due to injuries. We knew December was going to be pants even with a full squad. Its bad, its very bad but we will beat many teams who are not top 6 as soon as we get some players back
Morning all, Lampard being favourite for next manager?? Despite the obvious reasons of the dislike between the two parties no one will ever be able to convince me that he has achieved anything in management to be worth giving the job to. This is just a Xmas wind up from the bookies trying to get clicks. As Doc has said we compete and beat most teams outside the top six and aside from an incredible run of injuries and some bad luck in matches we would be further to the table. Get those players back and we will have a very different second half of the season.
Manchester City midfielders Phil Foden & Jack Grealish warned over conduct Didn't take long for Jack's antics to surface again.
Speaking on the On The Judy Podcast, Bradley Johnson has been speaking about his departure from Leeds United way back in 2011. In 2011, Leeds were a completely different force than they are now. They’d just come up from League One, and things were rather uncertain under the ownership of Ken Bates. However, despite issues off the pitch, on the pitch, they had a number of exciting talents. Indeed, the likes of Max Gradel, Luciano Becchio, Robert Snodgrass, and, of course, Johnson were lighting up Elland Road in the early 2010s, but sadly, the Whites were unable to keep this core together. Johnson left for Premier League Norwich City in 2011, and while he left on a free after refusing to sign a new contract, he’s admitted that he wanted to stay at Elland Road. WHAT’S JOHNSON SAID ABOUT LEEDS? The Blackburn midfielder looked back on his time at Elland Road and his departure. “I was playing week in week out, I was coming to the end of my contract and they were buying players. It wasn’t about the money, it was about being on parity with everyone else. If you play every week, you want to be paid like you’re paying every week. They bought players who couldn’t get in ahead of me. It was time to negotiate a new contract and I said ‘I want to earn what this guy’s earning or the same as what this kid’s earning’. Ken Bates was just like ‘nope, this is what we’re offering’, so I didn’t sign it. It got ugly towards the end with the chairman, but the fans understood,” Johnson said. “The fans sort of understood, I always said that I wanted to play there, but it had to be right for me and my family, towards the end, Leeds fans were singing ‘sign him up, sign him up’, and I wanted to stay, but I saw out my contract and even Simon Grayson wanted me to sign. Towards the end of the season Norwich came for me in the Premier League and I had to go.” please log in to view this image SHAME It’s a shame that Leeds were unable to make the most of this generation and the likes of Johnson were forced out of the club. United had a real core of talents who, given the right amount of time, would have been good enough to get them to the Premier League ahead of schedule. The likes of Snodgrass, Jermaine Beckford, Johnson, Jonny Howson and Kasper Schmeichel would all go on to establish themselves in the top-flight, and if Leeds had been able to keep all of those players together, they surely could have been promoted sooner. Luckily, Leeds would eventually make the Premier League under the stewardship of Marcelo Bielsa.
We are where we are on merit. Injuries haven't helped, though even with a relative full team we were thrashed by Man Utd, drew against a poor Everton side, and couldn't even beat Newcastle or Burnley. Whose fault is it that are squad is too small? It's the same guy most fans blindly hail week in, week out, and probably the same guy that has overtrained the players causing injury. I know it's easier to blame referee's for our failings, even though almost a quarter of our goals have come from penalties!
Elland you are turning into Chippy 2.0 mate, nobody blindly follows Bielsa, indeed I have kicked off about the small squad and also said it has damaged the whole club as we are now in a relegation fight in the 23s when we were fighting for the top 11 weeks ago. U18s is also losing players to replace 23s who are on the first team bench. You cannot however hide away from the injuries and you know if we had a full team we wouldnt be in trouble. You though are stating we would be in trouble
Got to agree with Elland. Everton. Newcastle. Burnley all games we should have done better. Chelsea couple of weeks back were dire and we gave them three points. We have had plenty of penalties all season and drawn more games. Forshaw does not score goals and never has. So he will not save us alone. Dallas is the scapegoat by giving the ball away yet he is only doing what bielsa has trained him to do. That's run and pass and keep going. Kamakaze tactics against all prem sides.
I honestly believe we make too many excuses for the team, but our injuries have hampered us. Glory mark 2, yer cheeky git
Karen Carney deleted her twitter account for saying Leeds got promoted because of covid. Many pundits are still talking shyt and yes we have to put up with Wakey and now Elland and Ristac, but at least Simon Jordan gets it: Now, Jordan has surprised Leeds fans after he ‘hit the nail on the head’ when discussing the club’s current struggles under Bielsa. Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace chairman said: “Bielsa is a first class coach. They’ve hit a run of form which is predominately based on a depleted squad, and he’s not for changing (the style of play). Fair play to him, stick with it. “Whilst it looks bleak, you have to believe in what you’re looking at. I’ll tell you who believes in it, Leeds fans, and that’s good enough for me.”
