The Official Leeds United Thread

[JNW1]

CustardOnChips said:

dxbtiger said:

Yes, great Captain but fourth choice CB now.

I've said from the start if last season he's not good enough, and taken some abuse for saying so.
He's a liability if we're being honest about it.

You'd have to assume Cooper won't play if both Llorente and Koch are fit - it's just a pity the two of them haven't been available at the same time very often since they were signed! Personally I also prefer Struijk to Cooper if I'm honest.

I also agree it's a shame we couldn't keep hold of Ben White - as has been said, as well as central defence he also looked to be capable of covering the defensive midfield role when KP wasn't available. However, he was Brighton's player and to be fair to them they've played their hand pretty well given the money they've got for him only a year later...

[dxbtiger]

How does Costa keep getting games....

Also, Rodrigo was a very expensive mistake.

[Killer2005]

Bamford called up to England squad

[JNW1]

Difficult opposition to play against but I thought we were mediocre this afternoon; didn't really create much in the way of clear chances and the goal when it came was more than a touch scrappy. Still, I suppose a point's a point - hopefully we'll start firing on all cylinders when we return from the international break although the first game back won't be easy!

[Drezza]

I predicted 1-1 before the game, knew it wouldn't be easy the way they play, think we were lucky to get a draw so not too disappointed. Hopefully the Scousers don't thrash us too much next week, feel like we play better against more expansive teams like Liverpool though.

[dxbtiger]

Too many players not hitting their previous levels at the moment, eg Ayling (awful last night), Jacky and Raph.

Rodrigo an absolute passenger, get Shack in there somehow to replace him.

Can't see how Firpo or Klich will be back for the Scouse game, might have to watch that from behind the sofa.

How did Burnley finish with 11 men?

[JNW1]

Drezza said:

feel like we play better against more expansive teams like Liverpool though.

Yes, that's a fair point - we also often do well in games where we don't have the lion share of possession so perhaps their style will suit us better. Having said that it will still be a very tough game - Liverpool are looking more like the side that won the title the season before last so personally I'll be pleased if we manage to come out of it with a draw.

dxbtiger said:

Can't see how Firpo or Klich will be back for the Scouse game

With the international break the Liverpool game is two weeks away so I'd hope both will have time to recover.

And on current transfer rumours will we have Dan James as part of our squad by the time we play Liverpool? With Ronaldo's return there's talk of him being superfluous to requirements at Man Utd and we're being suggested as a likely destination given Bielsa apparently still likes him. Not sure another winger ought to be our main priority and even if it is I'm not sure how James stacks-up against Noa Lang at Brugge (who's supposedly also still available). Suppose we just have to trust Bielsa, Orta and the rest to make the right call on these things....

[Zad]

Looks like we have signed Daniel James from Man U, having being chasing him for 2 years. Lots of £££, but a proven good player who is still only 23 and plays very much with the right style and ethos for LUFC.

[Challo]

Zad said:

Looks like we have signed Daniel James from Man U, having being chasing him for 2 years. Lots of £££, but a proven good player who is still only 23 and plays very much with the right style and ethos for LUFC.

Hopefully he gets a chance to learn and show his talent. Can’t fault his effort, and attitude at United but never had the quality with his final ball.

Fingers crossed he develops

[JNW1]

Challo said:

Zad said:

Looks like we have signed Daniel James from Man U, having being chasing him for 2 years. Lots of £££, but a proven good player who is still only 23 and plays very much with the right style and ethos for LUFC.

Hopefully he gets a chance to learn and show his talent. Can’t fault his effort, and attitude at United but never had the quality with his final ball.

Fingers crossed he develops

Yes, hopefully he will. My slight reservation is the rumoured £25m plus add-ons seems a lot for a player who appears to have been struggling to make the grade at PL level although in fairness it's obviously not easy to get regular game time and develop when you're at a club with a strong squad like Man Utd. It's certainly good business for them given they paid "only" £15m for him but doesn't look so good for us when we pretty much had him for £10m back in January 2019! Anyway, we just have to trust in Bielsa and Orta to get these things right.....

[Killer2005]

Leeds United (@LUFC) Tweeted: 📷 Knew this photo would come in handy one day... https://t.co/fteCphWyVzhttps://twitter.com/LUFC/status/143272854904412979...

Good work from the Leeds Utd social medial once again

[franki68]

Zad said:

Looks like we have signed Daniel James from Man U, having being chasing him for 2 years. Lots of £££, but a proven good player who is still only 23 and plays very much with the right style and ethos for LUFC.

He will fit with your style ,works hard but needs some space to operate in.

[BlackStang5point0]

Here's hoping Dan James lives up to the price tag but pretty pleased to see him come on board.

I see Costa has gone to Valencia on a loan deal - think that's a wise move.

[JNW1]

BlackStang5point0 said:

Here's hoping Dan James lives up to the price tag but pretty pleased to see him come on board.

I see Costa has gone to Valencia on a loan deal - think that's a wise move.

Agree on both counts! The main disappointment for me with our transfer window has been the failure to strengthen our midfield; we've not replaced Hernandez - and we really miss Phillips when he's not available - so to my mind recruiting in that area was more important than getting another winger. I guess you can only assume Bielsa didn't agree or if he did either the right players weren't available or if they were they weren't available for what we considered to be the right money; it's obviously great to see Forshaw back from injury - and in many ways that's like having a new midfield player given how long he's been out - but will he be at the level we need in the PL?

Regardless, we now have to run with what we've got until at least January so let's hope it's enough!

[resolve10]

Is Bielsa going to play either Harroson, Raphinha or James in the no 10 role? Doesn't bode well for Rodrigo if he is. If not I can't see how he's going to keep all three of them happy??

[DaveyBoyWonder]

If you believe the rumours, Bielsa sees Raph going into the 10 role and James out wide. Although that won't be happening Sunday with all the Brazilian contingent banned.

Echo the previous comments about Rodrigo... I thought he was starting to look really sharp towards the end of last season but being subbed for a below-par performance vs Crewe? Doesn't get much worse than that for a £28m player. If he doesn't start to come good between now and January I can see him going back to Spain assuming we get a replacement in.

Still rumours floating around we'll go back for Lewis O'Brien from Huddersfield in January too.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Firpo and Klich available for Sunday!

[JNW1]

DaveyBoyWonder said:

If you believe the rumours, Bielsa sees Raph going into the 10 role and James out wide. Although that won't be happening Sunday with all the Brazilian contingent banned.

Echo the previous comments about Rodrigo... I thought he was starting to look really sharp towards the end of last season but being subbed for a below-par performance vs Crewe? Doesn't get much worse than that for a £28m player. If he doesn't start to come good between now and January I can see him going back to Spain assuming we get a replacement in.

Still rumours floating around we'll go back for Lewis O'Brien from Huddersfield in January too.

All been a bit confusing about the South American player availability this weekend but I thought the outcome was they are able to play (so Raphina for us and Alisson and Firmino for Liverpool?).

I'm also nervous about the way things have been developing with Rodrigo; as you say, there were signs he was looking better towards the end of last season but he's been off the pace again so far this term and having your most expensive signing warming the bench really isn't good. I can also see him departing in January if things don't improve....

[Killer2005]

Deserved win for Liverpool.

Never a red card for Struijk though.

[JNW1]

Killer2005 said:

Deserved win for Liverpool.

Never a red card for Struijk though.

Agreed on both counts; they were much better than us and being honest it could - and perhaps should - have been more than 3-0. As with Man Utd we're not really competing with Liverpool but that's twice in four games we've been outclassed so we could now do with a decent performance and result against Newcastle on Friday.

Arguably Struijk's challenge wasn't even a yellow but I think the punishment reflected the injury rather the nature of the tackle; that doesn't seem right to me but the referee obviously thought otherwise and VAR supported his decision....