Good Morning. It's Monday 11th December, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Leeds too strong in the end against Battling Blackburn side Leeds were made to work hard for their points at the weekend, and had to dig deep, against an unwavering Blackburn side that threw everything at them, bar the kitchen sink. Roared on by over seven and a half thousand fans, Leeds were disciplined, well organised but even more importantly, clinical where it mattered. They took the lead on 27 minutes when Dan James' low hard diagonal drive, (through the legs of Harry Pickering) found the far corner of the net after fine work by Rutter. They could have gone ahead minutes earlier after Piroe's free kick was deflected inches wide of Wahlstedt's goal mouth. The Riversiders' may look back on the match thinking they could have got something out of the game, but in reality they didn't have enough in the final third to trouble the visitors. Home fans had to wait until the 80th minute to see Meslier in action, dramatically (and perhaps a little theatrically) tipping Sigurdsson's header over the bar. By this time, Leeds had already taken an unsalable two-nil lead, after Summerville cheekily flicked the ball over Wahlstedt with the outside of his right boot, after been put clear on goal by Gray. It may not have been a vintage Leeds performance, but it was good to see them scrap their way to victory, and keep a seventh clean sheet of the season. please log in to view this image Top two on target to smash Championship points record If we've leant anything from the past few years, money doesn't buy you success, but cream always rises to the top. Leeds may be eight points shy of Leicester, but are the divisions most in-form team (following Watford's last minute draw against Southampton). The Christmas calendar sees the tractor boys visit Elland Road two days before Christmas, followed three days later by the visit of Leicester City. Something has to give! Do the top two have the momentum to keep it going through a jam packed Christmas campaign. There are eight Championship fixtures between the 2nd December to January 1st, and twenty-four points up for grabs. In the past, 89 points would be enough to see safe passage to the Promised land, but not this season. Reading currently hold the bragging rights for most Championship points during a season (106 back in 2005/06), but this eighteen year record is now severely under threat. Leicester are on target to reach 111 points come May, whilst Ipswich just three points behind them. Leeds are on target to register 92 points, and the Saints 90. please log in to view this image James on fire under Farke With seven goals, four assists, and a 7.24 'Whoscored' rating, Dan James' transformation has delighted the Elland Road faithful this season. Many had written off the 26yo after joining Fulham on loan last season, but under the close eye of Daniel Farke, has shown some of the best form of his career. Whilst the Championship may not provide the same kind of opposition as the top flight, it's raises the question whether Farke is getting more out of his players than Bielsa managed to? Whilst Farke has had a much larger budget, we have seen the likes of Struijk, Rutter, Summerville and James flourish under the German. Given the choice, would you swap Farke for Bielsa? please log in to view this image
Morning all. Not sure about the swapping thing. Id love to have seen how Bielsa would have done under proper owners that backed him with the players he wanted. I suspect he'd have done ok in PL. Farke seems to be getting a free run thanks to the owners and that's the way it should be. Fans shouldn't be left debating owners and directors of football 75% of the time. Personally I don't even know the lads name doing the transfers and hope it stays that way
He didn't on average players. None of that rubbish last year would have been signed under his watch as he'd know they were hopeless. He didn't even want Llorente and Orta forced him on him, subsequently extended his contract, then gave him away blah blah. The rest is history
Bielsa always backed the club and praised them for what they were doing. He kept rolling out the answer:”they give me what I want and we all know money is tight” so he never forced them into a corner but was specific in the players he wanted and wouldn’t accept cheap knock offs. All the players he wanted were young and would end up playing top level for top clubs like they are. The only one he accepted as a knock off of Connor Gallagher was Aaronson who was due in the summer. Would Aaronson have been a different player under Bielsa? I wonder. Even today Bielsa hasn’t said one word about Leeds Utd or his time here….
Morning all Bielsa worked wonders with his team, Piroe probably wouldn't get a start under Bielsa and Bamford would start every week, Spence would be a month away from seeing any action, this team is set up to play a style under Farke and they are doing just that.
We're the only team in the Division to beat the top two!!!! Shame we weren't more organised during the Summer
We get the chance to beat the top 2 again within weeks and if we can do it we will then be within touching distance of autos plus the so called predicted points finishes will see Ipswich and Leicester predictions fall……
I doubt Ipswich have good enough squad to cope with injuries. Our bench is one of the best and we can cope. Who is betting we will not sign a striker or left back?.
