please log in to view this image Brighton V Leeds United Saturday 27th November@17:30 | Amex Stadium Leeds face a torrid trip down to the South Coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, desperate to claw their way from the drop zone. Their plight is not made any easier after it was confirmed that Patrick Bamford will yet again miss the action. The 28yo has been sidelined for over two months with an ankle ligament injury. Although he has returned to training this week, he gave the medical team a big scare when he went over on his ankle; fortunately, no damage was done. Journalist Beren Cross expects Bamford to play at last a couple of games for the U23's before he regains his rightful place, spearheading the attack for the first XI. It's better news for leading scorer Raphinha. Having missed the Spurs game through illness, the Brazilian International has returned to training, and should be fit to start against the Seagulls. Firpo too is available if selected. The former Barcelona left back was less than impressive during his 30 minute cameo role last weekend; let's hope he was just brushing the cobwebs off. Rodrigo's chances of starting on Saturday are rated as 50/50. He picked up a minor foot injury prior to the Spurs game. During a recent interview Bielsa stated that Luke Ayling's comeback is being assessed on a day to day basis. We can therefore rule him out of action. His deputy Jamie Shackleton joins him on the sidelines, although there is footage of the 22yo light training earlier this week. Hopefully starlet Cody Dramah will be fit to play. Long term absentee Robin Koch remains on the treatment table. Brighton were one of the few teams to do the double over Bielsa's side last season. For whatever reason Leeds simply didn't play well against Graham Potters side. After a strong start to their campaign this term, they have slipped down to 9th in the table, having not won in the league in the last seven attempts. The hosts we be without midfielder Steven Alzate (having undergone surgery for a troublesome ankle injury) and Danny Welbeck (Hamstring). Enock Mwepu could return for the Seagulls after overcoming a muscle strain. Shot stopper Robert Sanchez returns to action after being sent off against Newcastle.
With our bad luck with injuries we will probably get the other half of the team on the treatment table when those occupying them at the moment return if we don't get a result on Saturday I believe we will be in a relegation battle by the end of the season. We need a bigger better quality squad.
Personally OLOF I think we are in a relegation battle, there are teams in the top half where I can't see us taking many if any points from. I mean we are nearly a third of the way through the season. We know we've injuries but I go back to pre season when I thought we were missing something and I was shot down by the 606 know it alls. Another tough match coming up. I hope that we can at least stay a head of the sides below us because we cannot afford to drop back down after two seasons. Mainly because we could lose Bielsa, the ground expansion won't go ahead and our top players will leave.
Unfortunately, although the answer is indeed clear, simple, and straightforward, there is some justifiably to deny your statement, inasmuch as the precise correlation between your communication and the performances so far this season have been inconsistent, insofar as they can be determined as ****e. Our epistemological concience does indeed make it difficult to stare relegation in the face, yet reality could be a heavier burden.
We desperately need 9 points out of the next 3 games(not very likely I know) otherwise we are in deep sh?t I don’t know what the answer is all I do know is that things are getting desperate and it’s time to win ugly if necessary
We would survive by the skin of our teeth if we finished on 34.8 points (35). Since the 16/17 season the third bottom team has reached 34 points three times. You have to go back to the 15/16 season when Newcastle were relegated with 37 points
Man Utd a L5-1 - we were outclassed. Deserved to lose. Everton h D2-2 - both sides had chances. Draw was fair. Burnley a D1-1 - Fairly even game. If Rapha scores the easy chances first half we probably would have won. Fair result. Liverpool h L0-3 - Outclassed. Newcastle a D1-1 - should have been 3 or 4 up at half time. 2 points dropped on balance of play. West Ham h L1-2 - Game of two halves. Should have been out of sight at half time again. Draw would have been fair on balance of play so dropped 1 point. Watford h W1-0. Should have been 5. Dominant fir 90 minutes. Southampton a L1-0. Shocking. Didn't deserve anything. Wolves h 1-1. Should have won this game comfortably. 2 points dropped on balance of play. Norwich a W1-2. Edged a close game. We looked more dangerous and just about deserved the 3 points. Leicester h D1-1. Another dominant display in which we fully deserved 3 points. 2 points dropped on the day. Spurs a L2-1. Game of two halves in which we fully deserved a point. 1 point dropped on the day. That's 8 more points we should have had on the day.
Knowing Leeds luck past history is nothing to go by, I can hear the so called pundits sharpening their knives as we speak
Unfortunately we didn't, but I agree we your summary of those games I see we have a handy 4 in a row coming up soon, Chelsea, City, Arse and Liverpool
We cannot blame the players that were missing even if they are players with the qualities to unbalance the opposition. It is the responsibility of the players on the pitch to find the solutions to the problems the opposition create and for the manager to take the responsibility if this is not possible. We have found ourselves many times in positions where we have unbalanced the opposition but have not been able to take the opportunities that this creates. Indeed, we must find the solutions to these problems collectively. The opposition, on many occasions have also presented qualities that create problems that we must solve. We will do this by sticking to Plan A
We seem to be the team everyone is breaking their bad runs against. Spurs no shots on target for two matches then everything on target against us. Norwich hadn’t scored a goal in the second half for umpteen matches until they played us. I think I heard someone say nobody has a worse record than Leeds this season of dropping points when taking the lead. No more excuses that we’re getting better or excuses for injuries, Bielsa chose a small squad, he chose to spend £50M+ on Rodrigo and James rather than in Midfield. I expect our attacking three record signings to start, the points are needed now, defeat and we’re 100% in a relegation dog fight. Even if poor old Boggers was still alive, even he’d not expect us to get through our December of hell with more than two points