The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 18th March)

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 18th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road

Meslier keen on permanent move?

French U20 International shot stopper Illan Meslier is keen to put pen to paper, and sign for the Whites on a permanent basis.

The 6ft 4in is on a season long long from French Ligue 2 side Lorient (because he's worth it)!

Leeds have an activation clause that should Meslier play 10 games for the Whites, they will have an obligation to purchase the 20yo for a fee of 5m.

With current no 1 keeper Kiko Casilla suspended for the next six games and possible internal disciplinary measures to come, should Leeds put their faith in the 20yo next season if they reach the promised land?

Most keepers do not reach maturity until their late 20's, and although there are exceptions, would it be a gamble to part with 5m after only seeing Meslier in action for three games?

Meslier was recently interviewed regarding his future at LS11, and this is what the young starlet had to say:-

You are on loan with an option to buy. Can you see your future being in England?

I would like to, but it depends on the season. If I play in the Championship, and the club activates the option to buy, I would stay without a problem. If I play less, we will think about it. But the best thing would be to continue at Leeds.

Have you definitively turned the page on FC Lorient?

Officially, I belong to Lorient, so you never know what could happen, things can occur very quickly. But if I am to go back to Lorient, it will be to be their #1. I have done the time that I was supposed to do over there, now I am concentrating on something else. I am 100% focused on Leeds.

You prefer being the #2 at Leeds than at Lorient?

Yes. I knew that Kiko (Casilla) was a great goalkeeper, he was at Real Madrid. So if you are going to have to be behind a goalkeeper in the pecking order, better that they are fantastically good. It was not possible to remain at Lorient… Kiko is a great goalkeeper and I am coming to learn by his side. Aside from that, if he does not play, I will be there to give my best.

On Marcelo Bielsa:

He is someone who is very respected, very listened to. He is very professional with the players. The training sessions are hard physically for the players, but we work very well. Aside from that, nobody talks with him. He, he speaks to you, but I do not think that it is possible to go and speak to him just like that. Aside from that, so long as we are performing, everything goes well…

On his 1st impressions of Leeds:

I am joining a legendary club and moving to England, which is always an enticing proposition. In terms of the fans, it is different to what we have in France. It is a religion over here. There are 35,000 fans per match. English football is very box-to-box, but it is very good football. I wanted to play here one day and I found this project more interesting compared to what was at Lorient. So I moved. And things are going very well, the players are welcoming and are trying to integrate me as much as possible. For the moment, I have played two matches, with the U23s, against Millwall and Bristol.

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Simon Jordan - Potential legal action from Championship six - Claptrap

Former Crystal Palace owner, and Business magnate has been speaking to TalkSport regarding the Championship 6 launching legal proceedings against the Premier League should the authorities abandon the rest of the season.

“We understand the top six in the Championship are ready to launch a legal battle if the Premier League cancels this season,” White said.

“Domestic football is the absolute bedrock of the sport, it’s what drives football,” Jordan said.

“It should absolutely be the preference of the governing bodies and the clubs that they finish the 19/20 season. Otherwise, you have a complete unravelling of the fabric of opportunities that Rotherham and Leeds and others have created for themselves.

“We cannot be sat here on the 19th of March and say we’re going to close the season down. You must exhaust every avenue to complete the 19/20 season. When you’ve exhausted every possibility, then and only then do you look at wrapping up the 19/20 season.”

However, on the reported legal action, Jordan said it was “claptrap”.

“It’s claptrap. On what basis?” Jordan said. “If the Premier League breaks the rules they’ll be subject to a potential challenge. But what rules are they breaking at the moment?”

Jim White asked: “So there’s no way you vote for the end of the season in that meeting?”

“Absolutely no way,” said Jordan. “If that happens the Premier League is a disgrace.”

You can argue that Liverpool deserve the league and that Leeds deserve promotion, but they’re not done and dusted.

There are only 9-10 games left for most clubs this season. Whenever they can be played, they should be played – hopefully in front of fans, but behind closed doors if necessary.

We don’t see anyone being able to put a timescale on things this week and neither do we envisage the season getting cancelled.

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Richard Keys - Outrageous if Leeds and Brom were allowed to go up

Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys believes it would be outrageous if the Championship chasing play-off pack were to miss out on the chance of trying to catch up Leeds and West Brom !

In his latest blog ‘Re-set the clock, the 62yo said:-

It’s the only sensible thing to do’, Keys hit back at claims suggesting Leeds and the Baggies should be promoted if the current situation stays the same.

"Leeds and West Brom have had eventful seasons, but they’re not up yet. Both can still be caught. So how can we promote them?

“It would be outrageous if those chasing play-off places were to miss out on the chance to get up. Bristol City, Millwall, Cardiff are all jockeying. So are Blackburn and Swansea.

“It’s one of the joys of Championship football that very little is ever settled until the last day of the season. Oh - and the football is pure. No VA-bloodyR spoiling matches."

Is he at least right about VAR? Is there anything wrong with getting decisions right, especially considering how Leeds have been wronged in the past?

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Morning all...

Rushing about this morning but great breakfast debate Ell with so little to talk about unless it’s Coronavirus

 

Morning all. Will join in debate today when time permits. Closing up Friday, if we get till then, for foreseeable future. Mad how quiet the roads are this morning

 

Morning all. Meslier looks top class sign him.

 

As per usual Ell great breakfast blog and talking points.
To buy Meslier is a no brainer IMO.
Keys needs to get his own house in order as BEin Sports seem to have laid him and Andy Gray off, hence on talksport, was informed when out there they both were on $1 million a year...... greedy cnuts.

 

Morning everyone
Regarding Meslier, as infidel said no brainer really, from the limited minutes iv'e seen him, possibly best keeper we have had since relegation from the top flight,
so buy him.

 

Day one of working from home and productivity has already dropped.

 

This working from home lark is a doddle....

https://images.app.goo.gl/zaAWbgeajsY3H1yo6

 

Your telling me, just made a million selling sanatiser and toilet roll on Amazon.
And I've not even got any to sell.


JOKE before you all report me.

 

To late already done that

 

Thorp Arch now closed on medical advice and senior player sent home to self isolate.

 

Even with improper implementation of VAR, the Prem is better off with it than without it.

 

Season Ticket renewals close in 9 days time.

In my opinion the club should extend the deadline as there is too much uncertainty, both healthwise and financial.

What about on here...has anyone renewed yet ?

 

Yup, renewed on day 1.

Don't agree that it should be extended. The club needs all the cash it can get atm, and if some default, there are many others willing to take their place. Supply & demand.

 

Have to disagree there Jonny.

When a goal is scored I want to have a quick glance for a flag, check the referee has signalled the goal and then it's massive celebration time. Take that away from me and I'm honestly not sure I'll bother attending matches anymore.

Great for TV but not for those who are forking out the big bucks to go to games.

 

So some poor bloke/lass gets laid off this week and then has to fork out for his ST ?

Loyalty and support should work both ways in my opinion.

 

So what happens if the poor bloke/lass doesn't get another job for 2 years? How long should the club wait?

Bottom line is that the club is a business with its own financial commitments.

It can't be blamed for the current situation, & can't possibly risk financial meltdown by waiting for people to recover their own financial situations. How do you tell the fanbase that you went bust +/or missed out on a long-awaited promotion because you waited on a few thousand poor individuals getting their lives back together again?

The chance to purchase a season ticket was available before this crisis kicked off.

 

My view is supporters should be given until there is an anouncement that either the season is to resume or be cancelled or whatever and then give 7 days to complete ST renewals.

Unfortunately some supporters will not be here to renew such are the exceptional and unprecedented times.

 

Don't agree on this, as they can't guarantee any football, shouldn't ask for any money till they can.

 

It works for governments!