Good Morning. It's Monday 23rd March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Will the extended break have a detrimental effect on the players Former Leeds legend Paul Robinson has warned Marcelo Bielsa’s side of the difficulties the players face returning to first team action. Robo believes his boyhood club could struggle with fitness once the season returns “Players will be given programs like they are in pre-season,” “When you leave for the season you’re always given a program to follow which is obviously very light as you start and intensifies as you get nearer the start of the next season. “The problem now is that there’s no due back date. When you’re in pre-season you can tailor a program to run until a set time. "Now, at the moment, there’s no definite date to aim for but football is a 24/7 job now and the players will carry on doing their jobs and keeping fit to a certain level, and then it will be a case of getting together a week before the first game. “The clubs will get back into the training grounds a week before, to get match fitness in the early part of the week and tactical ball work towards the end.” Will the extended break have a detrimental effect on the players? Will if give their competition an easier chance to catch them up? please log in to view this image HOW LONG EFL HANDOUT IS ESTIMATES TO LAST CHAMPIONSHIP CLUBS As featured last week, the EFL have provided Championship clubs with £800,000 to help balance the books whilst the Country goes into lockdown. Whilst it may seem 4/5th of a million is a generous loan, realistically, how long will that last clubs in the second tier of English football? Note:West Brom did not disclose. 9 days: Stoke City 9.3: Fulham 10: Swansea City 10.4: Cardiff City 10.8: Derby County 11.9: Sheffield Wednesday 12.6: Middlesbrough 13.9: Nottingham Forest 14.3: Reading 15.4: Birmingham City 16.1: Leeds United 16.5: Bristol City 17.8: Huddersfield Town 20.4: Hull City 21.1: QPR 22: Blackburn Rovers 25.6 Preston 29.4: Brentford 29.9: Millwall 30.4: Wigan Athletic 35.8: Charlton Athletic 47.7: Barnsley please log in to view this image Championship clubs get a rotten deal from EFL Championship clubs have been debating Financial Fair Play in its current state, as well as the television packages, especially in contrast to the Premier League. Stoke City chief executive Tony Scholes has pointed out how England's second tier is unfairly treated compared to the money obsessed Premiership! “The league doesn’t get the income to match its appeal to match the fact that it is the third highest attended league in Europe. “So you’ve got Leeds at the top of the league and they’re on telly all the time, but they get TV income of about £3m-a-year. “The team one place above them, Norwich, on telly maybe 12 times this year, less than Leeds anyway, they get TV income of £100m-a-year and it just can’t be right. “Then we’ve got a set of (FFP) rules that stifle ambition and keeps clubs from investing in the club. “The effect of that is - and this is the negative of the league at the moment - is that 12 years ago the league was very collegiate, everyone got on with each other. Obviously there was great competition on the pitch, but off the pitch all the clubs got on. “What I feel now in the league is that some clubs are desperate to attack other clubs and get them punished for breaking rules and get them a points deduction. “It’s just become a more difficult environment and I think that’s because of the financial gap that exists with the Premier League.” Should more be done to close the gap between two leagues? What is the difference in quality between the top six of the Championship and the bottom six of the Premiership? please log in to view this image
Morning Elland, being tested today, won't know results for a few days. Regarding fitness levels, I'd say that'll apply to all the sides in the Championship. It's certainly not ideal to have a break when we were on such a good run. Although it may go in our favour and we start like it's the first game of the new season.
Morning all. Good luck with the tests Shaks whatever its for. The stoppage has come at a bad time for Leeds and for Rhinos both were playing well with confidence and team spirit. Whatever problems over fitness I'm sure Marcelo will prepare better than most.
Morning all. Can’t see the fitness thing being such a big deal. There will come a point when it will be safe to return to training. Actual matches will likely follow maybe a month later giving everyone time to get up to speed whilst minimizing risks of injury.
Good luck today with that. Don’t know if you watched the late late Friday night when tubridy went through the testing procedure and took it himself. Whole thing beginning to end 15 minutes actual test about 30 seconds with very little discomfort. You’ll be fine
Thanks Eire. I didn't see the show Eire. I have to get my young lad to drive me down because they won't do it unless I'm in a car. I just want it over and so I can get back to work.
Thanks Gessa, like I said before, if I'd not rang my Dr regarding my flu like symptoms, I'd not be getting this test. At least I should know in the next few days either way.
Cheers Chesh, I'm more concerned with getting over to watch the Whites again. I've flights booked for the last home game, but this is unlikely to happen. At least I can change the flights for no charge if I need to.
Just returned from my morning constitutional walk so just catching up First good luck with your tests Shaks Leeds players will have no problem getting back up to speed/fitness The players who will have the biggest problem are those in mid table who have nothing to play for Just an opinion
Can i just say look after yourselves & your families everyone & stay safe, as once the season commences i want us all to once again be talking about football.