Match Day Thread Leeds Utd v Southampton

Leeds United v Southampton
Sunday 26th May@15:00 | Wembley

The 2023/24 football season comes to an end on Sunday, as Leeds and Southampton lock horns at Wembley to decide the biggest prize in World club football today.

TV deals, sponsorship and other income streams worth an estimated £265m are at stake for the winners, as well as trips to the likes of the Etihad, Emirates and Old Trafford, a sharp contrast to days out at Portsmouth, Derby and Oxford Utd.

Leeds have been given the home England dressing room, and an allocation of 35,796 seats (east side), with their South coast opponents occupying the West (35,667). Leeds will play in their famous all white kit, inspired by the late, great Don Revie; how ominous that this game should be decided exactly thirty-five years to the day of his sad passing.

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There's no love lost between Daniel Farke and Russell Martin who Captained the Canaries during Farke's early tenure at Carrow Road. The two don't get on, which led to the Scot ending his eight year stay with Norwich, and joining Walsall (in 2018).

Leeds will keep their cards close to their chest regarding the fitness of Patrick Bamford. He has missed four games with a knee injury (minor trauma in his patellar tendon). Joel Piroe, who impressed in the second leg against Norwich, stands by. Pascal Struijk remains a long term casualty.

On-loan defender Connor Roberts is still looking to get back to full fitness, having picked up an ankle injury whilst on duty with Wales last time out. Both he, and fellow International team-mate Dan James (bruised ribs v Boro) were given a run-out during the last twenty minutes or so during the 4-0 win last Thursday evening.

Saints Striker Che Adams will be fit for the visit to Wembley. The 27yo forward has been in sparkling form for the South Coast outfit, netting 18 times this season from just 27 starts. Fellow forward Adam Armstrong (23 goals and 13 goals) shook off an ankle injury, and terrorised the West Brom defence in their 3-1 drubbing. Namesake Stuart Armstrong (no relation) misses out through injury.

Shot stopper Gavin Bazunu has a ruptured Achilles tendon which is likely to keep him out until next year. One time Leeds keeper Alex McCarthy will continue to deputise. Striker Ross Stewart could play his first game in over six months after coming a troublesome hamstring problem!

 

Because they’ve done the double over us and how these kind of things play out, I’m going for a Leeds win. If they beat us three times this season that will be some feat, can’t see us losing to them a third time.

I just hope we have another performance like the one vs Norwich in us.

 

As a neutral, I hope you lose

 

Both playoffs so far been won by team with worse h2h league record this season. Can't see it happening a third time.

 

Is there real beef between Farke and Martin? Or is it just hyped up for the purposes of the playoffs?

 

I can’t believe you got allocated 129 more seats than us. Big club bias.

 

May the best team survive

 

Leeds V a south coast team in London, what could possibly go wrong

 

I can't see it ending well if one side invades the pitch upon the final whistle

 

Question for our states man, Please tell me I'm wrong =in saying the last time we scored at Wembley was 1972, Alan Clarke, That can't be right surely. Someone mentioned it to me over weekend. I mentioned the charity shield but that was kinda poo pood

 

Yeah go with the charity shield in 92.

I was thinking along similar lines of just all finals without scoring (including the Millennium)
Leeds 0-1 Doncaster 2008
Leeds 0-3 Watford 2006
Leeds 0-3 Villa 1996

Dreadful run, needs ending!

 

The Gods have decided, I’ve told you.

probably be a 98th minute winner for Saints after we dominate play.

 

I was at all three of those. The good news is that I'm not going this weekend.

 

We could dress up up in red?

 

I missed the Watford debacle but also attended the other two. Also not going this weekend

 

So our odds are improving.

 

Wakey will probably turn up and undo all our good work

 

I did watford one it was dire.

 

Is it Sunday yet?