Leeds Utd v Newcastle Utd Match Thread

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Leeds Utd v Newcastle Utd
Saturday 22nd January 2022 @15:00 | Elland Road

Newcastle Utd are the visitors to Elland Road on Saturday as Leeds go in search of their third back to back victory for the first time this season. The Whites are unbeaten in the league this year, and have risen to 15th place in the top flight, nine points clear of safety. Most of the pressure will be on Newcastle at the weekend; a win against the Whites could elevate them above Watford if they lose against Norwich City on Friday night.

Leeds may once again be without any strikers. Patrick Bamford's road to recovery has once again been hampered after it was disclosed that the 28yo has picked up a fresh foot injury. He joins Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood on the sidelines. Tyler Roberts has a slim chance of playing.

Junior Firpo and Adam Forshaw will also miss Saturday's action. Both picked up hamstring injuries in the first half of the 3-2 win at the London Stadium last weekend. Diego Llorente will return to the starting line up, and is set to partner Pascal Struijk in the centre of defence, with Robin Koch taking over Forshaw's responsibilities as defensive midfielder. Bielsa has the option of Stuart Dallas or Leo Hjelde at left back. Record signing Rodrigo may start on Saturday after an impressive substitute performance last weekend. Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Charlie Cresswell are all long term absentees for the Whites.

New signing Chris Wood looks certain to face his old club. The 31yo New Zealand International is likely to team up with Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin to launch an all out attack on the Elland Road defence. Fellow newbie Kieran Trippier will have to use all his experience to keep Raphinha quiet. Callum Wilson, Federico Fernández and Isaac Hayden are all long term absentees for Eddie Howe's team.

 

Keep the Saint quiet for them and half job done

 

Must win and we can relax a little, they’ve certainly strengthened I just hope they take time to gel

 

Thought I read somewhere that Joffy Firpo and Roberts were fit to go

 

Bielsa said Gelhardt and Roberts are fit in his presser I thought. Doubt he’ll start either when they’re just back from injury though. Expecting Llorente to come in at CB with Hjlede at LB or Dallas at LB with Rodrigo or Bate in the middle.

 

I would have thought that if Bielsa said they were fit they must have had at least one session of murderball and still declared fit they should be good to go, surely

 

Before last weekends surprise win this was a must win game to create a big enough gap to release some pressure. Thanks to 3 points last week its now a must not lose game. A draw would be OK. I'm after a win but a draw wouldn't be a disaster.

 

We need to nobble st maximin. He always has a field day against us… man 2 man, all that space to exploit. On paper, our performances have picked up, their’s haven’t. But this is Leeds. It won’t be easy.

 

i only hope something happens to St Maximin nothing nasty just enough to stop him playing, im greedy need the points, come on you whites lets have another win

 

A better way to look at it is they have Saint-Maximin as their only attacking threat while we have Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison and James.

Let’s stop worrying about their one admittedly great player. We’ll have too much firepower for them to handle.

 

That’s reassuring as I’ve gone for a 3-0 win

 

I’m not concerned, they’re sh*t, but we always seem to make hard work of it because our style gives him space and opportunities other sides don’t. Just like to see us look after him a bit better and create a less stressful afternoon

whom I kidding, it’s Leeds… we’re in it for the stress

 

Yeah our risk and reward style does come with added stress

 

Meslier
Ayling Llorente Struijk Dallas
Koch
James Raphinha Klich Harrison
Rodrigo

subs
Gelhardt
Kleasson
Bate
Roberts
Hjelde
Summerville
Jenkins
McCarron

 

Good evening chaps.

Your gonna absolutely hammer us.

Is it true that you have so many injuries that Bielsa’s speech therapist is starting up top for you.

Honestly hope you go easy on us as Howe might cry when we lose.

For the record it’s brilliant you guys are back in the PL because your kind of like us a mahoosive club under invested in over the years.

Shame we are going to the fizzy pop.

 

Cheers

 

Any chance you lads calling the game off?

 

Yes we could do a deal. Like everyone else is.

 

This is a huge banana skin! I can just see Trippier, St and Wood having blinders.
I know you'll think I'm mad. Like Leeds winning away in London at a team challenging for CL but I'm nervous. The stars are aligning

 

Is Steve Bruce still your manager?