Good Morning. It's Friday 26th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road. Leeds make new signing Jonny Madden has left Middlesbrough after nine-and-a-half years to take up the role of Head of Academy Physical Development at Elland Road. Madden joined Boro as a Senior Academy Sports Scientist in September 2011 and had been their Lead Academy Fitness and Conditioning Coach since March 2019. He replaces Rob Etherington, who has now moved up to be a coach for the Under-18s at Thorp Arch. Posting on Twitter this evening, Etherington said he was “delighted” to be moving into a coaching role and added, “Brilliant to have Jonny Madden on board with us.” please log in to view this image Phillips cements his England place Kalvin Phillips played all 90 minutes for England last night, as the three Lions tore San Marino apart. The 25yo actually made 21 more passes than the whole of the San Marino team. His work rate and fitness certainly must have been a contributing factor why Gareth Southgate left Declan Rice on the bench! He had a 91.2% pass accuracy, won six duels, 136 touches (second most), and 125 passes (114 successful). Having watched the game, I felt disappointed by England's forwards, in particular Jesse Lingard. I can't help but wonder how Bamford would have fared, if given an opportunity? please log in to view this image Worst Leeds Managers An news emerges about from Sheffield Utd's owner Prince Abdullah that Chris Wilder tried to quit Bramall Lane on two separate occasions, but only if he was given a 4m settlement, we look at the many Managers Leeds have had over the years. Some good, some bad, some terrible! Who have been Leeds top three worst appointments for the ER hot seat? please log in to view this image
Morning all, A lot of non Leeds fans giving Phillips stick on twitter for a poor performance last night. I do not know if this is because they do not understand the role he plays or just a anti Leeds mentality. I think he is quickly becoming one of Southgates favourites. Someone who does the simple stuff really well while shielding the defence. I think Southgate sees him as the perfect replacemnt for Henderson. As for worst managers. Hockaday. Milanic and Heckingbottom are the first three that jump to my mind.
I didn't see the England game and maybe there is an anti Leeds Utd bias, but sometimes it's interesting to get the view point of other fans and not from a rose tinted Leeds Utd one. (I'm speaking in general and not aimed at you Hemase)
I agree to a point. If the criticism was measured and constructive then I would be more than happy to take it on board. Unfortunately, as is normal on twitter, all the people calling him **** were not backing it up with reasoning and could not even answer when presented with match stats.
Morning, Agree with hemase re 3 worst managers, but who would be the 3 best managers? For me, the best has to be Revie, then Wilkinson and Bielsa, but who would rank higher out of those two? Both took over average squads, both achieved promotion to the top flight. Wilko then took us to fourth and into Europe, then Champions of England. In the following season Leeds finished 17th. Probably a much bigger financial divide these days between a newly promoted club and the top six than in Wilko's time. Does Bielsa have to make us champions to beat Wilko's achievements? Toughie tbh, but as of now I'd put Wilkinson 2nd and Bielsa 3rd, but probably an unfair comparison between different eras.
I agree regarding constructive criticism. Maybe I'm not seeing what the majority of Leeds Utd fans see. I just don't get the hype. He does the job that he is asked to do very well. But he does have his flaws(like a lot of players granted) But look that's just my observation and opinion.
Morning all Best Managers Revie and remember he changed the way mangers coached. He had dossiers on very team/player. Ate carbs, way before his time. Bielsa Wilkinson again before his time in the academy business and again with the FA as technical Director bringing on new coaches and badges. He also drew up the plans for St Georges that finally got built years later
I thought Phillips was a little sloppy at times last night. However, that role never really stands out. The reason Phillips is in and around the England squad is because of the things people don't see. One example last night was Phillips making himself available in the pocket in front of the defence. The San Marino players tried to anticipate the pass and crowded around him. That allowed Stones to step out of defence with the ball and drive at their defence. As soon as Stones did this Phillips just circled around the back offering a way out for Stones but more importantly plugging the gap from where Stones came from. He does this so well for Leeds. There's a huge skill element to being in the right place at the right time and Kalvin has it defensively. The other thing was the discipline to stick to that task against a poor San Marino side. It was far too easy to do a Sterling or Lingard and just keep trying to score when others were in better positions. Kalvin knew his job and whilst all others around him were desperate to get on the scoresheet he just stuck to his task picking up loose balls and giving it to the more creative players. I thought he had a solid 7/10 performance but he made a couple of really bizarre passes which against a better side could have been punished. I hope he doesn't play the next two games. We need him fresh.
Didn't watch the game but sounds as though Phillips had his usual lapses of concentration (too casual) which is one of his flaws. We're used to seeing this and tend to give him a bit of leeway because overall he's generally very good for us in Leeds games, but maybe that's what fans of other clubs picked up on? Having said that I don't consider Rice to be a pillar of concentration either, so **** 'em
This young lad looks like playing U23 football next season. 17yo and scores loads of goals for the U18s and indeed has scored for the 23s this season. Will Gelhardt be stepping up?
In regards to the best managers it has to be 1- Revie.- What he did for this club will be hard to be replicated. He made everything about the club better and raised us up to another level making us a dominant force for years. He put Leeds United on the map and made us what we are today. 2- Sgt Wilko. After years in the wilderness he brought the club back to the top level. Has others have said he was ahead of his time when it came to academies and coaching. 3- Bielsa does come in at third due to his coaching ability and how he has made the players so much better. I say that what Revie did for the club will be hard to be replicated, if there is one man who might achieve it it has to be Bielsa. (Honourable mentions for Jimmy Armfield, David O'Leary & Simon Grayson)
Bielsa will cut his nose to spite his face. He can see its not working with set piece defending but wont change a thing.
What no wide boy Mr wise very good analysis of the top three and agree with your honourable 3, O'Leary's side where very entertaining when in full flow and a joy to watch
With regards to worst managers... it’s too easy to pick on cellino’s men. What chance did they have or were they given? Circumstances, resources, time given are the three factors you have to consider. The standout thing about bielsa was how quickly he brought about change, but that is really unusual. Based on their time at Leeds I couldn’t tell you if the hock or darko were good managers, though I recall hock was considered too ugly to be a manager and darko was given a month by el presidente. Now, I’m not saying they were going to be the next revie if given time .
Afternoon all I watched the first half of the England game and then got bored, I want England to do well and win things but the international games just don’t hold the same excitement. I felt Phillips looked okay but I thought to myself at the time, I bet he gets slaughtered because he is doing the boring stuff. I’d love to see how much ground he covered as he constantly made himself available moving into space. I’m guessing he is getting abuse from those who want to see Grealish in the starting 11 but they’re ignorant to the fact Grealish and Phillips are not in competition for the same position Ex professional pundits, coaches and players alike all rate Phillips and some of our own fans who like to get on his back soon moan when he is not playing and our performances slip. Lindgard missed a ton of chances yet the headlines were “he did everything but score” I don’t get the praise for him myself.
Kalvin Phillips was just about the best player on the park and to be frank he would be maybe the only player last night who would get into the real starting 11. Everyone who played last night is a fringe player really as Southgate has his favs