The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 29th April) Pitiful performances see's Whites punished

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Monday 29th April, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Pitiful performances see's Whites punished

Leeds run of bad form continued on Friday evening, with a pitiful performance against Championship strugglers QPR. To say Farke's men were second best is an insult to the runner up metaphor. There wasn't anything at all to get excited about. The hosts were hungrier, stronger, more inventive and clinical were it mattered.

The 4-0 scoreline may have flattered the hosts, who spent much of the game with eight men behind the ball, but it worked. Leeds were outnumbered in their final third, and just couldn't break through; then punished the visitors on the counter-attack!

By the grace of God, Ipswich were held to a 3-3 draw at the MKM Stadium at the weekend. Whereas normally, this would be a cause for celebration, I can't help thinking the tractor boys have too much in their arsenal not to lose at Coventry City tomorrow, and will comfortably see off Huddersfield Town at the weekend now that relegation is all but sealed.





Running out of steam when it matters most

Farke's team has run out of steam when it matters most, but should we be surprised? His use of substitutions, unwillingness to rotate the squad and aerial inferiority has come under the microscope too late in the season to make any kind of difference. The squad looks knackered; a case-in point is Joe Rodon. Since breaking into the starting line-up, third game in (against West Brom), the Spurs loanee has been an inspiration, but 4324 minutes later (300 of these for Wales), the season is finally taking it's toll.

He has been taking painkilling injections since the International break, and although he still puts a shift in, is undoubtable struggling with fitness. It's not surprising really when you delve deeper and discover that he has been substituted just once (v Huddersfield Town 63mins) all season.

Ethan Ampadu's work load has been even more alarming. The only game he's missed all season is the FA Cup replay at Plymouth. For club and Country, the 23yo has amassed 4759 minutes of game time, and he too, has been substituted just once all season (90th minute at Preston on Boxing Day).

Last season Leeds failed to prepare for the very real threat of relegation. This season, they've failed to prepare for promotion! Failure to strengthen in January will cost Leeds dear. The lack of loanees, and failure to replace Djed Spence (Roberts replaced Ayling) could mean another season in the Championship, and an annual exodus of first team talent.

[Clitheroe White]

On the point about not preparing for promotion. We have replacements but have chosen not to use them. Plus we didn't know Struijk was going to have a season ending injury in Jan.

CB - Cresswell
Def Mid - Shackleton + we let Gyabi leave for Plymouth
Attacking Mid - Anthony
Striker - we have 4 viable options to pick from (yet only use two)


Whilst these options may not be as "1st choice" as the 1st choice, we will never know unless they are given the chance. Unfortunately now is very risky time to give them their chance.

[Ellandback1]

On the point about not preparing for promotion. We have replacements but have chosen not to use them. Plus we didn't know Struijk was going to have a season ending injury in Jan.

CB - Cresswell
Def Mid - Shackleton + we let Gyabi leave for Plymouth
Attacking Mid - Anthony
Striker - we have 4 viable options to pick from (yet only use two)


Whilst these options may not be as "1st choice" as the 1st choice, we will never know unless they are given the chance. Unfortunately now is very risky time to give them their chance.

We knew in DECEMBER that Struijk had a serious injury THAT MAY keep him out all season!

[1964white]

On the point about not preparing for promotion. We have replacements but have chosen not to use them. Plus we didn't know Struijk was going to have a season ending injury in Jan.

CB - Cresswell
Def Mid - Shackleton + we let Gyabi leave for Plymouth
Attacking Mid - Anthony
Striker - we have 4 viable options to pick from (yet only use two)


Whilst these options may not be as "1st choice" as the 1st choice, we will never know unless they are given the chance. Unfortunately now is very risky time to give them their chance.

Perhaps Farke doesn't think they are up for the task.

He watches them in training every day.

[Sean_Nile]

Perhaps Farke doesn't think they are up for the task.

He watches them in training every day.

And we have no murder ball to blame for end of season burn out.

Firpo remarked that the team was hit by a virus and he nearly puked during the Boro game.

One would hope that the team were still suffering from som sort of malaise at QPR, and they will make some sort of recovery for Southampton.

Let's hope so.

[Tom the Cat]

At least we will not have to wear that dreadful pink strip against Southampton. It should be given to a girls netball team, or maybe that's where it came from !!

[mentalcase]

Morning all.
Dissapointing to say the least, only 3 players put their all in, Gnonto being one of the worst culprits, and yes, farke has to take a lot of the blame for keeping them on, also the same infuriating tactics.
We are now in the hands of coventry for auto spot, which oddly enough is still possible, crazy season.
I would have accepted a play off spot at the beginning of the season with the turmoil we were in, it's the false hope that we've been put in up till the Int break, then we've simply collapsed, typical Leeds you could say.
Promotion is still achievable one way or another, I'm obviously hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

[Tyzy]

I wish we were playing Huddersfield and they were playing Southampton on the last day of the season.
Coventry away is still a tough game for them so fingers crossed.
Pity Struijk got injured,we could have played Ampadu in midfield i think that would have made a difference our midfield is weak

[Chilli D]

Morning all.
Dissapointing to say the least, only 3 players put their all in, Gnonto being one of the worst culprits, and yes, farke has to take a lot of the blame for keeping them on, also the same infuriating tactics.
We are now in the hands of coventry for auto spot, which oddly enough is still possible, crazy season.
I would have accepted a play off spot at the beginning of the season with the turmoil we were in, it's the false hope that we've been put in up till the Int break, then we've simply collapsed, typical Leeds you could say.
Promotion is still achievable one way or another, I'm obviously hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

We'll probably be stuck with the stat of being the only team to beat the top 2 home and away and not get promoted.

[mentalcase]

I wish we were playing Huddersfield and they were playing Southampton on the last day of the season.
Coventry away is still a tough game for them so fingers crossed.
Pity Struijk got injured,we could have played Ampadu in midfield i think that would have made a difference our midfield is weak

The dog botherers would go all out to beat us as we already know, hopefully they need at least a point to stay up, but can we win if needed ?
Agree about Struijk and Ampadu, but we had the opportunity to strentghen.

[mentalcase]

We'll probably be stuck with the stat of being the only team to beat the top 2 home and away and not get promoted.

Amazing stat isn't it, also a 12-4 goal difference over the 4 games, we are suited to playing attacking teams for sure.

[Clitheroe White]

We knew in DECEMBER that Struijk had a serious injury THAT MAY keep him out all season!

No we didn't, here's a quote from before FA Cup and Cardiff (2nd Jan).
"He's not back in team training. He will also see a specialist during this week but I expect to have him back definitely for the next league game [Cardiff]."

But we did have a good idea before the end of the transfer window (Phil Hay 23rd Jan) so with the benefit of hindsight we should have acted...or played Cresswell more often.
"Still assessing Struijk - the length of his absence might dictate if Leeds do a CB before the deadline."

[Ellandback1]

No we didn't, here's a quote from before FA Cup and Cardiff (2nd Jan).
"He's not back in team training. He will also see a specialist during this week but I expect to have him back definitely for the next league game [Cardiff]."

And when he wasn't back 4 weeks later, and we didn't bring cover in?

[Irish Ian]

And when he wasn't back 4 weeks later, and we didn't bring cover in?

That was during the time of Cresswell dad kicking up stink and DF giving him ( the player) a chance to prove his worth to us.
The fact he has failed to do so is just one of those things.
I think we had at least one headline on Charlie this season.

[Jaydog]

We'll probably be stuck with the stat of being the only team to beat the top 2 home and away and not get promoted.

And be 90 points plus potentially. Freakish. Won’t happen again for decades probably

[Orange Box]

Morning all.
Dissapointing to say the least, only 3 players put their all in, Gnonto being one of the worst culprits, and yes, farke has to take a lot of the blame for keeping them on, also the same infuriating tactics.
We are now in the hands of coventry for auto spot, which oddly enough is still possible, crazy season.
I would have accepted a play off spot at the beginning of the season with the turmoil we were in, it's the false hope that we've been put in up till the Int break, then we've simply collapsed, typical Leeds you could say.
Promotion is still achievable one way or another, I'm obviously hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.

Based on the strength of the current squad, and our reported financial wiggle room (or lack of), I’d say the best is that we stay down, and the worst is promotion. From day 1 of these season I’ve believed a root and branch rebuild of a cohesive squad is essential. We ain’t gonna get that this summer if we keep the bulk of this squad. We may add something, but it won’t be much.

[Overman]

We knew in DECEMBER that Struijk had a serious injury THAT MAY keep him out all season!

There's been an overreliance on certain players some are experiencing burnout injuries and a dip in form. We've not leaned towards other players to help us through this period. I still think in January we needed to bring in more players not just Roberts.

[White Riot]

And be 90 points plus potentially. Freakish. Won’t happen again for decades probably

Your write Jay 45 poynts frum 90 games is inceredibile

[White Riot]

There's been an overreliance on certain players some are experiencing burnout injuries and a dip in form. We've not leaned towards other players to help us through this period. I still think in January we needed to bring in more players not just Roberts.

Farke is unlucky that he hasn't got strong midfield back ups like Bielsa had, e.g. Forshaw n Tyro

[White Riot]

Based on the strength of the current squad, and our reported financial wiggle room (or lack of), I’d say the best is that we stay down, and the worst is promotion. From day 1 of these season I’ve believed a root and branch rebuild of a cohesive squad is essential. We ain’t gonna get that this summer if we keep the bulk of this squad. We may add something, but it won’t be much.

JKA is coming back for another shot at the Prem, it's all water under the bridge