Leeds Utd v Coventry City Match Thread

[Ellandback1]

Leeds Utd v Coventry City
28th September 3:00pm | Elland Road


Leeds welcome an out of form Coventry City side to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, hopeful of building on their win 2-0 win at Cardiff City last weekend.

The Sky Blues only win of the season came on the opening day; a narrow 3-2 victory over recently promoted Oxford Utd. Since then two draws and successive home defeats against Norwich and Swansea City leave the 22/23 play off finalists under pressure.

Leeds have not beaten Coventry City since David Somma's winner back in 2011, though to be fair they have only played each other four times since. Farke's side only managed a draw against them at Elland Road last season, and lost at the Coventry Building Society Arena 2-1; with Joel Piroe's 76th minute effort not being enough to cancel out goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright.

Ao Tanaka is inching closer to his first start since joining the Whites last month. He is thought to be a more attacking option than Ilia Gruev who has been criticised this season for poor performances.
Dan James and Max Wober remain side-lined with respective hamstring and thigh injuries.





On loan signing Manor Solomon will miss the game too. The Israeli International has picked up a hamstring issue, connected to the back injury that forced him to miss the Cardiff game last week! We're not told the seriousness of this issue is, but is likely to keep benched for weeks!

Coventry fans are awaiting news of Jamie Allen's serious-looking knee injury, with the 29-year-old forced off in the first half during the defeat to Swansea. The Sky Blues are moving towards a full-blow fitness crisis in midfield, although Ben Sheaf could return after injury. Raphael Borges Rodrigues continues to recover from a leg injury, with the Australian youngster yet to feature for his new employers since moving from the A-League over the summer.

[The Subhuman]

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo?
Ampadu
Rodon
Struijk?
Gnonto
Gruev
Joseph
Aaronson
Ramazani

Darlow
Byram
Schmidt
Tanaka
Rothwell
Piroe
Gelhardt
Crew
Debayo

Schmidt for Firpo if he doesn't go (probably will)
Ampadu for Struijk if he can't go (that's likely 50/50 as I think it's the same injury as last year)
Gruev for Ampadu
Tanaka to start

Cairns as the third keeper and Chambers to the bench ...

[Ellandback1]

I'm gutted for Crew and Debayo. why not have sent them on loan until January to get some first team experience

[Ellandback1]

Meslier
Bogle
Firpo?
Ampadu
Rodon
Struijk?
Gnonto
Gruev
Joseph
Aaronson
Ramazani

Darlow
Byram
Schmidt
Tanaka
Rothwell
Piroe
Gelhardt
Crew
Debayo

Schmidt for Firpo if he doesn't go (probably will)
Ampadu for Struijk if he can't go (that's likely 50/50 as I think it's the same injury as last year)
Gruev for Ampadu
Tanaka to start

Cairns as the third keeper and Chambers to the bench ...

Can't see Struijk starting - they would be stupid to risk him.

[The Subhuman]

Can't see Struijk starting - they would be stupid to risk him.

I agree and it also means we lose our DMF. Double injury blow due to poor squad management from the powers that be

Ampadu makes a decent CB but we lose his midfield prowess. Let’s hope Tanaka is as advertised, or transition maybe an issue

[The Subhuman]

I'm gutted for Crew and Debayo. why not have sent them on loan until January to get some first team experience

We don’t seem to benefit from sending on loan. Crew and especially Debayo are not championship quality yet so it’d need to be league one or two. Personally another season in the 21’s for Debayo makes a lot of sense. Crew off the bench in the right conditions is probably the way to go too

[Cjay]

Based on sub preference and the fact Schmidt and Tanaka are barely on nodding terms with the pitch I'd expect Byram for Firpo and Rothwell for Amps unfortunately

Proper welcome to the Championship changes

[Ellandback1]

I agree and it also means we lose our DMF. Double injury blow due to poor squad management from the powers that be

Ampadu makes a decent CB but we lose his midfield prowess. Let’s hope Tanaka is as advertised, or transition maybe an issue

100%. Rodon is not playing as well as last season. He needs somebody good next to him. It has to be Amps.

[Ellandback1]

We don’t seem to benefit from sending on loan. Crew and especially Debayo are not championship quality yet so it’d need to be league one or two. Personally another season in the 21’s for Debayo makes a lot of sense. Crew off the bench in the right conditions is probably the way to go too

Again, I'm 100% with you.

Who was the last player we sent out on loan, that came back and had a positive influence?

Is was Klich (imo)

Before that it probably would have been Beckford.

Thats two players in the last 18 years!

[Ellandback1]

Based on sub preference and the fact Schmidt and Tanaka are barely on nodding terms with the pitch I'd expect Byram for Firpo and Rothwell for Amps unfortunately

Proper welcome to the Championship changes

I understand what you're saying. I'd prefer to see Schmidt, but he's only just back from injury, and probably not fully fit.

[Onemanstanding]

Can't see Struijk starting or even coming off the bench.
Hoping to see Tanaka get his first start.
Can see it being a tough game, like last season, hoping we can claim a win.

[Irish Ian]

I'm gutted for Crew and Debayo. why not have sent them on loan until January to get some first team experience

I dont think you are gutted. I just think you like to get upset about every little decision the club makes that you either dont like or understand.

[The Subhuman]

I dont think you are gutted. I just think you like to get upset about every little decision the club makes that you either dont like or understand.

Just the way he phrases things, bit like me. I use stunning pass or wonderful piece of defending, etc... My dad always berated me on use of superlatives when I was a kid, both positive and negative

[White Riot]

Based on sub preference and the fact Schmidt and Tanaka are barely on nodding terms with the pitch I'd expect Byram for Firpo and Rothwell for Amps unfortunately

Proper welcome to the Championship changes

It is Cjay

And the longer we stay at this level the quality of the squad and available options go down the toilet.

Hopefully, Danny boy gets some wins, or we need to get someone in who can. Sooner the better for me.

[White Riot]

Again, I'm 100% with you.

Who was the last player we sent out on loan, that came back and had a positive influence?

Is was Klich (imo)

Before that it probably would have been Beckford.

Thats two players in the last 18 years!

Cody Drameh was doing pretty well on oan, but his face didn't seem to fit with our coaches.

[CUSSIE01]

Flight delayed

[hector]

Flight delayed

That doesn't help with you plans does it??

How long?

[Orange Box]

Flight delayed

Fingers crossed for you mate.

[hector]

hope it's not too long

[CUSSIE01]

3 hours so far. Actually on the plane now