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Diary of a Leeds Fan (22/1-29/1/16)

28/1/2016

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In a new feature Head of Content Keith Ingham logs the past week for Leeds United. 

Friday 22/1/16

A little bit of good news after a pretty poor past week, probably the longest name to be on a Leeds United FC shirt was very strongly rumoured to be joining the Mighty Whites.

Toumani Diagouraga is a ball winning midfield player who was Brentford's fans player of the year in 2014/15, tall and very much in the 'Patrick Vieira' mould. The midfield area of the squad is quite full but with the likes of Bianchi, Sloth and maybe Adeyemi rumoured to be moving on it is hoped that the new addition is given a chance before the 'keyboard warriors' dismiss him before he even plays. 

Welcome 'Dave'. 

Saturday 23/1

Leeds v Bristol City

Match day : Still no official confirmation but barring a 'act of God' Toumani Diagouraga will be in a Kappa shirt very soon.

The game ...
Quite strange that Evans kept the same side that lost to Wednesday last Saturday including Wood on the bench. Leeds won the game with a goal from Doukara after a woeful first half.  The introduction of Chris Wood made the teams performance improved a little but at category A prices, a lot more should be expected for the long suffering fans. It's an old cliché but a win is a win. Leeds moved up to sixteenth in the Championship. 

Sunday 24/1

Today was rather light in news, Liam Cooper though did say he didn't abuse fans at the game at Elland Road yesterday and Evans commented that despite the expected signing of 'Dave', Tom Adeyemi is still in his plans for the rest of the season. Maybe a kick in the backside vocally may do the midfielder a bit of good. 

Monday 25/1

'Dave' finally signed today, a fee in excess of £500k has been rumoured to have paid to Brentford. Other news, Leeds have been heavily linked to Everton's forgotten man Aiden McGeady this afternoon but Evans does not expect any incomings before tomorrow's game at Brentford. 

Barnsley beat Leeds 4-1 at Thorpe Arch in a development under 21 game. 

Tuesday 26/1

Brentford v Leeds

Match day: Steve Evans recalled Chris Wood to lead the line in the only change from the line up versus Bristol City. 'Dave' was in the squad but in amongst the substitutes, Sol Bamba was absent from the eighteen due to family reasons.

The game ...

It didn't start too good for the team in yellow, with Chris Wood coming off injured in the first twenty minutes. Brentford claimed the first goal when Saunders walked through the static midfield to score. Leeds were poor but Antenucci brought the best out of Button from twenty five yards.

The second half brought better fare for the travelling away fans and Carayol, a second half substitute for Dallas equalised with six minutes to go and nearly got the winner but Button saved his effort superbly late on. 'Dave' got his first action in a Leeds shirt as a substitute for Murphy.  

A deserved point. 

Other news, Chris Dawson left the club by mutual consent, a pity as he never really got a proper chance in a first team shirt. 

Wednesday 27/1 

Noel Hunt the ex Leeds player didn't endear himself to Leeds fans last night by praising a ex team-mate Jem Karacan after he scored for the Galascum, he offered an apology later on. Sorry Noel, damage done! Very quiet day with very little Leeds news to mention, the transfer window shuts at 23:00 on Monday. 
We wait and see if the financial muscles of Cellino are flexed. 

Thursday 28/1

Rumours abound about Steve Parkin investing into the club, he's been seen at a couple of recent games so it may happen. Massimo Cellino gave indications that 'Dave' may be the last player through the entrance door in this window, another statement to get the not so shy owner on the back pages again.

Leeds have sold nearly all their allocation of tickets for this weekends FA Cup tie at Bolton, a impressive six thousand eight hundred will follow the 'Whites' over the Pennines. 

We're not famous any more, but what a set of fantastic supporters we have. 

MOT 16

By Keith Ingham

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Leeds United Under 21's Match Report

28/1/2016

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Leeds United under 21’s were beaten 1-4 at Thorp Arch on Monday afternoon after a clinical second half display by Barnsley.

Despite United having the majority of chances and dominating large periods of the game, Paul Hart’s side could not secure a positive result in their first league match in over a month.

New signings Jack and Paul McKay were making their debuts for the club; first teamers Jordan Botaka, Casper Sloth and Lee Erwin also started the game.

Eoghan Stokes, one of the stand out performers of the under 21's in recent months was busy throughout again and had a number of attempts early on. His 25-yard dipping effort didn't dip enough as it narrowly went over the bar.

Lee Erwin and Casper Sloth, looking to force their way back into first team contention, were next to go close to breaking the deadlock.

Chris Dawson was recalled following injury and with Tomasso Bianchi on the verge of leaving the club, and the Wales U21 international looked lively, cutting in on his left foot and sending a shot agonisingly wide of Nick Townsend’s far post.

The home side were really starting to turn the screw, Stokes skated past two defenders of the edge of the box before shooting, only to see Townsend somehow get down quick enough to match it.

The rebound then ended up with Erwin on the edge of the area, back to goal – he flicked it up for himself and volleyed on the turn, his brilliant effort beat the keeper but went the wrong side of the post.

After crashing out of the Premier League Cup Tuesday night despite dominating against Liverpool, Leeds must have been wondering how many chances they could afford to miss, as Dawson went close again.

Like Tuesday night, just on the stroke of half time, Leeds were made to rue those missed chances. Bradley Ash on hand to tap in Cameron Scott’s great cross to give the visitors a one-goal lead.

Steve Evans was on the touchline for the start of the second half and despite the Whites starting brightly, they conceded a goal similar to that of the first. The defence got turned, this time down the right flank, before an enticing ball was missed by everyone in the area and fell kindly for Mohamed Saeed, who leathered the ball home to double Barnsley’s lead.

Three minutes later it was 0-3. Grimes adjudged to have taken out Ash, despite the striker not being in control of the ball. He picked himself up and sent Grimes the wrong way.

Leeds looked to respond straight away and Jake Skelton had a header cleared off the line, before Botaka went on a mazy run, taking the ball past three players and shooting over.

The home side were just starting to look out of ideas when a great off-the-ball run by Tyler Denton was spotted by Stokes who pinged a raking pass straight onto the fullback’s head, then falling at the feet of Jack McKay to score his first Leeds goal.

Denton then sent an inviting cross in for Erwin, who connected with a diving header – Townsend was equal to it though with another fingertip save.

The next Barnsley attack sparked massive controversy as they were awarded another penalty. Denton with a good challenge on Jack Alton in the area – the linesman kept his flag down but the referee thought different and pointed to the spot. Ash went the same way as last time for his hat-trick and secure three points for his side.

Frank Mulhern, Luke Parkin and Lewis Walters were all thrown on after to try and get a goal back but Barnsley defended well to a couple more attacks to hold on for a 1-4 victory.

By Alex Mulvey

If you've enjoyed this piece and want to read more of Alex's work, please visit www.futurewhites.wordpress.com for more Leeds youth related articles!

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Who will replace Byram on the right hand side?

23/1/2016

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With Sam Byram now a hammer and plenty of fans very pissed off (I don't blame you). It's now time to focus on how we get over this sale and move forward. 

Unfortunately, the club will still be owned by that corrupt Italian twat and that may not change for a while. However, there's now a spot in the first team available and here are the players that could fill that gap. 

At right back we have Swiss full back Gaetano Berardi. The talented full back who had been very impressive since the start of the season has struggled to be in the first team picture since he was suspended and should seize this opportunity to force his way back into the starting XI. 

Berardi is 10x the player of current right back Scott Wootton and should be preferred for all games. The fact that Berardi can actually defend is the main reason he is a more preferred option and his ability to come forward and support the right midfielder also gives the club more strength when attacking. 

The next player who could replace Byram in his preferred right back position is Lewie Coyle. The young full back has featured twice for the club recently, making his home debut in the FA Cup against Rotherham United. 

Coyle is in the same archetype as Byram, his size and skill make him a great attacking threat without forcing the player to be less effective when in defence. The talented right back is now 19-year old and could well bed in to a side that is packed with impressive youth, most of which he has known through the academy for the past 6 years. 

The next position that will need to be replaced is Byram's recent position of right midfield. Losing Byram, who had become his first choice right midfielder will force head coach Steve Evans to rethink his strategy. 

The player that would be best suited for the role and deserves his chance in the team is Jordan Botaka. The Congolese winger has been a forgotten man in recent weeks and it's about time that Evans actually gave the lad a chance. 

His pace and skill are far better than what Byram possessed and with a little perseverance and support, the winger could become the all round player that Byram had become before departing. 

Botaka is a very talented player and when he's given the chance to play, defenders don't like him. It's a common fact that having a skilful player like Jordan forces teams to commit two players to him and this creates a ton of space for players like Lewis Cook and Alex Mowatt to carve out chances. With a shortage of wingers and a game that Leeds need to win, it's about time Botaka got a real chance in the first time and Evans stopped being such a nit-picking sod. 

If the rumours are true and Steve Evans has been trusted with the money from the Byram departure and is now planning to strengthen his squad. Recent rumours suggest that Evans is interested in making a formal approach for Peterborough's Marcus Maddison. The talented winger who can play either side of the itch and even fill in as a forward would be a fantastic signing if bought on the cheap.

Other players who could come in and give sufficient support are recently linked Sunderland right sided player Adam Matthews and Craig Noone, who could be available on the cheap from crisis club Cardiff City. 

Possible loan moves for Arsenal pair Alex Iwobi and Jeff Reine-Adelaide could be the perfect chance to add talent to the squad and save the funds for next season. If Leeds can bring the players in on a short term basis, the chance to keep them for next season could be a possibility, giving the club a real threat for a prolonged amount of time. 

Whatever happens, Leeds have lost a real star that could easily go on to make an England cap. Why did we lose him? Because our owner is more bothered about his pride and forcing the blame on others to realise that giving Byram the smallest of pay increases could have kept him at the cub for years to come.

Losing a player like Byram doesn't just give our promotion chances a hit, it puts into perspective how much of a crisis this club could really be in. If we can't keep our best youngsters at our club when Leeds runs through their veins, how can we even consider progressing as a club?

If you want my advise, which you probably don't. You need to show Cellino what a big mistake he has made in his running of the club. Our future should be in our hands, the people who love the cub the most. 

By Ryan Ingham
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Leeds Under 18's Post Match Review

21/1/2016

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Leeds United under 18’s crashed out of the FA Youth Cup after a heartening 2-5 defeat to a continental Manchester City under 18 team.

A number of first team players, as well as Leeds icon Ian Harte were in attendance at Elland Road, witnessing a young Leeds side struggle to cope with and match City’s clinical finishing in the final third.

Andy Gray’s team started the game really well, setting a high tempo and pressing the visitors into making a couple of early mistakes. Mallik Wilks almost capitalised on one straight from the off, but ended up dragging his shot wide.

16 year-old Jamie Shackleton, playing in the number ten role caught the eye early on and  linked up well with Tom Pearce to carve open the City defence, although to no avail.

Pearce then worked himself a good position inside the area but his left-footed effort sailed over the bar, before great work down the left from Wilks put the ball on Pearce’s head, but unfortunately his looping header was plucked out the air by Daniel Grimshaw.

But it was former Leeds winger Jason Wilcox’s side who took the lead first. The away team’s pace causing problems once again, Aaron Nemane’s cross was tapped in by Lukas Nmecha, giving Theo Richardson no chance in the United goal.

Leeds almost had the perfect response when Tyla Bell found himself in the City box with the ball at his feet with only the crossbar denying him.

The tidy Ronaldo-Viera was next to go close, winning the ball back with some tenacious pressing, beating the remaining defender with lightening step-overs and drilling a shot just wide.

But City struck just at the right time, Oluwatosin Adarabioyo’s towering header from a corner gave the home side a mountain to climb. Half time followed soon after.

The second period started quietly, but a quick-fire double from the away team effectively ended the tie as a contest.

Rodney Kongolo was played through and a little fake sent Richardson down early, leaving the Dutch midfielder to finish off a classy move.

A defensive error freed Nmecha to make it four, three minutes later. Before Kongolo got his second of the night with a controlled volley from the edge of the area.

That was the cue for a number of supporters to head for their cars and it would've been very easy for the young whites to collapse. But they showed great character to keep fighting and they got their just reward after a good cross from Wilks was turned into his own net by Erik Sariemento, to give those who had stayed in the West Stand something to cheer about.

Clarke Odour was then tripped in the area by Adarabioyo, after a clever free kick routine by Viera and Shackleton.

Lewis Knight stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, to give Leeds a respectable showing in the final 2-5 score line.

By Alex Mulvey

If you've enjoyed this piece and want to read more of Alex's work, please visit www.futurewhites.wordpress.com for more Leeds youth related articles!
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When is enough, ENOUGH?

21/1/2016

4 Comments

 
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Wednesday saw another player from the academy sold on to a Premiership team, he's not the first and he definitely won't be the last to the leave in these circumstances. Eddie Gray, when asked said that Sam Byram won't be the last of the youngsters at the club leaving. 

But I ask this question; when is enough, enough? Are we lemmings that blindly follow a team destined to be continually in the middle of the Championship? With a seemingly endless amount of talented young players coming through? Playing to a standard good enough to tempt offers from Premiership teams and then sold at ridiculously low prices when their contracts are nearly up? 

I for one am coming to the conclusion that somewhere along the line the club's supporters will decide their money will be better spent elsewhere. Why bother building your dreams of a good, young team when it can be ended with the flick of a ballpoint pen?

The fans aren't stupid, whatever Massimo Cellino or Ken Bates thinks and eventually they will drift away in their tens then hundreds and eventually thousands because they no longer believe the hype any more. 'New Future', me thinks it's the same old s#%#e revamped in a different shirt year after year. 

To support something, travel with it and embrace it's doctrines you need the belief and with the departing of Sam Byram mine has started to erode. I'll forever be a Leeds fan but supporting what is happening within the cream clad walls of Elland Road might, just might take whatever belief I had in the club away. 

There comes a time when you realise that something, especially the mindset within the club has to change before the last few are watching this once mighty club in the lowest position it's ever found itself. 

Shame on you that holds the purse strings, your selling off it's soul and it's future and this fan has had a belly full of it.  

MOT 16

By Keith Ingham

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2016 - A chance to think big

9/1/2016

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The old year has passed and most Leeds United fans will wish it gladly away and hope that the coming year will hopefully be a better one on the field and off it. 

Massimo Cellino is currently awaiting to appeal the decision by the Football League to ban him from being an Owner/Director of Leeds United, this is the second time that this has happened to the Italian during his time at the club.. He successfully appealed the first ban and is now threatening to take the Football League to the European Courts if his appeal is unsuccessful. 

Steve Evans tenure as Leeds United Head Coach has on the whole been quietly successful. The team was drifting towards the bottom end of the Championship but after the debacle we witnessed on a Thursday evening versus Blackburn in front of the Sky cameras, they have slowly moved up the league with an unbeaten run of seven games that included wins over high flying Hull City at Elland Road and a spirited comeback away victory at Wolverhampton. The latest game, a draw against MK Dons took a little shine off the run but the point gained thanks to a late own goal could be important come May. 

The squad that looked so 'flat' under Rosler has shown that maybe a place in the top ten is very achievable but without doubt the January transfer window will have to be used wisely and although Sam Byram may leave in this window, the other 'jewels' in the squad need to be kept no matter what sizeable fee is offered. The likes of Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and Alex Mowatt are players that the future of this club should be built around.

Liam Bridcutt's prolonged loan spell until the summer is a step in the right direction but at least three more signings need to be forthcoming if Leeds can even think of getting anywhere near the top six of the table. 


For me a centre back, another winger and most definitely a striker have to be acquired  because as was shown against the MK Dons, if Chris Wood is absent we don't look like scoring the goals needed to win games. Doukara and Antenucci may offer something from the bench but seem to struggle in the lone strikers role. 

The incredible support the club receives on a weekly basis deserves better than another season enging with little to play for. With or without Cellino at the helm, this has to be the year when we can see a chink of light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. 2016 has to be the start of a brighter future for Leeds United FC. 

M O T 16

By Keith Ingham
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