Diary of a Leeds Fan (06/09-10/09/17)

While we've been away, here's a picture from the vaults at Leeds United.

When international football really mattered, Don Revie's astounding team of internationals.

Gaetano Berardi and Mathew Pennington have returned to 'light' training, new recruits Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Pawel Cibicki have started their introduction into the Leeds squad.

Victor Orta gave an interview on the club's Facebook page, in it he said that the club is looking into Asia for future signings and hinted of an 'amazing signing' in the near future. He answered questions that fans submitted through the page.

Caleb Ekuban faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after it was discovered he had a broken bone in his foot. He's now had an operation during the international break. The club hopes he is back in training before the Christmas fixtures.

Stuart Dallas plays in the 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic that virtually guarantees that Northern Ireland will finish second in their World Cup group. Bailey Peacock-Farrell was an unused sub in the game.

Ezgjan Alioski played the full ninety minutes of their WC qualifier with the 1-1 draw with Albania and Connor Shaughnessy was an unused substitute in Ireland's 3-1 under 21 victory.


Wednesday 6/8

The club have announced that over 20,000 season tickets have now been sold for the 2017/18 season. Just shows what can happen when you run a club well and people believe and are positive in what is happening.


Thursday 7/8

Thomas Christiansen has been nominated for the August Manager of the Month, the other nominees are; McCarthy (Ipswich Town), Nunez (Wolves) and our old friend 'Colin' (Cardiff City)

Maybe this time they might pick a manager that's gone the month unbeaten.

Jay-Roy Grot is liking his new surroundings at Leeds, when interviewed he said; “I felt like I’d played here for six months already,” It was really good.

On his preferred position; “It doesn’t matter to me. If I play as a striker or if I play on the right wing, I do my best. I’m still really young and the Championship is good for me, to get used to English football, to see everything and get stronger.”

On his hopes in making the Holland national squad: "I don’t know about that. I will see what happens. I don’t get busy thinking about it, I just play for the Under-19s and play for Leeds. That’s it at the moment."

Another new signing Pavel Cibicki has said that Pontus Jansson was one of the reasons he decided to join the giant Swede to Elland Road and is looking forward to playing for his new club

On signing he said; "I’m a striker but I can play in all four positions up front, I think I’m a quick and very intelligent football player and I hope to score goals here. The messages from Jansson (who completed a permanent transfer from Torino in July on the back of a stellar season on loan) were unerringly positive.

"I spoke to him a lot, he said it’s a good team, a good city. Everything is good. He told me just to come so I thought ‘okay, I will.’”


Friday 8/8

Remembering a Leeds legend, gone far too soon. Never forgotten Gary Speed.

Today would have been his 48th birthday. Our thoughts are with his family.

10 years ago today... Leeds United 2 Hartlepool United 0. All together now lads! "15 points..."

Thanks to Andrew Dalton for the informed stat.

Changing times and Attitudes
The new @lufctrust sponsored entrance to the Lowfields Road underpass, officially unveiled today.

Absolutely superb piece of work.

Last time we met
Leeds 2 Burton Albion 0
Burton Albion 2 Leeds 1

Leeds vs Burton Albion Preview

Leeds return to action after the international break with a 'double header' of home games against Burton Albion tomorrow and face Birmingham City on the following Tuesday.
Injured duo Gaetano Berardi and Mathew Pennington will still absent but have returned to training. Thomas Christiansen must decide if to introduce Pierre-Michel Lasogga or Pavel Cibicki to the starting eleven or stick with the eleven that played so well at Nottingham Forest. Kemar Roofe has done well and scored four goals in the central striking role and doesn't deserve to be moved to accommodate either of the 'new boys'.

Burton Albion have injury doubts about a few players including Stephen Warnock and Luke Varney, Luke Murphy is ineligible due to the terms of his loan to Burton.

Leeds have done miserably after international breaks but that could change if Leeds start on the front foot, a few goals are expected from the unbeaten team in white and gold. Leeds 3-0.

Thomas Christainsen's look at the game with Burton Albion:

"Of course I will always go for the win, it doesn’t matter who we play against and that will not change for tomorrow. I know it will be a tough game, a team that everyone expects us to beat, but that also proves and shows that we have to be of the level we have been in the last games if we want to take the three points. I believe that the players just have to continue, I don’t want the players to relax.

"They have to be focused on the league to take the three points. What I expect from the players is no less than what they have done in the last few games, so I believe that we will make a good performance.

But it’s not the same playing against Burton than it is against Sunderland or away at Nottingham Forest."

'Colin' wins the August Manager of the Month award.


Saturday 9/8

Leeds v Burton Albion

Team News: One change, Pierre-Michel Lasogga for Ezgjan Alioski meaning Roofe moving to the right wing. Lonagan replacing Peacock Farrell on the bench, no place for Vieira or Borthwick-Jackson in the eighteen.

Team: Wiedwald, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper(c), Anita, O'Kane, Phillips, Roofe, Siaz, Hernandez, Lasogga.

Substitutes: Dallas for Anita (45) Klitch for O'Kane (56), Grot for Lasogga (62)

The Game

Leeds United recorded a rampant 5-0 victory at Elland Road, over 33,000 saw Burton Albion thrashed as the Whites extended their unbeaten run to eight matches.

The Whites made a bright start from the off, Kemar Roofe played a great one-two with Pierre-Michel Lasogga, he beat Stephen Bywater in the Burton goal, but couldn’t beat John Brayford on the line. The ball then came out to Samuel Saiz, who was denied by the best of Bywater. Pablo Hernandez then put in a fine cross, Vurnon Anita headed across goal for debutant Pierre-Michel Lasogga, but his effort was this time again blocked on the line.

United almost made the breakthrough from a set-piece, the Whites replicated a move where Kalvin Phillips scored in the first game of the season against Bolton Wanderers, but this time the midfielder scuffed his shot. Leeds made a deserved breakthrough ithe 20th minute, Eunan O’Kane played a fine through ball to Lasogga, who fired a debut goal into the bottom right corner. The Whites almost doubled the lead on the half-an-hour mark, Liam Cooper headed a corner on to Pontus Jansson, but his effort was saved by Bywater.

United did go further ahead five minutes later, Roofe saw his shot blocked, before the ball fell to Phillips, who curled a fine effort into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box. Lasogga almost made it three, Samuel Saiz picked him out in the box, but his effort was denied by the post, he then regained possession in the box and saw a second attempt deflect over the crossbar.

From the resulting corner, Leeds were awarded the penalty, as Lasogga had his shirt pulled. Pablo Hernandez stepped up and made no mistake with the spot kick, as Leeds cruised into the break.

After the break Leeds continued with the attack, substitute Stuart Dallas fired a thunderous volley at goal, but he couldn’t get the better of Bywater. Leeds added a fourth goal nine minutes into the second half, some neat play by Lasogga gave Kemar Roofe room to strike from long range and he found the bottom right corner with a superb effort.

Mateusz Klich then played Lasogga into space, but his effort deflected wide for a corner. Debutant Lasogga added his second of the match just before the hour mark, Roofe beat the offside trap and picked out the German in the box and he send Bywater the wrong way with his header.

Two goal debutant Lasogga was substituted to a standing ovation and his replacement Jay-Roy Grot almost got himself on the scoresheet, when he found space in the box, but his effort was well blocked. Leeds restricted Burton to a long range effort through Allen, Stuart Dallas went close four minutes from time, when he got to the byline and attempted to lob Bywater.

Kemar Roofe almost added a sixth, but he scuffed his effort on the turn, as the Whites had to settle for five and moved up to second place in the Championship.

What a performance!

A fine goal, a brilliant team celebration and a great photo of the lads together (Thanks Ash!)

Post Match

Thomas Christiansen: On Lasogga;“He’s a very good striker and he proved that today in his first appearance, he scored two nice goals but he also combined well and held the ball up which is very important. It was a good game, not only from him but also the rest of the players. As a striker you need the confidence to prove your skills and today was a good start for him."

On the performance; “It was a good team performance, the result was good, the scoreline was good and the fans were amazing, but it’s just three points, you can’t take any more. The attitude and the behaviour of the players was massive but now we need to focus on Birmingham.”

Nigel Clough: "Everybody hates losing, especially 5-0. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you lost to a better side. I thought Leeds were brilliant from start to finish, the movement and everything. If they play like that, they'll be promotion contenders, definitely."

MOT

By Keith Ingham