Diary of a Leeds Fan (13/03-19/03/18)

Tuesday 13/3

Happy Days. manu are knocked out of the Champions League by Sevilla, the Spaniards win 2-1 in old farmyard to progress to the Quarter-Finals.


Wednesday 14/3

Leeds United offer Season Ticket holders the opportunity to ‘bring a friend’ for free to their Good Friday game with Bolton Wanderers. The offer is a Thank You for the support the club has had this season.

In a poll conducted by the YEP a massive 83% voted that Andrea Radrizzani was right in criticising the players in public.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell call up by Northern Ireland under21 squad for the forthcoming European qualifiers with Spain and Iceland

Mark Hughes is confirmed as new manager of Southampton, his contract runs until the end of this season.

Chelsea crash out of the Champions League, they lose 3-0 to Barcelona at the Campe Nou to go out 4-1 on aggregate. Liverpool and Manchester City are the only remaining English teams left in the competition. The draw for the quarter finals takes place on Friday.


Thursday 15/3

Caleb Ekuban vows to improve: ”It’s been tough but it’s all about learning and growing up. I had a couple of injuries that, let’s say, killed the season for me personally, but now I’m back and I’m trying to find my rhythm.

“I’ve had quite a lot of opportunities to play and I just hope to get the momentum going, the more you play as a striker the more you feel confidence. That’s what I’m searching for and, hopefully, I can score one or two goals and have more confidence in myself.”

Yosuke Ideguchi has played just 109 minutes of football at Cultural Leonesa since his January loan move. Now left out of Japan's latest squad. Seemed an illogical loan move in January given the fact he was granted a UK work permit by the FA. Even more embarrassing now and if I may be so bold a little stupid.

Lewis Cook is called up for the England internationals with Holland and Italy. Believe me he will eventually captain the full international team within five years. Lucy Ward must be a very proud lady today.

Gaetano Berardi on Andrea Radrizzani’s comments about the squad: ”I didn’t read what he said, the interview, I know something but I didn’t read exactly what he said. I’m going to speak with him for sure, but if I’ve got something to say to him I will speak face to face. Not here. He is a good man, when he’s with the team, he likes to speak with all the players and say what he thinks. He can show every time positivity. I hope to see him soon.”
Would like to be a fly on the wall when it happens.

Paul Heckingbottom: ”The owner’s put his money into the football club and he’s got every right to say what he feels is right. How have the players reacted? Fine. They understand that, they know that. It’ll not change their focus and it’ll not change their approach. They want to win for their own reasons, for the football club and for the owner because they do understand the support they’ve had while they’ve been here.

“We’ve not discussed it but Andrea’s spoken to the players on numerous occasions this season so there’s not a disconnect. There’s a real togetherness in terms of accessibility and common goal. You could ask anyone here ‘what do they want for Leeds United’ and I bet you everyone would say the same.

“A lot of players are (under contract) and it does change things, it makes things difficult. The good thing about long-term contracts is we don’t have to lose anyone we don’t want to. The bad thing about it is you’ve got less wriggle room to make changes.

“We’re playing for, regardless of what happens this season, the squad for next season. Everyone’s working towards being here and the key decision-makers at the club agree with that. We want to improve.”


Friday 16/3

Liverpool draw Manchester City in the Champions League Quarter Finals, ‘The old lady’(Juventus) play Real Madrid in a repeat of last season’s Final. Sevilla’s reward for beating manu is a tie with Bayern Munich, Barcelona play Roma.

We’ve met before
Leeds 1 Sheffield Wed 0 Champ Feb 2017
Leeds 1 Sheffield Wed 1 Champ Aug 2015
Leeds 1 Sheffield Wed 1 Champ Oct 2014
Leeds 1 Sheffield Wed 1 Champ Aug 2013
Leeds 2 Sheffield Wed Champ Apr 2013
Last home defeat: Leeds 2 Sheffield Wed 3 Champ March 2007

Preview

Few would have predicted Sheffield Wednesday's current league position in the Sky Bet Championship at the start of the season. Wednesday, who reached the Play-Offs in both 2016 and 2017, have been hit with an injury crisis throughout the current campaign, missing a number of star players for long periods. Carlos Carvalhal was sacked on Christmas Eve and has since been replaced by Dutch manager Jos Luhukay.

Like Leeds, Wednesday have struggled in the Championship so far in 2018, with just one victory since the start of the year. Both teams will be looking to rectify that as the duo battle for ‘bragging rights’ and three points in Saturday's Yorkshire derby at Elland Road. Earlier in the season Sheffield beat us 3-0 at Hillsborough, so hopefully Leeds will be out for revenge with nearly 30 thousand home fans roaring them on.
Liam Cooper, Kemar Roofe are still absent, but could be back in contention after the last international break.

It has to be seen if the comments of the owner have had an effect on the players at Leeds, it is hoped that they come out ‘fighting’ and try to prove him wrong and that this season isn’t a ‘dead rubber’. Leeds 2-1.


Saturday 17/3

Paul Heckingbottom on the game with Sheffield Wednesday: ”I think you have to acknowledge the fact that it’s a derby, although they have changed a hell of a lot in the last 10 years and even more so in the 10 years previous in what is allowed in a derby and what they look like, the way that the game has changed, there’s not too much difference that I noticed. But that detracts from the atmosphere as well, there’s fewer tackles, fewer things you get away with so it does take away from what a derby is. However, there’s pride at stake, bragging rights. Wednesday fighting for points, we want the points, we’re desperate for the points but so are Sheffield Wednesday for a different reason so it adds an extra edge to the game, definitely.”

Jos Luhukay on Leeds:”I think they are a very strong team, they have unbelievable offensive quality. All four strikers are very effective, we have a lot of work on Saturday to stop their quality. Leeds, in the last weeks, have also not had good results, so they also will look for success.
It will be an interesting game. In a derby you must have the passion and a winning mentality to get a good result. Both sets of fans will give 100 per cent support, so we must give everything we have.”

Leeds United vs Sheffield Wednesday

Team News: Tom Pearce makes his debut at left back, Samuel Siaz out with a hamstring strain so Stuart Dallas comes into midfield.

Team:
Peacock-Farrell, Berardi(c),Jansson, Pennington, Pearce, Forshaw, O’Kane, Alioski, Hernandez, Dallas, Ekuban.

The Game:

Ryan Ingham gives his review from the press box.

http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/latest/s-now-chance-in-hell

Grot’s leveller.

Post Match:

Paul Heckingbottom: ”I sound like a broken record. The last couple of games I should be highlighting to the players why we've won, instead I'm going mad at the reasons why we haven't. They're both goals we should stop. You've got to be clinical and take your chances at one end and be ruthless, tight and disciplined at the other.

“The goals we're conceding are nothing to do with a lack of effort from the players, it's poor decisions at the wrong time. You'd be disappointed seeing those goals at any level. It's pointless me coming in here making excuses why we've not won the game. We all know why we haven't won the game - we didn't take our chances and gave two poor goals away."

Jos Luhukay: ”The team worked very hard. It's a very good day for us and I'm very happy for our fans. Atdhe always works unbelievably hard and he's a very important player to the team."


Sunday 18/3

The distressing form of Leeds United there for all to see, shocking and embarrassing. Only WBA and Grimsby Town have a worst record than Leeds this year.

Andrew Butterwick’s reviews another dismal defeat at a snowy Elland Road, no dressing this up anymore it’s becoming a nightmare has 2018

http://leedsfan.blogspot.com/2018/03/leeds-utd-v-sheff-wed-17th-march-2018.html

Thank you Andrew.

Social Media reacted indifferently, it seems constant indifferent displays has deflated the fans that much they can’t be bothered to abuse the players anymore, those who did gave Ekuban ‘dogs abuse’ for missing first half opportunity’s. On the plus side(yes it’s slim but it’s there) to see another youngster break into the first team. Tom Pearce did well after a shaky start and was well involved in the push for an equalising goal. A very encouraging debut. Tom Pearce, one for the present and future.


Monday 19/3

Heidi Haigh: Remembering a special person, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/leeds-united-v-sheffield-wednesday-17th-march-2018

Thank you Heidi.

It doesn’t get any easier does it? We’ve problems all over the field, the defence that last year shone now it like a leaking bucket and the attack once led by a certain number nine is now basically woeful. It’s very hard to find any positives at the moment, although the promotion of youngsters Peacock-Farrell and Tom Pearce to the first team is promising and hopefully more will follow them before the end of the season.

See you after the last international break, I as always will be staring at the wall contemplating the future of this once mighty club. It’s so sad that year after year it raises are hopes only to crash and burn in the end. As somebody once said “It’s the hope that kills you” that brothers and sisters is so true, especially this season.

MOT

By Keith Ingham