Diary of a Leeds Fan (13/10 - 21/10/16)

Thursday 13/10

Garry Monk's look ahead to the weekend's game at the iPro Stadium;

Doesn't expect the one game touchline ban to affect things, on the ban, he hopes not to cause problems again, considers the ban very harsh, Stuart Dallas is 'doubtful' for the Derby County game, Bridcutt is progressing but not in consideration for the upcoming games, hopes that McClaren's appointment won't change things for them, feels good about the players and they want to produce more, expected Derby to be higher up the table with the squad they have, Berardi nearly fit and will play ninety minutes for the under 23's and if he comes through it unscathed he will be considered for the first team, finished with "its a bizarre league"

A satisfied Monk.

Other news Chelski sign a new shirt deal with Nike for sixty million pounds per season, how the other half live!


Friday 14/10

Derby v Leeds Preview

Derby wins 35
Draws 27
Leeds wins 53

First game played at Derby 11/03/22
Derby 2 Leeds 0

Last five games at Pride Park/iPro Stadium
29/8/15 Derby 1 Leeds 2
30/12/14 Derby 2 Leeds 0
5/10/13 Derby 3 Leeds 1
8/12/12 Derby 3 Leeds 1
26/12/11 Derby 1 Leeds 0

Not the happiest of hunting grounds as the results above show, last season was the first time we'd beaten them away since 2002 in the Premier League days.

Until last season this fixture wasn't the happiest, or enjoyable away day. 'The Rams' for a good number of years seem to have the best of results. Chris Wood's late winner last season put an end to that hoodoo and I remember it well being surrounded by Leeds fans watching it in a bar in Salou, Spain.

This week's game comes after a badly, for Leeds timed break. Leeds had built up a 'head of steam' going into it and five out of six games, including three clean sheets was a great return from September and early October.

Garry Monk's only doubt is Stuart Dallas, injured on international duty, so either Alex Mowatt of Kemar Roofe will probably deputise for the Northern Ireland winger fails to recover in time, fitness test today.

Derby have welcomed back Steve McClaren earlier in the week, the appointment of the 'wally with the brolly' has met with a mixed reaction from the Derby County fans.
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This is his second spell as manager of the club.

Leeds face a tough fourteen days with five games to play, I'm hopeful that the great run, curtailed by the international break is continued with a win at Derby.

My prediction; Leeds 2-1.


Saturday 15/10

Team: One change, Alex Mowatt replacing injured Stuart Dallas; Green, Ayling, Bartley (c), Jansson, Taylor, O'Kane, Phillips, Sacko, Hernandez, Mowatt, Wood. Matt Grimes on the bench.

The Game:

Leeds lost for only the second time in two months, the 1-0 defeat at the iPro Stadium was very unlucky as they deserved at least a point. Two moments at the end of each half denied the visitors a goal, firstly Bartley's header came back off the crossbar when he met Mowatt's corner then in second half injury time substitute Marcus Antonsson beat Carson but not the post. Fine margins!

The winner was scored by Russell, a second half substitute for Anya.

A corner was only half cleared and the Scotsman's shot squirmed under Green's body, a couple of questions might be asked about the coach's substitutions and surely either Roofe or Antonsson need to start versus Wigan on Tuesday if Stuart Dallas is again unavailable.

Antonsson going agonisingly close

Post Match:

Garry Monk: Stuart Dallas could be out for a while, scan in the week for the Northern Ireland international (note to Monk, Mowatt playing wide left doesn't work, so give Roofe or Antonsson a go!), performance didn't merit a defeat, "big moment" was Kyle Bartley's chance before half time, sloppy defending, again ! the reason for the winning goal, Mowatt was supposed to 'cut in' from the left, thought he did better late in the game, no natural replacement for Dallas when he's absent, Berardi fit for consideration after successfully coming through a under 23 game.

A Frustrated Monk.

'Wally' McClaren; "I think you could see the nervousness of the players but amongst that nervousness the players showed fight, the attitude was great and we got some great blocks in at the end".


Sunday 16/10

Andrew Butterwick's thoughts on the narrow, unlucky defeat yesterday

http://leedsfan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/derby-county-v-leeds-united-15th-oct.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/dTtSx+(Travels+of+a+Leeds+fan)&m=1

Superb as usual Andrew

Most comments on social media agreed that Leeds were unlucky to loose but the defence that gave nothing away in recent games were slow to react to the second ball after the corner and Bartley could and should have scored in first half stoppage time, you win some, you loose some. Still a decent performance and we move on.


Monday 17/10

Stuart Dallas ruled out of tomorrow's game with Wigan Athletic, Leeds await scan results to determine the length of time he will be unavailable for.

A big loss, as the winger had recaptured his form after a disappointing start to the season and Leeds, according to Monk have no 'natural' replacement within the first team squad.

Today is the 97th Birthday of Leeds United - So many Ups and Downs, here's to the future!

Heidi Haigh's look back at the trip to the iPro Stadium

https://www.facebook.com/heidi.haigh/posts/1037366676361469

Even in defeat, Heidi's blog makes you smile.


Tuesday 18/10

Team: One change, Kemar Roofe replaces Alex Mowatt; Green, Ayling, Bartley(c), Jansson, Taylor, O'Kane, Phillips, Sacko, Hernandez, Roofe, Wood.

The Game:

A last minute Wigan goal denied Leeds making it five home wins on the spin, but to be honest the visitors deserved a draw.

Leeds started tentatively but gradually got into the game and deservedly took the lead, Sacko crossing to Wood, he controlled the ball with his chest before shooting past Bogdan in the Wigan goal. From them on Leeds' failure to finish the game came back to bite them on the arse, it is a lesson that needs to learnt from or we'll never move from the mid table place we currently sit.

Monk's use of substitutes came in for a fair amount of 'stick' but he's the coach and if he thinks players are tired he has to make the decision, the problem is the players on the bench aren't performing when they come on. Both Mowatt and Grimes and others were guilty of giving the ball away and Antonsson was never going to hold the ball up as Wood had done so effectively earlier in the game, he's not that type of player so a different ball needs to be played through to him.

Disappointing but not so unexpected.

Wood gives Leeds the lead.

Post Match:

Garry Monk; paid a high price for not "putting the game to bed earlier", no need to rest after first goal, needed to push for the second goal, "they pushed us back, but we defended well, this is football and down to the fact of not killing them off", substitutions made for 'physical not tactical' reasons, should be seeing matches out, no excuses for letting them score, ended with Monk.

"All games in this league are competitive. They're a decent enough team but they’re a team we should have beaten tonight."

A disappointed Monk

Gary Caldwell; “When you’re 1-0 down in injury time and you’re obviously chasing the game and hoping for anything so it feels great to get the draw in that sense. You have to give great credit to the players because they kept going, showed real desire to get something from the game and they deserved that".


Wednesday 19/10

The sad news came though on Wednesday evening that Gary Sprake one of legendary Don Revie side in the 1960's and 70's passed away at the age of 71.

He was capped 37 times by Wales from 1963 to 1975.

He left Leeds in 1973 for 100,000 (then a world record for a goalkeeper) to join Birmingham City. He retired in 1975 due to a back injury.

Condolences and sympathies from WeallloveLeeds and Leeds fans worldwide go out to his family. RIP.

Gary Sprake
3/4/1945 - 19/10/2016

Leeds later announced this on the official website; "It is with immense sadness, that today Leeds United Football Club learnt of the passing of former goalkeeper, Gary Sprake at the age of 71.

All the players, management, and staff at Leeds United sends its condolences and support to the Sprake family at this difficult time.

Gary, played over 500 times during an 11 year period for Leeds United, of which the club won the Second Division (1963-64) and First Division (1968-69) titles, in addition to the League Cup (1968) and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups (1968 & 1971).

As a mark of respect, we will be holding a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off at next Tuesday’s EFL Cup game against Norwich City."

David Watkins look at yesterday's game with Wigan Athletic

http://dlw10.wixsite.com/leedsunited/wigan-athletic-oct-18-2016

Cheers @DaveLUFCWatkins


Thursday 20/10

Garry Monk's look ahead to the weekend's game with Wolves : Dallas out till Burton, apart from him and Bridcutt he can pick from a full squad, Sacko was a doubt for Wigan but played, Hernandez received a 'dead leg' but is ok for the weekend, thought he made the right decisions and would make them again, he do the same if the situation arose, accepts that people may think the substitutions affected the result, but he doesn't, "psyche" of the game changed after the chances created were missed, frustrated with result but happy where the team are and how they are playing, Berardi will have to wait for his chance to get in the squad "there are lots of player's fighting", finished with Wolves have only one point from twelve but as Huddersfield's result at Preston showed form doesn't always count.

Monk on O'Kane: "He's done very well. He's got stronger and stronger with more minutes on the pitch", he added "He's great in the changing room, he's a hard worker, he's got quality." Must agree, although Tuesday wasn't his best performance he still showed glimpses what qualities he brings to the squad.

A satisfied Monk.


Friday 21/10

An excellent piece in the YEP by Phil Hay about Eunan O'Kane in which he compares the squad with the one he was in at Bournemouth when they were promoted to the Championship.

In the article he says; "Something people don’t realise is that we do have a very young group. There’s a bit of experience in the dressing room but if you take one or two people out of there, there’s not an awful lot. But the fans have been great with us. It was frustrating on Tuesday and there was a little reaction at the final whistle but I think all of the players felt the same. It’s not that we don’t care."

He added “If you’re honest with the supporters then I think they’ll be honest back and you’re seeing honest performances from the team. There’s no-one hiding or bluffing.”

Wolves v Leeds Preview

Wolves wins 30
Draws 22
Leeds wins 41

Last Five Meetings
Leeds 2 Wolves 1
Wolves 2 Leeds 3
Wolves 4 Leeds 3
Leeds 1 Wolves 2
Wolves 2 Leeds 2

Sam Byram and teammates celebrate during last season's 3-2 win.

Leeds will hope to get back get to winning ways on Saturday, Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic was disappointing in two ways, firstly Leeds had enough chances to win easily and the way the injury time corner found it's way to the goalscorer without a white shirt being close enough to stop him. Lesson's that need learning very quickly.

Bridcutt and Dallas will be absent again through injury and it has to be seen if Roofe did enough to warrant another outing on the left wing. I cannot see any other changes to the team.

Leeds, hopefully can put the last two poor results behind them to claim the three points.

Prediction: Leeds 3-2

By Keith Ingham