Diary of a Leeds Fan (14/01-21/01/17)

Saturday 14/1

Andrea Radrizzani's first press conference with Massimo Cellino and Ben Mansford.

On ownership; “I’ll bring this club (forward) gradually to be a modern structure, a modern club and be ready for when we are back in the top league.”

Radrizzani said he had harboured ambitions of investing in a football club for many years but had not intended to pursue a deal “in this particular moment of my life” until he became aware of Cellino’s intention to sell a stake in Leeds

On his relationship with Cellino:
"I’m honoured to have the opportunity here and I’m grateful to Massimo for giving me the opportunity. This club have been unlucky with roller-coaster experiences and different owners in the last decade so the first objective in my ownership and management will definitely be to bring more stability to the club."

Plans for the club: "Now we really are partners so we will start to have different agendas and discussions about the progression of the club in the future but we can easily manage Leeds together if we give responsibility and delegate to the management. We have a good team here."

January Transfer window:

Cellino; “We have many players. Don’t get in a mess. Sometimes we want to have too much. As owners we want to participate in games and sometimes it’s a disaster. "The team is playing good, they’re growing. They should get better and better. Sometimes buying players, you think it makes a team stronger but maybe we break it up. Sometimes spending money can hurt the club.”

Radrizzani said: “We are aligned completely, me, Massimo and Garry on what we need. We don’t want to touch the balance of the team."

Garry Monk: Andrea Radrizzani has revealed the club are keen to tie the 37-year-old down to a new long-term contract.

"Its not a big issue, to be honest. We are in communication - myself, Massimo and Garry Monk. I see that all three parties are convinced and have the intention to stay together".

He added, importantly that "sooner or later we will sit down."

The Fans: Support the team even when things are not going so well. I think we've got that covered Mr Radrizzani!


Sunday 15/1

Recapping a marvellous night at Elland Road, Andrew Butterwick's magnificent matchday blog.

https://leedsfan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/leeds-utd-v-derby-county-jan-13th-2017.html?m=1

Such a happy place is Leeds 11. Thank you Andrew.

How things can change, after six games played on the left and the table as it stands after twenty five.

The 'buzz' is back even amongst the fans we really don't like, the majority saying how good it would be to have Leeds United back in Premiership.

A wagon driver with red links said: "You deserve to be back".


Monday 16/1

Heidi Haigh's Derby match day blog, the perfect read for a Monday morning or whatever day it is.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/derby-13th-january-2017

Cheers Heidi, we've seen the bad day's but it's so good to see the team and fans in fine fettle.

Leeds are the most 'moved' team this season. 15 games so far and Birmingham City and Brighton are the latest to be rearranged for the television cameras. 16 when the cup tie between AFC Wimbledon and Sutton United is resolved this week.

With Reading and Newcastle very likely to be moved it does seem that the club is being treated unfairly by the television company that the fans aren't very happy with.

It's not the first season that this has happened is it?!


Tuesday 17/1

Chris Wood on his superb goal tally for this season: "I wish I knew the secret, if I did I'd sell it ! It's just one of those things, you keep going and try not to get disappointed. You know eventually it will come."

He added that Barts(Kyle Bartley) had opportunities prior to the goal and he told the centre half; "to go front post and I'll go back post", then it was bang, goal.
Kyle Bartley was a little upset.

Leeds United under 23's 0 Burnley under 23's 1

Leeds had a number of trialist's in the starting line up.

AFC Wimbledon 1 Sutton United 3

Sutton to play Leeds in Round 4, the last time we played them was in 1970, here is the match report from that game.

We got Leeds!

http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/matches/19700124.htm

Leeds won the game 6-0, goals from Allan Clarke (4), Lorimer (2)


Wednesday 18/1

Max Gradel is heavily rumoured to be close to a three million pound move to Watford from Bournemouth, since coming back from a bad injury he's struggled to get into the 'Cherries' first eleven so a move would give the Ivorian a better chance to establish himself in the Premiership.

Leeds fans were split on whether or not the club should be looking to player's like this in the January window, myself? If have the popular winger back in a heartbeat.


Thursday 19/1

Garry Monk's look at the Yorkshire Derby at Oakwell on Saturday; opened up by saying Leeds will practise on the 3G pitch at Thorpe Arch to prepare for the cup tie at Sutton United, Leeds will approach Barnsley 'with caution'.

Very impressed by their manager Heckingbottom, on Barnsley; "If they're allowed to play the way they want to play, they can hurt you. They're very good technically."

Hopes the 5,500 Leeds fans will benefit the team and thinks the atmosphere will be 'electric', no nearer anymore signings but insists the squad needs "one or two", Taylor and Jansson both miss the trip, Charlie making progress and could be fit for the game with Forest, Cooper rated 50/50, late decision made on the defender, doesn't think the FA Cup tie in midweek will effect Barnsley's performance.

Has spoken to Radrizzani over the weekend, sees Leeds as a 'long term project' and finished by praising under fire referee Mike Dean, the referee demoted to the Championship for this game " I know him very well. He's a top quality official. It's good for us to have a PL referee."

A confident Monk.


Friday 20/1

Last five games at Oakwell

Barnsley 0 Leeds 1 Champ 2014
Barnsley 2 Leeds 0 Champ 13
Barnsley 4 Leeds 1 Champ 11
Barnsley 5 Leeds 2 Champ 10
Barnsley 3 Leeds 2 Champ 06

Barnsley vs Leeds United Preview

A trip to a place we've experienced some bad results awaits on Saturday tea time, apart from last year when Leeds achieved a 1-0 win.

Barnsley, promoted last season through the playoffs have been very impressive and sit just outside the top six. Strangely they sold their marksman Sam Winnall to Sheffield Wednesday for £500k and other players may be leaving out of the Oakwell door.

Until that happens they still have a good, workman-like squad, especially at home so Leeds will have to match them physically to claim the three points.

After last week's superb performance against Derby I'd be surprised if Garry Monk changes the starting eleven as they deserve to keep their places.

Leeds to win a tight game 2-1.

Since last Friday, Leeds have been mentioned in the right ways for a change, gone are the negative comments about 'the man upstairs' and concentrated on the matters on the field. This is a good team and has proved over the last two months that they can be real contenders for in the race to get into the Premiership.

Saturday 21/01

Barnsley vs Leeds United

Team News: Unchanged team and substitutes from the recent visit of Derby.

Team: Green, Coyle, Ayling, Bartley, Berardi, Bridcutt(c),Vieira, Roofe, Hernandez, Doukara, Wood.

The Game:

In a first half where the home team gave Leeds a little of their own medicine by pressing them back early doors, after Leeds had rode that early pressure they took the lead, after a secession of corners, the ever reliable Chris Wood put the blue shirts ahead via his knee, a scruffy goal, but they all count.

Leeds could and should have put the game 'to bed' but their possession after the goal wasn't capitalised on and they paid for it just before half time by switching off at a Barnsley free kick to give Bradshaw room to score with a header.

Level at the break.

The second half was only minutes old when the hosts got their noses in front and it was a beauty, Kent beating Coyle inside the box to shoot across Green into the far corner, things got worse when highly rated and seemingly Aston Villa bound Hourihane's superb free kick beat the Leeds keeper to give Barnsley breathing space.

At 3-1 old Leeds teams may have wilted but this team never knows it's beaten. Referee Mike Dean giving a debatable penalty which Chris Wood despatched past the Barnsley keeper. The last twenty minutes saw both teams come close to adding to their score, Roofe was inches away from levelling matters in injury time.

Not the best performance, a little 'after the Lord Mayor's parade' considering the last time the team crossed the white line.

Even great teams lose games and this team CAN be good but it's far from great.

Post Match:

Garry Monk: Midfield struggled today and you don't really want to play a makeshift defence regularly, Pontus Jansson should be back on Wednesday, still thought Leeds deserved something out of the game despite not being at the level they have played recently, especially defensively, thought the failure to add to the score at 1-0 allowed Barnsley back into game, timing of the equaliser a factor in the result, thought the foul in the penalty area on Bartley should have merited a penalty.

An 'off day' he thought was also a factor in the defeat, Taylor, Cooper and Sacko in contention for the Forest game, laughed off rumours of a Chinese team 'eyeing' Chris Wood, ended with; "We've had such a level of performance. When you get the disappointment of not being at it, it's hard to take."

A Disappointed Monk

Paul Heckingbottom: I was pleased from the firs to last minute. We did everything we spoke about before the game" and added "I think we deserved the win and to come from behind to win shows our character"

By Keith Ingham

Are you a fan of our weekly Diary? Do you have anything to add or want your own thoughts posted on the site? Get in touch in the comments or on twitter and have your articles posted!