Diary of a Leeds Fan (16/01-23/01/18)

Tuesday 16/1

Another player linked this week: Chris Martin, Derby County on loan but his wages of 30k might be a problem with the wage structure at Leeds. The rumour is that Jansson and Lasogga are the top earners at Leeds on just over half the money Martin earns at Derby. The Midlands club signed Cameron Jerome from Norwich City for 1.5 million pounds today.

Pontus Jansson ranks in second place in the EFL Championship for the most clearances per game.

Andrea Radrizzani Tweets that “all will be made clear in February” when he will arrange to meet fans at a organised event. Looks like not many signings for the first team, apart from De Bock will be made in the January transfer window, or so it seems.(I was wrong!)

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s disappointing loan spell is ended by Leeds, this is the second successive season the youngster has been sent back to Salford. Below is my blog on the left back with a serious attitude problem.

http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/latest/the-curious-case-of-cameron-borthwick-jackson


Wednesday 17/1

Leeds United legend Eddie Gray is seventy years young today. Happy Birthday to the most amiable footballer and nicest person you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet.

Eddie ‘the last waltz’ Gray

In the link below the man himself reflects on his life in and out of football. This was first published in 2009

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/this-life-eddie-gray-1-2215559

Thank you to the YEP.

Leeds are linked to Middlesborough Midfielder Adam Forshaw, he has been out of favour since Tony Pullis replaced Garry Monk as manager, Cardiff City are also interested.


Thursday 18/1

Adam Forshaw completed his move to Leeds United for a fee worth 4.5 million(I’m guessing that included his wages) from Middlesborough, he is expected to be in the squad for the game with Millwall on Saturday. He was given the ‘cherished’ number 4 shirt, famously worn by Leeds United legends Billy Bremner and David Batty. No pressure then!

Presenting our new signing Adam Forshaw.

He had this to say about the move to Elland Road and his hopes to get his third promotion with Leeds:”There’s every chance, everything’s is in place for the club. There’s some really good players, some young talented players mixed with good experience so I think everything is there for the team to push on now. If we can put a good run of games together between now and the end of the season then there’s no reason why not. It’s very exciting here.


“The club is huge, they get so many fans week in, week out and their away support is unbelievable, as soon as I knew Leeds were interested I knew this was the club for me.

Dominic Shaw of the Teeside Gazette said this of Leeds’ new signing: ”Very neat, very tidy. Adam Forshaw is completely at home with the ball at his feet, rarely panics in possession and always looks to move play forward.


“He's not afraid to get involved with the messy stuff, never shirking a challenge. And he's got a good engine as well. In December of 2016, Boro players clocked a combined 75.1 miles in their Premier League win over Hull City, the most any side had covered in any game up to that point of the season. And it was Forshaw who led the way, covering the most ground that night. What I think has worked against Forshaw at Boro is the fact he's quite an orthodox central midfielder. He's a No.8, rather than a holding midfielder or a No.10, so has never quite looked comfortable in the 4-2-3-1 set-up often used by Boro bosses in recent seasons. I think it's a wise signing, a solid addition and a move that suits all three parties.


“Boro are looking to trim their squad, Leeds need to bolster their midfield options and Forshaw needs to be playing football - everyone's a winner. At 26, Forshaw can't be letting seasons pass him by. He's always been a bit of a nearly man at Boro, popular and often impressive but never able to nail down a long-term spot in the side. It feels like the right time for him to move on.”


Friday 19/1

We’ve met before
Leeds 1 Millwall 0 Champ Feb 2015
Leeds 2 Millwall 1 Champ Mar 2014
Leeds 1 Millwall 0 Champ Mar 2013
Leeds 2 Millwall 0 Champ Dec 2011
Leeds 3 Millwall 1 Champ Aug 2010

Preview

This weekend a in-form Millwall will again test this Leeds team at Elland Road, they’ve already beaten Leeds once this season and will be determined to do it again. Steve Morison will lead their line and is in goal scoring form during their recent games.

I would like to see TC venture away from his preferred formation and play two central strikers and give Stuart Dallas a run in the side whilst Samuel Siaz sits in the stands. With O’Kane suspended, it is hoped that Ronaldo Vieira is fit. The midfield numbers are dwindling meaning the other option, if Ronny isn’t fit is either Klitch, Anita or Shaughnessy.

Lauren De Bock should make his debut but new signing Adam Forshaw misses the game through injury (Hope Leeds kept the receipt!) The disappointing Borthwick-Jackson has returned to Manchester United after his poor displays since joining Leeds.

This weekend’s fixture is very important, to lose it would put a even larger dent in the chase for the top six. Leeds aren’t playing well, their last victory was at Burton Albion on Boxing Day and have still to record a victory in 2018. A win is needed, but I don’t see it coming on Saturday I’m afraid. Just hope I’m wrong. 1-1

Christiansen Pre-Millwall;
New signing Adam Forshaw out with a ‘small problem’, Ronaldo Vieira, Mathew Pennington fit. Siaz and O’Kane suspended, Ekuban 2/3 week’s before he can be considered, Lauren De Bock in the squad.

Commented that he will not stand for anymore indiscipline on the field by his players and has told them so in a team meeting this week.

On United’s lack of goals scored in recent games:”We have created enough opportunities to score the goals, against Nottingham we could have scored three or four of them and against Ipswich we had three really very good opportunities to score. But, again, it’s about confidence, once the ball goes in then it will go in week by week.”

Back at Elland Road and Millwall: “It is nice to be back at home with our fans supporting the team and I expect a good game. All of the games are difficult, there are no easy matches and tomorrow we will have to perform at our best to take a positive result. I expect the game to be similar to when we played Millwall in the first round, they are a hard, physical and strong team and will play directly to their two strikers, but we need to play our game to open up the spaces and attack a lot.

Liam Cooper on Leeds United’s disciplinary record: “We’re not a dirty team but stupid red cards are disappointing. We’ve got to sort it out.”


Saturday 20/1

Leeds v Millwall

Team News: Three changes, De Boch makes his debut, Vieira and Lasogga come into the starting eleven.

Team: Wiedwald, Berardi, Jansson, Cooper(c), De Bock, Vieira, Phillips, Alioski, Hernandez, Roofe, Lasogga.

The Game

After a bright start by Leeds when Lasogga had two very good chances to put Leeds ahead but unfortunately for the near full house he didn’t put them away. Millwall dominated after that and after a goal was disallowed, O’Brien and Gregory put the visitors in complete control. They could and should have increased their lead such was their domination. They could have been four or five up, no joke.

After the break a totally different Leeds team came out and a opening minute second half goal by Lasogga gave them the impious to push back Millwall, unbelievably they were level within ten minutes of the re-start. Debutant Laurens De Bock’s cross caused mayhem in the visitors six yard box and in the goalmouth scramble Kemar Roofe somehow poked the ball over the line. With fans ‘screaming’ them on Leeds went in front thanks to a tremendous shot by Lasogga, superbly set up by Hernandez.

Lasogga hits his first.


With the game in the balance, a strange substitution lost Leeds their momentum, Lasogga was clearly struggling but Christiansen brought off Roofe and replaced him with Stuart Dallas. It was end-to-end but Millwall got a equaliser through ex Leeds youngster Tom Elliot and with time nearly up and worse was to follow, Dallas gifted possession from a Leeds throw in to Millwall, they drove straight at the retreating Leeds rearguard and Wallace’s deflected shot broke thirty thousand plus hearts when it nestled in the corner of Wiedwald’s net. It was Millwall’s first away win of the season.


You can’t beat that for entertainment if you were a neutral(didn’t see many mind you!) but as a Leeds fan it pained me to see Leeds throw away a game they had worked so hard to get back into.


Post Game

Thomas Christiansen: “It was a bad end, when you lose in the way that we lost today,” said Chrisitansen.


“I am disappointed, we always have to get punished before we react and I hope we react next time before we get punished, I want us to open the scoring.The reaction in the second half was very positive, but we haven’t taken anything out of the game.

It was a really good performance in the second half, everyone gave the maximum they had inside of them and this is what I expect from my players, they have to die on the pitch and give everything. The team believed, we got the goal after the first minute in the second half and we went in strongly, but we couldn’t keep the result. In our last game against Ipswich the performance was good, but we didn’t take anything and we cannot go on like this.”

Neil Harris: “Anyone fancy a lie down after that?
I thought that in the second half they were fantastic. I said to the boys, 2-0 up at Elland Road, the game is not done, it's never done. An emotional rollercoaster? Definitely. I said when we were 3-2 down, “we will win this” I still thought we would have chances. This is a big one for us. We have chances and this is a big one for us. We hadn't won away and this was a home banker. Leeds have got quality, absolute quality, other than the Den this is the best atmosphere I have ever played in.”


Sunday 21/1

Two reviews of yesterday’s proceedings at Elland Road. Both superb in their own way.

http://leedsfan.blogspot.com/2018/01/leeds-utd-v-millwall-20th-jan-2018.html

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/millwall-jan-20-2018

Many Thanks to both Andrew and David for their incisive blogs.


Monday 22/1

Former Leeds assistant manager Pet Clotet was sacked by Oxford United after a disappointing run of results.

It was announced that former England international and ex Leeds manager Jimmy Armfield had passed away after a long a courageous battle with cancer.

His family released this statement:
“After a long and courageous battle, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law Jimmy Armfield, has passed away peacefully surrounded by his immediate family. At this time we are still in shock as we begin the grieving process. We know Jimmy was a public figure, but the family respectfully ask for privacy at this time.

We have many wonderful messages of love and support, for which we are grateful, and moved by all the kind words. We would also like to thank all the magnificent and dedicated NHS staff who have kept Jimmy, and the family, as well as possible over the ten years of his illness.”

RIP Jimmy Armfield

Jimmy Armfield became Leeds manager after Brian Clough’s ill fated forty four days at the club. That season he famously took the squad to the European Cup Final in 1975. Unfortunately the team was robbed of victory thanks to disgraceful refereeing.

He later went into radio commentary and did this for over thirty five years. He was well loved and will be missed by the football community.

Mateusz Klitch leaves Leeds, he joins Dutch club Utrecht on a six month loan. The twenty eight year old is not expected to return to the club and will probably move permanently in the summer. He is under contract until 2020 so Leeds will hope to recoup some of the 1.5 million they paid for him in the summer.

Heidi Haigh as always tries to lift the spirits with her marvellous blog. Congratulating new Mum Katherine Hannah and celebrating the fantastic news that money raised for Toby Nye has reached £200,000.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/millwall-20th-january-2018

Thank you Heidi.

Another defeat and sending off, LEEDS’ slide down the table continues and doubts about Christiansen’s ability to keep ten men on the field and his assistant are now been raised. It is hoped the five day break in Spain is beneficial and Leeds come back not just with a nice tan but with a resolve to improve their discipline and try to play ninety minutes not just parts of games.
Testing times for Thomas.


Tuesday 23/1

The FA have confirmed that Liam Cooper will face a four match ban for his second sending off of the season. In the release it also confirms that Leeds will be without Kalvin Phillips for two games due to him reaching 10 yellow cards.

On this day in 1960. Billy Bremner made his Leeds debut in a 3-1 win at Chelsea. The midfielder went on to captain and manage the team. Still sadly missed.

I’m off to stare at a wall and wonder what the #%#% has gone wrong!

MOT

By Keith Ingham