Diary of a Leeds Fan (18/11-25/11-16)

Friday 18/10

Today I said goodbye to one of the most important men in my fifty six years, I'd like to pay tribute to all the friends and my family for their help during this heartbreaking of times.

Goodnight, God Bless Dad, Sleep well and Rest easy.

Every article I write is now a tribute to him.

Garry Monk's look ahead to the Newcastle United game on Sunday:

Hernandez out with a hamstring injury he picked up at Norwich, he was substituted very late in the game, O'Kane and Dallas should be available for selection, Newcastle are the best team in the Championship but Leeds won't concentrate on stopping them and will "think about ourselves", not worried that his squad won't cope with the 'full house', has a lot of respect for Benitez and the Spaniard was good to him when he was first appointed as Swansea's manager, remembered it was hard to concentrate on playing the first game after Gary Speed's death, its five years since the Welshman passed away, on Benitez winning the MOTM "He deserves it, simple as that".


Saturday 19/11

Match Preview:

Leeds 37 wins
Draws 17
Newcastle 38 wins

Last five meetings

Newcastle 2 Leeds 0
League Cup 3rd Round 2013
Newcastle 1 Leeds 0 2004 PLeague
Leeds 2 Newcastle 2 2003 PLeague
Leeds 0 Newcastle 3 2003 PLeague
Newcastle 0 Leeds 2 2002 PLeague

Leeds return to Championship action with a game against Championship leaders Newcastle United at Elland Road.

The Geordies are most people's favourites to be promoted as champions. They arrive in fine form with five straight wins, Rafa Benitez has galvanised his expensive line up to live up to their favourites tag.

Leeds will be without Pablo Hernandez with a hamstring but Stuart Dallas and Eunan O'Kane should be available for selection. Leeds apart from maybe one or two changes should be as was against Norwich, centre back pairing of Pontus Jansson and captain Kyle Bartley will be in for a tough afternoon with Dwight Gayle hoping to add to his goal tally.

A full house awaits a cracker!

A dream result would be a win, a draw, even at home would be seen as another step in the right direction.

Prediction: Leeds 2 Newcastle 2


Sunday 20/11

Leeds United vs Newcastle United

Teams: Ronaldo Vieira replaced the injured Pablo Hernandez.

Green, Ayling, Bartley(c), Jansson, Taylor, O'Kane, Phillips, Vieira, Roofe, Doukara, Wood.

The Game:

Leeds suffered their first defeat in eight games at the hands of Newcastle, the performance was not at the level of recent performances and a massive disappointment to the expectant Leeds fans in the crowd.

The game hinged on two incidents in the first half, Green's momentous 'cock up' gifting Gayle a goal, then a blatant handball by Colback ignored by the referee just before the half time break.
Without doubt Newcastle are a good team with two excellent, experienced midfielders in Colback and Shelvey who outgunned Phillips, O'Kane and Vieira in the game.

The second goal was excellent in it's build up with Gayle adding to his opener early in the second half, O'Kane and Ayling had opportunities that were dealt with by Darwin in the Newcastle goal. Players who came out of the game with credit were Wood, Ayling, Taylor and O'Kane, the good thing is we next play them in March again and it will be interesting to see if Bridcutt, Hernandez and Dallas will make a difference then, I feel we missed these players.

Not the end of the world, just the end of a run and now we need to try and start another winning run starting at Rotherham on Saturday.

One more note on the game, the respect shown to Gary Speed and his family was superb.

Paying tribute to Gary Speed.

Post Match:

Garry Monk: Leeds were on the wrong side of some decisions, Colback handball was a "clear cut penalty" a goal for Leeds would have changed the game, thought Leeds matched Newcastle, couldn't be critical of attitude or performance, described Green's error as a "honest mistake" but agreed it turned the game in Newcastle's favour.

Rafa Benitez: "Everything we tried to do we did well," and added "From set-pieces, control of the game and counter-attack, we saw the effort, the mentality was good and the understanding of the game was very good". "We made some mistakes, there is room for improvement but I can't complain because we did very well."

Andrew Butterwick's look at the game with the 'Geordies'

https://leedsfan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/leeds-utd-v-newcastle-utd-20th-nov-2016.html?m=1

Honest as ever.


Monday 21/11

Heidi Haigh's look back at yesterday's defeat

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/newcastle-20th-november-2016

Thanks Heidi, even in defeat your blog still makes a smile appear.

Huddersfield Town under 23's 2 Leeds United under 23's 3 - Antonsson (3)

Silvestri, Denton, Mowatt, Grimes, Diagouraga, Dallas and Antonsson all started.


Tuesday 22/11

Kalvin Phillips chosen as the EFL young player of October.

In an interview in the YEP, the youngster says it is down to hard work and him wanting to do his best for the club.

"Playing week in week out in the Championship is great, I never thought I'd do that after last season".

He added that the more he plays, the better he will get. Well done Kalvin.


Wednesday 23/11

Kenny Jackett tipped Leeds to be 'in the mix' when the playoff places are decided in May, the newly appointed manager of Rotherham United thinks that "they've done well and have evolved as the
season 's gone on", he added that the players Monk has signed "have made a difference". He ended the article by saying "Garry's a excellent manager with a good track record, it's early but so far it's been a very good job".

Disturbing news around David White the ex-Leeds player who alleges that he was sexually assaulted as a youngster in the late seventies and early eighties, the incidents are linked to Whitehill FC, a junior team in Manchester. The revelation comes after other players have come forward including Paul Stewart who played for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.


Thursday 24/11

Garry Monk's look ahead to Leeds' trip to the New York Stadium on Saturday: Hernandez out for two or three weeks, Jansson suspended but no other injuries, Green stays number one keeper, Monk says "it's not about mistakes, it's about how players react to them", On Cooper replacing Jansson "We've three quality centre backs here" also Coops is unlucky not to more involved than he is, Antonsson did well scoring three in the under 23's and has been carrying a rib injury, looking to stop the collection of silly yellow cards but doesn't think there is a problem with this at the club, classic last quote today on been asked about Wood flying to New Zealand and back "It's better than him walking!"

A quietly confident Monk.


Friday 25/11

Rotherham v Leeds Preview

Head to Head

Rotherham wins 14 wins
Draws 6
Leeds 13 wins

Last five meetings

Rotherham 2 Leeds 1 Champ 2016
Leeds 2 Rotherham 0 FA Cup 2016
Leeds 0 Rotherham 1 Champ 2015
Leeds 0 Rotherham 0 Champ 2015
Rotherham 2 Leeds 1 Champs 2014

Leeds travel to the superbly named New York Stadium with renewed optimism, the defeat to the 'Geordie's' now a memory they know a positive performance and a few goals will see them back in the Championship top six.

Garry Monk reinitiated the Robert Green is still his first choice keeper at his press conference so the only change may be Liam Cooper stepping in for Pontus Jansson in the centre of defence, there are options mind you, either Antonsson or Roofe may be given the number ten role instead of Kalvin Phillips and Hadi Sacko or Stuart Dallas may be given the wing to exploit Rotherham's defensive frailties.

Ex-Leeds loanee Tom Adeyemi will be hoping to prove his ex team that they made a mistake in not utilising his talents and new manager Kenny Jackett will be hoping that a Yorkshire Derby will get his new charges fired up for the game.

On paper it looks a certain three points for Leeds, but unfortunately in these games form flies out of the window and it's about who wants the three points more. I'm tipping Leeds for a win, 3-1 the score.

MOT

By Keith Ingham