Diary of a Leeds Fan (18/12-27/12/17)

Monday 18/12

Heidi Haigh meeting up with a face from the past, an American fan and much more in her superb match blog of the Norwich City game.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/norwich-city-h-16th-december-2017

May I wish you and yours a fantastic Christmas and a prosperous 2018. Thank you Heidi.

Whisper it ever so quietly but a certain centre half from a club in Wales may be returning in January and let’s be clear it’s not Sol Bamba!


Tuesday 19/12

Five years ago: Leeds played Chelsea at Elland Road in a Fifth Round League Cup tie. Leeds even had the audacity to score the first goal through Luciano Becchio and led at half time, Chelsea eventually went through 5-1.

A few of the names of players linked to Leeds United today;
Aleandro Rosi (Defender)
Ryan Kent (Winger)
Josh Brownhill (Midfielder)
Alfredo Ortuno (Striker)
Declan John (Midfielder)
Ben Woodburn (Winger)

There will be more, I think that Leeds were linked to around fifty players or more during the summer, so expect the same when January comes around.


Wednesday 20/12

Tweet by @NewportCounty
🎫| A fantastic first week of sales means 5,288 Tickets (including 1,030 away allocation) have been snapped up after just one day on General Sale. Amazing support!

Gaetano Berardi told BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope that; ‘They need a better player’ when asked if the club should acquire a left back in the January transfer window. He also said he’d play anywhere he was asked to be TC, even ‘at a push’ midfield. That might be worth the price of a ticket by itself!

Warrior

Less than 1,000 tickets remain for Saturday’s clash with Hull City at the ‘Theatre of ever lasting Hope’

Bristol City beat man u 2-1 with an injury time winner at Ashton Gate to reach the Semi Finals of Carabao Cup, they will meet Manchester City. The first leg will be at the Etihad Stadium.

Lee Johnson celebrates with a young ball boy.

The other Semi Final is between Chelsea v Arsenal.


Thursday 21/12

“My nickname was Wied-Wall"
Leeds United goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald recalls a good season at Werder Bremen before coming to Leeds United. Source: BBC Radio Leeds interview with the German stopper.

Nine years ago today, Gary McAlister was sacked after a run of 5 lufc defeats on the trot, including the Histon FA Cup debacle.

Blimey, is that only nine years ago? So much has happened at Leeds in that time it seems like double that! Source: @DaveLUFCWatkins

Luke Murphy tells @BBCDerbySport:
"I've loved my time here (at Burton). I need to speak to people at Leeds and see if I am still wanted there. There have been big changes there since I left and I probably only know a handful of faces.”


Friday 22/12

We’ve met before
Leeds 2 Hull City 1 Champ Dec 15
Leeds 2 Hull City 3 Champ Sept 12
Leeds 4 Hull City 1 Champ Aug 11
Leeds 2 Hull City 2 Champ Nov 10
Leeds 0 Hull City 0 Champ Dec 06

Leeds vs Hull City Preview

Four wins out of six games has seen Leeds close the ten point gap between themselves and Sheffield United drop to a single point and with Aston Villa playing Sheffield United on Saturday, a victory over Hull City will see Leeds enter the Christmas fixtures in the top six of the Championship.

In the run there have been some good displays, a couple that the results were more important than the performances. Last week, Leeds edged past Norwich with one of those and another clean sheet was a added bonus, Felix Wiedwald now has eight in his first season with the club. He still has his critics, but has the total confidence of his Head Coach and the defence in front of him is also much improved, hence the improvement in the lack of goals conceded.

Stuart Dallas looks to be out again, Caleb Ekuban is also set for a period on the sidelines. It is to be seen if Lasogga is fit enough to be included in the match day squad, the German has had an extended absence due to illness and a leg injury.
Pablo Hernandez or Pavel Cibicki will operate on the wing in a settled starting line up, it's not a coincidence that the improvement in form has happened due to (in my opinion) not many changes to the team.

Hull City have a new manager with a proven CV, Neil Adkins has been a manager at Scunthorpe United, Southampton, Reading and Sheffield United, he achieved Promotion with Scunthorpe and Southampton. City have a decent squad and it is a surprise to me that they are in the lower part of the second tier.

In the Championship, wherever a team is in the table you dare not take them lightly, it’s a ‘derby’ too. A display from minute one to ninety plus will be needed from the white and gold’s to guarantee the three points.

Another full house will hope that Leeds can beat their Humberside rivals and achieve that top six place. I think they will too. Leeds 2-1.

I’d like to wish one and all a Happy Christmas from WeallloveLeeds. Have a fantastic time. Regards from Keith and Ryan Ingham

Saturday 23/12

Leeds United vs Hull City

Team News: Pablo Hernandez replaces Samuel Suaz(calf strain)

Team: Wiedwald, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper(c), Berardi, Phillips, Vieira, Cibicki, Hernandez, Alioski, Roofe.

My full Match Report is available on the site. Click this link for all the reaction as Leeds are gifted the best present of all from the Tigers; 3 points.

http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/latest/leeds-vs-hull-city-match-report

Post Match

Thomas Christiansen: “It was a very tough game, we knew that before it. The first half was not good or not good enough from our side. We had to suffer too much and when it looked worse, we got our goal. We had also a possibility to take a second, a nice combination, but they put us under high pressure and I have to be honest, we were lucky to take the three points.

“Felix kept us in the game in the first half with his saves, in the second half we made a change with Eunan instead of Kalvin and I don’t believe we had problems to keep the result, but the first half was not good. I’m not surprised(by Hull), it’s a big team and team who just came down from the Premier League.

“They cannot just disappear from one day to another and be unknown, it’s a strong team and for sure they’re going to go up in the table with the performance they did today.”

Nigel Atkins: “We created a lot of chances and we should have taken one but half an hour in we got an injury to Ondrej Mazuch and conceded. Second half was more even, we probably had treble the amount of chances they had, we had plenty of positives and I was pleased with the tempo and our resoluteness.”

Middlesborough part company with Garry Monk, the sacking came after Boro had beaten Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Karma is a bitch Mr Monk!


Sunday 24/12

Carlos Carvalhal follows Monk to the job centre after his tenure at Sheffield Wednesday was ended.

Andrew Butterwick reflects on a under parr performance by Leeds, but welcomes the three points won.

http://leedsfan.blogspot.com/2017/12/leeds-utd-v-hull-city-23rd-dec-2017.html

Thank you Andrew, hope the festivities went well.


Monday 25/12

Hope you all received some nice presents from the fat man with the red suit and big bag.

Merry Christmas from Ryan and Keith Ingham.

Heidi Haigh’s match day blog of another three points added to the total, lovely to see you after the game.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/hull-city-h-23rd-december-2017

Thank you Heidi, hope you enjoyed Christmas and your certificate saying you’ve a piece of history with your place on Bremner Square.

Tuesday 26/12

Tony Pulis has been named Middlesborough Head Coach replacing Sergeant Snake himself Garry Monk.

Burton Albion vs Leeds

Team News: Eunan O’Kane replaces Kalvin Phillips.

Team: Wiedwald, Ayling, Jansson, Cooper(c), Berardi, Vieira, O’Kane, Cibicki, Hernandez, Alioski, Roofe.

The Game

Leeds won their forth game on the ‘bounce’ with a gritty 2-1 win at Burton, it always looked a tough game but despite falling behind Leeds cane back strongly to claim the three points.

In a even first half, both teams had chances to open the scoring but failed, Kemar Roofe’s effort just drifting past the far post the clearest opportunity for Leeds. Surprisingly(or not!) Burton went ahead, a throw in was half cleared to Burton’s Atkins, his shot across the penalty box evaded Leeds defenders boots but not missed by Tom Naylor, who tapped in from close range. Gaetano Berardi was lucky not to see a red card in injury time when his two-footed lunge caught a Burton player. 1-0 to the host’s at the break.

The second half Burton had two opportunities to increase their lead, first Sordell fired wide then Naylor, unmarked headed the ball straight at Wiedwald. Leeds levelled just after the hour. Flanagan upended Roofe, from the resultant free kick Pablo Hernandez curled a superb free kick around the Burton wall and just inside the post. Within three minutes Leeds were ahead, Vieira won the ball then played a superb ball through to Roofe, the striker made it ten goals for the season with a cool finish past Bywater.

Roofe nearly extended Leeds’ lead but his effort drifted wide after a deflecting off a defender. Burton made one last effort in the last minute of the six injury time minutes added on, Sordell’s effort missing by inches after a goalmouth scramble.

Pablo’s curler and Roofe’s cool finish.

Sometimes it wasn’t pretty but it was effective, the free kick that levelled matters was superb and Roofe really is ‘on fire’. A good, important win.

Post Match:

Thomas Christiansen: “We are doing quite well at the moment,” the Leeds boss admitted, it is very satisfying. That was the idea, the wish, to do that (win four successive games) but it is not always given what we would like it to be.

“Today is a good example. In the first half we have played very well with more opportunities, had the possession clearly but at half-time we have gone in 1-0 down, but this is football. On the superb equaliser from Pablo Hernandez.

“It was very well executed, very good but everyone did their bit in that one and it brought us into the game again and from that moment the confidence was there and grew in the team believing we could change the game.”

Nigel Clough: "It was down to making mistakes, it's as simple as that. We didn't make any at Reading or at Bolton but we did today. We are 1-0 up here and I wouldn't say we were comfortable, but we were looking OK then we give a needless free kick away and the quality of the Leeds players means they punish you.

“We ask the players to stay on their feet and to not dive in. We say it every single training session, until we stop making those mistakes we will carry on losing games.”


Wednesday 27/12

On this day in 1931. Leeds United legend John Charles was born. John made 327 appearances for The Whites, scored 157 goals and had the West Stand named after him.

David Watkins reviews a happy away day at Burton. Four wins ‘on the bounce’ must be making Mr Watkins smile, despite a less than brilliant game.

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/burton-albion-dec-26th-2017

Thank you David.

MOT

By Keith Ingham