Diary of a Leeds Fan (22/10-05/11/18)

Monday 22/10

Pontus Jansson celebrates the birth of his daughter Bella by saying; “I will go through fire for you and your mum. Welcome to the world! I will love you forever Bella”

Don’t think the new addition will be short of baby-grows/club kits from the club shop. Congratulations to both parents of little Bella. 🍼


Tuesday 23/10

We’ve met before
Leeds 3 Ipswich 2 September 2017
Leeds 1 Ipswich 0 September 2016
Leeds 0 Ipswich 1 September 2015
Leeds 2 Ipswich 1 March 2015
Leeds 1 Ipswich 1 January 2014
All Championship games.

Preview
Two wins out of eight isn’t brilliant but it’s not a crisis, if it becomes nine and another defeat it may be!
Leeds face the team at bottom of the Championship. Ipswich Town have started the season very poor and results don’t lie. Mick McCarthy left the post at the end of last season with Paul Hurst having the opportunity to manage at a higher level, so far he’s struggled and may become the first ‘casualty’ in the annual sack race if results don’t improve.

There have been calls for Marcelo Bielsa to give youth a chance on the left hand side of the team, both Jack Clarke and Tom Pearce look good enough to compete in this league. They are novices, but Tyler Roberts was the same age when he had an extended run in the team due to Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford being our injured. Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski are the players who’s places they could take, Pablo Hernandez looks certain to start after coming on as substitute at Blackburn. New Dad Pontus Jansson hopefully will be back from Sweden after the birth of his daughter Bella, if he isn’t Gaetano Berardi could partner Liam Cooper in the middle of the defence.

Kalvin Phillips mentioned after the Rovers defeat that this game is a ‘must win’ considering the oppositions position, but it’s a strange league where top can be too confident and suffer because of it. With Pablo back in the team Leeds should be too strong and a much needed three points will be theirs. Leeds 3-1.

Marcelo Bielsa: Who’s in, who’s not Pontus Jansson banned, Barry Douglas still out injured. Jack Harrison will take part in the game as will Pablo Hernandez. Luke Ayling is available after serving his one match suspension.

On recent form: He said “It is impossible not to see as a problem. In the first five games we won four of them. In the last eight games we only won twice. It’s impossible not to see a problem in this case. We are trying to make the right diagnosis because otherwise any correction would be a mistake. We need to correct and we have to change this cycle of results. We have to find out the real reason for us not winning the games.”

“I’m responsible for all this, I insist a lot to improve as much we can the aspects I mention. I have the resources and the authority to improve things and if I can't do that it will be my responsibility.”

Pontus Jansson is banned for one game and fined £1,000 following his outburst after the Brentford game at Elland Road.


Wednesday 24/10

Leeds vs Ipswich Town

Team News: Two changes; Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison come into the starting eleven. Three position changes; Gaetano Berardi switches to centre half, Ezgjan Alioski to left back, Kemar Roofe leading the line. Mathew Pennington lines up for Ipswich Town against his old teammates.

Team: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Berardi, Cooper(c), Alioski, Phillips, Klich, Hernandez, Siaz, Harrison, Roofe.

The Game
My review of the game

http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/latest/leeds-go-top-again

Kemar🔥Roofe and Liam Cooper celebrate the goals.

Post Match

Marcelo Bielsa: “Pablo(Hernandez)was very important in the game. He played as if he was not injured previously. He was very intelligent with his game.
It was a necessary win, a deserved one too. Our team was constantly offensive and we had 10 clear chances to score a goal, in the second half we defended well. In the first half it was hard for us to get over the way the opponent played the game."

Paul Hurst: “I am not one to go searching for it(speculation over my future), but I don't lock myself in a room and don't speak to anyone. Unfortunately those things are out there. Are they healthy? No. All you can do is focus on your job and do it to the best of your ability. It doesn't help."


Thursday 25/10

Not many people looked past either Kalvin Phillips and Pablo Hernandez as MOTM on social media but Stuart Dallas and Ezgjan Alioski were mentioned for their ‘shifts’ last night. Myself I gave it to Kalvin Phillips for the unbelievable amount of work he put in throughout the 90 plus minutes. Pablo might have the skill but boy this lad from Leeds is a changed man since Marcelo Bielsa and in both the Blackburn and Ipswich games he’s stood out as Leeds’ best player.
David Watkins reviews the impressive 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, he mentioned post Blackburn a reaction and improvement was needed and we just got that last night

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/ipswich-town-home-oct-2018

Thank you David.


Friday 26/10

Marcelo Bielsa on injuries and possible changes to the team for the Forest game: Gaetano Berardi has an injury that is not “a simple one” and no time frame given on his return, Barry Douglas will play for the under 23’s on Monday and should be available for the first team after that. Pontus Jansson is available after serving a one match ban, Alioski will play, probably as a winger and he doesn’t think he will play players in the same positions. Both Tom Pearce and Adam Forshaw are in contention for the game “We have a small group and all players are close to be starters”

On Forest: “From what I have seen from the opponent they have very good players, especially in midfield. We can see that it’s a team that has developed well and has a system of play, it didn’t appear to me they are a ‘violent’ team. I think it’s a team with a lot of enthusiasm and good play”

On the season so far: Tony Pulis told him “It was very hard to keep regularity of the team and we are an example of that because we can’t impose our style all the time. The level of the team is the same one but the players have up and downs, even if we played 30% of the Championship so far, if we want to take into consideration of the regulation of our team we cannot know yet”

Happy with recent form: “You can never judge after two games, it is harder than that. When you win two games out of eight you need more time to assess”

Jack Harrison: Life at Leeds and working with Bielsa “It’s great. It’s a little different from where I’ve been before and the fans have been great with me so far. I’ve learned a lot(with Bielsa) in terms of off the ball, when I was at New York it was all technical ‘stuff’ but here there’s a lot about movement off the ball”

We’ve met before
Leeds 0 Notts Forest 0 January 2018
Leeds 2 Notts Forest 0 January 2017
Leeds 0 Notts Forest 1 February 2016
Leeds 0 Notts Forest 0 March 2015
Leeds 0 Notts Forest 2 April 2015
All Championship games.

Preview
The weekend brings a resurgent Forest team to Elland Road, the midland club have had impressive performances recently including a win at Middlesborough. They have assembled a expensive squad on ‘big bucks’, ex Leeds players Sam Byram and Liam Bridcutt could be involved in the eighteen in duty on Saturday. Forest sit just outside the top six but are only four points off the top of the table, on Tuesday they beat Bolton 3-0 at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Marcelo Bielsa will be without Gaetano Berardi(muscle strain)so new Dad Pontus Jansson should come back into the defence. It will be interesting if the Argentinian keeps the 3-3-1-3 formation deployed against Ipswich with the outstanding Kalvin Phillips in the middle of a back three or reverts back to the 4-1-2-3 he’s used for much of the season. Kemar Roofe is expected to start despite his wife expecting their second child this weekend.

Past games between the two teams have been usually tight affairs and I see this one being no different, Forest will be a tough challenge for Bielsa’s team. Leeds need to be in first gear from minute one, if they are they’ll win by the odd goal. Leeds 2-1.


Saturday 27/10

Leeds vs Nottingham Forest

Team News: Three changes for Leeds, Pontus Jansson returns at centre half, Stuart Dallas in for Jack Harrison, Adam Forshaw in for Samuel Siaz who moves to the bench. Ezjgan Alioski moves to left wing from left wing back.

Team: Peacock-Farrell, Ayling, Cooper(c), Jansson, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Hernandez, Forshaw, Alioski
Roofe.

The Game
My review of the game.

http://www.weallloveleeds.co.uk/latest/roofe-hands-leeds-a-deserved-point

Post Match

Marcelo Bielsa: "If there is a handball, I can't deny it if you say so, but it has nothing to do with luck. It was a beautiful game, we had 10 chances to score and the only chance they had to score was the goal they scored.”

“The effort that the team put in was moving; we attacked during the whole game. We had 10 chances to score and we only scored one goal and if you think it's because we were lucky, it's hard for me to admit that. Honestly it was a great performance for me."

Aitor Karanka: “I don't think I need to say anything, I think we were unlucky today. But the most important thing for me is my team. It's true we didn't have a lot of chances but they didn't create a lot of chances. Everybody could see what happened."


Sunday 28/10

David Watkins’ pre game prediction was ‘spot on’ and he reviews the game against Nottingham Forest

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/nottingham-forest-home-oct-2018

Thank you David.

The Forest fans were very ‘vocal’ on social media about the disputed ‘Hand of Roofe’ goal that denied their team three points, wonder if they would have been so upset if it had gone the other way. Adam Forshaw, Pontus Jansson and Pablo Hernandez won most praise from Leeds fans. A few were rightly outraged that the minute silence was spoiled by a few idiots in the crowd shouting ‘Scabs’ at the visiting fans in the West Stand. Give it up and show some respect!


Monday 29/10

Heidi Haigh remembers Edna Newton, Armistice Day and her thoughts and pictures of the game with Nottingham Forest.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/leeds-united-v-nottingham-forest-27th-october-2018-at-elland-road

Thank you Heidi.

I’m not too concerned by the Forest result, even though many thought it was two points dropped. If we win promotion by a point, this one will have gone towards it. One concern is how the team are failing to deal with set pieces, this needs sorting and a little work on the training pitch may be beneficial.

Luke Ayling’s injury looks it will keep him out of the first team until well into the New Year. It’s the second season he’s injured himself in a game with Forest. Maybe he should just not play in the next fixture against the midlands team. They seem to be a jinx!

The footballing world is still in shock of the sudden death of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Here’s the BBC’s coverage of the fateful accident as the owner left the stadium in his helicopter with friends prior to its crash.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-leicestershire-46013381

Here’s Leicester City’s statement in regard to the horrifying incident that happened outside of the clubs ground.

Andrea Radrizzani releases a statement on twitter about the news;

“Such terrible news. Everybody at Leeds United sends their love and strength to all at Leicester City and the families of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and the passengers and crew who have tragically lost their lives 💙”

Former Leeds United keeper Kasper Schmeichal posts a beautiful tribute to his owner;

At WALL we hope that the families of those affected are remembering the wonderful man and owner Vichai was said to be and are hearing the wonderful stories coming from fans over the past few days.

We also send our love to the fans on Leicester City, who must be feeling a great loss at this time.


Tuesday 30/10

Phil Hay confirms that Barry Douglas looks set to be in contention for Sunday’s clash with Wigan.

In the article he also discussed the now two month absence of Luke Ayling and how the situation could have been a lot worse.

Thanks to the YEP

Football remained in mourning for the owner of Leicester City, the whole of football paying respects to a much admired man.

Luke Ayling confirmed via ‘Instagram’ that he will be out until well after the Christmas fixtures, the popular right back was shown with his daughter helping her Dad who was on crutches.

Kenny Burns was in an ‘unforgiving mood’ in his latest article in the Nottingham Post newspaper. The ex Forest and Leeds centre half was annoyed with Kemar Roofe’s equaliser and was quoted in saying Leeds would ‘choke’ in their pursuit of the Premiership.
Below Burns gives his views, pretty nonsensical if you ask me, but he always was a bit of a ‘nutter’!

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/sport-opinion/kenny-burns-blasts-leeds-united-2159435


Nottingham Forest were dumped out of the Caribou Cup(2-3) by Division One Burton Albion. The ‘Brewers’ are managed by Nigel Clough who played and managed the midlanders. Hope Burns liked that result!


Wednesday 31/10

‘Mini’ Bielsa. Youngster Freddie Callaghan(4) dresses as Marcelo Bielsa for Halloween. The youngster comes from Dublin and all his family are massive Leeds United fans.

Wigan’s impressive winger Kai Naismith is expecting Wigan’s excellent home form to stand them in good stead for the game on Sunday with Leeds. They have the joint best home record(17 points) in the Championship along with Sheffield United.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/wigan-buoyed-by-home-comforts-ahead-of-leeds-united-visit-1-9422542

Thanks to the YEP.

Leicester City will go ahead with with their scheduled Premiership game at Cardiff City on Saturday but will travel by coach to Wales.

The owners son Aiyawatt has vowed to carry on his fathers work and is expected to take charge of the Premiership club. He also said about the reaction to his father’s passing: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming support”

Blackpool’s Leeds loanee Paudie O’Connor was sent off in the their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the Caribou Cup, earlier in the game he had scored for the ‘Seasiders’. Arsenal also had Guendouzi sent off for two yellow cards.


Thursday 1/11

Luke Ayling gave the Leeds fans some advice about the song sung in protest about the amount of the club’s game that are televised by Sky TV.

We’ve met before
Wigan 1 Leeds 1 Champ May 2017
Wigan 0 Leeds 1 Champ May 15
Wigan 1 Leeds 0 Champ April 14
Wigan 1 Leeds 1 FA Cup 3 Jan 06
Wigan 3 Leeds 0 Champ Feb 05


Friday 2/11

Preview
Marcelo Bielsa has a choice between Stuart Dallas and Jamie Shackleton for the right back position due to Luke Ayling’s injury(the popular right back isn’t expected back until the New Year) and Jack Clarke is pushing Ezgjan Alioski on the left of the midfield, the youngster(Clarke) had a hand in setting up Kemar Roofe’s disputed equaliser and impressed during his stint as a second half substitute. It would be a surprise if Samuel Siaz gets an immediate return to the staring eleven after a MOTM performance from the man who replaced him Adam Forshaw.

Wigan Athletic are just outside the top ten after their promotion to the Championship. Already they’ve beaten fancied teams and will see Leeds as a challenge but one that they will be they think they can beat if you match their work ethic. The last trip over the Pennines was a disappointing one for Leeds so Bielsa‘ boys will want to get a better score line than the one they ended up with at Blackburn.

Leeds in truth have drawn too many games but if they get one at Wigan it will be a point gained, considering their home form. 2-2 draw.

Marcelo Bielsa’s update on the injury to Gaetano Berardi: “A long time, It's not a simple injury. I don't know how to explain it, the level of the tendon went the other way, it's turned around. I will ask the head of medicine department to give you the information because I am just repeating what I have been told and maybe I'm not explaining enough.” Luke Ayling is also going to be out for a considerable time, but Barry Douglas will return at left back. Stuart Dallas will deputise at right back, Bielsa said of the Northern Ireland international: “He will play as a full back, he has a very important contribution to the offensive play, he has a good first pass. He is a dynamic player and adapts very well to the style of play.”

Bielsa on Siaz: "Samu Saiz is a great player, he is the player who can create the lack of balance that our team needs. He’s the only player in our group who can create this lack of balance. Taking into account what he did so far this season and what he did last year because I saw the games he played last year too. I’m not making an opinion about last year, it’s just I saw how he played last year and I can talk about him. He’s the player who can create the best lack of balance in the offensive sector and the most important pass that ended with the goal we scored was made by Samu Saiz.”

"His last pass is the most aggressive one we have and after having praised him like that, you're going to ask me why he doesn’t play. He’s not playing because he’s going through ups and downs and things like this happen in a competition with 46 games. Sometimes we have to explain why Samu Saiz is not the starter, but other times we have to explain why Forshaw is not starting, that means a team needs a lot more than just 11 players."

Bielsa on Wigan: “For me, the next opponent that I'm playing against is always a tough one, and I never underestimate them, and I always think the opponent is strong enough to represent an important challenge to our skills. We always have the hope to win, we just draw at home, and it makes it even more important to win the away game. We have to win the game.”


Saturday 3/11

Adam Pope Tweeted that Gaetano Berardi will be out for four months due to his injury. He’ll be missed and it is hoped that the scouting system has got one or two players in their sights when the transfer window opens in January.

Stay strong Berra 👊🏻

‘Izzy’ Brown could be in action for Leeds United in the New Year Marcelo Bielsa revealed: "The fact that he will be able to come back soon inside the group is less important than to know when he will be able to play with the first-team and I think he will be able to compete in the beginning of next year. There is no option to buy as part of the loan deal and Leeds will not pay Chelsea anything until Brown starts playing games.”

Norwich City go to the top of the Championship(who would have thought that after we beat them 3-0 at Carrow Road!) after their 4-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Sheffield United lose 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at The City Ground. Leeds drop to fifth but can return to the top if they beat Wigan tomorrow.

Leicester City played their first game since their owner tragically passed away a week ago. Demarai Gray scored the only goal in the win at Cardiff City.

Cardiff and Leicester City play tribute to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.


Sunday 4/11

Wigan v Leeds

Team News: Two changes; Stuart Dallas in at right back and Barry Douglas returns from injury at left back. Jack Harrison replaces Tom Pearce on the bench.

Team: Peacock-Farrell, Dallas, Cooper(c), Jansson, Douglas, Phillips, Klich, Hernandez, Forshaw, Alioski, Roofe.

Paying our Respects.

The Game

Leeds United returned back to the top of the Championship thanks to an impressive 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic, they have the same points as Norwich City but have a better goal difference than the East Anglian’s.

This was Wigan’s first defeat this season on home soil and Dave Whelan’s final game as the owner of the club, new owners will take charge of the Lancashire side on Wednesday.

Marcelo Bielsa was forced into a change at right back due to Luke Ayling’s injury, Stuart Dallas came in. Barry Douglas returned to left back, Adam Forshaw was again preferred to Samuel Siaz in midfield. Jack Harrison replaced Tom Pearce on the bench.
Four changes for Wigan.

It’s always very heartening when your team comes back from a goal down early on, James beating Peacock-Farrell in the early minutes of the clash. The lead didn’t last long as the mercurial Pablo Hernandez equalised when left unmarked in the six yard box, from that point Leeds surged up the gears and should have been ahead before the break.

Pablo celebrates his equaliser.

It didn’t take long in the second half for Leeds to press home their advantage, Hernandez was the architect with a ball into the Wigan area. Unbelievably the Wigan keeper Walton let the ball squirm from his grasp when he collided with his own defender leaving Kemar🔥Roofe with the easiest goal he will score this season.

Kemar🔥Roofe with number two.

Once again Leeds could and should have increased their lead but chances were spurned and Wigan nearly shared the ‘spoils’ when McManaman’s curled effort went just over Peacock-Farrell’s bar. Pablo Hernandez so nearly increased the lead in injury time when his shot came back off the woodwork and rebounded to substitute Jamie Shackleton, unfortunately his effort was deflected wide of Wigan’s goal.

A superb victory for Bielsa’s boys and without doubt they totally deserved to travel back to Yorkshire with three important points.

Men of the Match: Pablo Hernandez, one goal, one assist and Leeds are so much better with the Spaniard in the side, Stuart Dallas put in a great 90 minutes shift for the side at right back(89 touches, 87% pass accuracy, 46/53 attacking third passes, 4 tackles won).

Post Match

Marcelo Bielsa: "It's hard to concede a goal at the beginning of the game but to score a goal immediately after neutralised the negative effect of conceding at the beginning. We draw the important conclusions at the end when we reach our goals according to how we play the rest of the season.”

"I would like to underline the good aspect of the staff of the opponent. They were lacking many offensive players and they played at a good level."

Paul Cook: “If you are being a fair judge on the game today I think the Wigan lads gave everything they had, did we lack that little bit of quality? Yes, for sure. Did Leeds show that at times? Yes, for sure they did. We are very disappointed with the manner of the result but you must pay great respect to Leeds. At times they were excellent.”

"It's probably the biggest disappointment of it all. It would've been really good to get a positive result for the young chairman David and his grandad, Mr Whelan. All clubs now worry when new owners come in. It's natural with what's going on in the game.”


Monday 5/11

Two of our favourites review the Wigan Athletic win

David Watkins gives his thoughts on the way Leeds put Wigan’s home record to the sword.

http://dlw100.wixsite.com/leedsunited/wigan-away-nov-2018

Thank you David.

Heidi Haigh on early starts,’Mini’ Bielsa, Sky TV and her blog of the Wigan game.

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/wigan-v-leeds-united-4th-november-2018-at-the-dw-stadium

Thank you Heidi.

Four points from two games isn’t bad, especially considering Wigan were unbeaten at home before meeting the Mighty Whites. Massive game coming up next Saturday against West Brom. Hope you enjoy the blog, comments as always are welcome.

MOT

By Keith Ingham