Diary of a Leeds Fan 24/09 - 31/09

Saturday 24/09

Leeds United vs Ipswich Town

Team: Green, Ayling, Bartley(c), Jansson, Taylor, O'Kane, Phillips, Sacko, Hernandez, Dallas, Wood.

Liam Bridcutt missing out again due to injury.

The Game:

Leeds extended their winning sequence to four with a comprehensive 1-0 win over Ipswich Town. The score line doesn't tell the real story as Leeds dominated from minute one and if a little more composure in front of the goal Leeds would have at least trebled the score.

Star performers were Hadi Sacko, Pablo Hernandez and seven goal striker Chris Wood, four of them in the last four games.

Wood with the first half winner.

Post Match:

Garry Monk: Only complaint was that Leeds should have won by more goals, noticed more confidence in the players but in the crowd as well, no apprehension, Bridcutt's injury ; trained but pain is more severe than injury, both Vieira and Bridcutt expected to travel to Bristol, likely to meet a team 'bang on form', clean sheet, win, Chris Wood goal "Its like 'Groundhog Day !'"

Happiest I've seen Monk since his appointment.

Mick McCarthy: "Leeds deserved to win." Followed by stony silence.


Sunday 25/09

Holiday time 😎

Me and the Mrs off to Majorca for a few days. Showing the colours and drinking a beer at five in the morning!

​Andrew Butterwick's 'Travels of a Leeds Fan' superb blog on the marvellous performance yesterday.

http://leedsfan.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/leeds-utd-v-ipswich-town-24th-sept-2016.html?m=1

Thank you @MOTForever


Monday 26/09

Starting the week in the sun with this beauty to lay on

Heidi Haigh's superb look back on Saturday's action

http://www.followmeandleedsunited.co.uk/ipswich-town-24th-september-2016

Always makes my Monday brighter @FollowMeAndLUFC


Tuesday 27/09

Bristol City v Leeds

Team: Same eleven and substitutes for tonight's game ; Green, Ayling, Bartley(c), Jansson, Taylor, O'Kane, Phillips, Sacko Hernandez, Dallas, Wood.

Bridcutt again absent, he is to have a scan tomorrow on the injury that has kept him sidelined.

The Game:

Leeds' impressive three game winning 'run' came to a halt at Ashton Gate. The 1-0 defeat was not entirely deserved as United again performed admirably but without the cutting edge to beat their opponents.

Chances were created but passed up by both Hadi Sacko and Chris Wood late in the game. Leeds lost Pontus Jansson at the half time break as Liam Cooper replaced him, a hamstring injury with could keep the towering Swede out until after the international break.

The goal that beat them came from a challenge on Hernandez in midfield, the Spaniard was left in a heap as Tomlin went unchallenged before setting up Pack who chipped the ball past Green.

This was the first time Leeds had 'tasted' defeat at Bristol City since the seventies.

Man of the Match: Hadi Sacko, just needs to find his shooting boots.

Post Match:

Garry Monk: Thought Leeds deserved at least a draw, Jansson taken off as a precaution, injury to be assessed tomorrow, felt Hernandez was fouled in the build up to the goal, couldn't fault the effort the players put in, wouldn't elaborate on why he was sent to the stands - expects a call from the FA!

Lee Johnson; "It was a hard game."


Wednesday 28/9

David Watkins reviews the defeat at Bristol City;

http://dlw10.wixsite.com/leedsunited/bristol-c-sept-27-2016

Thank you DW

Sam Allardyce was sensationally sacked from his post as England manager, he had been seen in a video obtained by a Daily Telegraph inquiry into alleged corruption in football. A stupid thing to do for a man that didn't really need the 400k that was on offer from undercover journalists, acting as 'investors'.

Allardyce had been in the job since taking over from Roy Hodgson and had managed the international side for one game.


Thursday 29/9

Massimo Cellino was linked to the investigation on football corruption, although the Italian does not go into details totally, he indicated that 'investors' could recoup their money through the buying and selling of players. Ex-Leeds players Tommy Wright and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbiank were also implicated in the Daily Telegraph story.

Garry Monk's look ahead to the game with Barnsley at the weekend; Bridcutt out for six to eight weeks, fractured foot, better news on Pontus Jansson he trained with the squad today, of Bridcutt's enforced absence it's an opportunity for somebody, on Cellino club have made a statement about the matter, about the matter as a whole 'it needs to be wiped out' beating Barnsley would make a good month 'great', didn't think Leeds deserved to loose this month.

Still a happy Monk.

The club statement on the Daily Telegraph investigation;

Leeds United and Mr Cellino were contacted yesterday (Wednesday September 28) by the Daily Telegraph in relation to their investigation in football which has involved undercover reporters purporting to represent an investment and sports management company.

The Daily Telegraph informed Leeds United and Mr Cellino that they were considering publishing an article and asked Leeds United and Mr Cellino to respond to a number of questions. Through the Club's solicitors, a request was made to the Daily Telegraph for a full copy of any transcript involving Mr Cellino and/or any related audio and visual recordings.

The Daily Telegraph refused to provide such information and as such the Club declined to respond further at the time.

The Club has reviewed the supposed 'evidence' that the Daily Telegraph have published tonight. At no time in this video clip has Mr Cellino suggested getting around the FA's rules on third-party ownership of players.

In complete contrast to what has been suggested, Mr Cellino has made a perfectly proper suggestion which is entirely consistent with the FA's regulations, as the only parties entitled to take benefit from ownership of a player is the Club itself.

If a company commits money to a Club by way of investment, taking on the potential for profit but also the risk for loss, then that is a normal, every-day corporate process.

This is plainly not a suggestion as to how to circumvent the rules, but rather, an accurate albeit concise explanation of how to operate within the confines of the rules and effectively become "the Club".

The Club intends to make no further comment on this non-story.


Friday 30/9

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Match Preview

Leeds 22
Drawn 17
Barnsley 19

After Tuesday's night's defeat at Bristol City, Leeds will hope to get back to winning ways with a victory over South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley, over the years they have become a bit of a 'bogey' side that get decent results against Leeds. They started the season very well and were second to Huddersfield, but no wins in three has seen them drift.

These games are usually 'tasty' affairs were games are won by the team with the strongest match day mentality, the odd goal usually settling matters.

Leeds will hope to be with Pontus Jansson within the staring eleven but if called on have a good replacement in Liam Cooper. The defence will have to be watchful of Sam Winnall who scored in midweek against Aston Villa.

Leeds to edge a close encounter 2-1 is my prediction.

A week that started with a impressive win, had a wobble in midweek but ended on another piece of 'judgement' by our owner. He 'beggars' belief!

MOT

By Keith Ingham