Leeds Banter

03 May 2024 15:13:22
Is there only me still feeling a little bit of optimism for tomorrow. All it needs is Ipswich to fluff it tomorrow and that's more than possible. And then us to win (a bit less likely, but come on) ! It's easily still on.

Otherwise I don't really like getting involved in the bickering but I couldn't resist responding to all the Farke criticism. He might have made a couple of team selections over the course of a season that some of us might not have agreed with, but so has every manager across all the leagues. But on the whole he's been great.
Just think back to what he inherited and what a lot of us were predicting at the start of the season; "mid-table at best", "we'll be lucky not to get relegated again". He's done a remarkable job and we should appreciate him a bit more (in my humble opinion, but I'm usually wrong any way)

03 May 2024 15:36:41
Totally agree, a victim of his own success comes to mind.

03 May 2024 15:57:28
At the end of Summer window he lost Sini but surprisingly Gnonto remained. plus CS, GR, PB, DJ

Along with the key signing of JR as well as EA . he had a strong team.

90 points is nothing more than par for the course for a newly relegated EPL team with parachute payments

Last season Burnley 103 or something even Sheff U 91

Bottom line though for Farke and Martin is that both have been out performed by McKenna . Ipswich finishing above Leeds and Southampton is not acceptable.

03 May 2024 13:55:29
If play offs is our destiny then we will be playing WBA or Hull.
Personally I think form goes out of the window in games like these, very much like a cup game and there’ll be a lot down to luck.

Our last game against Carlos Corberan’s team dealt us a defeat where had there been a competent ref we should of had a penalty and a red card for their player.
Ironically it was Rodon’s red card that kept the honours even at Hull, where perhaps we could have taken all three points.

All in the past now, it’s now down to the roll of the dice games.
Exciting but nerve wracking at the same time.

03 May 2024 15:11:02
Totally agree OP and I know it’s a kick in the teeth if we lose but the excitement and the adrenaline is incredible and I wouldn’t change that exciting feeling for anything, the buzz in the ground, the euphoria the day after, priceless! Bring it on 👍👍MOT.

03 May 2024 10:58:28
I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention that this May is Time For A Cuppa 2024! This is a great opportunity to look in on some of our mates, and spend time having a cuppa with friends. It can make a big difference to anyone struggling mentally and who wouldn't want to help a mate out?

Why not make it extra special by baking a splendid fruitloaf, perfect with a cuppa!

Here’s how:

Ingredients:
🌟 175g mixed dried fruits
🌟 225ml hot tea
🌟 225g self-raising flour
🌟 100g brown sugar
🌟 1 egg
🌟 Orange zest

Method:
1️⃣ Soak fruits in tea (2 hrs or overnight) .
2️⃣ Mix all ingredients, bake at 180°C for 1-1.25 hrs.

Enjoy with good company!

03 May 2024 11:36:15
Very true Alf! A good shout!

03 May 2024 12:25:44
Better tasting than caustic soda.

03 May 2024 12:40:50
I’m busy Alf. Can I just buy a cake?

03 May 2024 12:59:50
I’ve got one of those cakes Alf, Gran gave it me in 1967, it’s still good today!

03 May 2024 14:39:11
World wide Alf or just the tiny isle of uk?
Not that it matters. Just not heard of it previously.
However. Talking of cakes.
I have been the family Xmas cake matter for 20 yrs now. All delicious.

03 May 2024 08:50:22
Farke won't be going anywhere next season and rightly so . He needs another season regardless .
However couple things that have annoyed me with him

He talks about the amount of games and player welfare - however he threw Rutter straight back in team after hernia surgery, he hasn't looked the same player since.
After the international break we really should have used the squad, to me
The Welsh lads needed a break, we have players they are not getting any minutes at all. He is also saying about how young the team is and the average age yet he was willing to let Ayling go and continue with gray week in week out . I definitely think he's made a few errors and the last few weeks Farke has panicked and was not willing to change.

03 May 2024 11:01:33
Its easy to claim things would have been different had we done this, that or the other but then if it doesn't work everyone moans that it should have been left the same. look at archie, many moaned he wasn't in midfield, then he was moved to midfield and hasn't done so well. People moan about Bamford then he doesn't play vs QPR and we are all wishing he did.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Fact is we don't know for sure what is a 'mistake' and what isn't, and that's what makes it so easy to be an armchair manager, so why not let the expert make the decisions?

03 May 2024 12:10:02
My thoughts entirely Alf. Some may say Farke is paid a lot of money and should not make errors.
The onslaught of the relentless demanding pressure on coaches/ managers by fans and media is way beyond anything reasonable these days.
It’s instant success or the sack, there’s very rarely anything in between.
Then of course there is Jesse Marsch!

03 May 2024 13:42:50
SF49ers will give DF another season.

Will he learn from his numerous mistakes this season. Doubt it.

03 May 2024 14:45:22
They mainly get paid out right opti?
They want to succeed mainly to increase their pay demands. Few exceptions which I won’t get into.
Biesla has class and tried his best.
Jesse was a wNker with no class and no talent.
But both got paid out.
Put failure mode into managers contract like success mode. I’ve said this before. Which is diff to I told you so.
Anyway. Won’t get into it now.
Eve of Armageddon.

03 May 2024 15:17:16
DF has reached a record points tally for third, the highest in 20 years, which begs the question, what mistakes? Just putting it out there! I mean any other season and we are promoted! 👍👍🤷🤷.

03 May 2024 15:58:55
Farke has been a great success for this season in my opinion, he may of made some errors in his selections but all managers do, name me a manager who’s never made an error?
As Woody said, you don’t make many errors if you are breaking Leeds United records like points tally’s and most league wins in succession since 1931.

The inexperience of some of his very young players has denied Farke of getting this team over the line.
It does my head in that players don’t cop much flak when results don’t go the teams way, managers are always the scapegoat.
Of course Baz knows better though, but I don’t hear many Leeds fans calling for his appointment 🤪.

03 May 2024 16:03:19
Plenty Woody.

03 May 2024 07:55:40
Looking on the bright side at least we’ve still got something to play for if a miracle doesn’t happen this weekend. Missing out on play offs is harder still.

Reading Farkes interview he has accredited some error on himself in our last game, he believes he shouldn’t have taken Byram off just before they scored their second.
But he did accuse his players of being too defensive minded and not playing our normal on the front foot,

Let’s hope for something very spectacular on the weekend and if not then a big day at Wembley.

03 May 2024 08:44:47
Byram hasn't played well last couple he's started, so not too sure about that one tbh. He's pretty unconvincing at RB. Positionally, I think he operates better at LB. Gets caught out way too much at RB. Hence the reckless challenge against QPR.

03 May 2024 11:30:02
OP you just proved my point I've been making all season. DF said we were too defensive minded BUT! He has played 2 defensive midfielders all season. AGAIN, no plan B. He never even tried 3 at the back.

Taking Byram off against QPR didn't cost us automatic promotion, His poor player management and tactics after the Chelsea Game was to blame.

BUT! He still has the playoffs to make amends.

03 May 2024 12:32:34
🪝 It's called handbrake football. Demonstrated by zero goals all season from midfield. Archie strike against the eventual champions was an OG. Amps' cup goals was when he played as a defender. 🔑 now is Rutter. If he returns to fitness and form, we can succeed. If not, it'll be 💔.

03 May 2024 13:07:24
I agree George about Rutter, but a good performance all round tomorrow is what's required, to give the team some much needed confidence ahead of the play offs.

03 May 2024 13:44:07
George handbrake football indeed.

03 May 2024 14:08:28
Don't get me wrong, I do think Farke has done a good job and I want to keep him next season. But does anyone else get bored of the constant references to tiredness, two many games in a week or being a young team? They're professional footballers so should be able to play at the weekend and midweek. Yes we have done young players, but these are also either international players or ones worth some money or we've paid a lot of money for. With the squad that we have on paper, we should have been promoted this season. Yes we had a poor start/ loan saga, but we had plenty of games after this where we're dropped points. The most recent being the last two home games and qpr, but there were plenty of games before that. I'm still hoping for a miracle this weekend so we go up automatically. If not that we go up via the playoffs. It we do, I think we will definitely need to strengthen in the summer. If we don't win play offs, we may lose some players, but based on some performances recently, I'm not fussed if they decide to leave. Does anyone know what the situation is with the loan players who left us? Are they allowed to go out on loan again or are we able to sell?

02 May 2024 09:03:34
Callum o hare could be a free transfer in the summer
If we are in the champ next season I would say make him a priority . I think it's a position we need to really have a little more depth in .
Playing Rutter after he had the hernia op was because we had no other choice.

02 May 2024 11:08:40
O Hare a decent shout.

Problem is IF Leeds get to Playoff final they won't know which division they will be in till May 26th .

Whilst waiting for playoffs final they may miss out on possible targets for either an EPL campaign or Champo campaign ( not yet knowing which)

Hammond and co MUST get recruitment SPOT ON this summer window in all sections of team and squad ( they did not do so over previous 2 windows) ,

02 May 2024 14:08:54
We don’t buy until August baz so won’t miss a heartbeat or anybody.
Relax
We know what we are doing.
Professionally run by professionals!

02 May 2024 16:02:28
Are you sarcastically suggesting that Leeds United recruitment isn't that proactive or good Aus .

Surely not.

03 May 2024 08:47:04
If we remain in the EFL, he's definitely someone I'd go for. Especially as a free transfer.

02 May 2024 07:39:37
{Ed's Note - Dillinger has posted a new article entitled, POTENTIAL EPL SIGNINGS FOR LEEDS UNITED

01 May 2024 19:41:49
So Leicester breaking the financial rules has paid off for them. Do we know what points deduction they'll face next season?

01 May 2024 23:21:04
Hasn’t it been announced that it will be 2 points.

The three teams that finished above us last season, all broke FFP rules. The punishment given out, has materially made no difference to them.

02 May 2024 01:13:32
Has anyone seen the Leicester City players singing “Leeds are falling apart again” and other songs about Leeds in celebration of winning the title?, and they say cheats never prosper eh! A lesson for all of us I think 🤔 cheating does prosper in football! 👎👎.

02 May 2024 06:59:18
Yeah. Saw that woody. Very childish and over the top I thought.
They should focus on celebrating not mocking others.
Proper dickheads. And why would they do that?
We beat them twice.
Since Xmas their comments about Leeds and games have been pigheaded.
Set up a proper rivalry from this day forward.

{Ed001's Note - maybe it is because no one gives a toss about Leicester so they are trying to make someone hate them so they feel relevant? No one even cared enough about them to give a toss that they cheated to get promotion to the Premier League last time or this time. They are just a bit bland.}

02 May 2024 08:08:22
I think the editor has hit the nail on the head chaps. Leicester City have clearly had success on the pitch in recent years - but as a football club they are nothing. Leeds United are a big scalp for them. We had gloating and sniping from Chris Wilder when he took SU up.

02 May 2024 08:19:07
Did they have their happy clappers as well?

02 May 2024 13:21:11
Woody - Leeds living rent free inthe foxes minds, long may it continue.

02 May 2024 16:12:10
Smacks of hollow celebrations anyway from the cheating nobodies

Leicester players and fans know Leicester are more than likely coming straight back down

1) Their record goal corer Vardy is retiring in one game time
2) Their best players will be sold to other clubs in summer
3) Forthcoming EPL season will be a bit stronger than previous season
4) Leicester presumably facing an EPL points deduction over FFP next season.

01 May 2024 14:23:49
Anybody out there disappointed with playoffs after being top and pre international form?
Pre international break we were the form team in Europe. Real, Barca, city, gooners, Munich, psg. Eat our dust.
After
Crap.
Gotta disappoint right?

01 May 2024 14:31:40
Yep, ya, you bet yer.

01 May 2024 17:06:04
I believe back in December,
McKenna and his Ipswich players took great motivation and determination to prove Leeds United and Southampton supporters wrong in dismissing Ipswich in top 2 race.

01 May 2024 17:34:39
Of course everyone is disappointed Aus.
The international break left us with a few injured, the welsh boys inconsolable and a fat dollop of fatigue, there you have it. It’s only small margins but it’s enough to derail a team that was bang on form, winning every game and destined for promotion.

I’m sick of hearing about Ipswich Baz, just do everyone a favour on here mate and zip it, please.
I’m sure I post on behalf of most on here? we don’t give a shijt about McKenna and Ipswich.

01 May 2024 17:35:41
Yes and No Aus.

After the start we had, I predicted that we would finish 6th therefore making the play-offs and that would be that. So in that respect I'm correct (and we still have a chance of getting promoted) .

But obviously considering where we were just a few matches ago then can't pretend I'm not disappointed with what has happened and where we are likely to find ourselves.

One game to go - still a chance:)

01 May 2024 17:43:42
No one said you did give a shijy OP.

but it was you who were posting regularly on here about how 'carp', 'sheite', 'lucky', rugby thuggish ipswich were

and you and Ani that there was zero chance of Ipswich getting top 2 they had gone

You brought this up not I.

I pointed out your foolishness

Anyway it's over now they are up at Leeds expense.

01 May 2024 19:19:29
I thought tiredness wasn't a thing for professional athletes, George? 🤣.

01 May 2024 19:21:58
That's not entirely true though is it OP?

Every Leeds fan worldwide HAS GIVEN a 💩 about Ipswich these last 6-8 games, because it was all coming to a conclusion so each + everyone of us were taking an interest to see ramifications for our team

I say the above now purely as a courteous reply, no malice whatsoever intended OP

Before forum police arrest me 🤣.

01 May 2024 19:32:15
OP moving the goalposts again George. it was only 2 days ago that he insisted the ONLY issue for Leeds bad run was " nerves ". now all of sudden he has changed it to " fatigue" 😆

Chris indeed.

01 May 2024 19:36:56
Ecstatic about playoffs. Chance to showcase our lachrymatory future to a worldwide audience live and from our own ground. Yay 😁.

01 May 2024 19:58:51
I think you know what I’m talking about Chris, but is you prefer to take it in the way Baz prefers to elevate it then be my guest.

01 May 2024 20:21:12
OP, no need for you to be on defense mode with me 🤣

I genuinely wasn't taking the Mick.

01 May 2024 20:44:07
Nice one Chris 👍 not looking for anyone to take sides . Desperately disappointed like everyone else that it doesn’t look like we’ll make the automatic promotion.

Unlike Baz and Co who I believe are looking for point scoring.
Really wtf ?!

01 May 2024 21:51:03
Point scoring OP? Moi? Never!




Baz 16 OP 1 😆.

01 May 2024 23:24:03
Baz, why is it foolishness to express an opinion? We are all expressing opinions here.

02 May 2024 00:36:42
At least Baz and Co got the necessary points in April unlike Farke.

Here's a notion. Take George advice in first place then there's no point to be scored.

Here's another notion. Admit your errors.

The bench has been criminally underused. The first team have been criminally overplayed, overburdened and under relaxed.

02 May 2024 08:11:35
It’s too convenient to make that assessment George as it’s something nobody will ever know. How do you know if Farke had made more use of his bench we would be better off?
It’s no different from saying had we bought different players in last summer we would be better off now!

When you have a winning formula like we did before the international break you do not change it. Who knows why so many players had appeared to lose form, for me the pressure got to too many of them, the small amounts of our players arguing with each other on the pitch seem to suggest that.
Farke can only tell his players to be calm and not let the pressure get to them but then it’s only up to the players as it is them who are on the pitch.

I hate to say it but our team bottled it at the most important moment, that happens in football.

02 May 2024 08:24:49
Baz if only you you didn’t change your mind all the time to suit your agenda I could give some credit.
But sorry Baz, it’s nul point for you mon ami. 😉.

02 May 2024 16:33:19
OP

1. You miss the point yet again.
2. You appear forgetful again.
3. Convenient? You're having a 🦒.
4. How can it be convenient when I posted about lethargy before the fixtures in question? Basically I got it right and you chose to ignore. Demonstrable by your remark about professional athletes.
5. By resting players, I'm not interested in the results in those games per my reply to Bright. We probably would have lost 2 and drawn 1.
6. What I'm interested in is then the return to full energy with those who were rested for the run in.
7. What Farke did was to play those players and lose anyway! I'd rather lose but then receive the benefit conferred of the rest.
8. By not resting, we went on an extended run of doing badly costing us even more points (Sunderland, Blackburn, QPR) .
9. Thing to remember? Tiredness produces dip in form.
10. Overall, I saw the dip in form coming because I've been a studier of the sport a long time. Farke is a good manager but his failure to think ahead cost the club. Please try to recall that I did post my prediction thoughts prior so there's nothing convenient whatsoever at all. Proof is in that reply of yours about professional athletes.

02 May 2024 17:38:11
Well said George 100% factual post

You most certainly did post about lethargy tiredness and the need for rotation before those fixtures in question

Fair play George.

01 May 2024 14:32:22


Dillinger has submitted an article entitled, Potential EPL Signings For Leeds United

01 May 2024 14:16:29
Thanks Dilli, just had a quick read through your article and will return to it later this evening - guys it is an excellent piece of work and I would thoroughly recommend it to all of you.

01 May 2024 14:23:03
Interesting post Dill

I feel signing a goal scoring multiple assist CAM/ AM playmaker is probably the most important signing Leeds need to make (be it for EPL or EFL)

The one AM that Dill recommended is as he says likely bound for top club.

01 May 2024 17:06:05
Good informative post Dill ala Clueless who has also done some excellent similar posts in past

Well done pal 👏
Clueless there's your clue for a return of those great posts of yours 😉.

01 May 2024 17:54:34
Cheers, chaps. Still holding out hope we can get through the play offs, so wanted to post this one before then.

Currently working and have been working for the past week or so on a further list of players should we end up staying in the champo.

Will warn you though, it will be a drastically different kinda list given it will be a proper squad rebuild as players will likely be leaving left and right unfortunately 😩.

01 May 2024 19:22:08
We'll need a new squad if remain in the Championship. Minimum 15 incomings with all the sales and terminations that shall be made.

01 May 2024 19:34:08
Dill please try and find a CAM player similar in quality to Pablo and send it into Nick Hammond and Co.

01 May 2024 20:42:28
Agree, George. Will need a full squad rebuild if we remain in the EFL.

I think Sara can be that man, Baz. Definitely an attainable target should we go up. His passing range is quality. The key to unlock defences (including low blocks) .

02 May 2024 03:07:18
Yep Sara is good Dill.