Leeds Banter 3

26 Jul 2026 22:29:50.
First time poster, are we going to see new signings tomorrow with the new Adidas wear?

27 Jul 2026 08:08:44
Welcome Rob, probably see Harry Wilson wearing the ridiculously priced shirt. Hopefully you see a new goalkeeper wearing one!

27 Jul 2026 09:45:49
Welcome Rob, great to have you on board.

Trafford in a new shirt would be fantastic, even better if he could bring his City colleagues (and Leeds United supporter) Haaland along with him. :)

27 Jul 2026 09:50:13
Good to have ya here, Rob!

27 Jul 2026 10:04:28
Soccerlord, lads, not a chance I am ever paying that type of coin again for a shirt.

Great quality, very fair prices.

27 Jul 2026 11:58:32
I've still got my LUFC Centenary Cup Final 1972 shirt. How many replica shirts does a man really need?

27 Jul 2026 15:50:04
Using that logic, JR, it's just the 1 pint you have, so is it? 🤣

27 Jul 2026 19:50:26
Welcome Rob, nice to read you.

27 Jul 2026 22:25:31
Certainly not, Chris, just a half and zero alcohol, I'm driving.

26 Jul 2026 16:15:05
If we can sign Trafford, would have a word with Ortega, who’s just left the Florists, his experience would help as a back up keeper.

26 Jul 2026 19:00:57
Great shout, Staff.

26 Jul 2026 19:37:13
Would be very happy with that!

26 Jul 2026 22:50:32
That's the sort of signing to be the No2, Staff.

27 Jul 2026 11:44:41
So many injuries already. Hope they get fit and ready to go.

27 Jul 2026 11:53:43
Ortega off to Olympiacos.

26 Jul 2026 07:16:40
Harrison gone a week of exits.
Hopefully tomorrow we will start with a week of incomings.

26 Jul 2026 07:55:13
At least the two exits free up money from the wage bill, and Perri is likely to be the next one. Comment that the fee is undisclosed for JH, so hopefully we got something to add to the pot.
No movement yet on Ramz or Joffy, and no indication re the contract situation with BA and Gruev.

If they don't sign, or we're not offering, they need to go.
Piroe is probably staying just to run his contract down, but there's always the chance that the other two will do the same.

26 Jul 2026 08:14:18
A great 5 years of goals and assists for a winger at LUFC 2018 to 2023, with the great Marcelo getting the very best out of him.

Badly messed around by the 49ers co-owners at the time, recalling him from a medical and allowing him to sign for Leicester for £25 million in 2023.



In hindsight, a very woeful, costly decision by the 49ers.

Thank you and all the best, Jackie. 👍

26 Jul 2026 08:21:33
* Not allowing.

26 Jul 2026 08:37:55
Good riddance. I did say after his calamitous loan period at Everton, the only ticket he had left in his football career was to a nothing club in the American soccer league or whatever it's called.


Think he was sold for a pittance, which in reality was all he was worth.
A clear stain and blight to Leeds Utd, and he stole a living from our club.

26 Jul 2026 08:47:54
.. Wow. 😄.. Deep breaths, OP.

26 Jul 2026 08:50:29
Think for me now.
DJ and Willy to go, to see if we can get something from them.
Half to see Jack go, but he did have a good period under MB, but then lost his way.

26 Jul 2026 09:10:06
Jack, (with his Mam's help) lost all credibility with his kissing the Everton badge and wanting to stay at a big club. How did he think that would work out on his return!

Marcelo got the best out of him, like many others, and Jack's fitness was his biggest attribute at the time.

I think this is an ideal move for both parties, and helps remove that unfortunate legacy, when a bunch of players were led by money, not loyalty.
I know, if I had family, I would have possibly done the same, but what goes around comes around, Jackie boy.

26 Jul 2026 09:12:20
He did do well for us under Bielsa and will be remembered as well for that winning goal at Brentford. The season after, despite us going down, he contributed again. The big issue was the contract he was given, that was a millstone for the Club when relegated.

So, it suited us to offload him to Everton to get some of his wages off the bill. It would have been better for us and him if they had bought him, but, understandably, they didn't, as his form really dipped in his second season there.

Having to return last season was not ideal for either party, and was never going to work out. So, this transfer finishes the chapter and is better for all concerned. I wish him well, and will remember his contribution in those exciting first three years under Marcelo.

26 Jul 2026 09:30:15
As ever, a very fair, level headed, well reasoned post from you, LUFCfeath!

Good stuff!

26 Jul 2026 11:41:18
Always ran down blind alleys, and often gave the ball away. Not a naturally talented player, he had to work very hard to even be mediocre.

Probably just gave up in the end. He'll try and grind out a wage packet in America and retire in the knowledge he made a lot of money from something he was not very good at. Anything else is just sympathetic apologies for him.

26 Jul 2026 12:20:06
He was great in our first season back up, 8 goals and 8 assists and decent the next season too.
However, he's a sly turncoat who jumped ship as soon as he possibly could. Granted, others did the same, but Harrison had been at Leeds four years at that point and showed zero loyalty after Leeds had given him an opportunity.


Baz, what exactly are you thanking him for? Unbelievable.

26 Jul 2026 12:33:46
If Harrison had spent as much effort on his ability as he did his Barnet, then he would have been a much more accomplished footballer.

Running to the corner flag and fluffing the final ball were his speciality.

And then running beyond the corner flag, out the door of ER, became his greatest achievement in his career.

On his best day he was average; last few years League 1-esque.

Made tons of cash, and that's that really.

Will never make a good impression on the huge majority of our fans.

26 Jul 2026 13:37:08
Corkey.

Yes, Jackie's best seez was EPL 20/21. 8 EPL goals and 8 EPL assists. He was sensational that seez.

He was also very good in seasons 21/22, instrumental in saving Leeds United from relegation, and 22/23.

Good also in our 2 Champ seasons, helping us go up as Champions.



Blame Leeds owners for the situation of the past few seasons since. They should have accepted Leicester's £25 million for JH.

For me, Feath's well balanced, fair post is spot on. Others, no.

All the best, Jackie.

26 Jul 2026 14:47:56
Why is, all due respect to Feath's opinion, fair and well balanced?
It's just opinions from all of us.

26 Jul 2026 15:13:02
OP. Yep, all about opinions.

And, in my opinion, Feath is a well balanced poster with well thought out, reasoned points (including his post on this thread) , and he has been for many, many years now.

AIMO.

26 Jul 2026 16:27:18
Fair enough, Baz. I won't argue with that.

26 Jul 2026 07:08:20
I know that was the first game, and a lot of those playing will not be on the pitch when the season starts. But not an encouraging start.

26 Jul 2026 08:19:03
Again, if Farke reverts this forthcoming season to his failed 4 at the back formation, then I'm not sure he will make November at the club.

Very interesting indeed that there is still no movement on a new extended Farke contract by 49ers.

This is his final year of Farke's contract, as things currently stand.

26 Jul 2026 08:44:17
Players are always rusty and unfit in first friendly. We only had Rodon in defense. These games have very little substance, more of a training exercise and working on tactics.

No surprise in Baz making wind stories about Farke getting sacked by November. It's repeat and rewind time again.

26 Jul 2026 08:50:25
5 at the back needed, OP.

26 Jul 2026 08:55:13
I think the formation and tactics were the worrying thing. Particularly the second half. As others have said. You can't play Bogle, Justin or Gabby in a flat back four. It will be disastrous.

And he won't make October, let alone November. Moving the ball was too slow. That's not fitness. That's tactics. Good teams will close us down and punish us big time doing that.

26 Jul 2026 09:07:11
Or perhaps rewind and repeat. For the discontented, they should start a big sing along of we don't want Farke, Farke Out. Losing or drawing just one game usually stirs up the anti Farke rhetoric.

26 Jul 2026 09:18:03
I watched the game live, and, as probably expected, we looked very rusty, especially at the back. Longstaff was our best performer while he was on. I did expect, with the players we had on in the second half, us to go on and win the game.

But we didn't really create much, and there were a lot of loose passes. Farke will be expecting to see improvement, as will us fans, as we play more games.

26 Jul 2026 10:23:51
Rusty? I see Wrexham must have played a few games then. If Daniel Farke goes back to the disastrous back 4 formation, he deserves everything he may get. I am not saying sack him, as, under the circumstances, he has done a good job and deserves to stay. Good luck, Daniel Farke, using those tactics; you will need it.

26 Jul 2026 11:11:14
Wrexham were on their third game, Oldbri. Polish side TS Wisla, 0-0, and Man Utd won 1-0. Regarding formation, surely he will stick to the same that served us so well from half time at Citeh.

26 Jul 2026 11:53:46
Perspective, fellas, perspective. Our first friendly, we started with young Alfie Cresswell and Linoe in defence. Rodon, only recognised cb.

Cairns in goal, who looks destined to remain a 3rd choice keeper.

Matty had a strong game, and Wilson played as a 10 when coming on.

Piroe missed a pen, but scored one. James had some good moments, and not so good.

Oh, and we flexed between 3/5/4 in defence.

It's predominantly about fitness at this stage of preseason. Worryingly, DCL is not ready as yet and remains on his "personal fitness programme", which, to be fair, worked well last season.

Priorities remain as keeper/striker and left sided lb/wb.

26 Jul 2026 09:31:21
Opti, Leeds played and we are debating the game tactics and result. Taking into account preseason and fitness.

We got undone by Wrexham. And although they are probably fitter than us, with the players on in the second half. We should of won.

26 Jul 2026 12:04:11
Reading the "banter" above reminds me of that Harry Enfield character Angry Frank, who imagined a problem and then argued how it should be solved. NOooo!

It was our first game and it showed. Longstaff was our best player and was head and shoulders above the rest. Rodon was at the other end of the performance pendulum.

Things I took away from it:

Wilson is going to be alright and will be a danger from set pieces, and will allow Stach to be in the box for corners rather than delivering them.



Goalkeepers, do you actually need them? I don't care how good they are [or not]; they are helpless if the defence is hopeless, and ours was last night. I am not sure either of our keepers actually touched the ball with their hands?

Longstaff was good and composed and got another good goal [even if it was in a friendly].

Most of the "kids" did ok, especially in the first half.

Hopefully, we might see a more likely starting 11 next time out and then it will be better to judge. NOooo!

26 Jul 2026 13:39:28
Ani lurve it. Some of Harry Enfield's characters are absolute genius.

Now, who is it that reminds me of Angry Frank?

26 Jul 2026 14:10:45
Suits you, sir.

26 Jul 2026 14:39:07
Classic Aus, their best ones ..

26 Jul 2026 19:51:20
Baz, with regards to the Farke contract, I would think it suits both parties. At the time, he's looking to see if the owners play ball with his wishes. No rush on both sides; if they don't, he will leave at the end of the season.

Also, if, as you say, he doesn't do the job, they can cancel his contract. But both sides are too busy sorting out all the other things on both sides, mate.

26 Jul 2026 20:31:50
Good post Whitey.

26 Jul 2026 06:19:38
We are finally rid of Jack 'Haradona' Harrison as he signs for New England Revolution.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Jack.

26 Jul 2026 08:19:19
Charming.

26 Jul 2026 08:49:01
In the end he wasn't even good enough to continue his career in the Championship.
I don't think I've ever seen a player who has fallen so far off the map as he has.
He was, let's say, a half-decent Championship player, but now?

26 Jul 2026 12:45:41
You are just trying to wind Baz up, Opti.

26 Jul 2026 16:54:28
Sorry, but that's not true, Aus. Just pointing out my opinion on a now, thankfully, former Leeds player that didn't rate very high with me.

26 Jul 2026 05:51:48
Harrison officially gone! Some hefty wage savings right there, which is great news moving forward. Undisclosed fee.

26 Jul 2026 03:06:00
No dcl Gruev or Gary tonight. Injured?
We need to move AO on. Not prem quality.
First game back I know that but tactics tippy tappy again, formation all over the place and very little threat. Undone quite easily.

Like the top teams. Need to move the ball quicker out of defense. Well done Rodon for full shift. Wilson looked good. Amps better in defense. See how things develop over next 4 weeks. Got that 4-4-2 dread.

26 Jul 2026 08:10:46
If we want to free up cash and improve our squad ratio figures. AO is the one to go, and we are reasonably well covered in midfield.
Hope we don't change formation. It might mean we don't have to look at any CB alternatives, but we might need two new FB's, as Gud and Bogle are fine going forward, but not the best defensively, and a back four needs two solid FB's.

26 Jul 2026 02:42:45
Good news, Jack Harrison's transfer to New England Revolution for an undisclosed fee is finally done, so a non-playing big earner is finally off our payroll. Whatever the fee is, it's a bonus. Lots of us thought we'd have to pay someone to take him off our hands.

26 Jul 2026 08:55:32
The fee, although undisclosed, was thought to be in the region of an upper six-figure amount.

26 Jul 2026 02:37:56
Nice to get back to Leeds Utd, result not so important, look a bit rusty but hard with changes.
Will be good to see what Tarik brings and hopefully back to 3 at the back as looked vulnerable.
Like look of Wilson, think he will massively improve us. Is he going to be on right wing or creating in MF.
I now hope we don’t go for Charles, imo our MF has enough defensive MF. I really want a CMF. Can we get Brandt over the line.


I think James, Gnoto and Piroe not good enough and be happy for them to move on. Would need a couple of wide players coming in, think wrong to exclude Largie.
Definitely need a quality striker too.
For me, like idea of Trafford but will also need a cheaper 2nd GK, Arealo from spam be decent back up
Don’t think need any players at back, have options with CB, possibly LB cover if Linoe not ready?