Leeds Banter 4

12 Oct 2026 00:41:42
Tbh. On that display v gunners yesterday. Mainly the first 60 minutes I am expecting very few problems next 4 games. 12 points gettable I reckon.

12 Oct 2026 01:12:12
Well Aus we've currently won 2 in 6 EPL matches

So to win next 4 matches
Man U ( H ) ,Sunderland ( A) , Bournemouth ( A) and Spuds ( H) would be somewhat amazing

Last seez we accumulated just 3 points ( 3 draws and 1 defeat) from these matches.

I am hoping for a realistic 7 points this seez but I am a tad concerned about our goalscoring.

12 Oct 2026 08:50:36
Hope you're right, Aus! That would be an amazing return!

12 Oct 2026 12:46:02
Agree Aus.

Keep it up lads, can't wait for you know who on Sunday!!!!

12 Oct 2026 13:16:59
Again, its about time we beat Man U at Elland Road in EPL, as Leeds have not won any of the past 5 EPL home matches vs Man U
(Harry Kewell winner the last home win)

It's a good opportunity because Man U arent that good at moment.

12 Oct 2026 13:34:22
Man U guy at my bar in Mandurah Australia dreading playing us. He reckons we will win easy 😳.

12 Oct 2026 18:48:40
I hope your man is right Aus, but the form book is usually out of the window for this one.

11 Oct 2026 17:25:48
A friend of mine came up with the best suggestion I've heard so far re a suitable punishment for Man City.

No demotion to a lower league - it's the Premier Leagues problem, not the EFL

10 year ban from European competition.

50 point penalty every season for the next 10 seasons.

No inward transfers for the next 10 years.

Now whilst some will say that's too draconian no doubt City will appeal and given that the footballing authorities have the backbone of a jelly it's bound to be reduced - let's say by half.

But 5 years and say 30 points is enough.

Think about it - let's say they get 90/95 points this season. Take away 30 and they are down to 60/65 points (that's top half of the table but no europe next year or any new faces coming in)

By the summer break the vultures will be circling and at least 2 maybe 3 of the big stars will be lured away (they are not going to get champions league for another 4/5 years and no chance of winning the Premier league) .

Therefore in the 2nd year without the likes of Haaland or Cherki for example, their points tally is going to be potentially down to 70/75 - which goes down to 40/45 after the deduction.

By year 3, at least a couple more stars will want out, and therefore the likelihood of reaching safety (which has to be a minimum of 65 points) starts to become increasingly unlikely and therefore by such time you could see them being relegated. That's important because demotion shifts the problem to the EFL whereas relegation is the 'normal' way of things.

By season 4 they will have lost nearly all their current squad, can only replace with their own academy players, are now in the championship, no champions league money and facing at least 2 more seasons of a 30 point deduction.

Finally, any money they receive from the sale of their star players must be used to pay off any of the claims other clubs may bring against them.

It's not perfect, but nothing ever will be, but at least this way it's a Premier league problem not an EFL one, and it punishes City over a period of time - in the same way that they cheated over a period of years.

Thoughts guys?

11 Oct 2026 18:57:17
If only Cleggy, but it's an interesting set of sanctions

For me my main wish is for :

1) The disciplinary commission impose the sanction of stripping Citeh of the numerous trophies they won between 2009 -2018.karma!

And

2) This process is expedited asap

However, very unsatisfactory for the sport's integrity, I think it is likely imo, that Citeh will get off very lightly with

nothing more than a one off points deduction, that wont be large enough to relegate them

plus a ( meaningless ) fine.

11 Oct 2026 20:14:28
To me the one overriding sanction that must, must, MUST be imposed is a compulsory change of ownership, and a ban on the existing owners owning any English football club ever again, and if 10 Downing St doesn't like then tough sh#t.
Then having cheated their way to multiple titles, they must be expelled from the PL, and whilst it's true it's not an EFL problem, it does partly work to their advantage in that reducing the PL to 19 teams creates an additional spot in the top tier of the football hierarchy and effectively an additional promotion spot in each of the lower divisions.

If the EFL re-admits them to League 2, that problem stops there. Points deductions, transfer bans and Euro bans would be irrelevant for at least 4 years, and fines or reparations could be considered separately.

11 Oct 2026 22:51:45
I'm not so sure Baz, I think the authorities have to be seen to hit them hard otherwise you are opening the door for other billionaire owned clubs to do exactly the same.

Only time will tell - let's hope they get a move on with it regardless, as they cannot keep on kicking this can down the road. It's gone on far too long already!

11 Oct 2026 23:21:25
Definitely concur with JR that there must be a change of ownership; but will there be ?

It's a good follow up point Cleggy

Well if you fancy a flutter on a more harsher punishment, current odds for Citeh to be relegated for the 26/27 season range from 5/4 to 9/4.

12 Oct 2026 03:02:13
But relegated where to Baz? Relegation to the Champo would be far too lenient, if that were all the punishment they got, they'd hold on to enough of their stars to virtually guarantee promotion back to the PL after just one season, then they'd be back shiny and new like nothing had happened. If they were sent to league 2 on the other hand, I can't see Haarland & co being prepared to put up with a minimum of 3 years out of the top flight, so they really would have to start again from scratch, but this time not with owners with bottomless pockets.

We were out for 16 years, Coventry 25, Forest 23, and Ipswich 22, that's what I think they should have to look forward to.

12 Oct 2026 08:40:16
I think they can only apply to join the football league at the bottom. So would have to start at league 2. That's what I read anyway.

12 Oct 2026 12:34:30
If that was Leeds I would be hoping for a lot less, it's the first of such incidents as with other incidents recently fine may be points ban on recruitment for 5 years, books done every six months. End of move on. ( good job I am not on the panel🤣🤣)

12 Oct 2026 12:47:48
If it were Leeds Whiteman we'd probably be playing on the local parks pitch next Sunday - you know how much the authorities love us!

12 Oct 2026 15:21:31
Cleggy I do unfortunately,we would still be calling for less,as I am now.

12 Oct 2026 15:23:57
If another club does it again they will be hit very hard just like Southampton has been,

13 Oct 2026 11:49:57
If relegated it wouldn't be possible to impose any points deduction in the following season's so maybe those deductions would have to wait until such a time they were back in the EPL.

Overall I think that's a big too harsh and can't see it being implemented but interesting thoughts certainly.

11 Oct 2026 07:39:21
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Who Are the Two Mystery Groups Interested in Buying Everton?

10 Oct 2026 23:26:02
Thought we were great, it's hard to go 1 up and then get beat but much improvement on last season and I'm happy and think we will have a great season
They just have much better quality on their bench and unfortunately we probably scored too early and jolted them into action
We are still building and think we on right trajectory, bring on them.

11 Oct 2026 06:58:49
Saying something that we are disappointed with not getting more from the game. Def improvement on last season so heading in the right direction. having said that Arsenal were poor. I can safely predict they won't be winning the title this season. And most likeiy nor will city. Over to spanking Devon now. Perfect timing.

11 Oct 2026 07:27:57
Melbourne, 100% agree against the best in the league we held them played some excellent football we are moving in the right direction, they sat back didn't know what to expect from us we scored then they had to push forward and they did in style one touch football quickly and caught us out.3 points lost but a great training session.

We need to put it behind us and move on to the next 4 game's.

11 Oct 2026 11:16:46
League table shows how we've improved, half of our games have been against top 4 teams!

11 Oct 2026 13:18:35
Canada 100% agree, top half of the table that's where DF wanted us to be and we are.

11 Oct 2026 13:36:03
9 points from 6 games.two of them away to Brighton and Gooners.

a good start by Farkey and team. keep going.

11 Oct 2026 13:44:48
If we are in the top ten after the Spurs game, I will be pleased.

10 Oct 2026 18:30:19
Nowt to do with the result, but Tierney was a rubbish ref as per usual. Hope we don't get him too many times this season.

10 Oct 2026 23:13:06
JR, he absolutely was, what was it, 4 bookings for us plus Farke and none for them. The Tanaka one was ridiculous. Regarding the game, we were excellent for over an hour, should have been two up, but the strength on their bench proved a bit too much. Two big things that affected the result for me, Trafford should have saved the first goal and in the first half in the build up to Gudmondsson's effort, DCL was fouled just before the shot.

But, overall a fine performance which if we mirror throughout the season we will be fine.

11 Oct 2026 01:12:21
I don't think Trafford was much at fault for their 1st goal, it was quite clearly a miskick from Calafiori, Trafford was going down to cover the expected shot, but instead it was scuffed into the ground and looped up over him. Any fault lay more with the defenders who didn't cut out either the original cross or the return header.

We were arguably the better side in the 1st half, and whist their strength in depth told in the end, 2:1 today compared with 5:0 last year shows how much we've improved.

11 Oct 2026 13:39:47
The appalling ref Tierney defo hindered Leeds with dishing out numerous harsh yellows.feel for Farke.

11 Oct 2026 13:44:08
Sorry but Jimmy Trafford gave off Hologram Meslier vibes for the 1st goal that went thru his hands.

It wasnt a howler but many good gks would save that

He got 5/10 and 6 / 10 across the board of player ratings. we needed him to be a difference maker vs Gooners and he simply wasnt.

11 Oct 2026 14:29:56
Agree. He coulda done better with fist goal. But. We shoulda been 3 - 4 up by then. Swings and roundabouts. It's a learning curve. To heavy bench turnaround def says our bench is moderate. Have to beat the Weaker 20 teams. The only way. And buy a decent am and striker in Jan.

12 Oct 2026 12:45:22
Baz we all make mistakes but Meslier made a lot more as did his replacement. James will soon be the number one for England and remember how good he was for Burnley the whole season I would have paid that amount then.

We all know we need a striker one step at a time. I guess that a few will almost certainly go next season because of game time age not being the first choice etc so changes will be made then you my get your wish.

12 Oct 2026 13:08:19
Fair points Whitey. thankfully Traffords no Mes but on his recent performances he has much to improve.many other clubs fans Everton, Gooners dont rate him ( highly)

10 Oct 2026 17:49:18
While losing after going one up would be frustrating - we were playing the gunners. We tire after about 60 mins, when their bench was deployed. Our bench on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired and we can't complete with a bench as deep as theirs.

IMHO we stifled them in midfield for 60 minutes, Rice was not in the game until after that. Our player of the game should be AO - he is growing into that forward thinking midfielder and he was hustling

So a huge improvement over last year and something that should keep us out of the relegation zone, as long as we can maintain this level of performance.

MOT.

10 Oct 2026 19:03:50
Good post CA.
I agree AO was excellent and I don't get why Farke always subs him half way through second half. When he and Okafor come off, which they always do, we lose momentum instantly.
Plenty of positives today. DCL was giving their CBs a tough time and Stach was back to his best, well nearly.


Trafford not great today I thought. Could definitely have saved the first and was in no man's land outside his box later. I expect better from a keeper for what he cost.

10 Oct 2026 19:20:42
What Corkey said.

10 Oct 2026 23:43:26
I'll admit pre-season I was thinking Tanaka was suffering the world cup hangover, Longstaff was making the starting place his to lose and that a rumoured £20m bid from Everton or Man U would have been welcome. I liked him but i hated the times he'd be robbed about 40 yards from our own goal.

He's so much better now. Credit to Farke. He was fantastic until the yellow, and after that merely quite good. Its a long season and Longstaff will be needed at times, But they should be thinking about a Tanaka renewal.

Great performance tough result. A first sub-par moment for Trafford. He made a decent save from Odegaard and a very good one from Saka at the end. But should have saved the Calafiori goal.

Manchester United are there for the taking, and they have a tough CL away game beforehand too.

11 Oct 2026 10:29:16
Credit to Farke? I don't get that Ealing.

11 Oct 2026 11:11:29
Don't agree that Trafford was at fault for the Calafiori goal Ealing, the shot was clearly miss hit, and deceived him by bouncing up over him rather than coming flat as he anticipated and prepared for. Defence should have stopped the ball coming to Calafiori for the shot anyhow, but one of their few mistakes.

Correct that MU are there for the taking tho, especially after a tough visit to Madrid before they visit ER.

11 Oct 2026 13:38:13
CORKEY it's what you could say he's damed if he don't and damed if he dose this site would be full of post as before it he didn't bring fresh legs on could have worked and nearly did at the end.
We had them in the first half didn't make it happen next time mate. And we had a long break that goodness that's over.

12 Oct 2026 09:35:13
All good JR, i still think he was definitely at fault for purely shot stopping - he got a big piece of it. I think Baz summed it up correctly - being 'at fault' isn't in the same league of it being a howler, but i expected him - and im sure he expected - to do better with it. Was it good defending on that one too? No, Gudmundsson got caught under the ball at the far post and we couldn't win the second ball either. Do that around the six yard box and you get punished, even by a mishit.

Jimmy's still a very sound keeper in my book.

10 Oct 2026 17:23:08
Didn't get the Birthday result but looked good for an hour. Then Arsenal refreshed with real class. Great improvement from same fixture last year. Team played well generally although Madueke was given too much room down their left all day. Their 2nd goal was class. We all know we lack creativity in midfield. DCL got little or no service again.

What a bunch of moaners in the Arsenal season ticket area even as Champions. Didn't cheer up and back their team until after 1st goal. We're building and it's slower than we'd all like but it looks solid. Should be a much better season. Hopefully we can continue to improve the squad in the next few windows.

10 Oct 2026 23:16:41
They are an awful fanbase OAS, you never hear them till they get in front. Remember Highbury the library.

11 Oct 2026 14:11:22
LUFC. 100%right they are 💩didn't sing until they got a goal. Are excellent away fans showing them up.👏👏.

10 Oct 2026 16:44:48
A great effort, shame we couldn't manage something. Strange that Arsenal players who were injured for their countries were now recovered. The ones who played all games were able to be freshened on the bench, suspect that made the difference.

10 Oct 2026 16:59:24
Said it before, they do that all the time.

10 Oct 2026 14:46:25
Disappointed to pretty much boss the game and fall apart for 20 min. My 87 yr old gooner dad recovering from hernia op watched with me. Said we should have won. No decent striker and finishers the reason. Threw 3 points away. Very annoyed after such first half dominance.

10 Oct 2026 15:02:43
The gulf was highlghted by the two benches Aus.

10 Oct 2026 15:23:07
Bettter than last seez but yet another defeat to Arsenal in this millennium.

Said it all summer window that Leeds needed more goals in team but we blow all our wedge of 85 million on a goodish gk and albeit good cd

Apart from the Newcastle match we have scored just 4 goals in 5 EPL matches and goalscoring is an issue.

10 Oct 2026 15:28:19
Agree Leodis, there bench can can make that difference over 90 mins and sadly thats what evolved.
Still very proud of our boys they put up a excellent fight.

10 Oct 2026 15:39:16
Someone did say on here a couple of weeks ago that we would see how far we've come when we play Arsenal.

Well now we know - a real step forward. Hugely disappointed to lose but this is a club which is going in the right direction.

10 Oct 2026 15:47:59
Baz if our keep wasn't changed from last season the score would have been more we are building as new squad starting with James look at how much arsenal team cost. I believe we did very well took the lead it's never going to be easy playing the best team in the league but we made it hard for them get them at home we may beat them.

And James made some great saves.

10 Oct 2026 16:05:15
Whitey. yep the Gooners squad cost a lot but they really arent that great

and not anywhere near the great Arsenal invincibles of 2004
.teams will beat Gooners this seez like Brighton easily did 3 nil in previous game.

10 Oct 2026 19:06:16
Correct Baz. They have a great squad not so much the team.

10 Oct 2026 21:39:45
If we had that squad and saying that you would he hung out to dry on here 🤦‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️.