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29 Jun 2024 16:54:38
Archie off to Brentford for £35m it seems.
Devastating.
1.) 29 Jun 2024 17:03:59
No chance.
2.) 29 Jun 2024 17:22:05
My confidence in the 49ers stewardship of this club is dwindling.
3.) 29 Jun 2024 17:46:35
A deal up to £40m not to be sniffed at.
Now let the other bidders enter the game. This one ain’t over yet!
4.) 29 Jun 2024 23:39:07
I'll be sad to see him leave. He's a cracking player and a Leeds lad.
We can't be selling all our assets or we've no chance next season.
5.) 30 Jun 2024 08:03:36
Whoever we sell, will be replaced. I would also be sad to see him leave, but an acceptance of a fee like that, means he will definitely be leaving, but I think it will be elsewhere, and not Brentford.
17 Jun 2024 01:23:59
This is really out there but I was playing Football Manager 2024 tonight and at the end of the first season. got a bonus of 1.5m from Bournemouth on account of their staying up (avoiding relegation clause) from the Tyler Adams deal.
Anyone know if this is genuinely in the deal or not. Sounds weird but FM has a way about it, the level of detail in the game can astound so worth wondering about.
1.) 18 Jun 2024 13:48:22
ive not heard anything about that - maybe just in the game?
06 Aug 2023 23:25:17
Leeds being linked with Pantelis Chatzidiakos from Alkmaar for a relatively low fee (around 2.5m) .
Also reports that we're still (yes still) talking to Liverpool about Phillips for a fee of 10m if all adds on are met. So a bit cheaper than the direct 10m that was being talked about earlier if i understand it.
1.) 07 Aug 2023 15:42:27
I can't even say it, let alone sing it!
2.) 07 Aug 2023 16:59:58
He'll need an extra large shirt regardless.
3.) 08 Aug 2023 16:42:22
Chat - zid - e, - akos.
4.) 08 Aug 2023 21:35:25
Close Chris, the C is a silent one.
5.) 08 Aug 2023 22:26:46
Just call him Pants.
Ealing BKB's banter posts with other poster's replies to Ealing BKB's banter posts
14 Aug 2025 00:58:53
Hi all,
Been a while, hope everyone is well. My take on the DCL news.
I wonder if we offered him say 70k a week if that is what the deal is for how long I don't know, 3-4 yrs with relegation release and wage cut on relegation?
70K sounds a lot but in footballing terms that's around 3.64m a year. Bearing in mind any fee we pay for a player doesn't include the wages. Yes there might be a generous sign on fee but it doesn't sound awful.
It does feel like a punt, but if you add James Justin for.
26 Apr 2025 19:33:31
So thinking ahead to next season for transfers (players hopefully, not coaches) . My fellow Leeds fan and I in my office drew up a list of 6/ 7 targets for:
GK, LB/ RB, CB, CM, 10, Wing.
GK - I've said I want us to target him before, but Fenerbache's Livakovic. Feel like buying any keeper from outside Germany, France, England, Spain, Italy etc can't be wildly expensive but he does have pedigree. £15m or other options.
RB - Kyle Walker-Peters, still set to be a free agent at the end of the season, can also play RB. Free
CB/ LB - Ben Davies. The Welsh contingent grows. Chemistry with Rodon, He's a good, solid Prem player and with one year left and at 31 can't be breaking the bank. 7.5m?
RB/ LB Max Aarons. Look I get he 'rejected' us for Bournemouth and it hasn't gone that well for him. Even the Valencia loan hasn't worked. This is very much a 'Farke' job and see if he can't get back to the Norwich version. Bnmth paid £7m for him and objectively he's regressed so £5m offer and see.
CM Kalvin loan back on favourable terms only. Meaning no fee,
1.) 26 Apr 2025 19:56:59
GK Livakovic is a great shout Ealing. very good reliable international goalie
YES PLEASE.
09 Mar 2025 20:16:26
Is it time we cut our losses with Firpo as the LB/ LWB and embraced Firpo the centre forward? I can't be the only one impressed with the way he gets into positions up and there and his aerial threat with the goals against Sheffield United and WBA, and damn near scoring twice today. Among all the other disappointments in the game, I couldn't help but love the idea of it. I think he's played there once or twice for the national team.
Or conversely, do we think he's good because of the surprise factor of the Lb getting up there and it wouldn't be that effective.
1.) 09 Mar 2025 20:56:05
Firpo as 10, Schmidt as LB. Schmidt is fast, clever and quick with his feet. It's absolutely criminal that he doesn't get more game time.
2.) 10 Mar 2025 00:03:02
Ealing I posted this suggestion couple weeks ago.
I'd have already dropped Baracus.
3.) 10 Mar 2025 10:07:49
Firps does just have a natural knack for getting into the right position at the right time, and is very good in the air attack wise too!
4.) 10 Mar 2025 12:10:27
As ever Firpo good going forward. pony so bad defensively . just as he was vs Pompey.
24 Feb 2025 22:29:57
I'm so confused still with Meslier.
That was a big mistake (after a top save) . And yet there's clearly been an emphasis with him to be less static and paralysed like he used to be. He's trying to come for stuff. I think he actually had an excellent second half, yes he's responsible for their goal, but his positioning and grabbing that through ball on the edge of the line, a few regulation saves, and that take in the last phase of the game under pressure from Robinson. If his positioning and decision-making isn't top class on that through ball its 2-0 and too far for us to make it back.
I was a keeper when I used to play park level, school etc and what annoyed me about his old mistakes was passiveness, sloppiness or being paralysed by a previous mistake. These days it seems different - he's at least trying to come and be proactive, the stuff that he should, and its a curve, a difference from staying rooted to his line like he's practically done for years. Clearly the GK coaches are trying something different and is it working? Jury's out but its something different and had to be.
This isn't me advocating for him to stay, continue as No.1 upon promotion (if we get there) . i don't know if this will work or make him a better keeper but its different.
I think his problem is nerves as much as anything, it's a bad trait for a keeper and one of the hardest to fix/ clear, and the bad news is that if you get real nervous, it manifests physically, but he settled well in the second half.
1.) 24 Feb 2025 22:57:59
He was very nervous in those opening moments, and it was clear to see. He was very unlucky with that mistake, but it was still a mistake however unfortunate. He again made up for it with some good saves, and the team as a whole, of which he is a key part, stuck in, fought on, and got a big result. Good times!
2.) 24 Feb 2025 23:42:33
Top post Bright. Meslier was nervous and lacking reassurance from Farke on the touchline and amperdu Infront of him. He was unlucky.
On the flip side, this is the second time we have won 3-1 where we scored all of the goals ????.
3.) 25 Feb 2025 01:23:33
Bloody good post Brighty and spot on regarding our keeper Meslier, he was unlucky for the goal and the challenge before that where he jumped and got nowhere near the ball was because the Sheffield Utd player weighed down on his shoulder, if you watch it you will see what I mean. Young keeper with lots to learn but he is getting better,
21 Feb 2025 12:07:31
Question for everyone:
Do we think Meslier has turned a corner on his generally poor (and occasionally wretched form) of the last 2.5 years?
My reasoning is he's only got another 18 months on his contract and were we to go up and him play well back in the Prem he could leave for free at the end of next season. Basically, do we reckon he needs a new contract this summer?
1.) 21 Feb 2025 12:48:35
A newly promoted Leeds in EPL would naturally be facing far, far more shots on goal than they have this season
A better keeper than Mes is a must.
2.) 21 Feb 2025 13:06:37
Without doubt mels has saved us more points than he has lost.
3.) 21 Feb 2025 13:26:04
Sell now. For bag of chips. No new contract just give away. Promoted or not. He is not a goalkeeper. He even spilled a sitter of a catch in one of his better games.
I didn’t bring him up whiteman. Don’t have a go at me. Everybody has opinions. Right or wrong.
4.) 21 Feb 2025 13:54:51
Wexxy . which gamez has Mes specifucally won us points?
Sheff Utd away 20/ 21. Liverpool away 22/ 23. Leicester away 23/ 24
Err .
Whereas there is a very long list of matches Mes has lost Leeds points.
5.) 21 Feb 2025 14:00:14
I offered the Question, I'll add my view. I think everything is contingent on promotion, and how he does til the end of the season, because I'd be very happy with him if he stays in current form. Taking and giving the banter back to the Sunderland fans felt like a indication his confidence, is returning. I think the very best keepers need confidence bordering on arrogance, think Martinez, Neuer and Illan needs that. He has another 10-12 games and if he can stay solid and secure in that spell I'd offer him a three year extension to 2029 on his current terms.
I think a backup or even more direct challenger is required though. Darlow doesn't do that.
I don't know if it means he's our No.1 for that time I just think he needs a new deal IF those parameters of promotion and relative consistency til the end of the season are met.
6.) 21 Feb 2025 14:30:50
Ealing I believe he has turned a corner but imo it's insufficient to be considered EPL class. Upon recent performances, he's probably elevated himself to a mid-table Championship GK.
As for what we do, I'd offer a 1 year extension only in the summer to protect value and actively look to sell him based on his misleading clean sheet stats (which is a team stat) .
Think he'll return to France ?? or hopefully be part of an unsuccessful promotion push from the Championship by Ambrosia in the 26/ 27 campaign.
7.) 21 Feb 2025 14:31:57
Definitely keep, madness to sell him this summer.
I think his goalkeeping has always been on a upward trajectory and still is.
8.) 21 Feb 2025 15:10:43
Question for OP
As you know in past 2 seasons LUFC have firstly been relagated then failed to achieve Champo promotion back to EPL
So OP, apart from yoir criticism by LUFC of the recruitment of getting Jessie March
have you OP EVER criticised any other decision from LUFC hierarchy or indeed anything else at all LUFC related in past 2 or 3 seasons?
Dont think you have ?.
9.) 21 Feb 2025 16:41:40
Baz,
Firstly, this is Ealing's thread with regards Meslier so keep on point or have some respect and start your own thread
Secondly, duh, the username has Optimist in it and you asked about critiquing! Give your head a shake.
Now, Ealing, apologies for the detour but here is my opinion.
With regards to Meslier, I am in the same boat as most posters so far in that I would not feel confident in having Meslier as my number 1. I think it has been shown that a very good keeper is needed in the Premier league, should we get there!
However, I would rather we sold Darlow and Cairns. Promoted Mahady to 3rd keeper for experience, and demoted Meslier to 2nd keeper as he is a more capable backup than either Darlow or Cairns.
10.) 21 Feb 2025 16:47:19
Depends on who else is available and at what price. There are definitely better keepers out there but Mes isn't a bad option. Gets way too much hate but its the way of some Leeds fans to always look for scapegoats. Easy to pinpoint errors but not so easy to count excellent saves. I agree he has certainly been responsible for saving more points than losing.
11.) 21 Feb 2025 17:44:41
Cuppa
Can you name me even eight matches out of his 200 matches that meslier was man of match ie Mes had match winning performance.
12.) 21 Feb 2025 17:47:28
Axe . Mes has stated he would not accept being number 2 . gawd knows why so adamant given his meh performances.
13.) 21 Feb 2025 18:49:24
Agree with OP. I don’t believe he was ever a bad keeper he made some mistake also defensive mistake did help. And as been said he has saved us more point then he has lost us,
14.) 21 Feb 2025 20:14:01
At least he will have a defense in front of him if promoted to the premiership.
15.) 21 Feb 2025 19:43:21
Too much focus on his occasional errors when even the top keepers make them also. As Alf pointed out, he’s an easy scapegoat when we don’t win a game.
He does receive way over the top hate which in no reasonable way can be justified.
The fact that he is still our number one tells me all I need to know, the rest is just background noise which means very little.
16.) 21 Feb 2025 20:21:48
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Has Mes helped with those clean sheets? We've no idea if an unknown and new keeper would Mess with the back four, or disrupt our balance.
We are working well. We don't need to beat Man City or Chelsea, we just need to survive the first year and our squad is better than Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton.
17.) 21 Feb 2025 20:33:44
Oh god don’t mention the m word. Yes it was a very vaild question and point/ post but it’s trying to debate with the insane.
Mentioning meslier on this site is akin to debating if we should burn witches in the 1700s in Salem.
18.) 21 Feb 2025 21:07:57
Very funny Berm, there’s criticism and there’s a witch-hunt ? never known a player for Leeds that has been flogged more than Meslier.
19.) 21 Feb 2025 21:21:56
Well flogged by me Phillips but rest of the fan base yeah poor mes gets it! You have to go some ti make me feel sorry for a French man but I do feel sorry for mes … sorry le gash.
20.) 21 Feb 2025 21:27:30
It’s also worth considering that Meslier is a part of the that model and rythme that we play to and being top of the league he is an important part of a system that works very well.
Don’t underestimate the value of Meslier in this successful team, he is a intrinsical part of it.
21.) 21 Feb 2025 21:27:53
James Trafford having a great match for Burnley who are winning 2 nil
a great match winning keeper
a 3 horse race for top 2 places.
22.) 21 Feb 2025 22:32:29
Not sure whether you’re tetchy about the Wendies losing or Burnley winning?
19 Mar 2025 00:04:11
I think there's a deal to be done - as ever at the right price.
Is Phillips right now worth the clickbait £20m mooted, absolutely not. Is it true that his best form and performances came for us? Yes. Media have to read the climate too. If he can't get in the Ipswich lineup regularly and is an albatross contract for City, their bargaining power really isn't all that. I'd offer a loan with maybe 40-50% of his wages, and an offer linked to appearances to buy out his final year entirely (about £8m) if a clause of say 25 league appearances is met. If the love/ motivation of playing for Leeds again nets us a player that's 80/ 90% of the one that left its a good deal. City might think they can do better than that, if so good luck to them.
I happen to think Phillips would be an upgrade on Gruev (who has done a lovely job for £5m-but would be found out in Prem) .
23 Aug 2024 12:07:31
Said earlier this window I wouldn't want him for what Bournemouth paid as he didn't have the best season for whatever reason. £5m to buy now (to use in tandem with Bogle) , or loan with £8m option if we go up. Seems to have lost his way but maybe Farke relationship will help.
12 Jul 2024 21:08:53
So my boss is a Blackburn fan and said this
Unusual midfielder, has a goal in him and a good dribbler. Hasn't done much with his career in recent years (putting his words politely) . Maybe his loan spell at Southampton is him turning a corner.
Sounds like a slightly better version of Alex Mowatt, in the sense he scores eye catching goals.
12 Jul 2024 21:07:03
Think it says a lot that they're looking to move on so quickly after signing him, possibly injury and/ or attitude problem. Yes working with Farke might help his undoubted talent resurface but no guarantee. Would be interested at £5m or a loan with option to buy at £7.5m but not for £10m. Worth revisiting if expectations are lowered.
04 Jul 2024 11:32:34
I don't know I think almost every player has a price in this squad. If we paid around £5m for him and were offered around £10m then I would take it. We have Rodon, Struijk and probably one of Wober or Cresswell for CB, Amps will play in CDM and be cb backup, Aaronson will be involved in mid/ CAM, and I rate Gruev higher than Kamara myself. Someone or even two from Gruev, Ampadu, Kamara and Aaronson are likely to be the odd ones out on the bench given (for now) we likely accommodate three from Rutter, Summerville, Gnonto and James. I'd sell Kamara for a good profit (and only a good profit) and look to maybe use Charlie Crew as the second mid option from the bench.
15 Aug 2025 23:43:14
Think Burnley's biggest loss is Trafford with his insane expected conceded goals stat.
When you think that Burnley paid up to £20m for Broja who is just as if not more so injury prone than DCL and they will have had to pay wages on top of that too. Only thing that Broja has over DCL is he's a little younger. Makes me feel better about signing DCL for sure, not that we don't need more.
We're playing a bit of a dangerous game but maybe there's something to be said for keeping the powder dry a little. Teams blink, other factors make a player available for loan or transfer. Hell even Raphinha was a very late window buy. Not that I expect to find that but we have more flexibility than teams like Sunderland surely.
Justin for 7m sounds good, leaving a marquee 10, and maybe a sneaky return for Solomon on loan again. That would be a nice window.
26 Feb 2025 10:11:10
Think he'd be lower on my list than some. Yes he's 32 but for me he's not a young 32. He's had knee surgery and more than one serious shoulder dislocation, which would have my alarm bells ringing, particularly the shoulder stuff. Misses too many games because of that and you wonder if there'll consequently be a performance decline earlier than normal with keepers. There's a deal to be done at the right price, but not one that Newcastle would probably accept.
My list would probably look more like:
Livakovic (Fernerbache)
Kelleher (Liverpool)
Ramsdale (Southampton)
Pope (Newcastle)
Livakovic is excellent and Fenerbache only paid around £7m for him a few years ago, so double their money on him and he's 30, perfect age. Kelleher very close behind him, Ramsdale and Pope I'm less keen on, think they're for one reason or another not that big an upgrade on Illan for different reasons. I'd pay £15m-20m for Livakovic, £20m for Kelleher, not more than £10m for Ramsdale and less even for Pope.
21 Feb 2025 14:00:14
I offered the Question, I'll add my view. I think everything is contingent on promotion, and how he does til the end of the season, because I'd be very happy with him if he stays in current form. Taking and giving the banter back to the Sunderland fans felt like a indication his confidence, is returning. I think the very best keepers need confidence bordering on arrogance, think Martinez, Neuer and Illan needs that. He has another 10-12 games and if he can stay solid and secure in that spell I'd offer him a three year extension to 2029 on his current terms.
I think a backup or even more direct challenger is required though. Darlow doesn't do that.
I don't know if it means he's our No.1 for that time I just think he needs a new deal IF those parameters of promotion and relative consistency til the end of the season are met.
13 Feb 2025 15:12:54
I think Bermo, discussing the fact that Bielsa spent 45m to get us up and Farke lost 120m worth of players is a little misleading in one sense. Using transfermarkt Leeds net spend in the summer of Bielsa's arrival (18/ 19) was just under 4M (Bamford signing was more or less offset by selling Ronaldo Vieira) , and we bought Douglas. It may amount to a little more depending on loan fees and wages.
After failing to get up, we then sold Pontus 6M, Clarke 11m, Roofe 6m, Bailey P-F 2.75m, Saiz 2.5m ekuban 1m and a few others that all told probably brought in around 1m (Cibicki, Pearce, Halme) .
All in that's around 29m out.
We brought - Costa loan with the 15m obligation, Meslier loan with the 5m option that we exercised. Agustin in Jan with the 21m obligation on promotion.
so across two seasons to get promotion it was probably around 22m net spend on transfer fees which is pretty reasonable.
I also want to add that for Bielsa to get up / build that team, he was building it from a team that finished 13th the year before, and 15 pts off the play-offs. That is a far cry from working with a squad of players many of whom had been playing three years of prem football, that Farke got to work with, its no slight just the circumstances.
Farke's first season Leeds spent around 36m on Piroe 14m, Ampadu 8m, Gruev 6.5m, Kamara 6m, Spence loan 1.1m, Darlow 400k
Obviously, we sold around 56m in direct fees Tyler Adams 26m, Sinisterra 23m, Rodrigo 4m, Hjelde 2m, and Farke had to work with the obscene loan debacle. I don't blame him for the early games where we failed to get some points because of that. I do think he is more accountable for the end of season collapse when we were well placed, and the second chance to rectify it in the play-off final against a poor Southampton.
Leeds and Farke then had to pay the price of no promotion by selling around 130m worth of players in Rutter, Gray, Summerville and fees brought in from Cresswell, Roca, Llorente, Kamara profit.
Re-invested what we could into Rodon 12m, Largie 8m Bogle 6m, Tanaka 4m, schmidt 3m, and the rothwell and solomon loans.
I think Farke failed in not getting us up last season, he's done fantastically well so far this (I wasn't so sure 12-15 games ago but fair play since then absolutely) . I also think the recruitment since relegation has practically been spot on in the context (maybe GK aside) . Tanaka what a player! Keep it up I'll be very happy I just wanted to dive into the context between Bielsa and Farke, both have had trials and issues.
The numbers so far are great for Farke this season, I definitely enjoyed the football more under Bielsa (that's just me) , Farke is more exciting than most other Leeds managers in my time. Get us up and I'd be very excited to see what you could do with a net backing of 70-80m+ in the summer, that you never got at Norwich.
12 Feb 2025 19:12:01
In all honesty those stats don't fully reflect Meslier, but the defence overall. Rodon, Ampadu, and even the team with Aaronson and James' work rate, Tanaka, Gruev, Rothwell, even Piroe's improved pressing in recent games.
Also just being dominant in a lot of games. if we have the ball and control it means the opposition have less chance to do anything.
The commentator on Sky last night was so lazy calling Meslier as having had an outstanding season- probably just looked at our clean sheet record. He hasn't had an outstanding season. I think his last six games, and particularly the last 2-3 games have been very good. You balance that out with the poor games like Hull and Portsmouth and Sunderland he's approaching average for the season I'd suggest. Keep the performances of the last few games up and he'll amount to above average overall for the season with an optimistic projection for next, and if that's the case hopefully a new contract in the summer.