Leeds banter 10

03 Jan 2026 02:10:32
I will be happy for all home wins in prem this weekend. That happens we pretty much safe I reckon. With couple decent signings we can only get better from here.

03 Jan 2026 06:44:04
That would be great Aus, do really fancy Wolves against Wet Spam, but I don't think you can say we will be safe should that happen! Jan is a mare for signings, don't like it, players available are available for a reason and they have to fit all aspects of the squad and club, DF has said many times he wants a tight group and it's easy to cause disruption with in comings so it's a real balancing act and do we have the dosh? I would say cover with decent loans is likely rather than splash.

The less we spend the more we have for the summer. On to Sunday 😁.

03 Jan 2026 13:20:22
My bad. Can I ask for an away win. Only one 👍.

03 Jan 2026 15:37:09
Lookin good for 3 of the 4 important home wins Aus 😆.

03 Jan 2026 15:43:58
Ideally home wins for Villa, Brighton and Wolves and away win for Arse#### please. 😎.

03 Jan 2026 16:59:52
Just before Crimbo someone here suggested that Wet Sham had a run of 4 "easy" games to come. So far they've played 3 of them and only got 1 point to show for it. Like I said at the time, in this league there are no easy games.

02 Jan 2026 19:56:05
We will be without our long thrower against man united. A great shame as it reduces the options for us around their box.

I hope we don't get too cocky and expect a win as that will backfire.

02 Jan 2026 20:14:10
I'm sure there will have been a long throw in competition at the end of training!?

02 Jan 2026 20:52:31
Perri can chuck them long, apart from that I have no idea.

02 Jan 2026 22:23:25
A flame thrower might be more useful?

03 Jan 2026 15:46:18
Who says Amps is the only one who can do it? I'll make a small bet that we see someone else giving it a go.

02 Jan 2026 17:20:32
Harvey Elliott worth a bid, nobody seems to want him, he doesn’t want to go abroad, he cannot be loaned again?

He looks brilliant for England, maybe Ed001 can confirm if he’s worth buying?

{Ed001's Note - he can't play for anyone but Villa or Liverpool this season mate. You can be registered for 3 different teams, but only play for 2. Slot made a mess of that by using him for a couple of minutes here and there before the loan.}

02 Jan 2026 18:33:03
Thanks Ed, is he someone who could break back into the Liverpool team, very strange that both Elliott and Mcattee have gone backwards this season.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think Slot will give him a chance to, he could certainly offer something, though his time has been badly disrupted by injuries.}

02 Jan 2026 18:50:03
Liverpool have really messed this one up. I would have thought that we'd made an approach to take him on loan in the last window but even if we did then Villa would have been a much more attractive option. I've always liked his attitude and when he comes on late in the game he often seems to add a spark and urgency to Liverpool's play.

02 Jan 2026 22:24:39
We were interested in buying Elliott in the summer but the asking price put us off. A shame as I really like him as a player. Could have been awkward in the dressing room though first training session.

02 Jan 2026 12:43:18
Last night at Liverpool we were without our best CB Joe Rodon, but the three lads that played were all good against a top side. Maybe I'm sounding like a cracked record here, but if our budget is limited for new players in the Jan window, we should be prioritising a striker or attacking midfielder/ No 10 rather than a CB.

If DCL or Nnecha (or both) gets injured our potential goalscoring options are limited.

02 Jan 2026 13:23:50
Nope. Striker. First. Not sure we need an am anymore so for me. Striker or two, goalkeeper and possibly additional cb. In that order. Bet we buy a winger first. See if recruitment team have learnt as much as Farke this season.

02 Jan 2026 15:18:04
CB and 10 are the clubs priorities in that order. Will only bring in a striker if we move Piroe out.

03 Jan 2026 03:34:58
What if we move out piroe last week of window and not get a replacement. Should get a striker if we manage to shift Harrison or mez. Regardless. Namecheck is good for last 15 v lower level competition. But not week in and out if dcl injured. Striker a must.

03 Jan 2026 16:16:13
I really really hope that strategy doesn't come back to bite us later down the line. 🫰.

02 Jan 2026 10:57:01
Can we not appeal Amps yellow card? Him AND Rodon out is like half a team missing.

02 Jan 2026 12:42:27
We can always appeal Leo, but Leeds United on the paperwork brings up a mandatory refusal.

02 Jan 2026 13:10:16
No, we can't appeal as it's classed as a "judgement call" by the ref. The only exceptions are VAR upgrading a yellow to a red, or post match appeals in cases of mistaken identity.

02 Jan 2026 13:35:24
I thought there was the t shirt rule regarding handball? It seemed to hit Ampadu at the top of his arm.

02 Jan 2026 13:53:31
Think you have to give the rest of the team credit too, Rodon’s boots have been filled, the same will be done for Ampadu against Man Utd.
We have the spirit of a team that will fight for each other, that I do not doubt.

02 Jan 2026 14:34:32
Very unfortunate Leo, but I guess a plus being Amps has his cards wiped and now has the full 10 limit for the rest of the season. Good squad usage last night, brave decision and of course it gives a little respite for key players. I would expect Gruev to come in for Amps, Stach and Ba or Ao, JJ or Bornauw to cover Rodon, Boges back in with Okafor and DCL up top, so still a good formation with also a Willy on the bench.

All in all a great point and gritty performance to go 6 unbeaten and maintain confidence. Just my opinion of course 😆 Bring on They Who Must Not be Mentioned. UTWDTP.

02 Jan 2026 10:17:56
Bornauw went off during game, was it an injury or maybe cramp? If he’s not fit for Sunday do we put Justin in that roll? He looked more than capable.

02 Jan 2026 15:32:56
Cramp I believe.

02 Jan 2026 04:49:29
Not the best game to watch but a very gritty performance. Was shocked with team selection. Thought that many changes was iffy. But couple moths ago we or I was moaning he never utilised his squad, so fair play to him.
Born and Justin look very capable. Born for struik please.

Maybe get a new goalkeeper rather than cb. For such a big guy he is woeful. Rooted to his line. Poor.

But. Happy with a dogged point and please please win the important one.

02 Jan 2026 09:34:32
Lucas Perri. First Leeds GK to keep a clean sheet at Anfield since John Lukic in 1995.

02 Jan 2026 12:27:54
Thanks to the defenders bright. He did his best to continue the tradition in my eyes.

01 Jan 2026 20:50:37
Great point. Two stolen from the scousers in total.
Another team where one player is worth more than our squad and we make them look pedestrian.

All the team did fantastic. JJ and Bornauw playing like squad regulars.

My MotM goes to Gruev as he did great tackles and was a big of a menace as BA usually is, who had another great game.

BA, Gruev and Okafor have some goals in them.

Feel gutted for DCL, a few inch away from 7 in 7 and I hope it doesn't knock his confidence. By all rights he scored against last season's champions within 10 minutes of coming on.

01 Jan 2026 21:49:35
Don't worry Mo he has 7 in 7 anyway and the fact he had the ball in the net will keep his confidence sky high. We looked so much better when he came on.

01 Jan 2026 23:58:56
Don't mind that he started on the bench tonight. He's played a lot more football than his body is used to recently and good man management from Farke to give him a bit of a rest.

Agree Gruev for a player who doesn't get many minutes these days held his own.

Hope Bornauw will make it for Sunday did well, but with Amps and a Rodon out we look a bit threadbare for when United come to town defensively. Not that they don't have their own selection issues in fairness but if bornauw has a true knock we might be forced into a back four.

On a more positive note in the first game of the new season we played the defending champ away and got a point, west ham drew at home in a must win game in the context of their season and forest also lost at home in on paper a game they must have targeted for three points.

In points terms its the same gap as ahead of gameweek 18 but minus a difficult away game for us and minus a good home game for both our rivals. We get anything against united and if west ham fail to win at molineaux at the weekend it'll be increasingly promising.

02 Jan 2026 07:26:19
Agree with all that Ealing.
Good post.
Let nut the custards. 4-0 for me. Bring it on.

02 Jan 2026 07:44:00
Great points Ealing.

02 Jan 2026 10:35:32
I think we stole the legendary Anfield too, it was like a bloody library yesterday.
Cracking point on the road for Leeds, team performance and well done to the fringe players that took their opportunity 👏👏
Bring on Man Ure.

02 Jan 2026 10:41:23
please don't use that Leeroy. It originates from a very nasty song created by Baggies' fans about the Munich disaster and was from a line about the Man Utd players being manure on the tarmac.

02 Jan 2026 11:56:05
Do us a favour Ealing stop calling them United where United as well.

02 Jan 2026 15:35:25
Ed001 how have you posted as a poster and not an Ed there? Never seen that before.

{Ed001's Note - easily. My account works for both, as do all the editors. It was just because I accidentally pressed submit before putting in the reply.}

02 Jan 2026 19:54:20
Good to see you getting in the trenches with the rest of us, ed lol.

{Ed001's Note - I do feel like this site could easily give me shell shock at times!}

01 Jan 2026 20:50:33
Great result that. Apparently the first goalless draw for Liverpool in 117 games. Thought we played really well and yes we were clearly trying not to lose first and foremost but that's the way it needs to be when going somewhere like Anfield. Losing Amps for the next game is a big blow though.

01 Jan 2026 21:50:04
Very annoying as it wasn't even handball!

02 Jan 2026 01:11:43
Another one of those alleged handball incidents where the concept of intent was ignored.

02 Jan 2026 07:44:46
Don't let the facts get in the way of penalising Leeds.

01 Jan 2026 19:33:35
Big point that, back 5 were brilliant. Shame Bornauw got a knock, thought he was very good considering it was his first proper start.
Hard to call a man of the match.
Possibly James Justin.

01 Jan 2026 19:45:08
Anyone but that ref and Perri could have been MOM.
Ampadu or Stach for me but JJ and Bornauw both did very well.

01 Jan 2026 19:46:31
Agree JJ for me, although any of the 3
Centre backs were also excellent. GG struggled with Pingpong was relived to see him moved to right back when Chiesa came on.

01 Jan 2026 19:56:30
I'd take a point at Anfield anytime. I was concerned that we might be a bit vulnerable tonight with the change at the back but Bornauw, after looking a bit shaky in the first few minutes, grew into the game. Played well and it will boost his confidence as he will be needed.

JJ probably deserved mom which is good because some Leicester fans were quite happy to see him leave. Played well tonight. We just need to roll over Man Utd on Sunday. They were really poor against Wolves and were lucky to come out with a point.

01 Jan 2026 20:35:19
Indeed. Solid performance, well earned and deserved point. I was also pleased with Bornauw; looks solid. Justin very capable in his own right, and possibly unlucky he has someone as good as Boges competing with him. Gruev came in and did a good job, as did Nmecha!
Who'd have thought that performance and result possible just a month ago!?

01 Jan 2026 20:48:21
Seb will be fine - that was tactical I think as opposed to a genuinely bad injury.

01 Jan 2026 20:50:27
I thought Gruev was our best player. His positioning was bang on all game and even got forward well at times. Apart from one bad pass at the end he was superb.
Bournow done well too as the JJ. Two players who have hardly played which is a good sign of squad morale.
Ampadu was way off it I thought but he has been excellent lately so I’ll let him off one bad game.


Always thought it funny how different people see individual performances differently?
Great point which could have been three if not for DCL sticking out a leg to become offside just before he scored.

01 Jan 2026 21:09:27
All credit to DF for securing a point at Anfield with several significant changes all of whom never let us down, particularly impressed with Justin tonight, looked a bargain for the money.

Could have nicked a win too, just a shame that Amps will miss Devon after his booking.

01 Jan 2026 21:35:39
Agree Corkey, Gruev was fantastic. He is the Ronseal of the team and can do some cracking tackles and disposessions.

Apparently Barnowl and Gruev just have cramp, nothing serious.

01 Jan 2026 21:37:09
Serendipity. Something that occurs by chance. There was no indication that there was a plan to go to a back five (Farke doesn't do it) but the decision was made at the Etihad as a last throw of the dice. He was nearly out of the door and that decision, whoever made it, has probably turned our season around and saved his career at Elland Road. We have suddenly become a very difficult team to beat. We now need to offload some of the players who are capable but not able to perform in the Premiership and bring in upgrades in areas we are vulnerable.

Piroe is great in the Championship but hasn't enough pace. Send him back to Holland and get Parrot in p/ exchange? A new CB. Desai on loan with obligation to buy if we stay up. Which we should. Pay off Mez's contact and end the agony. If we look for a new reserve keeper next season I'd have a think about Dubravka. He's done okay at Turf Moor. Find a home for Jack Harrison. And a no.10 on loan. I'd like a plan 2 if the current favoured formation doesn't work in a particular game. No 10's are usually quite adaptable and can play as an AM or out wide.

01 Jan 2026 22:41:43
DCL and Amps demanded changes apparently.

01 Jan 2026 22:56:39
That a joke Alf? Are you telling us that you have a mole in the dressing room?

02 Jan 2026 01:29:32
So far in the last month I think I've seen us play what looked like 4:2:3:1, 5:3:2, 3:5:2, 4:4:2, 4:3:3, 3:4:3, 5:3:2 and even 5:4:1 often changing once or even twice during a game. If opposing teams are even half as confused as I am then they'll have no idea how to set up to play against us.

02 Jan 2026 08:02:37
Should’ve sacked Farke in the summer, chancer.