Leeds Banter 2

01 May 2026 12:19:50
I still think it can wrong even at this late stage. It's different from previous season when points tally was a good guide. This season all three clubs in the mix are starting to pick up form and it's more than possible that all three could win two more games than us before the end of the season.

I know it's more than just one player but if Okafor is absent we tend to drop points and lack penetration up front. If he's injured and we decide to play James I think we could be in trouble.

01 May 2026 11:33:13
Good day gentlemen,

Fortune favours the brave and tonight we have will have to be, to break down a potentially very stubborn ten man Burnley defense.
Even though they have no coach, I still think they will make it very difficult for us.

Glad to welcome back one of our star players in Stach and although Gudmundsson is out I can see Justin doing a very competent job even though he is not left footed.

This is the game that I feel we can put this relegation story to bed once and for all.
I still believe Spurs even with their very narrow win over the worst team in the league will not get the points required to survive.
By the way anyone thinking that is arrogance on my behalf, it's not, just my opinion is all.

I decided after some thought that i would continue to post on here, there's enough good posters on here to still do that and enjoy some good football banter.
For the others, looks like as Ed1 reminded me, I got a lot of scrolling past posts to do.
As I do admit, I do get very wound up be some of you habitual moaners on here.
Not anymore 😉.

{Ed001's Note - good to see you back and that is the best way to deal with it. No point letting people with vastly different viewpoints get to you.}

01 May 2026 13:27:34
Welcome back OP, I concur, good post.

01 May 2026 14:03:49
I didn't even want to see you go, and said that in a post. 🤣 You're an integral poster to our group.

Agree or disagree, that's irrelevant.
Welcome back (often went to shops longer though) . 🤣

Nah, seriously.
Welcome back.

01 May 2026 14:51:44
Great to have you back, mate! I sincerely mean that.

01 May 2026 16:36:50
Appreciate the comments fellas and to you too Ed. Last thing I wanted to be on here was annoying, I don't usually get wound up in general, but football and especially Leeds United it sometimes gets the better of me.

Just so you know it's not that I wanted to change anyone's opinion on here, even if it looked like it. Surprisingly Aus is one of my favorite posters on here who is pretty much totally opposite to my opinions, long may that continue 😀
Enough of all that for now, tonight is the night we book our ticket for another season in the Premiership, tough or frustrating game maybe, but one I see us winning.
It's Dom for me and I'm hoping for a brace from him.

01 May 2026 17:29:42
Glad you changed your mind, pal!

01 May 2026 18:28:05
Glad you changed your mind, OP. Always enjoyed your posts. MOT.

01 May 2026 18:52:24
Great to have you back OP.

01 May 2026 19:37:29
Apologies OP - hadn't spotted you'd gone but glad you're back anyway. : )

01 May 2026 20:20:21
I thought you'd miss us and change your mind, OP. There's nowt wrong with having different opinions to some (or all) of us. You may not set out to change anyone else's opinions, but politely challenging their arguments, so that they do so, is the essence of friendly debate, which is what this site is about.

If you disagree with me, I do hope you'll say so. I won't take offence.

02 May 2026 06:52:38
Welcome back OP, always good to read you mate.

01 May 2026 07:50:36
If we have 100 coin to spend in summer. No fringe players please. Three signings. Up to 50 on striker. 30 am and 20 on central defender. 3 starters. Shift the loanees although I'd like to keep rams. And the no good to us anymore in squad which amounts to about 5-6 players. Our starting 11 has to be better next season.

01 May 2026 12:07:49
Need to splash on a decent keeper too, Aus. I would make that first on the list, get it done early doors. The imponderable, of course, is the World Cup. Doubtless there will be a frenzy to sign players that shine, but it's late in the off season to do that and prices will be inflated, and what if you sign before and they have a stinker or get injured? I would hope we already have our targets and are working on it.

01 May 2026 12:27:42
Nothing wrong with Darlow, Vid. Personally, would strengthen in other areas!
Carnt see us getting Trafford, too many clubs after him!

01 May 2026 13:09:23
Yeah. I'd give Darlow bit longer. He has been able.
Think we should have our targets before the World Cup, vid. All I ask. Make an offer. Put a deadline on it of maybe a week and move on. Once clubs see us move on, they will be more likely to say yes or no. Not maybe.

01 May 2026 13:30:20
No problem with Darlow, Aus, but we need another good calibre keeper, which it seems Perri is not. Would you want to go a season with him as the only alternative?

01 May 2026 15:14:04
Strange as though it may be, Dubravka has been outstanding this season according to my Burnley mate. He's 39? But maybe a good no. 2.

01 May 2026 15:19:01
I.e., I think Darlow has done ok.

01 May 2026 16:36:33
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the first thing I do as the end of the season approaches is scour the contract expirations list.

I judge it by: what could be realistic (ie Lewandowski out of contract, but impossible) , and what we could use or need. It doesn't mean I think we should shop there exclusively, but if we can find what we need without a fee, it just means we can redirect the finances to other areas. I've come up with a few names. I basically use Transfrmarkt so if some of the players listed have agreements more or less sown up with other teams and not reflected there, apologies.

Danilo Doekhi - he's been linked for a long while, out of contract, and everything we seem to hear about him sounds like an upgrade on Bornauw.

Eric Martel - a giant defensive minded midfielder at Koln - would compliment alongside Stach and could backup Ampadu for injury/suspension or positional rotation. A likely upgrade on Gruev, Longstaff and Tanaka.

Rico Henry/Andrew Robertson/Ben Davies - Gabby is the No.1 choice and yes Justin can fill in there. But he isn't left-sided. Henry is still sort of finding himself after rough injury years, and Robbo in the twilight with good experience and the system with three at the back could hide his declining pace. One or the other to backup Gabby would be a nice shout. Davies is really getting on now but decent back up to Gabby, you get the sense he wouldn't complain about it and could cover CB in a pinch too. Think Byram +10% and could be great with the Welsh lads.

Harry Wilson would be nice, but with a superb season I don't see it now unless the Welsh lads have a bigger sway than I thought. Part of me thinks he's overachieved this yr and based on his career to date that form isn't sustainable.

Jonas Wind - 6'3 Target man type. Perfect for our set pieces and the Amps long throws. Has had a bit of a stop start season with injury, but played 35+ games in the two seasons before this one, 20 goals across those two years.

Wildcards - Myron Boadu - young prodigy who never hit predicted heights, Ross Barkley - age beginning to show but some flair there, Nabil Fekir - was extremely talented but been in Saudi or similar so question marks on how high his level remains. But a flair player certainly in his prime.

Recognisable names I WOULDN'T touch: Vincent Janssen (31, strk formerly of Spurs) , Allan Saint Maximin (formerly Newcastle) , Raheem Sterling (should remember) , Stones (too old, would command too much money for decline and too injured) . Adam Webster (similar to Stones) . Patson Daka (Leicester) .

Things could change. If we sold Bornauw and a too good offer for Struijk for example came in, then trials for Webster or Stones if they wanted a chance to prove their fitness, Stones especially probably wouldn't do that, then fair enough.

If I could choose two players from the list I provided, I think Wind is the player that could help us position/depth wise the most despite the fitness question mark. He wouldn't backup DCL and Nmecha I think he competes directly with them, maybe winning the starting job. I think Martel is the best-quality player there. Other higher quality players like Julian Brandt and Bernardo Silva obviously out of contract, but fell into the category of not realistic for us.

Looking at goalkeepers, its a real thin market there especially this yr.

02 May 2026 07:15:27
Another excellent post, Ealing!

01 May 2026 07:39:12
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 34 - Quick Round Up

01 May 2026 06:43:49
I think our game v spuds should be seen as a free hit. We win then they are down. We lose still more points to play for. I'd throw the kitchen sink at them. I'd go 4-4-2 and pummel em from the off.

01 May 2026 07:36:30
Totally agree, Aus! I'd even consider playing rush goalie for the last 15 of normal time, or "goalie when 'Ned'" as we used to call it!

01 May 2026 10:39:38
We win v Spuds (and Burnley) , and we are defo staying up, but they could still stay up too depending on how Wet Sham do in their remaining games.

30 Apr 2026 18:25:32
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new video entitled entitled, C U Next Time - I Wanna Be Like You Edition}

30 Apr 2026 15:47:51
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 34 - Quick Round Up

30 Apr 2026 13:40:15
As part of our Green Credentials, are we having a mass of Solar Panels incorporated into the new development?
Q - On a cold winter's night, who can be relied on to provide all the hot air?

30 Apr 2026 17:05:55
I can think of a few peeps.

30 Apr 2026 20:10:24
Baz, I am so tempted to state the obvious, but will resist!

30 Apr 2026 13:11:53
Classic quote from the late great Eric Morecambe in today's Daily Telegraph
"I used to play football in my youth. Then my eyes went bad. That’s why I became a referee."

30 Apr 2026 14:44:31
Man. Morecome and wise. Ma pa still kicking at 85 used to watch them all the time. I was allowed every now and then. But most of the time heard the theme tunes of
Virginian. Morecombe. Cilla. Bruce. Top of the pops. Match of the day and heaven forbid. Dixon of dock green.
From the stairs hoping and waiting to be called in to watch.

30 Apr 2026 17:09:31
Bruce, an absolute television entertainment legend, Aus.. Really liked the Generation Game.

30 Apr 2026 17:39:08
Yes, I used to tell the captains that, at the beginning of every game during the coin toss. It helped keep the mood a bit jovial, and also sent a warning that if players shouted at me, and did it repetitively, they would have to accept a present, in the form of a nice colored card. ..
Most times it worked. ..

But, in fairness to the Refs, they are being told (I know a couple of FIFA guys) to allow certain things to go, and if it's bad, VAR will catch it.

Looking at Arsenal's game yesterday, that was a clear penalty, but the VAR told the Ref that there was not enough contact to award it . Again, they are being told by those in charge what they should call and shouldn't, instead of letting them make the decision.

Really want to see how many get sent off, for a second offense, when they cover their mouths to talk to each other.

Sometimes it's a very lonely and thankless job.