Leeds banter 9

21 May 2026 14:39:14
Stach misses out on Germany selection despite not having a "serious injury". Actually think that's a good thing for Leeds. No World Cup for him to shine in and be taken off our hands and plenty of rest ahead of preseason. Good news I say.

21 May 2026 15:37:55
Disappointed for him, but from our perspective, yeah, totally for the best! Fresh, fit, and ready for our assault on the Euro places!

21 May 2026 13:46:49
Stach not in German squad for the World Cup. Sorry for him but it is a benefit to Leeds. He'll be rested and he won't be in the shop window.

21 May 2026 14:42:18
Just post this myself. Didn't see your comment. Apologies for being a parrot.

21 May 2026 15:10:03
No problem.

21 May 2026 17:10:46
Much like everyone, relieved that Stach won't be going, but it's a huge shame for him not to have made it after a stellar season.

I felt for the Welsh boys in not qualifying, but also a silver lining for us: they're not going.

I honestly think the summer is a unique opportunity to target players from countries either not in the national team squads or who didn't qualify. They'll be less at risk of burnout, and able to integrate much better in earlier training sessions. It still requires the right players, but player burnout is a real consideration.



Players like Palmer (no Chelsea fan here) . I sympathise with him enormously. He played a full Euros two yrs ago. Then a full Club World Cup. Then was likely to go to the World Cup, and there are quite a few like that. So many players are looking at Rodri-style injuries. Players need a sustained rest, but the fragmented interests of domestic, continental, international and even club (tours etc) factors ensure players do not get breaks anymore.

21 May 2026 18:02:22
Great post, Ealing!

21 May 2026 18:19:11
I think that players who are playing all the league games, plus going deep into European football, may feel some fatigue if they also go deep into a WC or EC.

For our players who are obviously not involved with European football at Leeds, I believe they would be able to cope with a major tournament and still be fresh for the new domestic season.
Some players thrive off it.

For example, Morgan Rogers has competed all season in the Premiership and the European Cup, and he looks stronger for it. Same for Declan Rice.

I'm not sure fatigue is a problem for all players who play a lot of football, especially for the ones who are winning trophies and medals.
You could even say that some would benefit from playing in a major tournament.

21 May 2026 19:16:29
I agree to some degree, although Rice and Rogers haven't had the extended lack of rest that others might have had. Rogers didn't play at the Euros, and both of them didn't have Club World Cup campaigns. So they both had rests last summer. Maybe that was the difference.

I think Haaland often looks a different animal first 20 odd games, then, by his enormous standards, wears out by Christmas.

He has a rest or injury absence. Then he ramps up again.

Most of the City and Chelsea squads, who are full European internationals, will have faced multiple, consecutive campaigns with no breaks. I think that's the difference, really.

21 May 2026 13:06:30
Now that Southampton are confirmed to be in the Championship next season, anybody agree with me that we should make a bid for Leo Scienza? Transfermarkt values him at £10M.

21 May 2026 13:56:35
They've got one or two that could probably make the step up. Scienza had a good season and was the player of the year. Finn Azaz had good ratings throughout the season and contributed with goals and assists. I've always liked Shea Charles when I've watched him. He is big and athletic, and can play across the back line and as a defensive midfielder.


There'll be the odd one to pick up from the relegated clubs. Forest and Everton are looking at Esteve at Burnley, and Fleming will leave. Just because they're relegated, it doesn't mean they're all duds. Both West Ham and Spurs look good on paper, but as teams haven't performed. I don't think the managerial situations at both clubs have helped.

21 May 2026 14:36:11
Harwood-Bellis, captain of Saints and with a recent England cap, may be worth a look.

21 May 2026 15:52:48
Handy player Class, but a dog turd too. I've said my piece on him on a different thread.

21 May 2026 17:12:21
Think Harwood-Bellis has work to do to get away from the Ayling nonsense in the play-offs. Already an uphill battle that one. Best moving on. I want a Hull win. Charge them £15m for Joffy. They won't be able to buy him if they don't go up.

22 May 2026 07:51:03
Wasn't at all aware of Harwood-Bellis mocking Luke until reading the article today. What a tool. Wouldn't have him within 500 miles of ER after that.

22 May 2026 09:11:27
That, particularly Class, but also his mocking binoculars celebration for one of their goals, was utterly classless, in light of the fact that they had unashamedly broken high profile rules only recently introduced. I think the boy may be lacking grey matter.

22 May 2026 13:51:20
Perhaps he gets his charm and tact from his future father in law. 😬

22 May 2026 14:29:01
Who is that, Dunelm? I've missed that one!

22 May 2026 14:41:46
Roy Keane. 😮

22 May 2026 16:53:27
😲😲😲 Keane would've hated that binoculars celebration!

21 May 2026 10:40:10
hearing that Slot is going to be removed as Liverpool gaffer. Thoughts Ed001? any idea who the replacement will be?

{Ed001's Note - be glad to see him go. I would like Iraola personally, but it seems most likely to be Hoeness.}

21 May 2026 12:54:27
Seems bonkers that they would remove him now after Xabi Alonso's announcement at Chelsea? It's hard to believe he would have chosen Chelsea if there were a Liverpool vacancy imminent?

21 May 2026 13:09:44
Apparently the board didn't want Alonso.

21 May 2026 13:21:59
Surely Stevie G (and Gary Mac) for the Reds.. no?

Yep, Ireola would be a great choice.

21 May 2026 15:07:45
I don't get why you are so surprised about Alonso not getting Liverpool job. A big job failure already under his belt, Liverpool need a more experienced man there. Not saying the next is guaranteed success, but Alonso may find the Prem too tough.

Next manager is crucial for Liverpool, decline needs halting immediately, not a 'let's give him some more time' managerial appointment.

21 May 2026 15:40:35
Said it before, but I think Iraola is the perfect fit, with his style of play, and their history of attacking football.

21 May 2026 10:10:05
Leeds United's top 5
EPL goals per game

1st Yeboah 0.51 goals per game
2nd JFH 0.49 goals per game
3rd Fowler 0.47 goals per game
4th Viduka 0.45 goals per game

And

5th DCL 0.41 goals per game


My player of season DCL has had a great season.

21 May 2026 12:06:21
No denying that, Baz. Let's see if he gets a surprise call up tomorrow to top it off.
He's been a shrewd and effective signing.

21 May 2026 12:15:14
Indeed, Brighty.

21 May 2026 13:01:02
From the pre EPL era, in his first stay at ER, the great John Charles got 150 goals in 298 games, 0.5 goals per game. In his last season with us, he got 38 goals in a 46 game Div 1 season - 0.83 goals per game.

21 May 2026 13:10:58
I have heard he will indeed be getting a call up for the 3 Lions.

21 May 2026 13:22:28
John Charles, a different class, JR!!
(one of) our greatest ever players!

21 May 2026 13:29:42
Strike out the " (one of) ", Baz. JC was the greatest ever player born in Britain imo.

21 May 2026 13:47:23
Yep, JR, the fact that he was immensely superb at 2 very contrasting positions, CF and CD, makes him very, very special indeed.

21 May 2026 14:38:56
Dear old Dad supported Devon, what can you do, and loved the Charlton's, but said John Charles was the greatest footballer he'd ever seen play. Praise indeed.

21 May 2026 15:46:12
I bought a signed (by JC) framed shirt at a Leeds Utd auction about 20 years ago, which is the first thing you see as you walk into my house. Right next to my personalised signed boxing glove from Ricky Hatton. My prize possessions!
A real gent too was John Charles.

21 May 2026 17:14:44
Think I read somewhere that Alex Ferguson said Charles would always be in his all-time XI and could play cb or cf for him. I don't idolise anyone, even from the Revie era, like I do Charles. If there's one footballer I wish I could go back in time and watch, or have them in the modern game, it would be him.

21 May 2026 20:11:36
Legendary Bolton and England striker Nat Lofthouse said John Charles was the toughest center-half he ever faced. Similarly, England captain and centre-half Billy Wright said that he was the best centre-forward he ever faced.

21 May 2026 07:39:13
{Ed's Note - MK Scouser has posted a new article entitled, Why I Think Liverpool’s Issues Start With Slot

21 May 2026 06:48:59
Great to see an English team in all white win a European trophy. Let's hope it's not too long until that team in Leeds United!

21 May 2026 09:36:04
Would be good Prime, esp if it were the Champions League. 👍

For me personally, I am not sure about how high the quality, and therefore prestige, (with the quality of teams that play in it) there is in winning, particularly the Euro Conference League (and even the Europa League) .



As a lover of 60s, 70s, 80s football, the UEFA Cup (teams qualified for it having finished from 2nd to 5th in their respective leagues) is/was far superior in quality to both the Euro Conference League and Europa League, my humble opinion!

21 May 2026 09:37:50
P.S. I was hoping Freiburg beat Villa.

21 May 2026 10:21:31
Why would you want that, Baz? I get what you are saying re Euro in the past, and it being watered down now. But tell that to a team that wins it. We should always support eng teams in Europe. Unless Devon, of course.

21 May 2026 10:43:57
I even want Scotland to win so long as they're not playing one of the home nations. I don't think the sentiment is generally reciprocated. 😂

21 May 2026 12:17:03
Not for me, Aus, not just Man U but many others too.
Dune.. Scotland? Woah.

21 May 2026 13:12:49
You don't even support England at international tourneys, Aus.

21 May 2026 13:23:56
😄 So true Alf re Mr Aussie.

21 May 2026 13:56:03
Irrelevant, Alf. For future reference.
I prefer Leeds and English clubs - Devon in Euro.
I prefer England rugby teams over Aus.
And I prefer Aus cricket tactics over England, although I would one day like England cricket tactics to grow up and beat Aus. You mistake my comments previously. I simply offer an alternative opinion to the narrow-minded.

21 May 2026 15:48:27
I always support English teams and home nations. Don't care if they don't reciprocate.

21 May 2026 17:17:29
I miss the UEFA Cup format tbh. Two-legged knockout straight from Rd 1. It added a point of difference to the group stage or league format we see nowadays. Not as lucrative, but big clubs always had to be a little on their toes.



I wish the Champions League had their current format. UEFA maybe had the traditional 4-team group stage format, then knockouts. Conference League had two-legged knockouts straight from Rd 1. Different formats would be more interesting.

21 May 2026 18:37:41
Indeed, Ealing..much more interesting.

21 May 2026 19:56:48
You prefer sandpaper type cricket tactics Aus?

22 May 2026 00:19:21
I prefer adult tactics and winning, Ani.

21 May 2026 01:40:40
If Sunderland beat Chelsea, I believe that gives them euro football next year. Pretty good effort.
You have Think, with a better start we’d be up there too.

21 May 2026 06:55:24
Thing is, Aus Sunderland have possibly overperformed this season, having watched them play, they are not as impressive as, say, Bournemouth.
For them, next season they will have to improve or do the same, and if they do manage European football as well, I can see them do something similar to Forest and drop like a stone.


The expectations on Sunderland next season will be very high, their fans will demand it, and if it isn’t, that’s when the problems will start.
Admittedly they don’t have an extremely demanding owner like Maranakis, but the pressure will be on them next season.

21 May 2026 07:23:45
I was thinking exactly the same, Prime, while watching the game.

We’re not that far off.

Aus, you have to take your hat off for Sunderland, no doubt, but the reality, aside from last weekend, is that they have been in free fall for the last 3 months. I’m with OP, I think they might struggle next season.

21 May 2026 09:39:55
The quality of the EPL this year has been lower than many previous seasons.. Sunderland are not a good team.

21 May 2026 13:14:55
Sunderland benefitted from an extremely favourable fixture list at the start of the season and their success was founded there. I don't think they would be where they are in the league if they hadn't had that 'advantage'.

21 May 2026 20:29:58
The main reason for Sunderland's exalted position in the league is that their financial situation meant that they were able to spend £156M net in the summer transfer window without risking infringing PSR rules. Leeds, by contrast, were only able to spend £106M. This good fortune will not be repeated this time around.

21 May 2026 00:54:59
Morita off to Villa apparently. Hope he paid for his own flight and ticket when he visited.