Mighty Leeds Weblog

BY SAM TABUTEAU Giuseppe Bellusci's controversial stint at Leeds became symbolic of owner Massimo Cellino's tenure. Giuseppe Bellusci's time at Leeds United was marked by controversy and disciplinary issues, overshadowing any positive contributions he made on the pitch.  Despite being a regular feature in Leeds' squad, Bellusci's chaotic performances, disciplinary problems, and controversial incidents alienated fans and led to his contract being terminated.  Bellusci's tumultuous tenure at Leeds, characterised by suspensions and clashes with fans, reflected the chaotic atmosphere during Massimo Cellino's ownership. Giuseppe Bellusci arrived at Leeds United ahead of 2014/15 with a controversial reputation. During his time with Serie A side Catania, the centre-half consistently served suspensions for red and yellow card offences and this continued during his time in West Yorkshire. After missing his first two games as a Leeds player due to being

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke conceded some of his young players have lost confidence of late after the 2-1 defeat to Southampton. By Tom Coates Farke’s men went into the final day of the regular season with a slim chance of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League. However, Ipswich Town’s victory over Huddersfield Town ensured Leeds will have to battle it out in the play-offs. Some of Leeds’ most influential figures have struggled in recent weeks, a contributing factor in the club’s stumble over the finish line. Speaking after the defeat against the Saints, Farke said: “We have a really young side and some of my young players have lost a bit of their momentum, their confidence. "You could sense this today in the game. It's important right now to have time to prepare, to give them good moments on the training pitch to find their confidence back, their rhythm back, their momentum back. Obviously, there will be tough games upcoming. "We need to be a

Leeds United were condemned to the Championship play-offs as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Southampton. By Tom Coates Adam Armstrong and Will Smallbone struck either side of a Joel Piroe goal, although not even a win would have sent Leeds up automatically. Ipswich Town cruised to a victory over Huddersfield Town, taking the second automatic promotion slot for themselves. As the Tractor Boys enjoyed their day in the sun, Leeds underwhelmed in the grey and must now do battle in the end-of-season festival of drama. After being welcomed to the pitch by a vociferous Elland Road crowd, Leeds immediately took the initiative as they hunted an early opener. Wilfried Gnonto made an early dart into the box, only to slip and handle the ball to bring the move to an abrupt end. Southampton proved quick to bite into challenges in and around the box, leading to some early set-piece opportunities for the hosts. Crysencio Summerville found Joe Rodon six minutes in but the defender headed o

Leeds went into the final day needing both a victory against Southampton and a Huddersfield win at Ipswich. By Lee Sobot Leeds United's quest for an immediate return to the Premier League rests on the play-offs which Daniel Farke's Whites will approach following back-to-back defeats after Saturday's 2-1 loss against Southampton at Elland Road. Leeds went into the regular season's final day sat in third place and needing both a victory against Southampton plus a Huddersfield Town win at second-placed Ipswich Town to finish in the division's second automatic promotion place. Yet instead the Whites got the total opposite, Southampton leaving Elland Road with a 2-1 victory and Ipswich sealing automatic promotion in style with a 2-0 win against the Terriers. Ipswich have ultimately finished six points clear of Leeds who will now face Farke’s former side Norwich City in the semi-finals of the play-offs, the winners facing either Southampton or West Brom in the W

Whites captain Liam Cooper has had his say ahead of today’s regular season finale at home to Southampton. By Lee Sobot Liam Cooper has made a Leeds United promotion bid promise in sizing up the final day visit of Southampton and the damaging defeat at QPR. Daniel Farke’s Whites were dealt a hammer blow in their quest for automatic promotion in last weekend’s clash at Queens Park Rangers in which a 4-0 defeat paved the way for Ipswich to jump above Leeds into second. United must now hope that Ipswich end their season with defeat at home to final day visitors Huddersfield Town and also take three points themselves from today’s visit of Southampton, ahead of which Cooper has issued a message to the club’s fans. Writing in his matchday programme column, Cooper put: “At Queens Park Rangers, unfortunately you can have a bad day at the office and it was just one of those days at Loftus Road. We haven’t had many this season and the timing of it was unfortunate. “We know we didn’t r

Will Butcher Luciano Becchio is travelling to Yorkshire today to watch Leeds United as Daniel Farke’s side take on Southampton at Elland Road, telling fans to “dream”. It is judgement day in the Championship as the final weekend of a 46-game season is upon us. Leeds welcome fourth-placed Southampton to Elland Road in what could be a rehearsal for the play-off final. Farke’s men need to beat Russell Martin’s out-of-form Saints who have lost three league games in a row in order to finish second. Then, they need Huddersfield to beat Ipswich at Portman Road in a shock result. It comes after Leeds were battered 4-0 by QPR last week, handing the impetus to Ipswich in the race for second place. Beating Southampton is conceivable, but for Huddersfield to stun Ipswich is very unlikely. Simon Jordan doesn’t think Leeds have any chance of a win but Luciano Becchio is much more positive. So much so, that the Argentine is travelling to Elland Road with plenty of optimism of a potential wi