Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Don Mort, Local Democracy Reporter The sale of land at Elland Road could attract £2billion of private investment to the city as the council presses ahead with the move. Leeds City Council said the redevelopment of the site could include 2,000 new homes. The Labour-run council is set to sell 30 acres of land around Leeds United’s stadium, which is itself set to redeveloped under plans by the club. The land sale would be made to a joint venture company set up by the club and Lowy Family Group, an investor in United’s owners 49ers Enterprises. The stadium is set to be expanded to a capacity of 53,000 after Leeds secured planning permission. Deputy council leader Jonathan Pryor, speaking at an executive board meeting, said: “The development of Elland Road and disposal of this land will hugely benefit the local area.” Coun Pryor said funds raised from the sale would be used for infrastructure projects in the city. Councillors agreed in principle to press ahead with legal ...

Joe's big coat Words by: Chris McMenamy After several minutes spent alleging unrepeatable things towards a fan in the away end, the Leeds fans in the South Stand erupted as Joel Piroe made it 3-0 to United. The vocal minority of Elland Road were speaking on behalf of 36,000 people whether they liked it or not. Leeds were cruising to a win against a brave but ill-equipped Norwich City side and almost everyone inside the ground had reached a state of zen that felt unachievable in recent weeks. Despite being the third Championship outfit Leeds have faced in their FA Cup journey, the Peacocks’ fifth round tie was the first to feel in any way reminiscent of the 2024/25 centurion season. Dan James sped past opposing full-backs like they weren’t there, Ao Tanaka looked a step ahead of every Norwich midfielder and Joel Piroe finished a gilt-edged chance when it was presented to him. And they all did so without having to get out of second gear. The difference between twelve months a...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have given themselves a decent chance of a Wembley visit by beating Norwich City and overcoming an obstacle that has caused so many to stumble in the FA Cup. Daniel Farke sent a team with nine changes out onto the Elland Road pitch, keeping only Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ethan Ampadu in the starting line-up. He would likely loved to have rested his left wing-back, yet with a paucity of other options the Swede had to start again. In the last round against Birmingham City Farke did rest Ampadu and that experiment lasted just 45 minutes. Farke has often spoken of how difficult it is for individuals to shine and collectives to click when rotation goes beyond the norm of two or three changes, so he took a risk with nine. Despite the huge difference in personnel there was still a familiarity in Gudmundsson racing down the left and winning an early free-kick. Failing to make the most of the set-piece was also reminiscent of recent games. But it was a clunky ...

By Graham Smyth A 'perfect message' from Elland Road has been hailed in response to another Ramadan break. Elland Road sent a 'perfect message' during Leeds United's FA Cup win over Norwich City when players were applauded after breaking their fast for Ramadan. It made national headlines when booing was heard during Leeds United's game against Manchester City after a number of visiting players came to the touchline to break their fasts. But Daniel Farke and Leeds later pointed out that many supporters in the ground were unaware of what was going on, because there was no messaging from either club prior to the game and it was reminiscent of a 'tactical timeout' taken by City in the previous meeting. The Whites put out a statement before the Norwich tie asking fans to respect the breaking of fasts by Norwich players and Leeds attacker Joel Piroe. Referee Darren England stopped the game in the second half as Norwich prepared to make a number of ...

Leeds 3-0 Norwich: Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson struck first-half goals and Joel Piroe put the tie to bed Mark Walker Leeds cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years with a 3-0 win at Elland Road against head coach Daniel Farke’s former club Norwich. Sean Longstaff and Gabriel Gudmundsson struck first-half goals and Joel Piroe put the tie to bed in the closing stages as Leeds sealed a place in the last eight for the first time since 2003 under former manager Terry Venables. Leeds bounced back to winning ways after successive Premier League defeats left them three points above the relegation zone, while Norwich failed to reproduce the form that saw them win nine of their previous 11 matches in all competitions. Farke, who twice led Norwich to Premier League promotion and reached the FA Cup’s last eight with them six years ago, watched from the stands as he served a one-game ban for his red card in last week’s home defeat by Manchester City...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on Norwich City at Elland Road for a place in the FA Cup’s quarter finals. Leeds United booked a place in the FA Cup’s quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years as left back Gabi Gudmundsson particularly dazzled in a 3-0 win against Sunday’s fifth round visitors Norwich City. Leeds looked to have gone ahead in the 20th minute as Lukas Nmecha rolled the ball home from a Willy Gnonto knockdown to a long ball from Jaka Bijol but VAR intervened to judge that Gnonto had handled the ball in challenging keeper Daniel Grimshaw. The goal was disallowed but a dominant Whites ahead just after the half hour mark through a brilliant turn and finish from Sean Longstaff after Gabi Gudmundsson's excellent cutback from the byline. It was one-way traffic and Daniel Farke's Whites doubled their lead in the 42nd minute as a Dan James cross was only cleared to the excellent Gudmundsson who slammed home a clinical and no nonsense finish from the middle of...

By Stuart Rayner On what was shaping up to be FA Cup shocks Sunday, Leeds United professionally put themselves in their first quarter-final draw for 23 years, just not as comfortably as they had threatened to. With Southampton knocking out Fulham and Port Vale disposing of Sunderland in the earlier kick-offs, the potential for a Football League clean sweep over the Premier League was there, especially with nine Leeds personnel changes, plus a positional one for Ethan Ampadu, for the visit of Norwich City. It almost backfired for the Whites at Birmingham City in round four, but having overpowered the Canaries in the first half, they saw it out in the second for a 3-0 win. When Ao Tanaka put a simple square ball from deep out of play early on, the nerves started to twitch. But it only took 10 minutes or so for him and his team to find their feet and turn it into some very reminiscent of many of last season's home games in the Championship. Now, a club that does not really...

By Tom Coates Largie Ramazani will be a “different player” when he returns to Leeds United this summer, believes ex-Whites marksman Jermaine Beckford. Somewhat controversially, Ramazani was allowed to join La Liga outfit Valencia on a season-long loan deal in the last summer window. He had been part of Leeds’ pre-season preparations and even made the bench for the Premier League season opener against Everton. However, having struggled to nail down a spot in Daniel Farke’s starting XI last season, the 25-year-old was allowed to depart. He has had to be patient at the Mestalla, although has started Valencia’s last three league games and registered a goal in each one. There is no buy option in his loan deal and Beckford thinks there is a way back for Ramazani in West Yorkshire. Large Ramazani’s position assessed He told The Yorkshire Post: "There's always an opportunity, there's always a chance. He went out on loan because he needed game time. He wasn't be...

Stuart Dallas chats with Leeds Live about the opportunity Leeds United have been presented with this weekend Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United are two wins away from Wembley but one on Sunday will bring up a generational achievement in itself. Scores of fans have not seen their club reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in their lifetime, or living memory. Third-round goalscorer Wilfried Gnonto had not yet been born when they last made the final eight in March 2003. Leeds boss Daniel Farke was still operating as, by his own admission, “Europe’s slowest striker” for lower-league German outfit SV Lippstadt, a club he would take from sixth to fourth tier in his first management role. After impressing with Borussia Dortmund's second team, he attracted the attention of Norwich City, Leeds’ weekend opponents. Farke is not expected to be in the dugout against his former team on Sunday as he serves a one-match following his red card against Manchester City last we...

Farke was shown a red card following his side’s defeat to Manchester City before protesting the decision Rory Dollard Leeds boss Daniel Farke has been hit with a one-match touchline ban after confronting a referee following his side's defeat by Manchester City last weekend. Farke was shown a red card after jogging on to the pitch to remonstrate with match official Peter Bankes after the 1-0 loss. The German insists he did not swear or act aggressively towards Bankes but decided to accept the suspension, which came with an £8,000 fine, rather than contest it and risk a two-game ban. He will now sit out Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Norwich and be back in the dugout for the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on 15 March. Farke had earlier placed his red card down to the manner that he took the field, concluding: "I'm not like a butterfly or unbelievably cute when I jog. I have learned my lesson - I will never jog again." A statement fro...

Leeds United will come under new financial rules this summer but must first continue to navigate the current PSR system Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter Leeds United board member Peter Lowy is confident that the club will not fall foul of any PSR breaches this financial cycle. Leeds had maxed out spending limits by the end of the summer transfer window and any expenditure in January would have needed to be offset before June 30. As it played out, the only arrival was loanee Facundo Buonanotte. Therefore, Leeds are expected not to be at risk of any financial breach this summer, when new Premier League finance rules come in. If Leeds stay up, they will be under fresh ‘Squad Cost Ratio’ rules, allowing them to spend up to 85% of their revenue on players and the manager. United had voted against the implementation of this, having wanted to make a few amendments given they will be marginally worse off in the short term. However, the new structure was passed in November by 14 vo...

By Kyle Newbould The Leeds United boss was formally charged by the FA on Wednesday. Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is set to serve his one-game touchline ban during Sunday’s FA Cup meeting with Norwich City rather than risk further punishment through an appeal. Farke was formally charged with misconduct by the FA on Wednesday, having been sent off after full-time of last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester City. The Leeds boss approached referee Peter Bankes but insisted he neither acted aggressively nor used abusive language. The FA confirmed the reason for the charge on Wednesday. A statement read: “It’s alleged that the manager entered the field of play at full-time to confront the match official/s, which is contrary to Law 12 of the Laws of the Game, and he has until Friday 6 March to respond.” As with all FA charges, Farke holds the right to appeal but despite suggesting he did nothing to deserve the red card, he is expected to begrudgingly accept his punishment. That ...

By Stuart Rayner Awful match, horrendous gamesmanship, poor refereeing, an inconsistent VAR, Leeds United's first back-to-back home defeats under Daniel Farke... for the second game running there were plenty of smokescreens but when it came to what the Whites could control, the issue was the same. As defeats go, the 1-0 loss to Sunderland was pretty brutal, but "brutality" was what manager Daniel Farke felt his side were lacking. Yes, if video assistant referee Paul Tierney had presumably not nipped out for a coffee when Luke O'Nien had Pascal Struijk by the neck and shoulders, hauling him to the ground in the penalty area, things could have been different. Yes, if Sunderland had not reeled out a whole gallery of dark arts - and Stuart Attwell had not let them - to turn the game into one only its mother could love, momentum might - only might - have pushed Leeds to victory. There were plenty of other people for Leeds to legitimately complain about but it rin...

Leeds United director Peter Lowy has warned it's 'now or never' for the club's ambitious plans to expand Elland Road James Smailes and Amos Murphy Leeds United director Peter Lowy has warned it's 'now or never' for the regeneration of the area surrounding Elland Road. The Championship club is urging government backing for proposals that would see the stadium capacity increase from 37,645 to roughly 53,000. The Australian billionaire is championing what he describes as a once-in-a-generation chance to transform both the ground and its neighbouring districts. Lowy has cautioned that without prompt action, the opportunity for regeneration could be lost permanently. Speaking about the scheme, Lowy said: "Leeds is ready for it. If we don't get it done this time, it will never happen. It does need to be done in a timely manner though because people like myself and the capital that we have won't sit around for 10 years because we can invest whe...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict on Tuesday’s frustrating defeat to Sunderland. It is painfully apparent that nothing is going to be given to Leeds United so any rewards in the relegation run-in will come from one place and one place only. In the wake of a 1-0 defeat by Sunderland, Daniel Farke denied there was any complacency in the dressing room. It is still worth saying that just because you have earned points or deserved points against some of the best teams, it does not follow that points then simply arrive from winnable games. This one, against a fellow promoted side, under the lights at Elland Road was supposed to herald the start of the steady climb to sunlit uplands. Before kick-off, Leeds' Expected Goals [xG] created was exactly the same as the xG they had conceded. Lower midtable safety was surely beckoning. Beware the Ides of Marsch, however, because underlying numbers guarantee nothing. Before kick-off it was all set up for Leeds. Daniel Farke went to the well again...

By Graham Smyth The Leeds United manager was left bemoaning his side's wastefulness in the final third following defeat to Sunderland. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes Sunderland will struggle to explain their 1-0 win at Elland Road but bemoaned his side's lack of 'brutality.' The Whites had 18 shots, only four of which were on target, won nine corners to Sunderland's two and enjoyed 70 per cent of the possession but lost to the visitors' only shot on target. A second half penalty, poorly struck by Habib Diarra, was enough to send Sunderland to the magic 40-point mark. And while Leeds again had cause for complaint with the officials having been denied what looked a stonewall penalty of their own in the first half, Farke's big issue was with what his side lacked in big moments. "The bloody result [was what went wrong]," he said. "Sometimes it's difficult and tough to take. It's football sometimes. You're so, so domina...

By Graham Smyth The Black Cats frustrated Leeds United with a smash-and-grab win on Tuesday. Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris reminded his players of their previous Elland Road experience prior to a 1-0 smash and grab win over Leeds United. Thirteen months after they conceded a 95th-minute goal to lose 2-1 in the Championship, the Black Cats defended their way to three points and revenge over the Whites. Though they created little and set up to frustrate the hosts, Sunderland took the lead with a second half penalty and then fought for their lives to guard their net. "Very proud," said Le Bris, whose side moved to the 40-point mark with the win. "Happy for the lads, the staff, the club and the fans. This win away at Leeds means a lot. It was a question of energy, togetherness, intensity. I think we defended really well. The first half was brilliant pressing wise. They went long often. It was important to win the first and second balls. We weren't brilliant with ...

By Stuart Rayner "Yea... oh!" went the Elland Road crowd as Karl Darlow got in the way of Habib Diarra's penalty, but could not keep it out. It was a frustrating night for Leeds United, who had a goal disallowed shortly before Sunderland took their 1-0 lead and shot against a post in the closing stages. The fans lashed out at Sunderland's "cheating b******s", and some sang "1-0 to the referee at full-time" but really, the home team only had themselves to blame for dominating a game but not taking it by the scruff of the net until they were behind. Leeds had a bad night, their manager had a bad night, referee Stuart Attwell had a bad night and at a time when the debate about the quality of football in the division is stepping up, the Premier League probably had a bad night. Without playing well, a Sunderland team riven by injuries had a very good night. Perspective is needed. Losing 1-0 to the Black Cats will not relegate Leeds, or turn a ...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United took on injury-hit Sunderland under the Elland Road lights. Leeds United blew a chance to move nine points clear of the Premier League dropzone and ultimately suffered a second consecutive home loss as Tuesday night’s hosting of Sunderland ended in a 1-0 defeat. Chances were few and far between in a dull first half, Whites midfielder Anton Stach going closest with a powerful low free-kick from the edge of the box that keeper Melker Ellborg tipped wide with a flying save just after the half hour mark. A foul on Brenden Aaronson in the second minute of stoppage time gave Leeds and Stach another free-kick in an almost identical position but the German smashed his shot into the wall before Sunderland cleared for a throw. Ethan Ampadu sent his throw into the mixer but Sunderland cleared and quickly attempted to launch a counter but referee Stuart Attwell blew up for half-time, causing a furious reaction from several Black Cats players. Nilson Angulo had...

By Alex Grant A leading board member at Leeds United has thrown the club’s support behind West Yorkshire’s Mass Transit plans. Peter Lowy, Principal of Lowy Family Group and Director of Leeds United FC, joined other businesses, investors and political leaders in reaffirming their support for a mass transit system following a visit by Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy. It follows commitments from Chancellor Rachel Reeves to continue investing in the scheme beyond 2032 – in addition to funding to transform rail services in the region as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Leeds United is the latest high-profile organisation to throw its weight behind mass transit, alongside the National Wealth Fund and leading developer Muse. "I’m delighted that the Mayor and Secretary of State have reaffirmed their commitment to Mass Transit and we are here to support this important project. Mass Transit is vital to unlock the full potential of south Leeds and truly connect the city,” Peter Lo...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has spoken about his red card against Manchester City for the first time. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says he didn't swear at referee Peter Bankes after the Man City defeat and believes his full-time red card should be quashed. Farke was visibly frustrated with a number of officiating decisions during the 1-0 loss at the hands of the title chasing visitors, but the lack of time added on for during stoppage time was his biggest issue. Bankes spoke to Man City players on a couple of occasions to address time wasting and showed a yellow card, but Farke believes there was not enough time added on to the minimum of six that was shown on the fourth official's board. When the full-time whistle sounded Farke congratulated Pep Guardiola and then ran onto the pitch towards the referee, who produced a red card. Farke insists he used no foul language and was simply attempting to ask the referee why he gave a yellow for time wast...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Elland Road. Leeds United can feel pride, disappointment and a little fury after a 1-0 defeat by Premier League title chasers Manchester City at Elland Road. The Whites started brilliantly and should have gone ahead in the game, before a goal of typical brilliance from the visitors. Leeds ended the game firmly on top and should have had a penalty for handball, before the game was ended early in Daniel Farke's estimation. That was why he set off like a raging bull to confront the officials at full-time, earning a straight red card. Here is the YEP take. Good day Karl Darlow The goalkeeper has recovered from his mistake against Arsenal to do what he was brought in to do last season as well, steadying things between the posts. His performance against Man City was what Leeds needed. Smart shot stopping and efficient kicking. He helped give Leeds a platform by putting...

By Graham Smyth The Verdict on Leeds United's frustrating defeat against Manchester City. If Leeds United cannot take momentum from their performance in a 1-0 defeat by Manchester City then perhaps they can take righteous anger and turn it into rocket fuel. There was enough blame to apportion to Leeds themselves in the aftermath of an intense dust-up with the title-hunting visitors that the officials could not be handed all of it. The hosts had chances enough to draw or win the game and took none of them. But referee Peter Bankes, his team and VAR cannot be let off the hook and their contribution propelled Daniel Farke onto the pitch and straight into a red card at full-time. His anger continued to burn even after the sending off, captain Ethan Ampadu having to restrain him, and will likely still simmer deep down as he prepares his team for Tuesday's clash with Sunderland. A clash he will have to watch from the gantry. Farke said before the game that his side would have...