Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has apologised for an interaction with supporters at full-time of the Whites’ 4-3 Elland Road win over Bournemouth but says it came after significant abuse. By Graham Smyth The Spaniard was filmed chanting ‘sack the board’ at fans in the West Stand below the directors’ box, which has prompted anger online and a vow from the Leeds United Supporters Trust to take up the incident with the club. In a statement given to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Orta apologised for his role but revealed he has been on the receiving end of abusive phone calls after his number was distributed. “I would like to say sorry for my reaction after the game yesterday,” he said. "I don’t want to make excuses, but in the end I am human. The past few months have been very difficult for everyone at the club. I have been subjected to a lot of abuse in person, in writing and via phone calls, after my number was deliberately given out last month.” Orta, whose...

THE LEEDS WAY Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman It can be hard to tell what’s wearing Jesse Marsch down most, the defeats or the wins. “I hope it doesn’t continue this way,” he said on Saturday, after Leeds United came back from 3-1 down to beat Bournemouth 4-3 in an exhilarating match. “I want to try to make things simple on us,” he went on, “but that’s not the Leeds way, I hear.” That’s not the first time Marsch has rebelled against the adrenalin sustaining what, at other clubs, might be impossible results. The first question put to him in May, after Sergi Canos’ implosion and Jackie Harrison’s goal kept Leeds in the Premier League on the final day, suggested that ‘If there’s a Leeds way of doing things, that was it.’ Jesse didn’t seem keen on the idea. “I’ve heard this a lot about Leeds United and the community,” he said, “that we always think we have to do it the hard way. Honestly, part of the job of being the manager of this club is to change that mentality, to chan...

Jesse Marsch saw his side fight back from 1-3 down to win at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, with Crysencio Summerville scoring a late winner for the second week running. The Whites took an early lead in the match after Rodrigo’s penalty, but found themselves 3-1 behind with just 30 minutes left to play. The substitutes made huge impacts from the bench, meaning the Whites were able to turn the game around and secure a memorable victory along with an important three points. Speaking after the match, Marsch gave his thoughts to the media. He said: “It’s hard to put into words and to describe what happened. “At half-time, we tried to instil belief in the team, that we could still manage to find the result. “I told them after the match that the best part was that I could tell by the looks on their faces, that I didn’t have to convince them that they believed it. “I think the second half performance exemplified that. “I think the guys who came on played really well. Sam [...

Whatever you say Leeds United are, they’ll be damned if they cannot prove that's exactly what they are not. By Graham Smyth It's little wonder Jesse Marsch is finding it hard to enjoy his job at present, when the Leeds team that finishes a game is not the same one that came off at half-time, never mind the one that finished the last match. Even Leeds themselves appear confused as to who or what they are this season. The boos that rang in their ears as they walked off at half-time 2-1 down and second best, by a long way, were every bit as deserved as the roars that serenaded them off at full-time as 4-3 winners. Jubilation and three points were a million miles from Leeds' grasp when Bournemouth took a 3-1 lead early in the second half and yet somehow Leeds came back. A story written too many times already this season, of a team who have developed an expertise in wasting strong positions, was on the wall again until goals started flying in at the right end. We've ...

Crysencio Summerville has provided his own version of boss Jesse Marsch's half-time message to his Leeds United players during Saturday's incredible comeback victory against Bournemouth. By Lee Sobot Leeds went ahead in just the third minute of Saturday afternoon’s Premier League contest as Rodrigo struck from the penalty spot but Marsch's Whites were booed off at half-time by which point they trailed 2-1 to strikes from Marcus Tavernier and Philip Billing. Summerville, though, said the instructions of head coach Marsch during the half-time break ultimately worked the oracle as Leeds eventually ran out 4-3 winners through goals from Sam Greenwood, Cooper and finally Summerville after Dominic Solanke had put the Cherries 3-1 up in the 48th minute. Asked by post-match media for an insight into Marsch's half time message, Summerville smiled: "Um, ah, I don't think I can say that but I do it in my own words. He said like that if you stick to the match plan an...

Jesse Marsch has not enjoyed the last two weeks of his tenure as Leeds United boss, despite two famous victories on the bounce. By Graham Smyth The Whites followed up their 2-1 Anfield win over Liverpool with a comeback for the ages that gave them a 4-3 triumph over Bournemouth. Marsch’s men found themselves 3-1 down early in the second half, having been booed off at the interval, and roared back to take a second successive three-point haul. Substitute Sam Greenwood, Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville hit the net to take the game away from the Cherries, who themselves had responded to Rodrigo’s third-minute penalty with goals from Marcus Tavernier, Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke. When asked if he had enjoyed the last two weeks, Marsch ruefully shook his head. “No,” he said. “No. The good part is I feel like we believe that we can win now. You know before it was like I said after Fulham, we were more waiting to lose. I think we flipped that. And we've been in both m...

YOU can never ever predict Leeds United. By Leon Wobschall If ever a game summed up their helter-skelter past few decades, this was it. Forget the fireworks outside. Booed off at half-time and at 3-1 down early in the second half, Jesse Marsch was hot under the collar again. Days like these are made for United’s fanatical support and they provided the fuel and in their final home game for 53 days, they had their unforgettable victory. After an early Rodrigo penalty, Leeds were ripped apart. Goals from Marcus Tavernier, Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke gave Bournemouth a lead that was not unflattering. The introduction of Sam Greenwood proved a masterstroke. He pulled one back superbly on the hour and set up Liam Cooper’s leveller. After his thrilling heroics at Anfield, Crysencio Summerville provided the winner with a glorious encore from a pass from good mate Wilfried Gnonto. Football, eh. Bournemouth came into the game with thoroughly lamentable defensive statistics. They had the j...

Crysencio Summerville struck another late winner as Leeds United produced sensational second-half fireworks to record a thrilling 4-3 victory against Saturday's Premier League visitors Bournemouth who led 3-1 just after the break. By Lee Sobot Leeds went ahead in just the third minute as Rodrigo converted a penalty won by Summerville but Bournemouth equalised just four minutes later after awful defending let in Marcus Tavernier to convert. More slack work at the back then led to Phillip Billing firing the Cherries ahead in the 19th minute and Bournemouth bagged a third goal just three minutes into the second half as Dominic Solanke netted from a counter from a Leeds corner. But Leeds pulled a goal back on the hour mark through a majestic finish from substitute Sam Greenwood who then set up the equaliser as his corner was headed home by captain Liam Cooper in the 68th minute. Incredibly, the Whites then went ahead in the 84th minute after brilliant work from another substitute...

Leeds 4-3 Bournemouth: Crysencio Summerville strikes late once again to cap off a valiant fightback for the home side and secure three points for Jesse Marsch's team at Elland Road Leeds took the lead after just three minutes through a Rodrigo Moreno penalty Goals from Marcus Tavernier and Philip Billing put visitors ahead at the break Dominic Solanke added a third for Gary O'Neil's resurgent team after half-time But Sam Greenwood and Liam Cooper levelled the game after the interval Before Crysencio Summerville once again scored a dramatic winner By CHRIS WHEELER Leeds were down and they looked out. So too perhaps was Jesse Marsch. Elland Road was simmering with unrest. The barometer for Marsch and his players had moved back into the red zone. Back into trouble. A week after an incredible late win over Liverpool at Anfield had bought the manager more time in the wake of a 3-2 defeat to Fulham here, his team were 3-1 down again to fellow strugglers Bournemout...

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch spoke to the media today ahead of Saturday’s final home game before the World Cup break as Bournemouth visit Elland Road. By Lee Sobot Having gone eight games without a Premier League victory, Marsch’s Whites will be seeking to land a second win on the spin against the Cherries following Saturday night’s superb 2-1 triumph against Liverpool at Anfield. The victory propelled Leeds from second-bottom to 15th and United now face the side directly above them in the Premier League table. Bournemouth, under caretaker boss Gary O’Neil, are one point ahead of the Whites but the Cherries are heading to LS11 having lost their last three games and Marsch’s side also have a game in hand. United’s American head coach held his press conference at 1.30pm and here is a full transcribe of everything that was said. Marsch spoke to the media at 1.30pm Team news - Sinisterra out - probably until after the World Cup break “Stuart and Adam again are injured but makin...

Leeds United Supporters Trust have expressed their surprise that Bournemouth's Cherries Trust have not made contact over their April 2023 Bank Holiday concerns. By Graham Smyth The two clubs are due to meet on a Bank Holiday almost 33 years to the day that the town was hit with £1m worth of damage during riots before and after Leeds' win over the Cherries. That victory sealed the Division Two title and promotion back to the top flight but the day was soured by trouble, which has led to concerns being raised to Dorset Police by the Cherries Trust. The Bournemouth supporters group have taken to Twitter to insist the game 'cannot go ahead' on a Bank Holiday weekend and Bournemouth police have issued a statement in response to concerns, saying: "We will assess and monitor how the season progresses and will be able to make a representation to the authorities to change the home fixture against Leeds United in April 2023 if required." LUST have now responded to...

by Phil Hay This season will end soon enough, the only small mercy Leeds United can count on. Quite when the club’s purgatory will end is impossible to say but no time soon if the first 48 hours of this week are anything to go by. Massimo Cellino felt the crack of the whip on Monday morning, his takeover rejected by the board of the Football League, and Brian McDermott took the lashes in Bournemouth last night as his squad sold him down the river with a spineless defeat which no manager could explain, less still defend. United’s manager has reflected on so many beatings this year that he can only conclude that something is terminally wrong, not merely at the very top of the club but among his own dressing room. If the players were playing for him at Dean Court, their body language and application during a pitiful first hour looked more like mass desertion. One goal down after 67 seconds and three adrift after 30 minutes, they were never in the game and barely on the pitch. Thes...