Mighty Leeds Weblog

Newcastle 0-0 Leeds: Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope had to save from Rodrigo to deny the visitors victory but the hosts spurned plenty of chances for the points Damian Spellman Fabian Schar wasted a hat-trick of chances as Newcastle’s hopes of a seventh successive Premier League win were dashed by Leeds United. The Magpies’ best opportunities on an ultimately barren afternoon fell to the Switzerland international and fellow defender Dan Burn, but neither was able to break the deadlock and the Yorkshiremen emerged with a hard-fought 0-0 draw at St James’ Park. Eddie Howe’s men dominated, particularly after the break, but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and it took a fine save from opposite number Nick Pope to prevent Rodrigo from snatching three points in front of a crowd of 52,211. As a result, Newcastle United ended 2022 disappointed but still sitting in third place in the table ahead of Tuesday’s trip to leaders Arsenal. Magpies midfielder Bruno Gui

If ever there was a week to remind Leeds United that when it comes to Premier League football, they are one of the have-nots, the last one of 2022 is it. By Stuart Rayner Fresh from an Elland Road mauling by Manchester City, the Whites end the year with a daunting trip to Newcastle United. Since being bought by Abu Dhabi United in 2008, City have been English football's biggest financial heavyweights but now the Saudi Public Investment Fund owns Newcastle, that status is under threat. Leeds, by comparison, are also-rans, having been out of the Premier League picture for 16 years where bank balances overflowed and financial fair play rules tried to pull up the drawbridge to sugar-daddies arriving at the wrong time. That £18m Rio Ferdinand was the club's record signing for 18 years until the disastrous acquisition of Jean-Kevin Augustin in 2020, speaks volumes. It matters because in the Premier League more than any other English division, finances dictate finishes, an

By Phil Hay In the space of a few weeks, more than six million people have watched 13 seconds of Tyler Adams playing ball with Joe Biden. Support for the US men’s national team came right from the top before their last-16 defeat to the Netherlands at the World Cup via a video published on the president’s official Twitter account. ‘Go USA’ was the message, with Biden wrapped in a US scarf. For Leeds United, it created the surreal experience of seeing their captain and the POTUS rubbing shoulders. Lucas Radebe, Leeds’ former South Africa international, famously enjoyed the company of Nelson Mandela, but the club are unaccustomed to seeing their players move in these circles, of receiving global attention beyond football’s heartlands. Adams on a Twitter account with 28 million followers gave his English team a taste of the exposure by association. The 2022 World Cup is done and for now, the international game is packing up and making way for the club game again. FIFA’s showpiece com

By Kwadwo Ntiamoah According to Austrian news outlet Salzburger Nachrichten, Max Wober has undergone his medical ahead of his transfer to Leeds. The report claims that the deal is all but completed, with Salzburg already lining up his replacement. Wober played under Jesse Marsch just over a year ago. Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano reported that the deal could potentially cost £14million. The 24-year old can play left back and center back, his versatility will provide more options for Leeds. The emergence of Pascal Struijk as a solid option at left back was a plus, but it seems Marsch is intent on adding another player due to the lack of trust in Junior Firpo The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported that Wober’s signing was a ‘dream move’ for Jesse Marsch: “It was Fabrizio Romano who reported earlier this week about Max Wober, he’s a left back at RB Salzburg at the moment but he certainly was previously renowned more as a left-sided centre back. “That looks like a very strong ch

YOU WANT TO SEE Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman A point in favour of Andrea Radrizzani, chairman and majority owner of Leeds United as well as loads of other things he wants bigging up (next time, he told Marcus Luer of The Sports Entrepreneurs Podcast, ‘ask me about my new businesses in tech and financing’) is consistency. His message, since buying Leeds United in 2017, has stayed pretty much the same. “I am giving a maximum of five years to be in the Premier League,” Radrizzani said during his first summer after taking over from Massimo Cellino. “If I try and I am not able then it is probably best for someone else to try, maybe with more resources than me.” Speaking to The Athletic this summer, he said he believed he could achieve European football with Leeds, but knew breaking consistently into the Premier League top six would be beyond him. “I’m happy. I dream to bring this club to play in Europe and then I’m happy to leave — so still some work to do here.” Now, s

Elland Road was filled with cheers and jeers for Willy Gnonto and Jack Grealish, respectively, on Wednesday night as Leeds United were beaten by Manchester City Joe Donnohue Leeds’ summer addition of Willy Gnonto came as something of a surprise, given the expedited nature with which the deal was confirmed. It was only at the eleventh hour on transfer deadline day that Leeds’ pursuit of the teenage forward took on greater significance than column inches in the gossip columns, as United moved swiftly to bring forward an already-planned transfer. Weeks prior to Gnonto’s arrival, head coach Jesse Marsch had made attempts to temper expectation surrounding the then 18-year-old by declaring him not quite ‘Premier League ready’. Upon his arrival, it soon became apparent that Gnonto boasted bags of ability, evidenced further by repeated call-ups and appearances for Roberto Mancini’s Italian national team. Since then, Marsch has backtracked on his previous comment having witnessed the di

Leeds United were always expected to lose to Manchester City and the 3-1 scoreline did flatter them a little, but it was not a night of entirely lost causes at Elland Road. By Graham Smyth There were a few performances of note that gave the hosts positives to cling to ahead of a tricky trip to Newcastle United – including that of the returning-from-illness Illan Meslier. Without the Frenchman’s interventions, Leeds could easily have stared down the barrel of a rout and it took just 40 seconds for the goalkeeper’s importance to show. Not everyone in White covered themselves in glory, however. Here’s the YEP take on an inevitably difficult evening, as Premier League football made its return to LS11. Good day Willy Gnonto It's very difficult to see how Jack Harrison gets his place back with Gnonto playing as he did against Manchester City. The 'Premier League ready' debate was put to bed as he ran at Manchester City defenders, went past them and drew fouls in dange

Erling Haaland took his Premier League goal tally to 20 after scoring a brace against Leeds United on Wednesday but the Norwegian international decided against celebrating Erling Haaland has admitted that he didn't celebrate his two goals against Leeds United because he has "respect" for the club after being born in the city. The Manchester City forward struck his 19th and 20th Premier League goals of the season as Pep Guardiola's side ran out 3-1 winners at Elland Road. Rodri also found the net for City, who closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to five points at the top of the table heading into their New Year's Eve clash with Everton. But, unsurprisingly, it was Haaland who stole the show yet again with two excellent finishes to continue his impressive start to the campaign. His first was a simple tap-in after Jack Grealish pinched the ball off Robin Koch, before running through on goal and squaring across to Haaland to stroke home. Grealish was also the pr

HUMAN ERROR Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman There was something diabolical about Kevin De Bruyne as he moved over halfway to create Manchester City’s opening goal. For 45 minutes Leeds United had been compact, tight, as difficult as they could be to play through, but in first half stoppage time they’d seen a gap and decided to attack it. When that fizzled inevitably in favour of the red and black shirts, De Bruyne looped the loop into space out wide, and as the ball went to him, so did the television director’s camera, broadcasting the moment when De Bruyne, the ball rolling in his feet, scanned the empty field ahead of him. He almost smiled, indistinguishable from a frown, like a devil. He knew his team could score now. I knew they would score now. Everyone knew that, for Manchester City against Leeds, scoring would be winning. A handful of well-designed passes later and Rodri had the ball in the net. The last kick of the half decided the game, and De Bruyne could relax.

By Phil Hay A portion of Leeds United’s attention in the build-up to the transfer window has been devoted to the contracts held by their centre-backs. Pascal Struijk agreed new terms last week, Diego Llorente followed suit a few days later and an extension for Robin Koch is in the pipeline, waiting to be formalised. It gives the club the services of Struijk until 2027, Llorente until 2026 and Liam Cooper until 2024, with Koch likely to sign up next. There are firm and credible links now to Max Wober at RB Salzburg, a 24-year-old who Salzburg use as either a left-sided central defender or a left-back, and events give the impression of stockpiling at play, of Leeds wanting numbers in that particular area beyond the here and now. Struijk’s extension was common sense, a greater commitment to a 23-year-old who has been on a good upward curve for a while and made the Netherlands squad for the first time this season. In contrast, three and a half more years for Llorente caused greater

The ill-defined limbo that exists between Christmas and New Year was perhaps a fitting time for Leeds United to return to action. By Graham Smyth Bank Holidays, unusual working patterns, spiking blood sugar levels and the awkwardness of exchanges that should neither begin with 'Happy Christmas' or 'Happy New Year' combine to make that handful of days after the Yuletide festivities and before the Hogmanay celebrations a weird period. It can be difficult to know how to feel and what to think. And so welcome to Leeds United's world. A club finding itself in a limbo between an ownership era quite evidently coming towards its end and the obviously quite imminent beginning of another, is a difficult one to define or pin down. That World Cup break was a weird time for everyone in the Premier League, bringing with it such uncertainty and unknown effects for player form, fitness and team cohesion. Then there's the January transfer window, just around the corner

Jesse Marsch rued Leeds United's nerves and Manchester City's quality after a 3-1 Elland Road defeat. By Graham Smyth The Whites held the title favourites until first half stoppage time, when they conceded a disappointing goal from a counter attack. Prior to that Marsch's men won the ball regularly but failed to keep it well enough. "I think in the first half we were stable defensively and we won a lot of balls but because we were a little nervy we were so quick to just give it away," said Marsch."That was the message and was going to be the message at half-time. They were having a hard time breaking us down but we can stay on the ball. I showed a few scenes where we won balls and they weren't pressuring us and we had more time than we thought. "Then obviously the second goal is a tough mistake and that makes the challenge that much harder. "However then you saw us coming into the game more, this is part of being brave. At 2-0, 3-0 you k

SEEING a glut of goals at Leeds United's Yuletide matches had been becoming a bit of a Christmas ‘tradition’ alongside roast turkey and all the trimmings, mince pies and mulled wine. By Leon Wobschall Last December, United let in seven to Wednesday's feted visitors alongside four against Arsenal. In the previous festive season in 2020, they conceded six at Manchester United, but did counterbalance things with five of their own against Newcastle and West Brom respectively. This was a night when Manchester City scored a mere three times, although it probably should have been several more. Before the decorations went up this year, the numbers were ominous in truth regarding the defensive concessions of Leeds, who have now eclipsed their worst Premier League tally of 70 in a calendar year set in 2003. Leeds shipped a combined total of seven goals in chaotic games with Spurs and Bournemouth ahead of the World Cup hiatus before even bumping into someone special in the opp