Mighty Leeds Weblog

THREE OFF Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman The first half action at Upton Park was all happening off camera. First, nobody could be sure who from Leeds’ team clattered Eyal Berkovic straight from kick-off, although while he was lying down injured, everybody saw Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink taking the ball off Ian Wright and shooting low past Shaka Hislop to put Leeds ahead after 23 seconds. When Berkovic returned from treatment he had a quiet word with John Moncur, whose late tackle through Lee Bowyer earned him a booking and cleared up the identity of the mystery assailant. Ian Wright got an early yellow card too, for elbowing Alfie Haaland, then another one after a fifty-fifty challenge with Ian Harte. The camera caught them coming together after the ball had gone; the next shot showed Harte lying on the floor in a daze, holding his head, then Wright being ordered off, and losing his head. The camera missed what happened between Harte and Wright, and so did Hammers boss H...

Whites boss Javi Gracia has hinted at a Leeds United change for today’s Premier League showdown at Fulham and made a confident prediction about what will be seen from his Whites. Lee Sobot Recently-appointed new Whites head coach Gracia steered relegation-battling Leeds to ten points out of a possible 18 in his first six games in charge, after which the Whites sat in 13th place following the 2-1 win at home to Nottingham Forest at the start of this month. Leeds, though, have since suffered a double dose of Elland Road thrashings at the hands of Crystal Palace and Liverpool which has led to Gracia working on what he says was a much-needed United “change” in training. Gracia, though, in more backing for his players, says he is confident that whoever he selects to step out at Fulham will provide the right reaction for the fifth-bottom Whites. Pressed on whether his next team selection was one of the biggest in his career, Gracia revealed: “I thought a lot because we need to change...

AT A '24/7' club like Leeds United, whose supporters are among the most fanatical in the land, the ability to handle tough moments and criticism is paramount for every successful player there. Leon Wobschall In the wake of not one, but two humiliating home defeats to Liverpool and Crystal Palace, which have put their Premier League survival hopes into serious jeopardy, United's squad must now face the opprobrium. A lack of desire is one charge that has been thrown at the players' door. Head coach Javi Gracia says that accusation is untrue, but accepts the rights of any supporter to say it, given two gruesome episodes. The Spaniard, whose side are assigned with engineering a response at Fulham on Saturday lunch-time, said: “I can understand the supporters. "In some parts in the last game and the game before, in the second half against Palace, there were some moments where you could have that feeling. "But I have to defend my players because I know t...

Victor Orta has already spoken about his future amid renewed criticism of his work at Leeds United. By Jamie Kemble Leeds United chief Victor Orta has already admitted his long term future is not at Elland Road as criticism continues to get louder. It has been a hugely disappointing season for the Whites, who find themselves battling relegation again this season, currently just two points above the drop. Leeds are on their second manager this season, and they now have the worst defence in the Premier League so far this season after losing 6-1 to Liverpool at home on Monday night. There have been challenges, namely losing Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha last summer, but Leeds have also spent significantly to replace those players. Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, Luis Sinisterra and others were brought in, and plenty of money was spent to bring those players to Elland Road. But while some have impressed, the overall result is that Leeds have not m...

Leeds United must move on quickly from their Liverpool nightmare in order to focus on three 'massive' games this month. By Graham Smyth The Whites travel to Fulham on Saturday then host fellow relegation threatened Leicester City on Tuesday night, before a trip to 14th-placed Bournemouth. That home game against the Foxes looks particularly significant in the run-in, with Leicester currently sitting 19th, four points behind Leeds. Beyond that trio of fixtures lies a quartet of daunting ones, including a visit to ominous title-chasers Manchester City, but Leeds can't think about that just yet. Even as the stadium was still emptying after Tuesday's 6-1 humiliation by Liverpool, Leeds defender Robin Koch was attempting to shift the focus on to the challenges just around the corner. "Obviously it's hard for us but we need to put this game aside now because we have three massive games coming," he said. "It's extremely hard for us now but we...

Leeds United suffered perhaps their lowest point of the 2022/23 season so far with a 6-1 defeat by Liverpool that compounded the 5-1 battering by Crystal Palace eight days previous. By Graham Smyth The Whites once again suffered the indignity of walking around a less-than-full Elland Road at the final whistle, with thousands of supporters streaming out long before referee Craig Pawson brought things to a close. Here is the YEP take on how the night panned out and what you might have missed as Leeds fell to such a brutal defeat. Good day Nope. Bad day Illan Meslier – the Leeds United goalkeeper is facing too many shots from players in space or great positions but his contribution has to come under scrutiny too when efforts fly in from narrow angles or from distance. Rasmus Kristensen – finally restored to the starting XI only to suffer a torrid evening. His passing inaccuracy was an issue even while Leeds were defending solidly but the big problems for the right-back cam...

Leeds United's underlying numbers were supposed to improve with the appointment of Javi Gracia, but after two humbling defeats at Elland Road, the club appear to be in just as much peril as they were two months ago Joe Donnohue There is an argument that due to the dwindling number of remaining fixtures, Leeds' predicament is in fact more perilous than when the team limped to a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest's City Ground in early February. That result moved Leeds' board members to action, reluctantly parting with Jesse Marsch whom they had backed to the tune of £150 million in transfer windows. A protracted search for the American's replacement followed, before eventually settling for ex-Watford head coach Javi Gracia on 'flexible' terms, believed to be until the end of the season. Gracia's tenure got off to a positive start with wins against Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, before the team fought back to defeat fellow strugglers Notting...

DEEP THINKING Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman There were two good bits. Leeds United’s goal just after half-time was one, when they threatened to tread on Liverpool’s nerves and fight into this game from 2-0 down. The other bit was after 25 minutes of the first half. Liverpool had kept the ball between 75-80% of the time until then but suddenly, after a dangerous mistake by Jackie Harrison, a game of football started. Liverpool threw players at the chance but couldn’t take it, and Leeds sensed an opportunity to counter. Liverpool won the ball back, almost made a chance, and by the time Leeds tackled them, both teams had lost their shape and United could try breaking again. This kept on for two or three minutes, two teams off their balance, slugging it out, end to end although more at the Leeds end. The score was 0-0, and this bit was fun. Leeds had barely touched the ball, but there were hopeful signs that Liverpool were losing patience, playing themselves into errors. ...

Leeds United are suddenly and painfully trending in the wrong direction after two ruthless beatings by Crystal Palace and Liverpool, as YEP chief reporter Graham Smyth casts the verdict on the latter. By Graham Smyth The depth of Premier League relegation battle is a great comfort until such a time as it thins out. When the breakaway comes – the group who separate themselves from the pack – Leeds United want to be in it, and not the four or five who live with peril right to the bitter end. The 2021/22 run-in really got its teeth into Leeds, prolonging the pain until the very final whistle of the season. Once bitten, twice shy - this season was supposed to be different and it hasn't been. There still exists an opportunity to finish in far greater comfort, there's still time to ease away from the bottom three. Crystal Palace have shown just how quickly the narrative can change and their three wins in succession have put them just three points behind Chelsea, of whom no on...

Javi Gracia says fans are not seeing enough from the Leeds United and improvement is needed for seven huge relegation battles. By Graham Smyth The Whites were battered 6-1 by Liverpool, eight days after a 5-1 loss to Crystal Palace, and Gracia admitted it was a second consecutive occasion when his side did not meet the required standards. "The players always try, the players always work hard during the week trying to prepare for the next game," he said. "In the last games, this game and in the second half in the last game we didn't compete at our level and we need to improve that. We have seven important games left and we have to give our best face." Gracia, who cannot recall ever shipping five and six goals in consecutive games as a manager, was tight-lipped on the VAR decision to allow Liverpool's opener despite what appeared to be a clear handball by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Leeds had contained the Reds up to the goal, which arrived on 35 minut...

BITTERLY-DISAPPOINTED Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia admitted that his side's heavy 6-1 loss at home to Liverpool was 'hard to accept' on a history-making night at Elland Road - for all the wrong reasons. Leon Wobschall Hammered 5-1 in their previous home match against Crystal Palace, when the visitors netted four times in the second period, Leeds showed that they had emphatically not learned their lessons as they let in another four goals against opponents who enjoyed a party on the resumption. It represented the first time in the club's history that the Yorkshire side have let in five or more goals in successive home games. The only other Premier League side to achieve that 'feat' in conceding five times in consecutive home games were Derby County in April 2008. A season when they were relegated. Trailing 2-0 at the break after quick-fire goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah, Leeds briefly gave themselves hope early in the second half when Luis Si...

IF ANYONE tried to speak with authority before this fixture got under way regarding what the scoreline might be, then they were fooling nobody. Leon Wobschall It pitted a Leeds United side who had conceded five goals last time out and imploded in shocking fashion against Crystal Palace at Elland Road against a fitful Liverpool team fresh from equalling their longest run without a win under Jurgen Klopp, who took over in October 2015. No rival Premier League team had let in more away goals so far in 2023 than Liverpool's total of 14. They had also been beaten eight times on the road in 2022-23, losing to the likes of Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. It looked unpredictable beforehand. By the end, there was a depressing, damning familiarity as Liverpool ended the game in party mode as Leeds made history by lamentably letting in five goals for the second successive home match. You have read that right. Continue to defend like this and the Yorkshire club are only he...

Leeds United’s goal difference in their quest for Premier League survival took another battering as Monday night’s hosting of Liverpool produced a 6-1 romp for the Reds. Lee Sobot The Reds went ahead in the 35th minute as Cody Gakpo tapped home following a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold who took the ball past Junior Firpo with his elbow but was allowed to continue. Liverpool then doubled their lead just four minutes later as Mo Salah beat Illan Meslier following a break from Diogo Jota who had robbed Weston McKennie of the ball inside his own half. The Whites pulled a goal back just two minutes into the second half through Luis Sinisterra who had pounced on Ibrahima Konate to send himself through but Liverpool hit back just five minutes later through Jota and Salah then added a fourth Reds goal four minutes after the hour. Still the onslaught continued and the visitors added a fifth goal in the 73rd minute as Jota let fly with a low shot from the edge of the box that squee...

Leeds United boss Javi Gracia signed a ‘flexible’ contract upon taking charge in February which could see him remain at the club beyond this season, or part ways following the end of the campaign Joe Donnohue Gracia has guided Leeds through their last eight matches since replacing Jesse Marsch in February but still refuses to be drawn on his long-term future at Elland Road. The Spaniard and his staff, three of whom arrived alongside him earlier this year, are understood to be on initial short-term deals, described as ‘flexible’ by the club. Gracia, though, has insisted on not getting ahead of himself despite positive results in previous weeks and more recently chose not to look beyond Monday night’s fixture against Liverpool when posed with the question of signing and re-signing players on longer contracts this summer. "You ask me in many press conferences, I always try to explain that I don’t want to speak about that. That’s because I want to be honest with the club,” he ...

JAVI GRACIA grimaced at the sight of his punch-drunk Leeds United side floundering in a desperate 45 minutes of football at Elland Road last Sunday. Leon Wobschall Sober reflection in the dressing room afterwards focused on United's frailties in terms of defending set-plays, with much of the working week having been spent on trying to iron out the deficiencies which contributed to a defensive implosion at the hands of Crystal Palace. With the weekend here, Gracia is keen to move on as he prepares for the arrival of Liverpool on Monday. He is just as anxious for his players to harness the pain they felt after an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat. The United head coach said: "It's never easy to manage after a defeat like that. "You live better with the good results, but it's necessary sometimes to feel disappointed to learn to grow up. It's important to feel that experience if you learn from it. "In this case, the players felt that difficult moment. ...

Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia hosts his pre-match press conference this afternoon ahead of Monday evening’s Premier League tie versus Liverpool Joe Donnohue Leeds coach Gracia is expected to provide an update on the availability of his players with supporters hoping Austrian defender Max Wober is back in the fold for Monday night’s game. Wober has been out for the past three matches since suffering a hamstring injury on international duty and in the interim period, Leeds have conceded ten goals. Tyler Adams is not expected to make a return any time soon after undergoing surgery on a separate hamstring issue picked up in training last month. Gracia is often tight-lipped on his injured players but is likely to disclose fitness information given the length of time that has passed since last week’s double-header against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Monday’s game is the third in-a-row at Elland Road with Leeds hoping to lift themselves clear of the drop-zone after...

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of a voluntary ban on gambling sponsorship being displayed as a club’s primary shirt sponsor from the 2026/27 season Joe Donnohue Leeds United are among eight Premier League teams whose deals with gambling firms will come to an end within the next three years after a vote by clubs to ban betting companies as primary shirt sponsors. A new report has revealed 18 of the division’s 20 teams voted in favour of a voluntary ban, whilst two abstained. Clubs are understood to have supported the move in order to avoid government legislation banning it completely, according to The Times. Leeds’ principal shirt sponsor is currently sports betting company SBOTOP, who signed a ‘multi-year partnership’ with the club ahead of the 2020/21 season in what was described at the time as ‘the largest commercial deal in the club’s history.’ “To assist clubs with their transition away from shirt-front gambling sponsorship, the collective agreement will begin ...

This ex-Leeds United hasn’t been short of offers since his departure from Elland Road earlier this season Harry Mail Richard Keys has slammed former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch for turning down the chance to manage both Southampton and Leicester City. The sports presenter believes the American must ‘really rate himself’ after he decided not to jump back into a job in the Premier League at this moment in time. The 49-year-old was dismissed from his post at Elland Road in February after a poor run of form and was replaced by Javi Gracia. He has since been weighing up his next move in the game and hasn’t been short of offers from England. However, he chose not to take on a relegation battle with either Southampton and Leicester. Keys has had his say on this on his Blog: “I’d love it if someone would explain to me how it is that a man, recently sacked by a club battling for their PL lives, has the temerity to turn down two offers to stay in England and continue to work in the PL...

FIFA have confirmed that a decision has been rendered by its Dispute Resolution Chamber in the case between Leeds United and former player Jean-Kevin Augustin. Lee Sobot Leeds announced in December that they had reached an amicable resolution with Augustin’s former club RB Leipzig over the transfer dispute of a player that the Whites signed on loan in January 2020 with an obligation to buy permanently for 21m euros (£18m) if the club were promoted. Leeds won promotion but only after the end of the season was delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown, meaning that they sealed a return to the Premier League after the original deadline to sign Augustin permanently had passed. The Whites reached a settlement of £15.5m with Leipzig in December but have now reportedly been ordered to pay Augustin £24.5m for an alleged breach of contract. Leeds are believed to be appealing the decision and FIFA have said they are unable to comment other than in confirming that a decision has been rendered due ...

I am just astounded by Leeds United's 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday, writes TONY DORIGO. By Tony Dorigo It's hard to fathom exactly what happened. I thought we were really good in the first half. We knew how important the game was. Crystal Palace are fighting for their lives but they have got some quality players if you allow them to play. But in the first 35 to 40 minutes I thought we did everything right. We certainly got on top of them, we got around the back, we had so many chances and the outstanding player of that period was the Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. That says it all. We were playing really well and doing everything that was required. I suppose the only one or two things that you looked at in the first 40 minutes were that we started giving away silly free kicks and corners and we know that Palace are strong at set pieces. We were very fortunate to get away with one that hit the post. Eventually we were made to pay but if you said on the bala...