Norwich City boss David Wagner explains Elland Road plan failure as Leeds United romp to Wembley — YEP 16/5/24

-

By Graham Smyth

Norwich were battered 4-0 at Elland Road - and Canaries boss David Wagner has given his verdict.

David Wagner said his Norwich City side played right into Elland Road's hands with mistakes and early concessions in a 4-0 beating by Leeds United.

The Whites scored twice inside the opening 20 minutes, Ilia Gruev catching Angus Gunn out with a clever free-kick and Joel Piroe heading in from Willy Gnonto's cross.

With the stadium rocking, Leeds poured it on and grabbed a third through Georginio Rutter before the break. Crysencio Summerville's second half goal completed the rout but it could easily have been a far more humbling scoreline for the Canaries.

"It is disappointing," said Wagner. "Obviously a poor performance from us, Leeds were very good. Everything which you should not do we have done. We conceded very easy avoidable goal very early.

“The second one as well was an absolutely predictable situation. We switched off for a second and got punished. We had the situation with Josh [Sargent] where we can maybe get some positive energy back and then we concede the third. In the duels we were second best and it's a very disappointing evening, end of the season as well.

“Against Leeds away you have to stay in the game as long as you can and then you can get something, we've done more or less the opposite, conceding early, conceding three in one half, this is more or less impossible to turn around."

Wagner's men held out for a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road on Sunday amid an impressive atmosphere, but it was far from the white-hot cauldron that Elland Road became shortly before kick-off. And rather than introducing nerves or quietening the crowd, Norwich contrived to do just the opposite, much to Wagner's disappointment.

"You never know what occasions like this make with individuals," he said. "Tonight we were poor. It was a huge one, great occasion where we were not able to come to our level unfortunately. This is one reason, the other is we have to say the truth, Leeds were very good.

“If you consider where we've come from last season, finished 13th, now made a step, finished in the play-offs, competitive in the first leg, absolutely not competitive in the second, against a very good Leeds side. Everyone has seen what they are capable of doing, with a lot of problems we have seen this season. Everyone has seen the difference tonight between Leeds United and us.

"We have known how [Elland Road] will be, this was not a surprise. Unfortunately we extend their energy with the mistakes we've done and the goals which Leeds United scored."

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more