Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Joe Donnohue Former Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce has suggested ex-Elland Road director of football Victor Orta wasn't 'big enough' to appoint the ex-Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United boss prior to his eventual arrival after 34 games of the 2022/23 season. Allardyce has reiterated his claim he could have saved Leeds from succumbing to the drop in 2023, had he been appointed sooner. The experienced manager has not returned to the dugout since his four-game stint at Elland Road two seasons ago but regularly discusses the game on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. "It should have been 12 or 14 games [in charge] if the director of football [Orta] would have been big enough to pick an Englishman to come and do the job," Allardyce said. "They brought in the Spanish manager [Javi Gracia], and eventually turned round to me with four games to go, and they did get rid of that director of football. “I always think with more games to go I would ha...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United head to Fratton Park on Sunday with another tough game to tick off. Graham Smyth expects Leeds United to keep it sensible for their Championship promotion run-in with the goal at Portsmouth on Sunday simply to ‘stay unbeaten’. Leeds will be top of the Championship when they make that long journey south, but it could be by goal difference only as Sheffield United, currently three points behind, host Preston North End 24 hours prior. Daniel Farke’s side dropped points for the first time in over a month following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom, throwing away an early lead as Darnell Furlong cancelled out Junior Firpo’s early header. A trip to 17th-placed Portsmouth, who will be without four of their five senior centre-backs, might be seen by many as the chance to make a statement but August’s 3-3 draw at Elland Road suggests it is not that simple. There is also the early kick-off factor that has so often been problematic, and YEP chief footb...

King of the Colosseum Written by: Chris McMenamy When David O’Leary’s Leeds met Roma in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup, both sides were in very different places. Roma had 1994 World Cup winners Aldair and Cafu at the back, as well as the prodigal son of Italian football, Francesco Totti, in attack. Meanwhile, Leeds had Bruno Ribeiro and David Hopkin. O’Leary’s babies were very much in their infancy and the team that lost 1-0 over two legs to Zdenek Zeman’s side was revolutionised by the time Leeds returned to Rome the following season to play a UEFA Cup last sixteen tie. Leeds were 2nd in the top flight and seemed destined for the Champions League as the new millennium promised great things for the most exciting young side in Europe. Roma were also trending upwards as president Franco Sensi used his family’s considerable oil wealth to fund an ambitious and expensive team assembled by Fabio Capello, who had already won a Champions League and four Serie A titles with Milan in the mid-nin...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United look set to wave goodbye to another who activated his relegation release clause. Rasmus Kristensen looks set to leave Leeds United permanently this summer with reports suggesting a deal has been agreed with loan club Eintracht Frankfurt. Kristensen joined Frankfurt on loan for the season last summer, triggering his relegation release clause for the second time following the previous campaign’s spell at AS Roma. Only he and Jack Harrison, who re-joined Everton, had the power to do so. Bundesliga club Frankfurt initially agreed to a purchase option believed to have been worth around £12million but despite Kristensen’s impressive form, multiple reports from Germany have suggested that fee would have to come down. And it appears Leeds are happy to oblige, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reporting a deal has been ‘agreed in principle’ at around half price. Kristensen transfer ‘agreed’ Plettenberg states Frankfurt ‘will sign’ Kristensen perman...

Eintracht Frankfurt have this evening reached an agreement in principle with Championship side Leeds United to sign Rasmus Kristensen on a permanent basis. Florian Plettenberg reports that although Eintracht had an option to buy between €10m and €12m, Markus Krösche has negotiated a base fee of €6m with Leeds United, which could rise to €8m. The Danish defender, who has played an important role for the Hessen club this season with 30 games across all competitions, will sign a contract until at least 2029. Kristensen has operated in several positions for SGE this season. Although predominantly a right-back in a back-four, the 27-year-old has also deputised at centre-back, but also as a right wing-back in a back three/five formation. It comes just days after Eintracht head coach Dino Toppmöller praised Kristensen in an interview with Tipsbladet. “Rasmus enjoys playing for Eintracht, and we are very happy to have him. He’s a positive guy who is important. His experience helps the yo...

Fans voice banner Adonis Storr Fan writer As reported by the Daily Mail, external, Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear seems like he will be joining Everton at the end of this season. Kinnear has had a turbulent time at United, and it has always been unclear precisely what decisions he was responsible for. Other leaders within the club have been assigned the responsibility for many of the major decisions during his tenure. Leeds peaked at ninth in the Premier League under Kinnear, but it was Marcelo Bielsa who was credited with that rise. And rightly so, Bielsa transformed the mid-table Championship squad he inherited. And ultimately Victor Orta was credited with the hiring of the Argentinian. Orta – a larger than life figure – was praised and criticised in equal measure during his time at Leeds. He brought Bielsa to the club, but for every Raphinha-type signing there was a Diego Llorente-type; and of course Jesse Marsch who failed spectacularly, was also Orta's man. Andrea R...

Kris Smith Leeds United fans have grown very used to victories in the past two seasons at Elland Road, but a by-product of that is that the atmosphere has dwindled quite significantly alongside it. There’s no denying at its best that Elland Road is probably one of the best arenas in English football, that was on display in games against Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Norwich City, and Sunderland since Daniel Farke took over the club. The issue is that these games where the home crowd is truly bouncing are increasingly few and far between at the moment. An early goal for Junior Firpo looked to be setting Leeds on the way for another crucial victory, but after the dust settled from that opener, West Brom’s side and fans grew into the game and the Baggies got their reward when Darnell Furlong looped a header over Illan Meslier to equalise. It was what the away side deserved and their fans clearly sensed an opportunity to build on their leveller, as the home crowd equally worried ...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has offered a detailed explanation of his decision-making process during Saturday's game, amid questions about Largie Ramazani's game time. The Belgian winger was an unused substitute for the second game in succession as Leeds chased victory while locked at 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion. Farke instead turned to Mateo Joseph and Willy Gnonto from the bench in the latter stages as Ramazani watched on. Gametime has been a struggle for the 24-year-old, who scored three goals and added an assist in five games before an October ankle injury disrupted his rhythm and gave Manor Solomon the chance to start building a compelling case for the left wing starting berth. Five goals and six assists in the last 14 games have kept Solomon as Farke's first choice for that position, whereas Ramazani has started just once in that time. Since the turn of the year the younger man has played just 98 minutes of Championship action in substitute ca...

Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, who is 49ers Enterprises president, and health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh are leading the takeover bid; US group aiming to buy at least 51 per cent of the shares in Rangers ahead of the new season; legal paperwork for deal being drafted By Sahil Jaidka and Lawrie Anne Brown A deal for Rangers to be taken over by US investors has been agreed in principle. Talks have been ongoing since the end of October and there is a growing confidence on all sides that it will be completed ahead of the new season. A period of due diligence is now taking place, while legal paperwork is drafted up. Paraag Marathe - president of San Francisco 49ers investment arm, the 49ers Enterprises - is one of two key figures in the takeover. He is working alongside health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh, who is executive chairman of ParetoHealth. Paraag Marathe (C) was at Rangers' Europa League match away to Manchester United. Jason Wilcox, backroom man at M...

By Kyle Newbould The Leeds United manager was incredibly animated on the touchline as his side dropped points on Saturday. Daniel Farke was ‘absolutely apoplectic’ with some of his Leeds United players for overcomplicating things after going 1-0 up against West Brom on Saturday. Leeds threw away an early lead to draw 1-1 against the play-off chasing Baggies, with Junior Firpo’s ninth-minute header cancelled out by Darnell Furling shortly before half-time. Farke’s side were a little off the pace throughout as momentum slowed ever so slightly, following consecutive comeback wins over promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield United. That momentum didn’t look to be slowing when Firpo glanced in Dan James’ cross but after a bright start, Leeds lost their foothold in the game, with sloppy moments a bit too common for Farke’s liking. YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth had an eye on the Whites boss as minor issues piled up and his reaction was telling. Farke’s angry reaction “...

By Khai Smith Leeds United's 49ers owners have been excellent for the club, and after the team missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, they look set to make their return to the top flight for the 2025/26 campaign. There is a great desire to maintain the positive momentum that the Whites have going into the final weeks and months of the season, but off the field, unwanted disruption has occurred with Everton set to announce Angus Kinnear is set to join as the new CEO, according to The Daily Mail. The 47-year-old has been the Chief Executive at Elland Road since 2017, coming in after Andrea Radrizzani completed his takeover. He helped oversee the club's rise back to the Premier League in 2020 following more play-off heartbreak the year prior, before their eventual relegation back to the second tier in 2023. Football League World has taken a look at how much Kinnear is reported to be earning at Leeds, as the Toffees close in on a deal to bring him in. ...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom. Leeds United need more from one of their forwards but can ask little more of one of their defenders after another good display against West Bromwich Albion. The 1-1 draw did not boast the emotional highs of the last two Leeds outings but it was a solid result against a decent side going for promotion themselves. Here's the YEP take on the Saturday lunchtime stalemate against the Baggies. Good day Joe Rodon When the opposition manage to counter so dangerously in the final minute, a Rodon recovery is exactly what the doctor orders for Elland Road. Even if his first challenge had an air of him falling into it after catching his studs in the turf, the second, from his knees, was the kind of desperate, urgent defending you need from your centre-backs in such situations. It was a Gandalf 'you shall not pass' moment if ever there was one. Rodon's form has been stellar...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United were always going to come back down to earth but as bumps go a draw with West Brom wasn't even the biggest felt by the Whites on Saturday. The squad's arrival at Elland Road was delayed after the team coach sustained some damage just prior to departure from the hotel. Parked buses have been an issue for Daniel Farke at times during his tenure but this was something new to contend with on matchday. An unscheduled change to the routine would be at least a minor irritation for the Leeds boss for he is a creature of habit. The devil is in the detail and each one has to be just so. Leeds' processes on and off the pitch have underpinned a 16-game unbeaten streak but even if the day did not go exactly to plan, it was fine. Sure, a 1-1 draw after going ahead inside 10 minutes is a little deflating when you've experienced the highest of highs in the last two games but zooming out reveals a bigger picture of seven points from nine against three ...

Former Leeds star Liam Cooper is enjoying his new life at CSKA Sofia Cooper has struck up a friendship with former Aston Villa star Stiliyan Petrov By JOE BERNSTEIN Liam Cooper’s unlikely journey from captaining Leeds to Bulgaria started in the heat of Dubai rather than the snow still visible in Sofia. Going to the gym during a family holiday to appease his demanding manager, Marcelo Bielsa, he met the former Aston Villa and Celtic star Stiliyan “Stan” Petrov and struck up a lasting friendship. When Cooper left Elland Road last summer and a move to hometown club Hull fell through, Petrov was instrumental in the 33-year-old beginning an unexpected new life with CSKA Sofia. ‘My agent said he might have an option in Bulgaria so I reached out to Stan because he’s a legend in his country. He’s close to the manager, Aleksandar Tomash, and he set up a video call with the board. ‘They really wanted me. Everything has been new: weather, culture, lifestyle, but everyone has helped ...

Sheffield United moved to within three points of Sky Bet Championship leaders Leeds following a 2-1 win at QPR. Ben Brereton Diaz’s early goal and Tyrese Campbell’s thumping second-half strike put Chris Wilder’s side two up. Michael Frey gave the hosts hope with a 72nd-minute penalty but the Blades held on to secure a fifth consecutive away victory. It was the ideal response to Monday’s 3-1 home defeat by Leeds, whose five-game winning league run ended when they drew 1-1 with West Brom earlier on Saturday. Second-placed United are now five points clear of Burnley in third, although the Clarets have a game in hand. The result also means the Blades have now won on their past two trips to London, having lost their previous eight matches in the capital. They went ahead after 10 minutes through Brereton Diaz’s third goal since rejoining the club on loan – and he was helped by some woeful Rangers defending. After on-loan Tottenham youngster Yang Min-hyeok was dispossessed by Gu...

Leeds look like a dead cert to return to the Premier League, writes JASON MELLOR - as Daniel Farke's side take another step towards promotion after draw with gutsy West Brom Leeds entertained West Brom in the Championship at Elland Road on Saturday The Baggies took a point after Darnell Furlong cancelled out Junior Firpo's strike By JASON MELLOR Daniel Farke was unfamiliar with the cautionary tale of Devon Loch but it would take a choke of similarly disastrous proportions to deny Leeds United a place back at the top table of English football. The unfortunate thoroughbred's astonishing collapse and ultimate defeat with Grand National victory at its mercy has become a metaphor for sporting collapse over the decades. The kind of which befell the United States' Ryder Cup team when they were on the wrong side of the Miracle of Medinah 13 years ago. Or Newcastle's stunning implosion to allow Manchester United to bridge a 12-point gap to win the Premier League ...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United boss Daniel Farke believes a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion will be a beneficial 'punishment' for his players. The Whites followed up late wins against top four sides Sunderland and Sheffield United with a point against the sixth-placed Baggies to stretch their unbeaten run to 17 games. Having started on the front foot and gone into an early lead through Junior Firpo's second headed goal in as many games, Farke could sense his team were seeking too much enjoyment and playing 'posing' passes rather than the simple options so he knew there was real peril of an equaliser. It duly arrived when Darnell Furlong was left unmarked to produce the season's first headed goal against the Whites. Speaking to his players in the dressing room straight after the game Farke addressed how costly it can be if they do not stay 100 per cent focused, but he was more pleased to do so after a draw than he would have been had they lost the game. ...

By Graham Smyth Tony Mowbray says the question that will be on Leeds United minds right now is 'what next?' as Premier League survival becomes harder and harder for promoted teams. The top flight relegation zone currently reads exactly like the 2023/24 promoted line-up, with Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton combining for just nine wins between them. What it would take to stay in the 2024/25 Premier League is something Mowbray admits is lurking at the back of his mind too, with West Brom in the play-off picture as the Championship campaign nears the finishing straight. Having said after a 1-1 draw for his Baggies at Elland Road on Saturday that he's sure the stadium will host Premier League football next season, Mowbray posed a question for the decision makers at Leeds. "I think for this great football club, it's about what do they do in the summer?" he said. "I had a chat with Daniel [Farke] earlier, what are they doing this summer? Ho...

Whites take a point against the Baggies. Leeds United returned to home turf against West Bromwich Albion in a Sky Bet Championship kick-off on Saturday lunchtime, taking a point away from a hard-fought encounter. Daniel Farke’s side came into the match on the back of two last-minute victories against promotion rivals Sunderland and Sheffield United and were now looking to remain focused against the Baggies, who sat in fifth position. Tony Mowbray’s side arrived in West Yorkshire with confidence of their own. The away team were comfortably inside the play-off places ahead of the game and would be looking to add to their points total. When the game got underway, as usual a packed-out Elland Road welcomed the Whites onto the pitch, and saw their side take an early lead! The Baggies had come close first though, after John Swift had connected well with Adam Armstrong’s low cross into the box, but the midfielder put his shot just wide of the post. From the next cross of the game,...

The Whites were unable to claim the three points against West Brom in the Championship Leeds United had to settle for a point against West Bromwich Albion this afternoon as their five-game winning streak came to an end. Junior Firpo scored for the second consecutive game following his goal against Sheffield United. But they went in to the break level following Darnell Furlong's equaliser in the 39th minute and were unable to grab a winner. Daniel Farke's side were looking to distance themselves from promotion rivals Sheffield, who are in action at Queens Park Rangers today. Should the Blades come away winners, they will close the gap to three points with 11 games left to play. Speaking to reporters after the game at Elland Road, Farke felt his team missed too many chances that could have been the difference. "Yes, sometimes you have also have to accept to learn to live with a point and we do today," he said. "Top start to the game, we played on the fron...

By Stuart Rayner If back-to-back come-from-behind victories against the chasing pack had given the impression that Leeds United's Championship charge was unstoppable, the comedown against West Bromwich Albion was a warning not to light the cigars just yet. It was far from a disaster, the Whites extending their unbeaten run to 17 league matches – their best sequence since the season they won the division above in 1991-92. But a spirited Baggies took two points off them with a 1-1 draw that was as much about their own sloppiness. In the first half, Leeds looked like a team that had been to the well too often, sloppy and complacent after taking an early lead. Their second-half showing was more intense, but still as ragged. Had second-half efforts from substitute Mateo Joseph and Daniel James gone under rather than onto the crossbar, it would have papered over things a bit, but this was one of those days when work was a bit of a slog for the league leaders. Yet they still did...