Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United ended their week in Spain with a win, but it was far from straightforward against LaLiga's bottom side By Graham Smyth Elche took the fight to the Whites and impressed with their ability to play through the visitors' press, first-time passes around the corner leaving Jesse Marsch's midfield scrambling and dragging defenders out of position. Fitness was obviously key for Leeds, who have worked hard on the training ground all week, but the game showed just how much work there is to be done to get ready for the Premier League restart. Good day Mateusz Klich: Came on as a second half substitute and added something of what Leeds had been missing. Got involved in some needle - hurling the ball at a player who had previously beaten him with a lovely bit of skill - and scored a peach to win it for Leeds. Whatever the future holds, the finish was a reminder of how good he has been at times since rescuing his Elland Road career from 'the bomb squad' he fo...

Leeds United have kicked off their World Cup training camp in Spain, without a quartet of first team players. By Graham Smyth Jesse Marsch is putting his players through their paces this week ahead of a friendly game against Elche on Thursday but is without two of his goalkeepers. Both Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson are suffering from a viral illness and have been unable to travel, leaving Joel Robles and Dani van den Heuvel as Marsch's options for the friendly. Harry Christy is also out in Spain with the Under 21s and can be drafted in if necessary. Robles was brought in during the summer transfer window to help support 22-year-old's Meslier and Klaesson, and has thus far featured in the EFL Cup and Papa John's Trophy. Patrick Bamford is currently out in Munich for a groin operation but head of medicine and performance Rob Price, who will fly from Spain to Germany to accompany the striker for the procedure, expects him available for action again within two wee...

Joel Robles' role at Leeds United is a strange one, not without its difficulties, and he's playing it to perfection for Jesse Marsch. By Graham Smyth At 32, with 122 top flight appearances in Spain and England, settling for a place on the bench or in the stands instead of between the sticks might feel like a premature acceptance of something less than he's worth. Yet the Spaniard's last 30-plus game season came in 2019/20 and perhaps, as a free agent in the summer and heading into the twilight of his career, a return to the Premier League, even if only as part of Illan Meslier's back-up crew, was too good an opportunity to miss. What Leeds wanted when Victor Orta turned his eye to the goalkeeping department, was something a little different to what they already had in 22-year-olds Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson. "We wanted a veteran goalkeeper to come in to help push our young goalkeepers competitively every day and to help provide a little bit more ...

Leeds United have a raft of players entering the final six or 18 months of their Elland Road contracts at the turn of the year and Victor Orta needs to shape how this club's next phase looks Transfers are only going to dominate the Leeds United agenda more and more from here on out. With more than four weeks until a return to action and then only two matches until the January window opens, it’s easy to see why attention is on the chance to strengthen this squad. However, Victor Orta’s eyes will also be on the players he already has in the building at Elland Road. With the arrival of 2023 comes not only another window, but the final six or 18 months in several contracts at Leeds. Traditionally, clubs like to ensure nobody they are interested in keeping enters the final year of their deal. With a number of players entering their 30s, it’s an intriguing time as Orta plots the transition of this squad. Joel Robles signed his one-year deal in the summer, so a decision will surel...

STILL HUNGRY Written by: Rob Conlon Leeds United’s Under-21s have been the richest source of fun at the club this season, and those of us living vicariously through the kids know the Papa John’s Trophy is where it’s at. Shellacking Tranmere’s grown-ups 5-3 in the opening match of the tournament — fun! Joffy Gelhardt teasing the opposition goalie about the swerve of his shots — what a laugh! A tournament named after pizza — I love pizza! But Tranmere are dossing around in League Two, and Leeds’ trip to Bolton for their second group fixture quickly felt like it might not be an equivalent extravaganza. Bolton are seventh in the division above Tranmere, one point off fourth in League One. Without Joffy, Sam Greenwood, Willy Gnonto, or Leo Hjelde, the gremlins who ran rings around Tranmere were made to look like schoolkids playing against the big lads a couple of years above. In those scenarios, even the smaller ones seem more intimidating by association, just by standing next to the ...

New Leeds United signing Joel Robles spoke exclusively to LUTV after becoming the club’s eighth arrival of the summer transfer window. The experienced 32-year-old goalkeeper has arrived at Elland Road on a free transfer from Spanish side Real Betis, signing a one-year deal. Having played in the top-flight with Everton and Wigan Athletic and having won the FA Cup with the latter in 2013, Robles is looking forward to his third spell in English football. “I’m really excited to be back in the Premier League four years later,” said Robles. “This is a fantastic club, I’d like to thank Leeds United for this great opportunity to come back, this is a special football club and I’m excited to come here. “There are very good fans here and a very good squad as well and I think this is a good option for me to keep growing. “My objective this season is to have a positive mentality, work hard and help my teammates, to help achieve our overall objectives as a team. “We have three goalkeep...

Leeds United have completed the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Joel Robles on a one-year deal By Lee Sobot Leeds United have completed the signing of former Everton, Real Betis and Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles.The 32-year-old Spaniard had become available after leaving Betis in the summer and comes in as third choice at Elland Road to give Kristoffer Klaesson competition for the back-up spot. Robles spent the second half of the 2012-13 season on loan at Wigan Athletic and was part of the Latics side that won the 2013 FA Cup by beating Manchester City in the final. He signs a one-year deal at Elland Road and will provide experienced competition for United’s two young first-team goalkeepers. A statement from the club read: “Leeds United are pleased to announce the signing of experienced goalkeeper Joel Robles. “The 32-year-old shot-stopper joins on a free transfer from Spanish La Liga side Real Betis, after his contract expired at the Estadio Benito Villamarín earlie...

Jesse Marsch is said to be closing in on a deal to add another new face to his squad. By Mark Carruthers Graham Smyth believes Leeds United’s bid to add an experienced goalkeeper to their squad will ‘provide a bit of reassurance’ for manager Jesse Marsch as a deal for Joel Robles moves closer. Highly-rated France Under-21 international Illan Meslier has cemented his place as the Whites number one after impressing since he moved to Elland Road in a £5.85million move from Lorient just over two years ago. But the departures of Kiko Casilla and youngster Elia Caprile and the serious injury suffered by Under-21s’ stopper Dani van den Heuvel has depleted Marsch’s goalkeeping options during the summer months. Norway international Kristoffer Klaesson made his Premier League debut last season when he replaced the injured Meslier during the dramatic 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March. But he remains the only backup option for Meslier ahead of the new season and YEP chief foo...

Former Everton and Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Joel Robles is set to join Leeds United in the next week. By Graham Smyth The 32-year-old Spaniard is available after leaving Real Betis in the summer and will come in as third choice at Elland Road to give Kristoffer Klaesson competition for the back-up spot. Klaesson has picked up a slight ankle injury but is still expected to be fit enough to make the squad for Saturday’s game against Wolves. Head coach Jesse Marsch spoke earlier today of the opening for a more experienced stopper in the goalkeeping department at Leeds. "I think there’s an argument to have a more established goalkeeper as a back-up,” said the American. "Marcos Abad [goalkeeping coach] has created a really good environment with the goalkeepers. Anyone we bring in we have to be very clear, there can’t be any friction.” Robles began his senior career at Atlético Madrid after leaving Getafe and worked his way up through the youth ranks, C team and B t...