Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United fans must be braced for highs and lows under new head coach Javi Gracia based on his time as Watford manager during 2018 and 2019 Joe Donnohue The 52-year-old was announced as Jesse Marsch’s successor earlier this week and could take charge of his first match against Southampton on Saturday, pending receipt of a work permit. Gracia’s record in English football is limited to his time with Watford – a spell in which he stewarded the Hornets to a respectable 11th place finish in 2018/19. Gracia took over in January 2018, guiding Watford away from the relegation zone eventually finishing eight points clear of the drop in 14th place. However, his task with Leeds is more difficult threefold: Gracia has been appointed later in the season, has fewer games to pick up results and Leeds already second bottom of the Premier League table. This weekend’s fixture at home to Southampton takes on immense importance considering the only team stationed below the Whites are the Saints...

The government published its new white paper on football governance on Thursday, aimed at protecting fans’ interests and transferring power back into the hands of supporters Joe Donnohue An independent regulator for English football has been confirmed by the UK government with the release of a new white paper this week. Following Tracey Crouch MP’s ‘fan-led review’ last year, English football is set for more stringent governance concerning areas such as owners and directors’ tests, the breakaway European Super League, as well as giving fans greater input in matters affecting their clubs. The move is designed to protect English football's cultural heritage, according to a report from the BBC. It reads: “The main purposes of the proposed new regulator will be: – Stopping English clubs from joining closed-shop competitions, which are judged to harm the domestic game – Preventing a repeat of financial failings seen at numerous clubs, notably the collapses of Bury and Maccle...

By Emma Smith Leeds United and Everton have been charged over the mass brawl during their Premier League game last weekend. Four players were shown yellow cards after the incident towards the end of the first half of Everton's 1-0 win. The clubs have been charged by the Football Association with improper conduct and for failing to control their players. The brawl was sparked by Everton winger Dwight McNeil reacting angrily to a tackle from midfielder Tyler Adams. McNeil - who was guarded by a steward after being pushed over - and Adams were booked, along with Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and Leeds' Weston McKennie. On Wednesday, Everton were fined £25,000 by the FA following a "mass confrontation" during the Merseyside derby on 13 February. Asked whether the incidents point to a lack of discipline or a spirit the manager likes to see, Dyche told BBC Sport: "Things get blown up nowadays but no-one got sent off and there wasn't anything too ma...

Javi Gracia has been tasked with keeping Leeds in the Premier League but will not able to take training or step into the dugout until his work permit has been approved ByTom Blow New Leeds boss Javi Gracia is still waiting for his work permit and could miss the team's game against Southampton on Saturday. Gracia, 52, was appointed Jesse Marsch's successor at Leeds on Tuesday and needs to get to work as soon as possible if the West Yorkshire club are going to survive in the Premier League. Leeds are currently 19th in the table - two points from safety. Saturday's home game against Southampton is vital for Leeds, as the Saints are one point and one place behind them in 20th. Both teams are in dire need of a win at Elland Road, but Southampton will be confident after winning 1-0 at Chelsea last time out. Yet Gracia could be forced to watch Saturday's game from the stands due to his lack of a work permit. He also needs that documentation to take charge of training...

SPOILING THE PARTY Written by: Rob Conlon Malaga’s home game against Real Madrid in February 2016 followed a script familiar to any Leeds United supporter. In the opening half hour, Malaga barely gave Cristiano Ronaldo a touch of the ball and created all the best chances, somehow contriving to miss two one on ones as their pressing panicked Madrid’s defence into errors. You can probably guess what happened next. Earlier in the week, Ronaldo had walked out of a press conference after being asked about a relative goal drought — five matches — away from the Bernabeu. Toni Kroos swung a free-kick into the box, and Ronaldo, standing offside, headed Madrid into the lead. It was a stroke of luck neither Ronaldo nor Javi Gracia’s Malaga deserved, compounded by Ronaldo winning a penalty a minute later. Real Madrid had sacked Rafa Benitez the previous month, appointing Zinedine Zidane for the first time to chase down Barcelona at the top of La Liga. It was all going to plan; Madrid were ...

Leeds United title winner Tony Dorigo writes exclusively for the Yorkshire Evening Post as Javi Gracia takes on a huge, high-pressure job at Elland Road. By Tony Dorigo From a player's point of view, playing against Manchester United, managing to go up against a really good team and play well, those are actually easier games to deal with than the ones where the pressure is really on and you're up against a team that is really struggling. That's what we saw. The two Manchester United performances largely took care of themselves, but then when you go up against a side who are playing under a lot of pressure, under a new manager, that's when you have to really show what you're about. Unfortunately, that just wasn't the case. The performance against Everton was hugely disappointing because they were no great shakes themselves and at times the quality of the game was pretty shocking. We couldn't really play with any fluency, couldn't string passes toget...

JAVI GRACIA has been handed a chance to earn a Leeds United contract for the medium to longer term – but only if he successfully attends to the short term. By Leon Wobschall Second-from-bottom United have agreed terms with the Spaniard to become their permanent head coach, subject to the 52-year-old obtaining a work permit. The ex-Watford head coach has signed a 'flexible contract' with Leeds, who have won just two league games since August 21. In a statement, Leeds said that they were hopeful that Gracia's first game in charge would be in Saturday’s crunch game with bottom-placed Southampton, subject to 'obtaining the necessary work permissions.' Taking on a side who equalled a club record run of 10 games without a Premier League win last weekend, Gracia is assigned with providing clarity, organisation and lifting confidence levels in double-quick time in order to arrest United's alarming slide. Back in 2018-19, Gracia took Watford to their highest-...