English Premier League, Football, History, Memories, British club culture, Heritage and more..
Outgoing Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce says he would love to return to the club in a director of football role despite parting company at the end of last season. The former Whites boss claims ex-sporting director Victor Orta was the reason behind his appointment coming so late in the season, with Javi Gracia the…
Leeds United majorty owner Andrea Radrizzani has apologised to the club’s fans following their relegation from the Premier League, The Italian was not at Elland Road as Sam Allardyce’s side lost 4-1 to Tottenham Hotspur to finish second bottom in table and join Southampton and Leicester City in next season’s Championship. However, with fans still…
Sam, relegation confirmed, not only today but what has gone wrong here? Unforced errors, errors you don’t need to make. The biggest thing about the Premier League is the opposition capitalise on unforced errors and punish you heavily. When you do that they don’t have to create a goal with the abilities that they got…
Leeds United may be facing a battle to stay in the Premier League, but USA star Tyler Adams made sure he put smiles on plenty of faces after visitiing Penny Field School this week. The stylish midfielder can only watch on from the sidelines as his team-mates fight for their top-flight future after picking up…
Luke Ayling cut a dejected figure in his post-match interview after Leeds United’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham United. The Whites started the game on the front foot and took the lead through Rodrigo after 17 minutes. The Leeds defender lacked any enthusiasm in his post-match interview with Premier League survival needing a miracle heading…
Luke Ayling has admitted that one of Leeds United’s most feared assets has abandoned them this season, as the Whites’ stand-on skipper braved the media following the 3-1 defeat at West Ham which has left the club needing a final day great escape if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship. Leeds’ rise into…
Sunday would prove to be a bittersweet day for Kalvin Phillips, as he lifted up the Premier League trophy with Manchester City, but saw his beloved Leeds United edge closer to relegation. After City were confirmed as Premier League champions when Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening, Phillips was handed his first start…
Saving Leeds United from the drop will be Sam Allardyce’s crowning escape act and he’s calling on the spirit of Marcelo Bielsa to pull it off. On the eve of the penultimate home match of this terrible season, with the club second from bottom and staring relegation in the face, Allardyce wants his players to…
Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce played down criticism of Newcastle’s much-maligned game-management techniques, accusing Manchester United of also being guilty of timewasting. Allardyce will take charge of his first home game with Leeds on Saturday, welcoming Newcastle United to Elland Road. Eddie Howe’s side have been accused of using game-management techniques throughout the season, with…
Don’t lose, absolutely do not concede first and try to keep your heads above water until Tottenham Hotspur visit. Sam Allardyce has cut through the speculation and algorithms with the clearest do-or-die verdict on how Leeds United stay in the Premier League. Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United may represent the sternest of the three tests…
Leeds United defender Max Wober admits he could feel the nervousness in the Manchester City team during the final minutes of Saturday’s clash. Rodrigo pulled one back for the visitors inside a minute, capitalising on Manuel Akanji’s poor header to fire home and set up a nervy finish, which Wober could feel on the pitch….
Leeds United duo Jack Harrison and Junior Firpo have backed their new manager Sam Allardyce after the 68-year-old claimed he was ahead of the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta in football. The Whites are currently in the midst of one of the closest relegation battles in recent memory, with just six…
Former Everton manager Sam Allardyce has insisted that he is on the same level as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta following his arrival at Leeds United. At a press conference today, Allardyce took aim at preconceptions of his tactics and likened his credentials with the highest calibre of…
Leicester City have been issued a strong warning by new Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce. The 68-year-old has taken on the ninth Premier League club of his career, stepping back into management for the first time since leaving West Bromwich Albion in 2021. Allardyce has four games to maintain Leeds’ top-flight status, with a dismal…
Leeds United manager Javi Gracia admits he is a worried man ahead of a crucial relegation battle against Leicester City on Tuesday. While Leicester were beating Wolves to claim their first Premier League victory since February, Leeds were stumbling to a third successive defeat, this time 2-1 at Fulham. That result means they go into…
Gracia was asked to explain his thought process after the contest at Craven Cottage. Javi Garcia said: “I can tell you the same that I have to decide. I have to decide right about the players. All the players are, in my opinion, doing well and they deserve as well. Of course today Patrick Bamford…
An earlier seed had been planted on the goalkeeper and Gracia was only too happy to take the conversation back to his under-fire goalkeeper. It seems clear the number one will reman his number one tomorrow. Javi Garcia said: “I believe in my players, but I don’t believe because only I want to tell you…
Four matches needs to be the limit on Leeds United fans’ wait for a Wilfried Gnonto start this weekend. The teenager has arguably been the club’s best forward this season and a four-game hiatus from the starting line-up, which has seen three defeats, has only bolstered his importance. In Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Gracia had…
Javi Gracia won’t use last weekend’s heavy defeat as an excuse to make wholesale changes to his Leeds United side to face Liverpool on Monday night. Leeds collapsed in alarming fashion at Elland Road last Sunday, losing 5-1 against Crystal Palace, despite leading for a large chunk of the first half. When it comes to…
Leeds United boss Javi Gracia says he is expecting a difficult game against Crystal Palace this weekend. Palace won their first game of 2023 last weekend, the 2-1 win over Leicester City coming in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge since replacing Patrick Vieira in the international break. Only one point and position separate the…
Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia has come out fighting in defence of the team he picked to play against Arsenal last time out and insists fans will see a different approach from his side Tuesday night when they host Nottingham Forest. While a number of team selection decision were questioned by supporters and some…
Tuesday night and Elland Road was the elephant in the room as Javi Gracia ploughed through the post-match press conference of a game Leeds United were already trying to forget about. Going away from home to Arsenal, the league leaders, had never generated too much hope on the terraces or in-house, so a 4-1 defeat…
Cameron Toshack has admitted that he walked into a “really challenging situation” when he joined as Jesse Marsch’s assistant coach at Leeds United. Toshack was appointed as Marsch’s right-hand man in 2022 as he arrived at Elland Road with the Whites just two points clear of the relegation zone. Marcelo Bielsa’s departure had seen Leeds…
Leeds United star Junior Firpo has insisted that his teammates “never lost the confidence” in him to perform after he labelled his goal against Southampton as his “most important” to date. Firpo has been superb under Javi Gracia since the Spaniard’s arrival last month. His winning goal against the Saints has only been a part…
Everton have stated that they are “disappointed to hear” that the Premier League has decided to refer them to an independent commission over an alleged breach of Financial Fair Play rules. The Premier League released a statement on Friday afternoon announcing that they had referred Everton to an independent commission following an alleged breach of…
Pressing high. Sprinting at your opponent. Winning the ball back as fast as possible. All were tenets of Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch. It’s an approach which has struggled to deliver consistent results since August 2021. The Whites needed change and Javi Gracia is bringing that to the table, with promising early…
Former Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips has opened up about his memories surrounding his ‘Granny Val’ and also how his mother helped him break through at a young age at Elland Road. The 27-year-old spent four years in the Whites academy system before spending eight years as part of the senior team amidst his time…
Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams has revealed what his side are doing differently under their new manager Javi Gracia ahead of the match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The former Watford boss was appointed in the Elland Road hot seat last week and got off to a winning start before falling to FA Cup defeat against…
Leeds United caretaker boss Michael Skubala says he is ‘proud’ of his Futsal background and believes it provides him with a different outlook to other coaches. Michael Skulba said: “First of all, I was a football coach and then moved into Futsal, and then back into football. So the journey is very different but culturally…
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has offered a warning to Everton’s Premier League survival rivals Leeds United after sacking Jesse Marsch. The American was given his marching orders on Monday following their defeat to Nottingham Forest, leaving them outside the drop zone on goal difference. Leeds are on the hunt for the former RB…
Former Nottingham Forest striker Patrick Bamford paid tribute to the late, great Nigel Doughty after Sunday’s game against Leeds. Bamford, who now plays for Leeds, came through the academy ranks at Nottingham Forest before leaving for Chelsea in January 2012. Nigel Doughty, his godfather, rescued the Reds from administration in 1999 and stepped down as…
Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch says he told his players to watch the ‘Redeem Team’ documentary in an attempt to push the right buttons ahead of the second half of their Premier League campaign. The documentary follows the story of the USA men’s basketball team who bounced back from a disappointing 2004 Olympics, by…
Trash-talking, tackling, physicality, running until your head’s spinning. Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams have found the hymn sheet they want to sing from at Leeds United. Adams, inevitably, played a major role in reassuring McKennie Leeds was the right place for him to take a step away from Champions League football at Juventus. The USA…
Jesse, congratulations. How much was it a case of taking care of business today and getting it done? Yeah, I think in general I was pleased that the mentality was that we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we knew there was going to be a lot of long throw-ins and balls in the…
Jesse Marsch faces a Leeds United defensive dilemma as he ponders how to prepare his side to be without Robin Koch. Koch picked up his fifth Premier League yellow card of the campaign last time out against Brentford and that means he will be suspended when the Whites go to Nottingham Forest next week. As…
Jesse Marsch says he’s yet to decide on who’ll lead the line for Leeds United in their FA Cup third round replay against Cardiff City. Patrick Bamford scored for the Whites against Aston Villa to end his goal scoring drought, but it was his strike partner Rodrigo who put in one of the best striker…
Winning is a habit in football. It’s hard to learn and master, but once you have it in your squad, its growth through the entire club can be exponential. Leeds United are in dire need of that winning feeling. It does not matter if it’s in the FA Cup. It does not matter if it’s…
Jesse Marsch couldn’t be happier with the way Wilfried Gnonto continues to settle into his Leeds United line-up. Gnonto only made his debut for the Whites in October, in the win over Liverpool at Anfield, but he has already established himself as one of the brightest talents in the squad and his career is only…
Jesse Marsch has flirted with the idea of handing Maximilian Wober his Leeds United debut this weekend. On the eve of the 2-2 draw with West Ham United, the Whites confirmed the 24-year-old’s arrival from Red Bull Salzburg. Speaking to reporters post-match, Marsch hinted at a possible debut when Leeds take on Cardiff City in the…
Mateusz Klich has penned an emotional open letter after his Leeds United exit was confirmed on Wednesday evening. The open letter posted on Instagram was reflective of the man himself – equal parts unconventional, amusing and emotional. After paying tribute to the fans, the Thorp Arch staff, Victor Orta, Bielsa and his teammates, Klich also had…
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has hailed new Milton Keynes Dons manager Mark Jackson as ‘fantastic’ after Jackson left the Whites to take on his first senior head coach role in football. Jackson has joined the Dons as they try and fight relegation following the sacking of Liam Manning two weeks ago, with his first game…
Sam Greenwood insists he’s never felt more comfortable in his new Leeds United midfield role as he continues to establish himself at Elland Road. Greenwood spent his youth team days playing in a more advanced forward position, but he has settled into a centre midfield role under head coach Jesse Marsch over the last few…
Southampton left-back Romain Perraud has revealed that negotiations with Leeds United suddenly ‘came to a halt’ before he arrived at St Mary’s in 2021. Perraud was being chased by both Southampton and Leeds while playing for Stade Brest in Ligue 1 during the 2020-21 season. The 25-year-old let his agent deal with the negotiations in order to…
Errors need to be cut out by a Leeds United team conceding too many goals, but not only in defence and goalkeeper. Rodrigo, who has contributed more goals than anyone to the Whites’ cause this term, places those concessions at his feet and the midfielders’ too. His instinctive finishing was visible first-hand as the club went…
Sam Greenwood says Leeds United’s ‘hard work’ during their training camp in Spain will benefit the side’s fitness levels when the Premier League returns later this month. After a two-week break during the World Cup, the players not representing their nations in Qatar have jetted out to Spain to prepare for the rest of the season. Leeds…
Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has hailed Whites and USA star Tyler Adams after the 23-year-old helped Gregg Berhalter’s side progress to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup. His abilities are not lost on Marsch, who first came across Adams as a teenager at New York Red Bulls, either. Jessie Marsh said: “Tyler,…
Junior Firpo’s technicality, passing, athleticism, intelligence and tactical awareness are all rated among the very best in Leeds United’s squad by Jesse Marsch. Owing to form and fitness, Firpo has struggled to settle and assert himself in United’s starting line-up since arriving last year. Jesse Marsh said: “I’ve heard criticisms of Junior from the past. I…
Jesse Marsch has spoken up on the similarities that his Leeds United side shares with the USA national team as the Stars and Stripes get set to take on England and Wales in Group B in Qatar over the ten days. Jesse Marsch said: “Against Wales, the U.S. is going to see a team that…
GARY O’Neil revealed he was “surprised” by upcoming opponents Leeds United’s league position, believing Cherries’ trip to Yorkshire will be a “tough test”.
The Whites ended a run of eight Premier League games with a last-gasp win at Liverpool last time out, youngster Crysencio Summerville popping up in the 89th minute to snatch all three points in a 2-1 win.
Leeds have not won at home in the league since defeating Chelsea at Elland Road near the end of August, with the Whites perceived to excel against the Premier League’s ‘top six’ whilst struggling with those lower down the table.
Victory for Leeds at Anfield took them outside of the relegation zone, with Jesse Marsch’s charges one position and one point behind Cherries. Leeds sit in 15th, although they do have a game in hand on Cherries in 14th.
Previewing the contest, O’Neil shared: “I’ve looked – I’m really surprised they are where they are in the league.
“They come up really well on all the sort of numbers and stats, of chances created and that big energy press, (they press) really aggressively.
“Probably the highest pressing team in the league, so they have a real clear identity and a massive result at Anfield for them in the last game.
“So it’ll be a big test going to Elland Road.
“It’s always a tough place to go, especially the way they play at the moment. So front foot and so aggressive. It’ll be a good test for us.”
Legendary Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa first installed an identity of fast-paced and intense pressing, a trend that has continued under his successor Marsch.
O’Neil then went on to share his belief that Leeds were unlucky not to win prior to victory against Liverpool.
He restarted: “What I’ve seen of Leeds, they press really high.
“They want to win the ball back high up the pitch. They’ve real pace in their team, especially on transition, so when they do win the ball back, they’re a big threat.
“And, I mean, those games, they were unlucky not to win, in my opinion. They performed well in all of those.”
LEEDS United boss Jesse Marsch is wary of “very lethal” Cherries, with the Whites manager believing Gary O’Neil has done a “great job of taking them out of a moment early in the season where they looked like they were in trouble”.
O’Neil’s charges travel to Elland Road this Saturday (kick-off 3pm) with a view to earning a first win in five league games. Leeds recently ended a winless streak of their own with a dramatic victory away at Anfield, a late 2-1 win their first in nine Premier League games.
Despite Cherries’ recent results, Marsch believes that his side’s next opponents are “actually improving” under O’Neil.
The two sides are within breathing space of each other in the league table, with Cherries one point – and one position – above Leeds, in 14th, although the Yorkshire outfit do have a game in hand on their Dorset counterparts.
Previewing Cherries ahead of this weekend’s game, Marsch shared: “Bournemouth, in general, I know that they haven’t gotten a lot of results but if you look at their metrics, they’re actually improving as a team and I think they’re more and more in matches.
“We believe that they are very lethal in counter attacking situations and so they defend very hard, they defend sometimes a little bit deeper.
“They sometimes like to press a little bit higher but get into a deeper block and they’re very intensive in some of those defensive moments.
“And they’re very quick to get into the counter and it showed in the Tottenham match and in a lot of their matches lately.
“I think the manager’s done a great job of taking them out of a moment early in the season where they looked like they were in trouble, to making them stronger and making them clear on exactly what their play model is.”
Whilst victory against Liverpool slightly eased pressure surrounding Marsch’s future at Elland Road, defeat to Cherries would see the sharks circling once again.
Under-fire Marsch has noted Cherries’ flexibility in shape, with the Dorset club frequently switching between five and four at the back under O’Neil.
“Who they play and exactly how they play,” restarted the American.
“They have some variability, they played five in the back in the last game and defended five in the back, sometimes they build with five but defend more with four so we have had to prepare for a few different things.
“But we know that in the end, we have to know them but we have to be ready to perform at our best.
“That’s a big focus this week, knowing the opponent but making sure that we are ready to be at our best.”