Good Morning. It's Wednesday 21st February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds made right choice with RodonLeeds considered Nat Phillips and Taylor Harwood-Bellis before finalising a deal with Spurs to bring Joe Rodon to Elland Road last Summer, according to Leeds Utd journalist Phil Hay. The 26 year old is enjoying the time of his life at Leeds, and has been instrumental to their success this season. Leeds have only conceded 26 times in 33 games, the joint highest in the Championship (along with Leicester City), and have kept 14 clean sheets!
Recruitment of centre-backs in particular has long since changed from the days when basic defensive attributes were a priority, and that was demonstrated by the options Leeds took an interest in during the summer window: Liverpool’s Nat Phillips, Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Joe Rodon of Tottenham Hotspur.
Rodon was the loanee they moved to secure but it was no coincidence that promotion-race rivals Southampton signed Harwood-Bellis. These are central defenders who fit a certain type. Rodon has been pivotal to Farke’s approach and Leeds’ good form, but allied to his comfort in possession are traits that are helping make Leeds very sturdy — not least the pace required to hold a high line.
Though Leeds do not concede often, the first problem for opponents is that they do not make it easy for you to even get the chance to score. Like Bielsa’s machine in 2019-20, Farke’s second-placed team limit shots on target massively, with a mere 79 against this season (or 2.5 per 90).
Photo credit https://depositphotos.com/Saints crash at home to HullHull City mended relations (temporarily of course) with bitter rivals Leeds by winning at St Mary's last night; a game which on paper, looked odds on for the hosts! First half goals from Anass Zaroury and Fabio Carvalho were enough to give the Tigers victory over the Saints, and although Aribo pulled one back just before injury time, Hull hung on for all three points, propelling them back into the play off places.
Rotherham too, almost came to Leeds assistance after a valiant fight back at Portman Road. With four minutes of extra time on the clock, the Millers equalised from 12 yards to make the scoreline 3-3. Unfortunately, Ipswich went straight up the other end, and grabbed the winner with the last kick of the game, elevating them to third. Only goal difference separates them from Leeds in second, though at least they have played the same number of games now!
Odds slashed on Leeds auto promotionLeading bookmakers Bet365 have slashed the odds of Leeds finishing their 23/24 season in style, to 5/6. The betting giant believe Leeds will join Leicester City in the Premier League next season, by way of automatic promotion, following Southampton's unexpected loss last night. Southampton are 2/1, whilst third placed Ipswich are fourth favourites at 5/2.
£925m windfall for clubs outside the top flightThe Premier League have called an emergency meeting to thrash out a financial deal that could see as much as £925m filtered through the Championship, League One and League Two. The Premier League are under pressure to share some of their wealth, whether it be by agreement, or imposed by a regulator! The gulf in riches between the Premier League, and the rest of the Football league has always been vast, with many clubs falling foul of their financial limitations to try and reach the promised land. It's not great timing for Leeds. They are likely to be contributing to it, rather than receiving part of it, but it's a small price to pay if they get promoted.
