Good Morning. It's Wednesday 8th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Injury to striker could scupper Joffy moveHull City have emerged as favourites to land Leeds striker Joe Gelhardt this month, though much will depend on strike partner Patrick Bamford. Joffey has amassed just nine minutes of league game time all season, but a hamstring injury to Patrick Bamford on New Year's Day could scupper his temporary exit. News from the Thorp Arch indicates that Leeds are only prepared to let one of them go, and with Paddy's injury record, they don't want to leave themselves light up-front!
The reality of the situation is far more straight forward. Even if Piroe, Joseph and Bamford were all unavailable, you have to ask yourself how much game time would the 22yo actually get? The gaffer is far more likely to call upon Solomon, Ramazani or even James to lead the line before considering the former England youth ace.
He (along with Crew, Debayo and Chambers) need minutes. There's only so much they'll gain in training; an exercise to maintain fitness and practice drills. Between the four of them they have 30 minutes of league game time, whereas they could be playing week in-week out in the lower leagues gaining strength and developing their trades.
Froston warns of complacencyNancy Froston's final dispatch for The Athletic (before Beren Cross takes over) serves as a timely reminder for Leeds United, cautioning against complacency. Her analysis underscores the reality that, mirroring the previous season, Leeds are embroiled in a fiercely contested four-way battle for the top spots, with just three points separating them from Sunderland (in fourth).
Murmurs of discontent are growing amongst the Elland Road faithful regarding the lack of transfer activity. Whilst betting sites, pundits and fans continue to big up Leeds chances (again), a cold dose of reality may be exactly what the club needs this month.
In their pursuit of promotion, but performances such as this, wastefully throwing away a two-goal lead, threaten to catch up with them. The gap to second- and third-placed chasers Burnley and Sheffield United is now trimmed to a point after they both won away matches yesterday and Farke’s team cannot afford to let that margin slip further after last year’s fruitless, bruising, 90-point season that ended in play-off final defeat.
