Good Morning. It's Thursday 9th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Teammates getting behind MeslierDuring a recent radio Interview with Adam Pope, Sam Byram rubbished reports of a dressing room revulsion with Ilan Meslier following his latest faux par at Hull last weekend. Byram, one of the senior figures in Daniel Farke's dressing room insists the squad have all been getting behind Meslier to pick him up, in an attempt to boost his morale. Has the show of solidarity come too late? Fans have taken to social media in their droves, insisting a new keeper be bought in this window, or see Karl Darlow promoted for a sustained period of time.
All you can do is support your teammates. At the moment, it is such a high-pressure environment. Every player will make mistakes, as a goalkeeper if anything you do leads to a goal, it’s under a microscope. “If you’re a striker and you miss, or you’re a full-back and your man beats you, it doesn’t lead to a goal and it doesn’t come under as much scrutiny. As a team, we back each other. Everyone is doing their best, giving 110% every game. If someone is having a tough time, we put our arm round them and that’s what we do here.
Will Ramazani win his place back this seasonThe flashes of brilliance Largie Ramazani exhibited in the early stages of the season, before that unfortunate ankle ligament injury against Watford, offered Leeds United fans a tantalizing glimpse into the dynamism he could bring to Daniel Farke's attacking options.
However, that early promise now feels like a distant memory. Since his return to fitness almost six weeks ago, the Belgian winger has seen alarmingly little action, and when he has featured, his performances have been noticeably off the pace.
The central question then becomes: has his limited game time disrupting his rhythm and sharpness, or does a more profound confidence issue lie at the heart of his struggles? Given the intensely competitive nature of the Championship, where a mere three points separate Leeds from fourth place Sunderland, the decision of whether to gamble on Ramazani rediscovering his form carries significant weight.
The pressure is mounting, and the club must weigh the potential reward of unlocking his early potential against the immediate need for consistent, match-winning performances. Undoubtable he'll start against Harrogate in the Cup, but given Manor Solomon's recent form, would Ramazani displace him even if he were back on song?
Barton gushes over Bielsa's tenure at ERJoey Barton, known for his often forthright opinions, offered a surprisingly glowing assessment of Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa, describing their time in the Premier League as a "breath of fresh air."
The former midfielder, now a pundit, fondly recalled the aggressive, front-foot style of play that defined Bielsa's babes, emphasizing their willingness to "take the fight to the opposition" regardless of their standing.
While lauding the collective spirit and approach, Barton did offer a critical perspective on individual players like Kalvin Phillips and Jack Harrison, observing their struggles since departing Elland Road, a stark contrast to their impactful performances during Bielsa's tenure.
He highlighted how Bielsa’s system seemed to elevate players, creating a formidable unit despite the individuals not necessarily being "incredible players" in isolation.
“I thought Leeds, when Bielsa had them, they were a bit open to watch but you’d like watching Leeds even though they struggled and Bielsa ended up losing his job,”
“I remember the early part and they were a breath of fresh air, you know, the way they played. They took the game to everybody and they had some really good young players in the team like Kalvin Phillips. “[Philips] has struggled really at Ipswich. He struggled at Man City. But he became an England international at Leeds.
“Even Jack Harrison, he’s been dreadful at Everton but at Leeds he looked a handful. They had the boy Luke Ayling who played for Yeovil before playing for Leeds, and he was a nuisance. Patrick Bamford… “They weren’t these incredible players. But, as a team and as a unit, I thought they were a breath of fresh air when Bielsa got them back to the top-flight.”
