Good Morning. It's Wednesday 9th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds will stick with MeslierBBC Leeds correspondent Adam Pope believes Daniel Farke will persevere with Illan Meslier between the sticks for their crunch game against Sheffield Utd after the International break. The former France U21 shot-stopper has been subject to ridicule, taunting and even death threats since the freak incident five days ago. His confidence must be shot; we must remember he's only 24, which by goalkeeping standards is still pretty young.
It it fairer to give him a break, where he can regroup and come back stronger, or would time away just make it more difficult to come back? The alternatives are relatively untested; at-least in recent times.
On the odd occasion Darlow has had a run out, he's looked anything but assured, whilst Cairns has spent most of his career in the lower league's! According to Popey...
It's a horrific error, whatever way you want to look at it, but I agree with you. I think it's Sheffield United at home, isn't it, the next game, which is a huge game, under the spotlight, it’s Elland Road. Sheffield United will be doing their best every time the ball goes anywhere near Meslier to give him a hard time.
If he takes him out of that game, it's basically saying, 'I do not trust you in the big games'. And I don't get the impression that he's about to do that at all. The way he was talking, yes, he says, 'I've never seen anything like that, I've lost points late on in games, but I've never seen anything like that in 30 years'.
And he said, 'I didn't really speak to him afterwards, or haven't done so yet'. But he wanted to talk about all the positive stuff in that game, which you're right, includes one brilliant save near the beginning, while he was then let down by the others afterwards. So I don't see him pulling him out to be quite honest.
Embarrassment of riches having those fourLeeds-Live journalist Beren Cross believes Daniel Farke has his work cut out to keep his wide options happy once they are all fit! The Whites have been without the services of Dan James and Manor Solomon for much of the season thus far, but are nearing a return to action! Both are vying to be fit for the arrival of Sheffield Utd a week on Friday, and could make the bench!
Cross describes the quartet of Ramazani, Gnonto, James and Solomon as 'arguably the four best wingers in the league'. Dan James in particular never receives the plaudits he deserves. His 13 goals and 7 assists from 2495 minutes of game means the Welshman made a major contribution every 131 minutes last season. How will Farke manage this situation? We certainly don't want Solomon to get recalled, and end up at one of our rivals. With weaknesses at 9 and 10, will we see Farke tinker with his wingers to try and plug the gaps? According to Cross...
I mean that is going to have an embarrassment of riches having those four. I think [Largie] Ramazani and [Willy] Gnonto have done really well in their absence over the last week or so, so to have James and Solomon, you are looking at arguably the four best wingers in the league, in the same squad. “It’s going to be another issue for Farke to manage then.
