Good Morning. It's Friday 14th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road....
Couzens urges Bielsa to partner Bamford and Augustin up front
Andy Couzens has urged Marcelo Bielsa to partner Augustin and Bamford up-front together for their crunch game against the Robins. The former Leeds midfielder, part of the 1993 youth team that beat Manchester United was quoted as saying...
I’d like to see both of them play. Bamford’s best season in his career was at Middlesbrough when he sort of played as a No.10, playing just off the front and creating a few more bits. He actually scores goals from there as well.
I don’t think it will happen, Augustin will be on the bench and Bamford will start. I can’t see him changing it too much more. Would you like to see both strikers play together?
According to Elland Road sources, Augustin is in excellent physical condition after doing extensive training with Leeds’ conditioning staff away from the main squad since he joined last month. Do you think Bamford gets isolated up front by himself having to resort to snap shots as he is so heavily marked?
Would a change of formation do the team good? Is it unfair for Bielsa to expect Bamford to undertake an all round role when Leeds are not attacking? Is this having a negative impact on the former Boro mans game? Should Bamford be used as a number 10? Have we missed not having a No 10 since Saiz left?
Kelvin Phillips - We let our performance shut them up
Freshly back from suspension, Kelvin Phillips was interviewed following the 1-1 draw at Griffin Park. The 24yo couldn't help but to bite back following comments from Bees Manager Thomas Frank that Leeds feared Brentford!
We had a lot of comments from the Brentford fans and the Brentford manager, saying that we were fearing them, but we never fear a team going into a game, and I think it showed today. We are a very good footballing side, and with the way they play, I think we put a lot of pressure on them. We let them talk before the game, and let our performance shut them up.
Do you agree with these comments? Is he saying that he was more than satisfied with a draw at Griffin Park or is he saying that the performance was more important than the result?
Bielsa's Pre March Press Conference
Bielsa reveals that both Casilla and Bamford will start the game against Bristol City on Saturday, much to the dismay of the Leeds fans. Ben White spotted on Sky camera's trying to 'borrow' Brentfords keeper David Raya's gloves during a Leeds corner. Imagine up uproar had Leeds scored from it! Also, Bielsa reveals why Poveda hasn't been in the squad recently
Safe standing could be introduced in top two tiers by next year
Safe standing could be introduced in the top two tiers of English football by next year after research found it had a 'positive impact on spectator safety'. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) have compiled an interim report which finds the installation of barriers in seated areas at football grounds - such as the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wolves' Molineux - has 'mitigated the risk of crowd collapse'. Peter Daykin, the head of the Football Supporters' Association Stand Up For Choice campaign, said...
We're getting ever closer to seeing licensed standing areas return to clubs across the Premier League and Championship. It's entirely appropriate that the minister and SGSA take all the time they need to deliver the choice to stand safely and in a way that solves the issues caused by the all-seater legislation.
Standing areas give supporters choice in how they watch football, but also reduce tension between fans and stewards, and improve the atmosphere in football grounds across the country. More than ever before, politicians and the football authorities now share those beliefs.
Would you like to see a safe standing area? Would you take advantage of it? Do you feel that being surrounded by barriers is a step too far?
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