Does Marsch have any excuses?

Good Morning. It's Saturday 28th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Does Marsch have any excuses?

It’s fair to say the Leeds United board have been criticised for their transfer spending in the past, particularly during the January transfer window. Failure to back the manager last winter in the midst of an injury crisis left Leeds teetering on the edge of relegation. But with the team in a similarly precarious position in the table currently, the board have got the cheque book out and backed the manager. Whilst two of the clubs best players in Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, may have moved on in the summer but the board moved quickly to replace them as well as bringing in key signings for Jesse Marsch’s system.

Net spend may have balanced out in the summer, but they have gone big again this window, backing the manager in key areas. If the deal for Weston McKennie goes through, Leeds will have brought in 10 first team players this season at a total of around £160 million, an outlay similar to that of Liverpool and Manchester City. So, with the backing he has received and with players tailor-made, does Jesse Marsch have any excuses if the team don’t start climbing up the table soon?





McKennie deal hits trouble overnight

It had all been going so well hadn’t it? But a source close to Weston McKennie revealed last night that Juventus had made a full 360 on the deal and despite Leeds having made an initial offer of around €28m and positive talks on Thursday, ‘the Old Lady’ were now looking at a loan deal, hoping to extract more money from Leeds or maximise the value of the USMNT international come summer. Whilst Leeds are open to a loan deal, it would need to come with an option to buy at a set price come summer. They player would also look for assurances around clauses in the event of Leeds’ relegation.

With the deal hanging in the balance it is rumoured the 49ers have stepped in and there is now optimism now for Weston McKennie to join Leeds. The prospect of three USMNT internationals in the side is a marketing man’s wet dream for the NFL franchise holders, it’s a deal they can’t see fail at the last hurdle. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano understands talks are now back on track regarding a loan with buy clause with positive contacts late last night.

Would you take a loan deal? Or have the previous loans of Ben White and Jean Kevin Augustin scarred Leeds fans?





Accrington Stanley, Who are dey?

The name Accrington Stanley may have become somewhat of a figure of fun thanks to the 1980’s Milk advert starting Ian Rush but they are a great team with a proud history. The current club was formed in 1968, two years after the collapse of the original Accrington Stanley, which played in the Football League from 1921 to 1962. Recently they spent 12 seasons mostly in the bottom half of the table in League Two, before current manager John Coleman led them to promotion into League One as League Two champions in 2018.

The two sides have faced each other twice before, once in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2009 when Leeds were 2-0 winners and most recently in the Capital One Cup in 2014 when Leeds ran out 2-1 winners. Both games were at Elland Road, this is the first time Leeds have played at the Crown Ground, the stadium taking it’s name from the pub at one corner of the ground.

How strong a team do you think Jesse Marsch will play? How far can Leeds make it in this seasons FA Cup?