Former Leeds Star Coy About Summer Return
25 Mar 2024 09:21 am, by Ellandback1
Good Morning. It's Monday 25th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Former star coy about Summer return
Charlie Taylor has once again being linked to a return to where it all began for him fourteen years ago. The versatile left back is reaching the end of his tenure at Burnley, and will be a free agent in several months time; and according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are strongly considering re-signing him. By the early stages of next season, Taylor will be 31. It's fair to say his best years are behind him, and as such, I'm not sure what he can bring to the party; especially if he's considered not good enough for Burnley.
The left back position has long been a contentious issue, and needs fixing once and for all. Under Daniel Farke, Junior Firpo has proved to be a useful ally, especially in advanced areas, but still remains a chink in the armour defensively, even at Championship level. Much will depend on whether Leeds win promotion, then they have the decision whether to rebuild or consolidate; if its the latter Firpo, Dallas and Byram (as well as Cooper, Shackleton and Gelhardt) have no place at Elland Road next season.
When asked about his future, Taylor gave nothing away, stating: “I’m not really concentrating on anything past the summer, I’m just happy to be playing every week. I’m enjoying my football and trying to do the best for this club and get us as far up the table and out of trouble as much as I possibly can.”
Whites may need to top century barrier to guarantee promotion
Chris Dunlavy, the Chief Writer of the Football League Paper believes the Whites may need to break the hundred point barrier to ensure promotion back to the top flight! Whilst Leeds currently top the Championship, only a point separates the top three, not to mention Leicester City have a game in hand. Southampton may be nine points behind, but they have two games in hand, and travel up to Portman Road a week today.
Not only that, there's still that matter of the last game of the season. Theoretically, all top four clubs may still be fighting it out for a top two finish on the last day of the season (xanax at the ready)! According to Dunlavy, Leeds are on course to finish three points behind Leicester on 99 points, two points clear of Ipswich, and six clear (93) of Southampton.
Never in the history of the Championship has 93 points not been good enough for automatic promotion, yet they are predicted fourth. Leeds currently have 82 points on the board, with 24 to play for. This would mean dropping seven points between now and the rest of the season.
So imperious is Leeds’ current form that you wouldn’t bet against them (getting 100) - and with Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton all in the race, a three-figure total may be essential if the Whites are to seal an instant return to the Premier League. If all four teams in the race for automatic promotion kept collecting points at their current rate, Leicester (who have a game in hand on Leeds) would finish top on 102, Leeds would claim second with 99 and Ipswich would take third on 98. Russell Martin’s Saints, meanwhile, would trail home fourth on 93 - enough to guarantee a top-two place in all but a couple of the last 30 second-tier seasons.