Saints turn down Cameron Archer approach

31 Jan 2025 09:21 am, by Ellandback1


Good Morning. It's Friday 31st January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Saints turn down Archer approach

Southampton have turned down Leeds United's loan approach for striker Cameron Archer. Since arriving at St Mary's five months ago, the £15m capture has amassed a thousand minutes of game time over ten starts - but has found the back of the net just twice! Incredibly, this makes him their joint leading scorer, such are the troubles for the South Coast outfit.

While talkSPORT announced the initial rejection, it appears the door might not be completely closed. Reports suggest Archer himself is open to a move to Elland Road, and has expressed his desire for more game time. Barring a miracle of Biblical proportions, Southampton's fate has already been decided with or without Cameron Archer!





Could Joseph lead the line if Piroe were to get injured?

Currently, Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph have been vying for the starting striker role, with Patrick Bamford battling persistent injury woes on the sidelines. The worry for Leeds is the fragility of their attacking depth. Should Piroe succumb to injury, can the youthful Joseph shoulder the burden of responsibility to lead the line?

Despite flashes of brilliance in pre-season, the 21yo has shown he is nowhere near ready to lead a promotion push. If we were honest with ourselves, he should be sent out on loan this month to develop, build strength and regain his confidence ahead of next season. He has scored just twice in 1132 minutes of game time, and slipped to 20th in Daniel Farke's roster with a disappointing 6.41 rating.

Bamford's return from his latest injury has now been set for March, dependent on a perfect recovery. He's managed but 123 minutes of game time all season, and should not be relied upon in any way, shape of form.





Would new recruits unsettle the ER dressing room

Are Leeds actually that much better than Sheffield Utd and Burnley that they only need to fill two voids in their loan allocations?

Daniel Farke talks of wanting to avoid an unsettled dressing room, but if competition for places are going to disrupt the team spirit, it surely raises alarming question marks regarding his man management skills! His players earn an average of £29,813 a week, or just under £130,000 a month, over three times more than most in the Championship - and as such, are being paid handsomely to take the rough with the smooth!




View all Showing latest 5 comments of 32...

DDB220 wrote on 03 Feb 2025 06:25 pm

SG90 wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 5:18 pm Surely we should be looking at players who would be good enough if we were to go up!? Archer isn't good enough for Southampton, that says it all.
We probably are and setting it up for the summer window when the clubs they are currently playing for are more inclined to do business. I am not panicking in the least with the squad we have.

Plenty of options everywhere. Another 10 would be nice but no point buying second best for the just in case scenario. Or paying well over the odds for a player who will be a much easier and less expensive purchase in the summer.

FeelsLikeThunder wrote on 01 Feb 2025 05:20 pm

SG90 wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 5:18 pm Surely we should be looking at players who would be good enough if we were to go up!? Archer isn't good enough for Southampton, that says it all.
You'd think so, wouldn't you? Staying in the PL is very, very hard these days, it looks like we are going up, we really should be trying to bring in players now who can keep us there...

SG90 wrote on 01 Feb 2025 05:18 pm

Surely we should be looking at players who would be good enough if we were to go up!? Archer isn't good enough for Southampton, that says it all.

CHAPELALLMAN wrote on 01 Feb 2025 02:58 pm

Actually, I think we just failed to go top in April 2024 when we only drew 2-2 with Watford. It was the start of the ' Leeds are falling apart again ' phase of last season....

CHAPELALLMAN wrote on 01 Feb 2025 02:47 pm

Overman wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 8:33 am We could have said the same thing for last season and you saw how that played out.

In my opinion it'll be foolish not to strengthen those key areas. Anyway, the leaders know best don't they.
Exactly. We were top with 10 games to go I believe, and then scored I think 8 points in those last 10 games. That's what not strengthening and allowing complacency to creep in does.

And you have to ask yourself - given that the likes of Piroe will never cut it in the PL, is it really worth it for them to bust a gut in the crucial last few games ? They know that if we go up they will be surplus to requirements next season.

Piroe went missing in those final games last season, and anyway, what happens if he gets injured ? Presumably we rely on Joseph finally finding out how to put the ball in the net, or wheeling Bamford out on to the pitch with one arm and leg in plaster ?