The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 30th October) Ben White's January release Clause

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Wednesday 30th October, and here are the Leeds Utd headlines...


Costa faces the chop

According to Phil Hay, Bielsa will drop Helder Costa from the starting line up as soon as Pablo Hernandez is fit to replace him. The 25 yearo old is on a season long loan from Wolves with an agreement between the two clubs that Leeds can buy the Portuguese International for £15 million.

Bielsa agreed that Leeds are missing Hernandez - said Costa hasn't yet been able to replicate Hernandez's talent of drifting off the wing and providing some devilment in the middle

Its fair to say that he hasn't reached managed to show the same kind of performances that were so influential in Wolves 2017-18 Promotion winning side. Is Costa having problems adjusting? Do you think he will come up with the goods? Is he worth his £15 million price tag, or given the option, would you rather have Dwight Gayle?




Ben White's January release clause

It has been revealed that Brighton can activate a mid-season release clause in Ben White’s loan and recall him in January. The 21 year old has been the stand out player for the Whites this season, and losing him would severely dent their promotion prospects. His performances have already created interest from Liverpool, who were said to be keen to offer £20 million for the centre back! If you were in Brightons shoes and you were sitting at the wrong end of the table, what would you do?




When January Comes

Assuming Leeds don't lose any players (minus Jack Clarke who will be returning to Spurs), does Bielsa need to strengthen the squad in January if the Whites are serious contenders for automatic promotion?

Is the current squad good enough for top two? Would they be guaranteed a top 6 finish; we know that traditionally Leeds falter after Christmas? How many players are need, and what positions?

Would you rather see height, or a specialist set piece taker for free kicks and corners? Which current players would you sacrifice in order to bring new blood in?

[HarryofOz]

Hi EB

Costa has been okay when I've seen him play. Some good things, but nothing special and nothing terrible.

I hope they don't do so, but Brighton would be crazy not to exercise the release clause if they can, either to get back a quality footballer or to get a big money payment.

We need a better goalscorer more than anything else in my opinion. Easier said than done though.

[1964white]

Helder Costa couldn't lace Pablo's boots

If Brighton recall White our season is over

Of course we need to invest in the in the window, going by a track record that is unlikely though.

A proper striker, a No.10 & a goal-scoring midfielder/set-piece taker, oh and wingers who look up & can actually cross a ball or take a corner. This is all pie in the sky though when we are talking Leeds!

Dwight Gayle & Jarrod Bowen will likely be available in January.

How about an exciting signing Leeds ? maybe not

[The Subhuman]

Every Leeds fan will be happier with Gayle than Costa..Grass is always greener irrespective of the fact EVERYONE wanted Costa before we got him...

[Sara]

If Ben White goes I will cry. Such a consistent, intelligent player.

To be worth 15 million Costa should be absolutely tearing it up by now. He certainly hasn't had the impact we needed.

Who will Bielsa want in Jan? Has he shown any interest in Bowen?

[Irish Ian]

Morning folks,

I dont think we have the luxury of dropping Costa, in fact I thought he player well on Saturday.. I think he and Ed have an understanding.
Pablo cant continue as a winger at his age.

White going would be a hammer blow to the season, and it makes no sense for Brighton to recall him just to sell him, if they need him in their squad that is another matter.. But we need to be putting out feelers for a replacement NOW. Just in case.

Invest in the window.

All our money on a No10. Ee wont get a striker as who would want to come, just to play second fiddle to you know who...

Lets see if our genius manager can help resolve these problems.

[lufc1304]

For what it's worth, I think Bielsa needs to persist with Costa wide right and slot Pablo into the 10 role when he's back. And I agree that Costa and Eddie seem to be on the same wavelength.

Losing White would be a hammer blow, he's a class act.

As Ian says, we desperately need a 10, haven't had one since Saiz went. I've no idea who is or isn't available, but I do think this squad is a piece or two away from being optimum. Maybe those players are here already, but MB seems reluctant to try the U23s for whatever reason. What happens in January might depend on whether there's any fire with this QSI smoke

[Ellandback1]

Hi EB

Costa has been okay when I've seen him play. Some good things, but nothing special and nothing terrible.

I hope they don't do so, but Brighton would be crazy not to exercise the release clause if they can, either to get back a quality footballer or to get a big money payment.

We need a better goalscorer more than anything else in my opinion. Easier said than done though.

Evening aHarry. TBF, its his 15m price tag that lets him down.

[1964white]

Every Leeds fan will be happier with Gayle than Costa..Grass is always greener irrespective of the fact EVERYONE wanted Costa before we got him...

I can't recall saying or thinking I'd be happy with yet another injury-prone player

I'd be over the moon if we were signing someone such as Gayle, Mitrovic, Bowen, etc players who have a proven goal-scoring record at championship level. The three I mentioned are worth around £15m in the crazy football market that exists now.

[1964white]

If Ben White goes I will cry. Such a consistent, intelligent player.

To be worth 15 million Costa should be absolutely tearing it up by now. He certainly hasn't had the impact we needed.

Who will Bielsa want in Jan? Has he shown any interest in Bowen?

I don't mind admitting I would join you in the crying stakes Sara if we lost White or Phillips

I doubt we have shown any interest in Bowen even though he ran rings round us at ER last December & was in the top ten goal scoring charts last season & he is way on course this time round to better last years tally.

Bowen would have a field day at Leeds

[liggy]

Got to admit last time I cried was Monday teatime trying to make a corn beef and onion stewp
Anyhoos I'll be in floods when robbiedinho hangs up his boots....keep a had

[1964white]

Got to admit last time I cried was Monday teatime trying to make a corn beef and onion stewp
Anyhoos I'll be in floods when robbiedinho hangs up his boots....keep a had

Too many onions liggy

[BGwhite]

Bielsa's problem and therefore Leeds' problem is he wants to work / mould players to fit into his playing style before he will play them so I doubt very much he will be that interested in the January transfer market. He is no doubt an extremely good coach but I'm fast coming to the conclusion that he has taken us as far as its possible in this league unless there is major investment in the playing staff or he is willing to throw in a reserve or 2 to see what happens but neither is likely imo.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[Sara]

Bowen would have a field day at Leeds

You'd think so, wouldn't you, but we'd probably be saying the same about Nketiah if he was somewhere else!

[1964white]

You'd think so, wouldn't you, but we'd probably be saying the same about Nketiah if he was somewhere else!

Give me Nketiah over our forward players Costa, Harrison, Bamford, Klich & Alioski anyday.

Skill & pace to burn & a end product too

[rab_rant]

I don't really know what Armagedon means
but the way that I look at it is
It's not the end of the world is it?

Nketiah is being recalled to Arsenal, White is going back to Brighton.
Phillips is going to Man U. Bamford can't score. Pablo is too old.
Douglas is crocked, Costa is too expensive. Forshaw gets injured too often
Berardi won't be handed a new deal. The sky is falling.

Resist the clap trap.

[1964white]

I don't really know what Armagedon means
but the way that I look at it is
It's not the end of the world is it?

Nketiah is being recalled to Arsenal, White is going back to Brighton.
Phillips is going to Man U. Bamford can't score. Pablo is too old.
Douglas is crocked, Costa is too expensive. Forshaw gets injured too often
Berardi won't be handed a new deal. The sky is falling.

Resist the clap trap.

But the majority of those statements are inevitably true Rab

Sweep it under the table at your peril!

[liggy]

Too many onions liggy

No the cornbeef was Best Before 23// 2/87

[liggy]

I was ganna send it back to Kwik save mind

[rab_rant]

But the majority of those statements are inevitably true Rab
Sweep it under the table at your peril!

I just look at it as headlines to sell newsprint, and ferment unrest and worry.
First of all Nketiah is going to be recalled in January and everybody's knickers
get in a twist, then Arsenal say he won't be recalled and that story dies down.
OK let's see if we can get any milage out of KP going to Man U... well there was
no feeding frenzy over that one so where can we go now? Let's do a Ben White
recall that should see the cat amongst the pigeon.

All the headlines are geared to unsettle the camp and cause panic. Next thing
you know Frank Lampard will be turning down an approach from Bielsa to sign
Reece James, and we will all be astounded at the injustice of it all.

What I would really like for just one week... no not even that, just a few days
until the QPR game is a bit of positivity. In the movie Ghostbusters evil and
misfortune seem to be called down by a malevolent atmosphere... and whether
we believe it or not we call down hot coals on our own heads with all these dire
negative thoughts. I see the KOP seething in a rage because of some fake news
they have read in the media. The incandescent souls of the Ultras aflame and
uncomprehending as to why they are in such turmoil. The feeling spreading like
a virus through the stands and giving way to utterances that demand Bielsa's
head on a plate.

What we are witnessing is the phenomenon of mass hysteria that transmits
collective illusions of threats, whether real or imaginary, through a population
in society as a result of rumors and fear. This is not good and should be resisted.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Cool it with Bamford's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.