The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 26th November) - Leeds City Council not expecting fans back at Elland Road soon

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Thursday 26th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


It's looks like Tier 3 for Leeds!

Leeds fans are anxiously waiting, for the Health Secretary to set out which tier each local authority in England will fall under after the end of the national lock down next week. We heard yesterday that stadiums in England that sit in Tiers 1 and 2 will be able to open back up to fans – for 4,000 and 2,000 fans for each respective tier. Unfortunately, it looks likely that Leeds will fall under the third category - total lock down. Council leader Judith Blake was quoted as saying...

Whilst we don’t know for sure what level Leeds will be in, and don’t anticipate finding out until later in the week… with the figures as they stand we anticipate we will be in the Very High (Tier 3) Alert Level.

Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield said...

“We are going into Tier 3, there is no doubt about that.

Has Elland Road had its day?

Last year Leeds drew up plans to extend Elland Road by a further 15,000 seats, by demolishing the West Stand, and rebuilding it in line with the East stand. This would be the Capacity to just over 50,000. A the time (September), Leeds MD Angus Kinnear's main concern was how to go about the demolition, rebuild, and cater for the fans...

Redeveloping the West Stand can take the capacity up to 50,000 and that’s what I think is a very achievable level for Leeds United to ensure you’re always sold out,” “That’s the key. You want to make sure, even for smaller games, you’re sold out.

We’ve now started to formalise the plans for how do you redevelop that stand while you have to do it within a season, so how do you manage your capacity and keep your capacity high during that time. “There are ways that can be achieved so you’re not losing too many seats.

Surely, anyone with half a brain, even back in September could have drawn a conclusion that should fans be allowed back to Elland Road this season, the numbers will be drastically reduced. So why not start the demolition now? 15,000 further seats would go a long way to satisfying the 20,000 Leeds fans on the waiting list!

Is a 50,000 all seater enough to compete with the big boys? With plans passed to build 'Park Life' (a new community sports hub, delivered in partnership with the Football Foundation and Leeds City Council) on the wasted land around Elland Road and Fullerton Park, would it be a better idea to demolish the whole stadium and start again?





Corberan reveals why he made switch

Bielsa's former right hand man, and Academy coach Academy Coach Carlos Corberan has been speaking about his switch to the John Smiths Stadium, and why he decided the time was right!

We had made it back into the Premier League. I was working alongside a coach like Marcelo and for a club with fans like Leeds. So why change? I always wanted to be a coach. You also understand that, if you want to keep growing, every stage has to come to an end at some point.

After promotion, I felt there couldn’t be a better ending. Promotion was the best way to give thanks for all the support and trust that Marcelo, Andrea, Iván and Víctor, alongside his working group, had given me. I had been given a great opportunity and I wanted to pay them back in the best possible way. In football, it is fundamental to give the best of yourself to people who believe in you.

There is nothing more important than the club you are at, otherwise, you are at risk of valuing what you have only when you lose it. So you have to try to make the decision to leave on your own terms, and not ever have that decision taken by the people who hired you to be there.

[1964white]

Morning Matt

Hope all is well with you

Just about to post up this breakfast topic from the other site

[Smudge3920]

Makes no sense , when supermarkets, restaurants and pubs can remain open at a reduced capacity.... how easy is it to social distance 5000 people in premier league football stadium?... the logic is illogical!

[Byebyegeegee]

The stadium, as it stands, is a bit tired and rough around the edges but it has character. The west stand needs to be replaced to increase capacity and like others I’m surprised that scheme is not already underway although I suppose planning and design take time.

I wonder if they are thinking about building a new stadium somewhere in the vicinity (there’s plenty of room) whilst the existing stadium remains in use. As a traditionalist, so long as it is still in that part of Leeds, ideally still on Elland Road then I wouldn’t be too bothered whether they improve the existing stadium or build a brand new one.

Always liked Carlos Corberan and under different circumstances would want him to do well. But because he’s “gone to the dogs” and now that they are well and truly back in their usual kennel, I hope he just does enough to keep them there and no more.

[Gandalf]

The plan for the stadium has always been to consolidate in the PL, before increasing the attendance. It is not as easy as let's build the new stand now, as we have no fans. There are such things as planning regulations, and having the cash at hand to build it. We have spent our first years PL money on players in order to keep us there, rather than add another 15K onto the capacity. That is the correct way to proceed imo.

[Carrick Dave]

I agree Gandalf. The sentimentalist in me favours the “Trigger’s brush” approach rather than rip and replace when the time comes, but whatever’s right for the club at that stage I suppose.

[Ellandback1]

An interview with Paddy Kenny.

This is quality. Well worth watching

hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a1pCVZ6BdA

hxxps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltvfBBs5_4

[1964white]

Leeds in tier three - no fans allowed - fair other clubs are allowed fans?

Bielsa
"It’s a question linked to those defining the categories. If the reasons for why Leeds are in category three are the correct ones, then it’s the correct decision. If in category three it means it’s risky for the public to attend, then the decision is correct again. What I don’t know if it’s correct Leeds is in category three and this means there should be no fans. The question should not be if it’s okay Leeds does not and Liverpool does have fans. The question should be is Leeds right to be in category three and is it right fans should not attend in this category. There’s another look to this. We stop allowing the competition to be performed, the competition has natural scaffolds, the power of each club corresponds to that club. Perhaps, there could be a rule fans are not allowed in all stadiums, then they should not be allowed until everyone can.

Should be about trying to maintain the competition as equal as possible with things that are controllable. I am just looking at common sense which does not go. The presence of the fans has an effect on the results. What the organisation says is people from higher risk areas will be penalised. There’s also the case you can say these institutions should not be punished because there’s a higher risk. I’m just making an analysis from common sense. It’s the same for me with more or less fans. I’m not going to say anything if we play with or without fans"

[Irish Ian]

Still no Pablo, Shacks or Llorente to count on this week.

I wish these journalists would ask more about Pablo during the press conferences.

[Lumiukko]

Leeds in tier three - no fans allowed - fair other clubs are allowed fans?

Bielsa
"It’s a question linked to those defining the categories. If the reasons for why Leeds are in category three are the correct ones, then it’s the correct decision. If in category three it means it’s risky for the public to attend, then the decision is correct again. What I don’t know if it’s correct Leeds is in category three and this means there should be no fans. The question should not be if it’s okay Leeds does not and Liverpool does have fans. The question should be is Leeds right to be in category three and is it right fans should not attend in this category. There’s another look to this. We stop allowing the competition to be performed, the competition has natural scaffolds, the power of each club corresponds to that club. Perhaps, there could be a rule fans are not allowed in all stadiums, then they should not be allowed until everyone can.

Should be about trying to maintain the competition as equal as possible with things that are controllable. I am just looking at common sense which does not go. The presence of the fans has an effect on the results. What the organisation says is people from higher risk areas will be penalised. There’s also the case you can say these institutions should not be punished because there’s a higher risk. I’m just making an analysis from common sense. It’s the same for me with more or less fans. I’m not going to say anything if we play with or without fans"

Bielsa talking the kind of sense that Bojo and Handjob could never fathom. And, no doubt about Bielsa's socialist principles there, there should be equality for fans and competition.

Elland Road development: Tough one as it would make absolute sense to start construction of a new stand while fans are missing or at a reduced capacity, but similarly, the money is spent for this year and consolidating our place in the PL is the absolute priority. Could be that a new stadium is the most cost effective solution for the long-term future.

Injuries: I really want to see the cut of Llorente's jib and Forshaw get back to playing. Any idea if they are in full training or might play in the U23s anytime soon?

[mothbanquet]

Wise words from Corberan, looks like he's under no illusions as to the reality of his position. I think being linked to Bielsa would've been a big plus on his CV.