Good Morning. It's Friday 30th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Marsch's touchline ban won't affect Leeds
Former player, now pundit, Chris Sutton doesn't believe Jesse Marsch's touchline ban will have any influence on his players on Sunday. Marsch was given his marching orders at Brentford four weeks ago, and subsequently now banished from the dugout for the visit of Aston Villa. In his absence, assistant Manager René Marić will step up, and could be joined by Ewan Sharp, Mark Jackson and Cameron Toshack. Steven Gerrard's side have been poor away from home this season, losing all three of their games; and according to Sutton, he doesn't expect his former team to come away from Elland Road with anything either.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch won't be in the dugout after his red card against Brentford last month. His side will still play with the same great intensity though, and Elland Road always seems to lift them. At home is where you feel it is going to happen for them. Villa got a big win over Southampton last time, but their results on the road so far have been poor, with three defeats out of three, and I don't see that changing here.
Watkins expects hostile ER reception
Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins has described the atmosphere at Elland Road as being 'hostile' whenever he has visited the ground. The 26 year old came close to joining the Whites during the 2020 Summer transfer window, but they opted to buy Rodrigo instead, for a record-breaking £27m. At the time, it was reported that Bielsa had been turned off Watkins due to a number of 'bling' social media posts he had made. According to Watkins...
It’s always hostile going to Elland Road, but whenever we’ve gone there, we’ve done really well, they’re in a good bit of form, so it will be a difficult game.
Who should be Leeds next Captain
Since his £750,000 move from Chesterfield back in 2014, Liam Cooper has become Leeds most dependable servant, both on, and off the pitch. What he lacks in natural ability, he makes up in hard work and dogged-determination. His peers respect him too. Coops has kept hold of the Captain's armband since the Thomas Christiansen era (2017-18) when the Dane asked the squad to pick their own skipper.
228 games (and nine goals) later, injuries are starting to take their toll. By the time next season kicks off, Cooper will be 32, and his best days behind him. If part of the fixtures and fittings at Elland Road next season, his game time is likely to be drastically reduced. Bearing this in mind, who should be Leeds next Captain?
