Page 1 of 3
The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 8:01 am
by Ellandback1
Good Morning. It's Friday 4th October, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road....
Gruev out for at least six monthss
Ilia Gruev will undergo immediate surgery on his right knee, and will be out of action for six months. The Bulgarian International limped off after 20 minutes of the midweek draw at Carrow Road, in obvious discomfort. Investigations revealed a significant tear to his right meniscus. Results of the scans were held back until late Thursday, two days after the initial tests, to give the Thorp Arch medical team time to digest, and come up with a plan of action.
Meniscus surgery is a procedure to repair or remove a torn meniscus, a piece of cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber and helps stabilize the knee. The type of surgery recommended depends on the tear's severity, location, and pattern. Gruev won't be back until April.
Is a point enough tonight?
Ever since the 1973 FA Cup catastrophe, meetings between Leeds and Sunderland have been a little tasty, though this season will mean a lot more than just bragging rights! It has been estimated that Southampton's win over the Whites at Wembley last May would have netted the South Coast outfit £265m, with Leeds leaving with nothing! The Whites have not won promotion via the play-offs in six attempts, a record they hold over all the football league (92 clubs).
Having lost at home to Burnley, and settled for a draw at Norwich, is this a game Leeds need to win, or would a draw be sufficient. The Black Cats have won all four of their home games so far this season, and have yet to concede. We must take into account Daniel Farke's injury list too, and the fact Leeds only claimed a point from the Mackems last season (over both legs). Saying that, Farke's squad is still littered to multi-million pound talent when comparing how much each side has spend.
Trio could have important part to play
Fledgling trio Charlie Crew (18), James Debayo (19) and Sam Chambers (17 to weeks ago) could have an important part to play in Leeds bid for automatic promotion this season. Long term injuries to Dan James, Ethan Ampadu, Max Wober and now Ilea Gruev has significantly weakened Daniel Farke's first XI. He's been forced to field the last of his recognisable senior personnel, and may yet have to gamble on the kids coming through the junior ranks.
It certainly did David O'Leary no harm! Untried at first team level, Paul Robinson, Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith grabbed their opportunities with both hands, ousting the old guard, and making the first team positions their own! We must remember Manor Solomon, Junior Firpo and Pascal Struijk don't have the best of injury records, and knowing Leeds luck, it may not be long before we're reliant on Daniel Farke's babes!
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) Gruev out for six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 8:23 am
by The Subhuman
I'd not personally be happy with a point, I want the win, not least to prove a point we can get results against top teams this season and not just the teams that offer nothing.
I'd guess most will be happy with the point though and they'd not be wrong.
Gruev is a major loss, and on top of the long term injury to our only other startable holding mid it'll be interesting to see how we go forward
If Crew is going to make an impression for us this season he won't get a better chance than now. He's a holding mid imo and the only fit one left that wouldn't be a makeshift square peg.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) Gruev out for six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:00 am
by Jammy 07
The Subhuman wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 8:23 am
I'd not personally be happy with a point, I want the win, not least to prove a point we can get results against top teams this season and not just the teams that offer nothing.
I'd guess most will be happy with the point though and they'd not be wrong.
Gruev is a major loss, and on top of the long term injury to our only other startable holding mid it'll be interesting to see how we go forward
If Crew is going to make an impression for us this season he won't get a better chance than now. He's a holding mid imo and the only fit one left that wouldn't be a makeshift square peg.
Totally agree on Charlie Crew.
Let's start introducing him from the bench and take the good with the bad for a while as he learns the ropes at first team level.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) Gruev out for six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:10 am
by Clitheroe White
The Subhuman wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 8:23 am
I'd not personally be happy with a point, I want the win, not least to prove a point we can get results against top teams this season and not just the teams that offer nothing.
I'd guess most will be happy with the point though and they'd not be wrong.
Gruev is a major loss, and on top of the long term injury to our only other startable holding mid it'll be interesting to see how we go forward
If Crew is going to make an impression for us this season he won't get a better chance than now. He's a holding mid imo and the only fit one left that wouldn't be a makeshift square peg.
Agree on Crew - suspect we should try him from the start though. Who are our other options at holding mid?
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:12 am
by Clitheroe White
I dearly hope that the kids do get their chance, and then take it. Sliding Doors moments coming up!
Tonight - 3 points for me...we can win this match and should go all out to do so (esp with an international break looming).
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:13 am
by Chilli D
Difficult to say whether I'd take a point right now. If we play well and dominate but only get a point it will be disappointing but if we're hanging on and manage to dig out a point it will seem like a point well won.
All things considered though, a point won't be a disaster. They're unbeaten at home and are yet to concede.
I actually think it will be a draw.
Gutted for Gruev, six months is a long time out in a relatively short career.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 10:47 am
by Lufc76Cor
No way will Farke go with any of the youngsters , it's not his way ( Archie aside) , unless we are down to the bare minimum like in Bielsa's last season then they don't get a look in
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 10:59 am
by mentalcase
Must be kicking ourselves now we didn't splash a little more dosh to get Hamer.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:05 am
by Jammy 07
mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 10:59 am
Must be kicking ourselves now we didn't splash a little more dosh to get Hamer.
Watched Hamer against Swansea this week and he didn't look anywhere near a £15M player.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:12 am
by mentalcase
Jammy 07 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:05 am
Watched Hamer against Swansea this week and he didn't look anywhere near a £15M player.
He's a much better player than Gruev imho, also a very competent player in this league.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:20 am
by Irish Ian
Losing both DFMs to long term injuries in the same week is a disaster and of course will lead to fans throwing names around.
Going with a youngsters tonight will be deemed an act of genuis or madness depending on the outcome
Rothwell and Tanaka will take a few games to get used to the way DF wants to play.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) Gruev out for six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:23 am
by The Subhuman
Clitheroe White wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:10 am
Agree on Crew - suspect we should try him from the start though. Who are our other options at holding mid?
Fit? Struijk or maybe Schmidt. Both square pegs
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:25 am
by Tyzy
This season is turning into a disaster already.We need to be looking at January now and recruit if we've any chance of promotion if its not too late by then.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:54 am
by Jammy 07
mentalcase wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:12 am
He's a much better player than Gruev imho, also a very competent player in this league.
Agree Hamer is a very competent player but the more I've seen of him I'm convinced breaking the bank for him would have been the wrong thing to do.
At £10-£13M then worth a punt, however with virtually no upside in terms of his future value it would be difficult to justify spending more on him. Yes there is always the argument that a certain player might make the difference between promotion, or not, but gambling and paying over the odds isn't the best way to the run club as there are consequences to overspending on above average players who perhaps don't live up to the billing.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:56 am
by Barlow Boy
Tyzy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:25 am
This season is turning into a disaster already.We need to be looking at January now and recruit if we've any chance of promotion if its not too late by then.
I’m not sure we are in disaster territory just yet, putting the injuries to one side I think we are doing quite well to be honest.
Tonight is going to be tough, no doubt about that, and in truth I’m expecting a loss but even if we do lose, all is not lost still a long way to go.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:59 am
by Jammy 07
Irish Ian wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:20 am
Losing both DFMs to long term injuries in the same week is a disaster and of course will lead to fans throwing names around.
Going with a youngsters tonight will be deemed an act of genuis or madness depending on the outcome
Rothwell and Tanaka will take a few games to get used to the way DF wants to play.
We still have an excellent first 11 so no need to panic regarding tonight. However against Sheff Utd after the international break we might need to use at least one of our untried youngsters from the start.
That's why I'd like to see some game time from the bench this evening for Charlie Crew and/or others.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 12:00 pm
by Jammy 07
Barlow Boy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:56 am
I’m not sure we are in disaster territory just yet, putting the injuries to one side I think we are doing quite well to be honest.
Tonight is going to be tough, no doubt about that, and in truth I’m expecting a loss but even if we do lose, all is not lost still a long way to go.
Totally agree.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 12:01 pm
by Jammy 07
Barlow Boy wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:56 am
I’m not sure we are in disaster territory just yet, putting the injuries to one side I think we are doing quite well to be honest.
Tonight is going to be tough, no doubt about that, and in truth I’m expecting a loss but even if we do lose, all is not lost still a long way to go.
Apart from I don't think we'll lose tonight
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 12:01 pm
by Mildlyanarchic
I don't have a crystal ball but I felt selling Glen Kamara was not necessary despite the fact the club made a small profit. Now he would have provided adequate cover and his experience is invaluable.
Re: The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Friday 4th October) - Gruev out for at least six months
Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 12:04 pm
by mentalcase
I'm not panicking yet, last season we were a massive 17 points off LC to haul them back in , injuries are an issue with a paper thin squad, that is down to the owners again.
All these silly international games is causing sides like us no end of grief.