Leeds United v Derby County Match Thread

[Ellandback1]

Leeds United v Derby County
Saturday 7th December 12:30pm| Elland Road


Derby are the visitors to Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime, with expectant Leeds fans predicting a return to winning ways and a return to the top of the table following Burnley's draw with Middlesbrough on Friday night. There's no love lost between the two sides over the years, enflamed further by 'Spygate' and the 18/19 Championship Play-off Semi Final between the two sides. This remains Derby's only win over Leeds in the last seven games when they have met.

With just one win in their last six, the Rams face the daunting task of taking on a Leeds side who have only lost once at home all season (in the league). Along with the Blades, Farke's side top the Championship form guide, winning all six of their last games at Elland Road. Paul Warne's chances of an upset are lessoned by the fact that key player Ebou Adams is ruled out through suspension, after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. On-loan Crystal Palace midfielder David Ozoh (hamstring/quad muscle issue) and defender Ryan Nyambe (posterior knee ligament) also miss out.





The only new injury concern for Daniel Farke is Junior Firpo who is fighting for fitness ahead of the Saturday lunctime clash. Max Wober and Largie Ramazani are being eased back to action gradually whilst Manor Solomon is pushing for a return to the starting line-up after being dropped during the 1-0 loss at Ewood Park last weekend.

Ilea Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are long term casualties; with Joe Rothwell and AO Tanaka expecting to deputise yet again. There was positive news on the Ampadu front though, with the Welsh midfielder returning to first team training and hopefull of featuring soon. Daniel Farke continuous to favour Joe Piroe over Mateo Joseph, with the young Spaniard starting on the bench in nine out of ten of his previous games.

Joe Rodon and Wilfred Gnonto are walking suspension tight-ropes. Both have four bookings each; but, if they can avoid being carded on Saturday, the immediate threat of a ban is lifted with the threshold raised to ten bookings before game-week 37.



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[Irish Ian]

Bogle has happy memories of that night

[Ellandback1]

Holy ****, wearing No37, that's Bogle!!!!

[Cjay]

Farke's here - Injuries

Byram is out. He will miss Saturday. Isaac back in training after his hernia surgery. Had three weeks out after his hernia surgery. Not ready for 90, but an option.

Question mark around Firpo after a hit on his foot in training yesterday. Late call on him.



Wober an able deputy?

He is better used to playing in the centre, but he can play at full-back and done this with his former clubs and country. Tricky season so far with many injuries.




Bamford ahead of Joseph?

His confidence is coming back in training. This is the first time in a long time he has had four weeks of training back to back to work on.

This was not a decision against Mateo. Patrick had smart movements in the box. A good solution when you need a goal out of nothing. If you impress in training you get more minutes and then you have to take your chance.



Day off after defeat? Warne did this

They can be beneficial instead of overloading them. With days off you will not be successful, but if Paul does this, I am sure it's the best solution for them. This will be a team motivated to bounce back. Derby on the front foot in their last game and could have won it




Warne could not believe you were under pressure - do you appreciate that?

We have a good relationship and there are objective data that would back his sentiments. It's Leeds United and it's such an emotional club it's quite normal. There will always be some people who are not happy in such a large fanbase. I do not feel criticised for under pressure. I knew when I signed the contract how emotional this club was. Even during Marcelo's time, he worked miracles, but was criticised at times for his football or approach. This is what happens.



Are you ruling out a marquee signing?

No. In general, I have done this long enough that anything can happen and you cannot rule anything out. In the summer, I never expected so many changes in the squad. It's a while until the window opens. I don't want to talk too much about it before January with eight games to go





Are you minded to push for a 10?

No, I spoke about our summer business and this was a point I made, but now we go on with it and I don't want to judge it at the start of December. After these eight games we will draw a line under it. Are there new injuries? I am happy with our squad and with key players coming back.

Ampadu back in training now, but Gruev looking good, still long term. We don't take a decision too early.

[Cjay]

We haven't won in 9 early kick off games

[Ellandback1]

We haven't won in 9 early kick off games

Good thing I'm an optimist

[andrewjohnsmith]

All 3 left backs out or a worry:

Byram out
Schmidt available but not for 90 minutes
Firpo took a knock in training (probably OK)

We do have Wober who could play LB. Sounds like Firpo will be OK though.

[Ellandback1]

Byram should NEVER have played two games in a week. Wober should have started against Swansea. He played 90 mins for Austria!

[andrewjohnsmith]

Byram should NEVER have played two games in a week. Wober should have started against Swansea. He played 90 mins for Austria!

I don't think Wober is seen as a left back - except in an emergency

[Jammy 07]

We haven't won in 9 early kick off games

Given how many games we win in the Championship that doesn't make sense, especially as it's the same for both teams. Plus we supposedly have one of the best squads in the division so what's going wrong ?

[whiteswan]

Given how many games we win in the Championship that doesn't make sense, especially as it's the same for both teams. Plus we supposedly have one of the best squads in the division so what's going wrong ?

They don't like pasta for breakfast.....Farke has admitted that these early kick offs mess up the pre match meals.

[Jammy 07]

They don't like pasta for breakfast.....!

Or Greggs ?

[andrewjohnsmith]

Given how many games we win in the Championship that doesn't make sense, especially as it's the same for both teams. Plus we supposedly have one of the best squads in the division so what's going wrong ?

It was an issue against Blackburn. We played 3 games that week. Blackburn only played 2, Blackburn were at home. We had to travel.

Plus it would make more sense to give the early game to someone who played on Tuesday rather than someone who played on Wednesday.

[Cjay]

Given how many games we win in the Championship that doesn't make sense, especially as it's the same for both teams. Plus we supposedly have one of the best squads in the division so what's going wrong ?

No idea.

Didn't know it till I saw it when I was posting the press conference.

Weird problem to have but seems to be one.

Bit like our London issue.

[malcolmw]

It was an issue against Blackburn. We played 3 games that week. Blackburn only played 2, Blackburn were at home. We had to travel.

Plus it would make more sense to give the early game to someone who played on Tuesday rather than someone who played on Wednesday.

Didn't Blackburn only play 1 against our 3 last week. (Their Portsmouth game was postponed?)

[malcolmw]

No idea.

Didn't know it till I saw it when I was posting the press conference.

Weird problem to have but seems to be one.

Bit like our London issue.

As Farke said it disrupts training schedules. He referred to having an early game straight after the international break when some players were only coming in late.

It must impact squad selection in instances like that.

[malcolmw]

I don't think Wober is seen as a left back - except in an emergency

DF explained that quite well - relative strengths of the 3 for that role.
He referred to Junior's attacking and crossing abilities as been good when trying to open up a deep sitting team - which I think we'll encounter on Saturday.
Didn't we use Struijk at LB for a few games last season?
I think I'd rather see Wober as LB if need be though.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Didn't Blackburn only play 1 against our 3 last week. (Their Portsmouth game was postponed?)

It was their second game, our 3rd

Farke kind of misrepresented it a bit in the presser. He said Blackburn had only played one game in 3 weeks. That included the international break. So we only played 2 games in 3 weeks.

But the reality is that we did play an extra game that week. And that the early kick off certainly works against the visiting team. And both teams had played on the Wednesday. To be fair, the early kick off should be for two teams that had played on Tuesday.

[andrewjohnsmith]

DF explained that quite well - relative strengths of the 3 for that role.
He referred to Junior's attacking and crossing abilities as been good when trying to open up a deep sitting team - which I think we'll encounter on Saturday.
Didn't we use Struijk at LB for a few games last season?
I think I'd rather see Wober as LB if need be though.

Yes. Farke explained it well.

Strujik played left back quite a bit under Jesse Marsch. But it's not ideal. Like Wober, a bigger guy, natural center back and a compromise at left back.

[malcolmw]

It was their second game, our 3rd

Farke kind of misrepresented it a bit in the presser. He said Blackburn had only played one game in 3 weeks. That included the international break. So we only played 2 games in 3 weeks.

But the reality is that we did play an extra game that week. And that the early kick off certainly works against the visiting team. And both teams had played on the Wednesday. To be fair, the early kick off should be for two teams that had played on Tuesday.

Yes see what you're saying about how the fixtures worked.
They had a good win against Boro before us.