The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 13th February) Wilder predicts Leeds title as mind games begin

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Thursday 13th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Wilder predicts Leeds title as mind games begin

As the Championship season heats up, mind games are already in play, courtesy of Sheffield United Manager Chris Wilder. In his post match Interview, Wilder took to the airwaves to predict that Leeds United will clinch the Championship title, even though his Blades side are just two points shy. Last night's performance saw them overcome a contentious penalty decision to reclaim control in the second half, with goals from Ben Brereton Diaz and Anel Ahmedhodzic sealing the win. Wilder emphasized the importance of focus, urging his squad to maintain their momentum...

People look at tables and when somebody drops a couple of points and someone wins a game or whatever. We have just got to keep our heads down and keep doing what we are doing and if we do that, we are going to be in the mix. If we don’t, we will find ourselves out of it. We want to be involved in it right the way through to the end and if we keep producing those types of performances, then we are going to give ourselves a good chance.

Leeds are the talked-about team and rightly so. They’re a fabulous group of players and are well-coached, smashing everybody here, there and everywhere. They’re everybody’s tip to win it. From my point of view, I’d say the same. But we want to make it interesting and hopefully we will do in terms of collecting the points and producing those performances.

Chasing Pack Round-up

Sheffield Utd closed the gap at the top of the Championship to just two point, comprehensively beating Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough 3-1 last night, with forty-two points still to play for!
Burnley (at home to Hull) and Sunderland (who hosted Luton Town) both recorded two-nil wins to stay in the hunt for a top two finish.

At the other end of the table, Plymouth Argyle's recent revival continues. They thumped Millwall 5-1 at Home Park, lifting themselves from the pit of the Championship, now occupied by Luton Town. The Pilgrims are now just two points from safety. Outside of the top six, eleven teams remain in contention for a play-off place.

[Sean_Nile]

See that the Elon Musk "my heart goes out to you" salute has caught on with Rak-Sakyi

[CUSSIE01]

Morning EB.
Wilder is only saying what everyone else is thinking but anyone at Leeds or home who think it’s in the bag need their heads rattled, next 2 games will be massive. Take it away Ernie ! Fasten your safety belts, clench your buttocks ! It’s going to be a bumpy ride !

[Chilli D]

I fully expected all three to win last night so wasn't surprised at the results.
Looking at the fixtures, Sheff Utd still have to play us and Burnley.
Burnley are still in the FA Cup and have a very winnable game against Preston. The longer they stay in the cup, the better that suits us in my opinion.
Sunderland only have us left to play out of the top 4 so potentially have an easier run in although nothing is guaranteed.
The next three games are massive for us.

[mentalcase]

Morning all
The next 3 games won't define our season but will help especially psychologically if we come through them favourably, 2 are at home and sheffied will have to bring the game to us allowing us the break at speed.
We'll have a blip sometime no doubt, hopefully not as disastrous as last seasons.
We favour teams wanting to play football and maybe only wba will adapt the low block.
Whilst we may not get the maximum 9 points, 7 or even 5 won't be too bad.

[mentalcase]

With our goal difference we are effectively 6 points ahead of 3rd placed boring boring burnley, simply match their result and we're up
Simples

[Orange Box]

See that the Elon Musk "my heart goes out to you" salute has caught on with Rak-Sakyi

Back in the day a black gloved fist meant something else entirely. Isn’t history interesting the way symbolism changes?

[Sean_Nile]

Back in the day a black gloved fist meant something else entirely. Isn’t history interesting the way symbolism changes?

Oh no!!! it was a black panther salute... how did I miss this... those black american far rightists.

[GreennWhite]

As others have said the league is far from done and dusted for us. We have to just concentrate on ourselves. If we do that then the other teams can do very little about it.
The Blunts, Sunderland and Burnley will not win all of their remaining games, and nor will we. So if we do drop the odd point here and there its not the end of the world.
It could be the end of March before we really see a clearer picture at the top of the league.

[weasel]

Morning all
The next 3 games won't define our season but will help especially psychologically if we come through them favourably, 2 are at home and sheffied will have to bring the game to us allowing us the break at speed.
We'll have a blip sometime no doubt, hopefully not as disastrous as last seasons.
We favour teams wanting to play football and maybe only wba will adapt the low block.
Whilst we may not get the maximum 9 points, 7 or even 5 won't be too bad.

I wouldn't be surprised if they adopted Burnley's policy and decided a point would be a good result against us.

WBA may be different now that Corberan is no longer in charge.

[Jammy 07]

By 10pm on Monday we could be 2nd in the league and only 2 point ahead of 3rd.

If that does happen there's no need to panic.

Until we lose at Sheffield Utd the week after then you can panic

[mentalcase]

I wouldn't be surprised if they adopted Burnley's policy and decided a point would be a good result against us.

WBA may be different now that Corberan is no longer in charge.

I was thinking that tbh, but if thats the case, their fans won't be very happy with wilder at all.

[John in Louisiana]

I fully expected all three to win last night so wasn't surprised at the results.
Looking at the fixtures, Sheff Utd still have to play us and Burnley.
Burnley are still in the FA Cup and have a very winnable game against Preston. The longer they stay in the cup, the better that suits us in my opinion.
Sunderland only have us left to play out of the top 4 so potentially have an easier run in although nothing is guaranteed.
The next three games are massive for us.

Absolutely. Any talk of automatic promotion until at least two weeks from Monday is wildly premature.

[Phild]

Personally think blunts fans may be happy if he plays for the draw and gets it

[GreennWhite]

We can afford to lose one of the next two games and still be in a good position. We are more than capable of winning the next two games, and if we do that then that's puts a lot of pressure on the other 3 teams which is exactly what we need to happen.

[ruttermania]

Even during our best run last season I don't think the performances matched what we have seen recently . I also think there is a very real feel of a team that has the capacity if pushed to move up a couple of gears to achieve a goal which is motivating the entire squad . To my mind the absence of the chaos of July and August 23 has enabled Farke to prepare a squad to pace itself over the entire season which he accomplished also with his Norwich teams . The risk factors are now basically injury and good old Lady Luck so I feel quietly confident while not yet counting any chickens.

[andrewjohnsmith]

Even during our best run last season I don't think the performances matched what we have seen recently . I also think there is a very real feel of a team that has the capacity if pushed to move up a couple of gears to achieve a goal which is motivating the entire squad . To my mind the absence of the chaos of July and August 23 has enabled Farke to prepare a squad to pace itself over the entire season which he accomplished also with his Norwich teams . The risk factors are now basically injury and good old Lady Luck so I feel quietly confident while not yet counting any chickens.

Two good points

Better squad and more sharing of the minutes

More emphatic performances

[Sean_Nile]

The master of mind games, Chris Wilder, gives a team talk.

I ‘ave devised a most cunning and sophisticated tactical master plan… RUN ABOUT A BIT!

Now, now, you see that round thing? That’s a ball!... YOU KICK IT TOWARDS THEIR NET, IN THE DIRECTION AWAY FROM OUR GOALIE! Not ours, no no no, that’s just what they want us to do and we don’t want to do that lads, DO WE?

Right, when they ‘ave the ball... GET IT BACK!

How? I don’t know, I’m not a rocket scientist! But I do know one thing: if you don’t run a lot, I shall be very cross! And you don’t want that, oh no! I’ll do my angry face! The bulldog chewing a wasp!

Now, lads, remember... Sheffield United! Mighty! Not a bent dull butter knife, but a shining sword, well more a rusty old blunt sabre, but Fearless! Slightly confused but very determined!

Now go out there, and be on it as that FARKE SAYS… or at least look a bit busy! And don't forget to enjoy yourselves.

[Jammy 07]

Even during our best run last season I don't think the performances matched what we have seen recently . I also think there is a very real feel of a team that has the capacity if pushed to move up a couple of gears to achieve a goal which is motivating the entire squad . To my mind the absence of the chaos of July and August 23 has enabled Farke to prepare a squad to pace itself over the entire season which he accomplished also with his Norwich teams . The risk factors are now basically injury and good old Lady Luck so I feel quietly confident while not yet counting any chickens.

We've only won once after conceding first this season which was the chaotic 4-3 game at Swansea. It's true we're looking much improved of late but it may just be a case of us getting the all important first goal and then controlling the match from there.