Leeds Utd v Sheffield Utd Match Thread

[Ellandback1]

Leeds United v Sheffield United
Friday 18th October 8:00pm | Elland Road


Leeds gear up for the arrival of Sheffield Utd on Friday evening, with more than at stake than bragging rights. The Whites need to get back to winning ways following back to back draws. They could go top of the Championship for the first time this season if they can win by a three goal margin (or more). It won't be easy though, against the divisions most in-form team.

The Blades are the last remaining unbeaten side in the second tier of English football, thanks mainly to their defence, who have only shipped three league goals all season - how Leeds fans would love to bring that record to an end! Jamie Shackleton and Jayden Bogle could both face their former clubs for the first time since their respective Summer moves; as too, will leading scorers Gustavo Hamer (4) and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (2), who were also hotly tipped to join the Whites.





Daniel Farke has a number of issues which will need addressing closer to kick-off. Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and Brenden Arronson face long trips back to blighty following the International break, and are likely to miss training on Thursday, whilst Max Wober, Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu are all ruled out until after Christmas.

Manor Solomon and Dan James have both recovered from their respective ailments, but with Solomon's injury record and the length of time James has been out, neither are expected to start. Shot stopper Illan Meslier is expected to keep his place between the sticks despite his faux pas in the dying seconds of the Sunderland match almost a fortnight ago.

Ollie Arblaster's ankle injury will be a major blow for Chris Wilder's side. The 20yo tops their 'Whoscored' rankings with an impressive 7.42 rating. Fellow midfielder Tom Davies and defenders Jack Robinson and Sai Sachdev are also expected to miss the trip to West Yorkshire.

[The Subhuman]

Think it'll be an unchanged team, Aaronson and Tanaka won't need to train and it's not like like they've had a hard season and shouldn't have too much problem with the long trip. Doubt they're in second class

[Ellandback1]

Think it'll be an unchanged team, Aaronson and Tanaka won't need to train and it's not like like they've had a hard season and shouldn't have too much problem with the long trip. Doubt they're in second class

Oh yeh, they'll all fly business class, but 16 hour flights - then expecting those players to pull it out of the bag is a big ask...

[The Subhuman]

Oh yeh, they'll all fly business class, but 16 hour flights - then expecting those players to pull it out of the bag is a big ask...

A picnic

[hector]

A picnic

I agree...... let them try 24 hrs in the back of a Hercules C130.......

[mentalcase]

I agree...... let them try 24 hrs in the back of a Hercules C130.......

Then bale out with AC/DC blasting out, and land on t' pitch in their kit.
Don't know theyr'e born I say, don't know theyr'e ruddy born.

[1964white]

If Rodon or Bogle picks up a yellow card vs the Blunts, either or both will miss the Watford game next Tuesday.

[The Subhuman]

If Rodon or Bogle picks up a yellow card vs the Blunts, either or both will miss the Watford game next Tuesday.

Byram or Schmidt replaces Bogle, that's an easy one. We have nothing to replace Rodon.

[1964white]

Byram or Schmidt replaces Bogle, that's an easy one. We have nothing to replace Rodon.

That 5th yellow is imminent.

So who stands in for Rodon?

Would we prefer him to miss a home or an away game?

We have three games before Millwall at The Den, I certainly would be fearful of that game.

[Jammy 07]

That 5th yellow is imminent.

So who stands in for Rodon?

Would have to be Debayo with the hope being it's an easier home game where we should be fairly dominant with not that much defending to do.

See Portsmouth for evidence of how that usually works out

[The Subhuman]

That 5th yellow is imminent.

So who stands in for Rodon?

Would we prefer him to miss a home or an away game?

We have three games before Millwall at The Den, I certainly would be fearful of that game.

I have no idea, someone not currently at the club maybe.. Lopeta White maybe? But it's likely to be someone who can't do the job and have Struijk trying to cover three positions... It's not just losing our right sided CB, we are already down our sweeper, the player that drops into central defence allowing Rodon and Struijk to sweep left and right when the wing backs go forward. Neither Firpo nor Bogle are true defenders any more than Gnonto is. We haven't used full backs since before Bielsa

[1964white]

Would have to be Debayo with the hope being it's an easier home game where we should be fairly dominant with not that much defending to do.

See Portsmouth for evidence of how that usually works out

So Debayo vs Watford or Plymouth at ER would be the preferable option.

[Cjay]

Piroe or Joseph?

[Ellandback1]

That 5th yellow is imminent.

So who stands in for Rodon?

Would we prefer him to miss a home or an away game?

We have three games before Millwall at The Den, I certainly would be fearful of that game.

I can play left centre back if they're desperate, but I'm 50, and 15 stone...

[Ellandback1]

-------------------------Meslier---------------------
Bogle--------Rodon-------Ellandback1-------Firpo
--------------Tanaka(4)------Solomon(8)-------------
James---------------Gnonto--------------Ramazani
--------------------------Piroe----------------------------

[The Subhuman]

Piroe or Joseph?

Or both...Joseph for me if I had to pick though

[Jammy 07]

Or both...Joseph for me if I had to pick though

Agreed definitely Joseph if a choice had to be made.

Farke however might see it differently given Piroe scored up at Sunderland in our last game.

[Barlow Boy]

Piroe or Joseph?

I’d be surprised if it’s not Piroe to start.

[Chilli D]

It will be, there's no way DF is benching our leading scorer.

[The Subhuman]

Difficult choice, with Joseph you get movement, pace, assists, hold up play and goal threat. With Piroe you get goals but slow, very poor movement and seldom assists ...