Good Morning. It's Tuesday 29th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Adams shut down Iranian journalist
During the pre match presser between the USA and Iran, Adams left an Iranian news reporter speechless. Clearly looking for trouble, the Iranian journalist tackled the Leeds midfielder on his pronunciation of his Country and then interrogated him on human rights issues.
Tensions were already high after US soccer officials deliberately left out the Islamic Republic emblem in the Iranian flag on a twitter post showing the group B standings as a protest, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was killed after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for wearing “inappropriate” clothing.
Journalist: Are you okay to be representing a country that has so much discrimination against Black people in its own borders? And we saw the Black Lives Matter movement over the past few years.
Adams: My apologies on the mispronunciation of your country. Adams said. There’s discrimination everywhere you go. One thing that I’ve learned, especially from living abroad in the past years and having to fit in different cultures, is that in the US, we’re continuing to make progress every single day.
I grew up in a White family, with obviously an African-American heritage and background as well. I had a little bit of a different cultures, and I was very easily able to assimilate in different cultures, so not everyone has that ease and the ability to do that.
Obviously, it takes longest to understand and through education, I think, is super important. Like, you just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country. It’s a process. I think as long as you see progress, that’s the important thing.
Leeds withdraw contract offer to Drameh
Leeds Utd have withdrawn the offer of a contract extension to Cody Drameh, prompting speculation that he has played his last game for Leeds Utd, and will be gone in January.
The Dulwich born right back, who turns 21 next month, came through the youth ranks at Craven Cottage before joining Leeds during the 2020 Summer transfer window, for £1m. He's played a handful of games for the first team, but not regularly. He joined Cardiff on loan during the second half of last season, impressing so much, he was named, both their player of the season, and young player of the season. Unfortunately, back at LS11, he has failed to make a dent in Jesse Marsch squad.
Drameh seems to be living up to his name. It is rumoured that his temperament has been called into question more than once, prompting speculation that he wants out. He has 19 months left on his contract.
Adams is one of the best Midfielders at the World Cup
Plaudits continue to reign down on Tyler Adams, as Team USA face what could be their last game in the 2022 World Cup. Nothing less than a win against Iran is needed, to take Gregg Berhalter's team through to the knockout stages, and a date with destiny.
Cast aside by RB Leipzig as surplus to requirements, Adams has taken the Premier League by storm since his £20m Summer move, and has quickly become a crowd favourite at Elland Road. At just 23yo, Adams is the youngest Captain at the World Cup, a responsibility he relishes, yet takes in his stride. Speaking on FOX's World Cup Now show, former USA International's DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan expressed their admiration for the Leeds star...
What he does for the US team is incredible. The way he tracks back, the way he covers… watch his aggression, look at his heart. You can tell he wants to win. It doesn’t matter who gave up the ball he’s gonna yell at… if it’s Christian [Pulisic], if it’s [Brenden] Aaronson, [Tim] Weah, it doesn’t matter. He just wants to win. His ability to be able to know when to… play simple, play long balls. I think he has a very high ceiling and I think he is one of the best midfielders in this tournament. Not just with the national team, but in this tournament.
I did say high ceiling but he doesn't have one, you know. I think he's that good and I think he's showing… and he’s even said it - this is the best he's felt, the best he’s played in a long time in his career so far. And he's only 23, and that’s crazy to say. But he's playing lights out. It's like he can't do anything wrong at the moment. And he's so important to the team and that's why Gregg Berhalter named him captain - cause they don't want to take him off the field and he's that important.'
Would you sell Adams if the money was right?
It's fair to say that Europe's elite are seeing the very best of Tyler Adams. He is making quite a name for himself on the biggest stage of them all. With the transfer window opening in little more than a month, would you consider selling him if a ridiculous offer were to come in for him, assuming Leeds could spend that money on new players! How much would it have to be?
