The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 25th August) - Leeds looked susceptible and exposed as Arsenal hit five

[Ellandback1]

Good Morning. It's Monday 25th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...


Farke left his players susceptible and exposed

In the wake of the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal, questions marks will be raised over the sustainability of Daniel Farke as head coach. Whilst it's essential not to overreact to a single bad result, his approach to the game was naive, and it left his players susceptible and exposed.

Instead of frustrating the opposition, slowing the game down, disrupting rhythm and interrupting play; Leeds decided to go toe to toe against one of Europe's elite - it was always going to be a suicide mission! We constantly see teams at the wrong end of the table adopt these tactics, whilst it's not pretty, the effectiveness could keep the Whites in the top flight!

It wasn't long ago that teams like Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest were in the same position as us, and look where they are now! Both took the ruthless approach to sack their respective managers when better options became available, despite relative safety from relegation.

The question now becomes whether Leeds should consider replacing Farke, even if he manages to keep us up? While it is essential to give credit where it is due, we must consider the long-term future of the club.





James Justin set to sign

James  Justin is set to seal his £8 million move (with a further £2 million in add‑ons) from Leicester City to Leeds United today after passing his medical over the weekend.

The 27‑year‑old England‑capped full‑back brings a rare blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair, having logged 36 Premier League appearances for Leicester last season and contributed two goals and two assists. What truly sets Justin apart is his versatility: although his natural position is right‑back, he has comfortably slotted in at left‑back, central midfield, right midfield and even left wing during his tenure at Luton Town and Leicester.

This flexibility gives Leeds a valuable option on both flanks, a quality that will be vital as the club seeks to cement its place in the top flight after a recent promotion. In addition to his positional adaptability, Justin arrives with nearly 100 Premier League games under his belt, meaning he knows the pressure of fighting both relegation and survival.

Leeds have already bolstered their squad with signings such as Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert‑Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Lucas Perri, Lukas Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff. Justin's arrival also triggers the loan of Isaac Schmidt to Werder Bremen, which includes an option to buy.





Tanaka injury blow

Leeds fans face an anxious wait to find out the severity of Ao Tanaka's knee injury sustained during their trip to the Emirates at the weekend. Manager Daniel Farke shed some light on the situation, revealing that the Japanese International experienced issues with his MCL (medial collateral ligament) following a first-half tackle. This setback comes at a particularly challenging time for the Whites, especially in the midfield department. Skipper Ethan Ampadu is already facing a month on the sidelines with similar MCL damage, leaving a significant void in the squad's central core.

After a tackle in the first half, he had problems with his MCL (medial collateral ligament). “He kept going and I hope it’s not too bad. I hope the assessment is not too bad. There are a few concerns that it would be an injury but it’s normally positive that he could play further on. But we will have to assess him and we will see how long it takes to get him fit and back to full fitness.

Adios Largie

Largie Ramazani’s time at Leeds United appears to be drawing to a close, with widespread speculation linking the Belgian winger with a move to Spain. Despite endearing himself to the Elland Road faithful , Ramazani faced significant challenges in securing regular first-team football, fuelling rumours about his relationship with Daniel Farke.

The recent acquisition of Noah Okafor, which marks Leeds United’s ninth summer addition, seemingly represents the final nail in the coffin for the 24 year old. His conspicuous absence from the Leeds squad that travelled to face Arsenal this weekend further solidified these reports, with various Spanish outlets insisting that Ramazani is on the verge of completing a switch to La Liga giants Valencia.

Details emerging from Spain suggest the deal is structured as an initial free loan, with Valencia retaining an option to make the move permanent next summer. This prospective transfer offers Ramazani a fresh start and the intriguing prospect of reuniting with former Leeds assistant manager Carlos Corberan, who now manages at the Mestalla Stadium.

[Sean_Nile]

Players who become injured are deems irreplaceable.

Players who move away were never given the chance.

Players who are kept sitting on the bench and not good substitutes

Players who might be good in the championship can't cut it in the premiership.

Players brought in from other leagues don't know how to play in the premiership.

That transfers have been all wrong.

The solution is to sack Farke after 2 games a win and a defeat... and the negative goal difference is terrifying.

Play the new signings against Barry Bannon and the Wendies... at least they will get a taste of what it will be like to play in the championship next year.

Giver over will you?

[PhoenixUnited]

Daniel Farke has taken to wearing a lighter black coat. That is a sackable offence right there and that reason should have been at the forefront of the article as the rest of the argument is palpable nonsense. Adopting such a high risk strategy is just professional suicide!

Be sad to see Ramazani depart. He scored vital and exciting goals for us but the Manager wants players that can put a foot in and defend as well and unfortunately Largie is not that player.

James Justin will be a good, solid signing for us

Tanaka injury is a blow. We are going to miss him the same as Ampadu.

[Sean_Nile]

Daniel Farke has taken to wearing a lighter black coat. That is a sackable offence right there and that reason should have been at the forefront of the article as the rest of the argument is palpable nonsense. Adopting such a high risk strategy is just professional suicide! :lol

Keen observation but I have read that it was the cologne Daniel was wearing the infuriated the Arsenal players so much that they went into a goal scoring rage.

[DavidH]

"Whilst it's essential not to overreact to a single bad result, his approach to the game was naive, and it left his players susceptible and exposed".

"The question now becomes whether Leeds should consider replacing Farke, even if he manages to keep us up? While it is essential to give credit where it is due, we must consider the long-term future of the club".

Mmmm!

It's a tough job, thinking of a way to get people talking each morning Elland. Not a job I would like.

[GreennWhite]

Disappointed if Largie goes, but as we all know players come and go and its not nice if it happens to be a player you are keen on. Its a squad game and for what ever reasons, true or false about his relationship with Farke, it looks like it might be better for both parties if he goes.
Cant say i know too much about Justin but the little i do know is that he will be a good addition to the squad. We seem to be doing what Forest did a few years ago and getting in lots of players rather than cherry picking 2 or 3 ( quality over quantity ) so hopefully it pays off in the long run like it did for Forest.

[CUSSIE01]

A sharpening of knives is underway, can’t see the point of sacking DF now after giving him a big say in recruitment and building a team around how he wants to play. If we look on the bright side for once Graham Potter & Ruben Amorim should soon be available…. Big Sam anyone ?

Anyone on here disappointed with 3 points from 2 games ?

[1964white]

A sharpening of knives is underway, can’t see the point of sacking DF now after giving him a big say in recruitment and building a team around how he wants to play. If we look on the bright side for once Graham Potter & Ruben Amorim should soon be available…. Big Sam anyone ?

Anyone on here disappointed with 3 points from 2 games ?

No!

3 points is what I expected, it's the manner of the defeat which is a concern.

A point against the barcodes, & I'll feel very content.

[The Subhuman]

Be interesting if Newcastle beat Liverpool tonight

[Tom the Cat]

Although always disappointed when we loose it was the manner of the defeat that was hard to swallow. A totally naive approach to the game, poor passing, and a goalkeeper who dithers with the ball at his feet - he was lucky not to concede two goals in the first fifteen minutes in this way. Also his dreadful playing the ball out with high lobs rather than along the ground doesn't give the outfield lads much chance to control it before they are overrun. Farkes lack of substitutions at half time suggested that he was happy with the way things were going !! I hope that he puts out a decent side against Wednesday - a good win will restore some confidence for the Newcastle game at the weekend. A poor result at Sheffield doesn't bear thinking about !!

[weasel]

Keen observation but I have read that it was the cologne Daniel was wearing the infuriated the Arsenal players so much that they went into a goal scoring rage.

In fact you are both right. For Arsenal's first goal their scorer got a waft of Farke's cologne and instead of concentrating on the header twisted his body to try to ingest the aroma. The ball thus hitting him on his shoulder and going into the net. For the second goal Gruev was about to clear the ball but was unable to see it as the ball as it was in direct eyeline with Farke's lighter coat and similar to when Man U folded v Southampton when wearing a grey kit Gruev was simply unable to pass to a colleague.

I have it on good authority that Farke didn't change his cologne or coat at half time and that is simply not acceptable and he should be sacked immediately.

[Prisoner37]

A tad early to be talking about replacing Herr Farke.

If Newcastle win tonight we will be 13th having played a top team away and a lower team at home.

This is obviously a small sample size but far too early to be criticising rather than getting behind the manager in a tough old competition.

[weasel]

Although always disappointed when we loose it was the manner of the defeat that was hard to swallow. A totally naive approach to the game, poor passing, and a goalkeeper who dithers with the ball at his feet - he was lucky not to concede two goals in the first fifteen minutes in this way. Also his dreadful playing the ball out with high lobs rather than along the ground doesn't give the outfield lads much chance to control it before they are overrun. Farkes lack of substitutions at half time suggested that he was happy with the way things were going !! I hope that he puts out a decent side against Wednesday - a good win will restore some confidence for the Newcastle game at the weekend. A poor result at Sheffield doesn't bear thinking about !!

I made the point elsewhere that I think this may have been a confidence thing and he played those lofted passes as they were safer than playing them along the ground and risking an interception. Like you say though in this sort of game when you are being pressed it gave the receiving player no chance as they were swamped before they could control it and had little opportunity to pass it on with a first time touch (or if they did then it was under far less control and the pass wasn't likely to then be acurate). I am sure they will work on this though and be saying to Perri you need to pass it along the floor, you need to back yourself. Hopefully it was just a case of him getting inside his own head as there is no reason to suggest he isn't capable of passing along the floor.

[weasel]

A tad early to be talking about replacing Herr Farke.

If Newcastle win tonight we will be 13th having played a top team away and a lower team at home.

This is obviously a small sample size but far too early to be criticising rather than getting behind the manager in a tough old competition.

Yes absolute nonsense but it generates clicks and gives the Danny bashers their chance to revel.
We all have to accept that we will lose some matches and even lose some heavily. I think the only real disappointment was the manner of goals conceded. If we lose 5-0 and the goals were all down to swashbuckling Arsenal play where they put 30 passes together then you just have to shrug and say 'welcome to the premier league.' I think it is the fact we gave away such soft goals and didn't make Arsenal have to earn it that has generated the anger.

[weasel]

Tactical improvements.

A) Don't let a guy score with his shoulder whilst facing away from the goal.
B) Don't sloppily give the ball away on the edge of your box
C) Don't show the attacker in towards goal.
D) Clear the ball when it is bouncing in your box.
E) Don't give away soft penalties.

Strangely enough none of the goals came down to tactics or formations, style of play etc.

[Clitheroe White]

On Largie leaving - why can't we simply sell a player for a good fee like most other clubs?

[airedale]

I don't think it was a soft penalty ,the schoolboy stuck his trailing leg out and took a dive i would stop his pocket money .Cheating little s**t.

[Jammy 07]

For me the story of the weekend was our goalkeeper.

Unfortunately he just doesn't look up to the required standard in my humble opinion based on one match. Meslier might have done better because put simply it was virtually impossible to have done any worse and if we've got this signing wrong then it will be long hard season for sure.

[The Subhuman]

I don't think it was a soft penalty ,the schoolboy stuck his trailing leg out and took a dive i would stop his pocket money .Cheating little s**t.

Stach stood on his foot, difficult to keep going when that happens. It was a pen, but fortunately one that did not matter a jot

[White Lotus]

Loads to unpick there from the morning agitator, thanks Elland, you do this job well

Tbh, all the points are valid on the manager and worth pointing out, but from a personal point of view, it's way too early.
This isn't his best team from what he now has available to him, once Arsenal had the first goal at home it is no longer a good barometer for me. If we'd gone 1-0 down to EFC and capitulated then yes massive alarm bells are ringing.

But i do agree all eyes should be on him once the team is sorted, and i'm not too sure losing players like Tanaka, Ampadu to injury should effect us that much with what's available, possibly Ampadu does, but again too early. I have no problem at all with Farke sending them out to see how far off Arsenal we are, there are a lot of lessons to be learned from doing that.

The JJ signing seems too dear, but we need cover and it's getting late, not my money neither so i don't really care.

Shame about Largie, he has some talent even if raw in other departments, so i'd love to know the proper reason he's loaning him out and not speculation, a loan might be Farke saying " I think learning your trade more with someone like Villareal for a year will really help you come on for me next year, because I won't be able to use you much this year, you'll not get enough game time here to develop, you're too good to sit on the bench all the time, not yet ready for Premier football, so go get some good minutes in every week elsewhere and come back a better more experienced player" -

But personally, I don't have a clue what's really gone on, a loan would suggest it's not the end.