Good Morning. It's Thursday 16th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds keen to extend Phillips contract amid City interest
Several media platforms are suggesting that Leeds are set to offer Kalvin Phillips a new bumper deal to keep the England ace at Elland Road long term. Since joining Leeds eleven years ago, at the tender age of fourteen, the Yorkshire Pirlo has enjoyed cult status at Elland Road. After breaking into the England squad last year, he has displaced Anfield legend Jordan Henderson, making the midfield anchor role his own. He played an integral part in the Euro's earlier this Summer, helping Southgate's men reach the final.
Now, with seventeen International caps to his name, the 25yo has attracted the attention of Europe's elite, including the blue side of Manchester. Rumours have been circulating that they may be lining up a 100 m offer for the Leeds born star. Phillips signed a five-year deal back in 2019 after having his head turned by Aston Villa. Fortunately for Leeds, Victor Orta talked some sense into the lad.
Is £100m too good to turn down, especially if Leeds find it difficult to get out of their slump? The money, if reinvested, could buy three top drawer players! We could have bought Cunha, Nandez and had enough left over to snap up Ward-Prowse from Southampton!
Pundits slam FA decision
Football pundits up and down the land have expressed their utter disbelief following the decision to uphold Pascal Struijk's three game ban. Even injured party Harvey Elliott stated 'Its wrong' following hearing the news. Whilst Leeds Chairman Andrea Radrizzani described the decision as 'inexplicable', pundits were a little more vocal! According to talkSPORT host Trevor Sinclair...
I’ve looked at it several times; I think the referee played on initially until the reaction from Mo Salah. Craig Pawson was then spoken to by Andy Madley, the fourth official; he then said it was a red card. VAR looked at it, they substantiated that, and for me, they’ve all got it wrong. At worst it was a foul, but I think it was a genuine, successful attempt to win the ball cleanly. It was a good tackle, a clean tackle. I think for me the fact they’ve thrown this out and said that ‘no you can’t appeal’. I think they’ve got it wrong.
Fellow radio, and former Scottish icon Ally McCoist added...
They had a chance to absolve that boy of any blame. And they’ve not done it. So that guy will now spend the rest of his career thinking he was responsible in some way shape or form for that injury to Harvey Elliott. Anyone with any level of intelligence can look at that tackle, see it was a horrific injury, but there was no malice in the challenge at all. It’s a shocking decision.
Gary Lineker said...
Hope this is not as serious an injury to Harvey Elliott as it appears. Didn’t look a bad challenge or a red card in normal speed, but without replays it’s hard to be sure. Just a freak accident, I reckon.
Even Gabby Agbonlahor sided with the Leeds defender...
There was one straight after, wasn’t there. Cooper on Mane. They had a chance now. Accept the appeal, you are not banned now and the red card has gone. But, they just held onto it. I just don’t understand. He didn’t mean it. You can tell by his reaction. You can tell by the Liverpool players reaction. When there is a horrific injury, the players run over to the player and start pushing him. They were sort of talking to him like ‘we can understand this was an accident’. You can tell by their reaction, he didn’t mean it.
It has been confirmed that the FA and PGMOL will be giving their written reason behind denying the Leeds United appeal!
Time to intoduce Cresswell?
Would it be too much of a gamble for Charlie Cresswell to start alongside Liam Cooper tomorrow night? The talented 19yo has recently broken into the England U21 squad due to his consistent performances for the U23's, and although a steep learning curve between Premier League 2 and the top flight, has he earnt his chance?
We wouldn't have Pascal Struijk in the first team, had it not been for injuries to Cooper, Llorente, Berardi and Koch, and look at the youngster now! We see teams like Liverpool give their youngsters a chance to blossom. Shouldn't we do the same, especially when the regulars are either injured or off form?