Leeds Utd v Chelsea Match Thread

[Ellandback1]

Sunday 21st August at 2:00pm | Elland Road


Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt, Luis Sinisterra, Liam Cooper and Adam Forshaw all face a race against time to be fit for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday. The quintet would certainly add both firepower, and experience to their squad when they need it most, especially when considering Chelsea's strength in depth.

With five games over a two-week period, Leeds gaffer Jesse Marsch didn't want to take any chances with injury, so when Patrick Bamford picked up a knock at St Mary's, he was hauled off. Unfortunately for Leeds, fellow striker Joe Gelhardt had suffered a dead leg in training, and with the busy schedule ahead of them, it was decided that the 20yo shouldn't make the trip down to the South Coast last weekend.





Captain Liam Cooper is in a similar position. He missed the whole of pre-season with an Achilles injury, and although he returned to training two weeks ago, is not yet 100% fit. He is expected to start on the bench on Sunday, as is Luis Sinisterra. The Columbian winger has yet to make a real impact at Leeds; its fair to say that his injury, during his first start for Leeds (v Crystal Palace in Australia last month, after just 15 minutes) couldn't have come at a worse time. He enjoyed a cameo role at the weekend, and is expecting a longer run out against the Blues. Adam Forshaw completed 45 minutes for the U21's on Monday, he too can expect to make Sunday's squad, albeit, from the bench. Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas are all sidelined.

Chelsea have problems of their own. Midfielder duo Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante have been ruled out, so Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Connor Gallagher are set to deputise. Azpilicueta is set to return to right back duties, allowing Reece James moving to switch back to his more familiar left back role. Raheem Sterling looks set to lead the line against the Whites.



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[Chilli D]

I have a horrible feeling Sterling will win them a penalty on Sunday.
I'd much rather our defenders were marking someone like Lukaku rather than Sterling.
However, I do feel we have more of a chance of taking something from this game than we did last season.

[mentalcase]

I'm dreading this game, get walloped the knives will be out, I can't see any other result, obviously I'll be hoping for a United win, a draw at this stage even, but, we've seen what we are like at the back already, laking against the likes of sterling falling accidently under a slight nudge and mounts love of the theatricals, I fear the worst.
One of these days / games, we will click at the reet time and convert a few chances, which game though !!

[pjm2019]

same old problem as last season we do not have a fit number 9 and do not seem to have the cash to splash £20M +. Against Southampton we looked good until the heat started to kick in and JM forgot we could put subs on !!

2-0 loss

[Lumiukko]

A loss I fear, both through the difference in quality but also that the refs always show bias to the "big six". Thus I'll be happy if we give them a good game and can take some positives out of it. Be that a good game for some players bedding in, e.g. Kristiansen, Sinisterra, etc, or the team making lots of chances in general. or something...

Just hope ER doesn't get on the backs of JM and the team if it doesn't go to plan. Anything out of this game is going to be a bonus.

Not sure on what I think the team will be but expect it to be the same again, unless someone is injured or Cooper is back. Cooper may play LCB if fully fit. Rodders at #9 if PB is injured. Wonder how Joffy is getting on. I guess JMs presser will tell us what we need to know.

[andrewjohnsmith]

We'll win this. 2-1. Late winner. Have to add to some optimism.

Team is hard to call until we hear Jesse's presser. Wonder if he'll play a 5-2-3 like last season. Depends on players available. I'd like to see Dan James playing on the right and us trying to hit them with pace on the break.

[Kennyb41]

I think there's only PB from the above that can strengthen our team, leave it as it is and go at them.

C'mon Leeds this is a massive booster game if you get something from it, he's gotta sort these wingbacks out though and i don't think we can go all defensive for this one coz we're shyte asking any team to come at us, jesses tactics here are gonna be interesting to say the least, please please paly well, but up to now, i'm scared we're in for a hiding.

[VinnysTattoo]

Score first and we might have a chance. If we are chasing the game we could end up getting a beating.

TBH, these games are bonus points if we get them. We need to get points off the bottom half teams as a priority.

[Leeds1000]

First real test this season lets see how the boys go.....They may just surprise me.

[andrewjohnsmith]

I'd have bet on a 5-2-3. But without Cooper and Fripo that looks unlikely. Sounds unlkely Bamford will play - best we can hope for is the bench.

I thin the line up will be how we started 2nd half against Southampton. James on the right, Rodrigo up front. Gelhardt coming off the bench

[BlackHillsPaul]

I think Jesse will come out in his preferred 4-2-3-1. Expect Rodrigo to start up top in place of Bamford. Harrison, Aaronson, James in the attacking midfield spots. Adams and Roca. Same back four. He will not sit back. He will attack. We'll see how it goes....

I expect us to get a result out of this. Playing at Elland Road needs to be difficult for opponents. But if we play our game and still lose I won't lose any sleep over it. It won't cause me to panic. The only thing that would piss me off is JM coming out defensive. Giving Chelsea too much respect.

[Boo Radley]

Anything we get here is a bonus having lost twice to them last year. As others have said, it's the bottom half teams is where we must get points.

They are vulnerable to set pieces, as seen in Spurs equaliser, and we are getting better at these so we do have some hope. Bamford missing won't help unfortunately.

If we're close late on the crowd could make a difference. Hope that's the case but don't expect it, sadly.

[Kennyb41]

I think Jesse will come out in his preferred 4-2-3-1. Expect Rodrigo to start up top in place of Bamford. Harrison, Aaronson, James in the attacking midfield spots. Adams and Roca. Same back four. He will not sit back. He will attack. We'll see how it goes....

I expect us to get a result out of this. Playing at Elland Road needs to be difficult for opponents. But if we play our game and still lose I won't lose any sleep over it. It won't cause me to panic. The only thing that would piss me off is JM coming out defensive. Giving Chelsea too much respect.

Way to go Paul.

[1964white]

One of those games against the top six clubs I feel we could get something from

Decent start to our season.
A settled XI apart from Bamford's injury.
Rodrigo in goal-scoring form.
Game played in a cauldron of noise at ER with Jesse's new line-up.
Options on the bench this time.

[weasel]

I think a 2-0 loss would be about the 'par' result so hopefully we can do better than that.

I'd like to see us cause Chelsea problems and create a few chances against them. Would be nice to look a bit more secure all over the pitch too when not in possession. The way we have played at times has been reminiscent of kids in a playground all chasing the ball with very little structure.

What I don't want to see us either a) attacking with no purpose, losing the ball cheaply and being exploited very easily or b) being way too defensive and simply trying to cling on.

Would take a point if offered now.

[Irish Ian]

Seeing Leeds are now set piece specialists and Chelsea are vulnerable to them there will only be one outcome.

0-0.

I hope we get a chance to have a good look at Sinistera tomorow.

I cant see him starting as he needs to build up but hopefully a good 30 minutes.

[The Subhuman]

If Rodders scores v Chelsea he'll be the fourth player to score in the first three games of the season, top flight, in our history

Anyone wanna guess the other three without resorting to google?

[1964white]

If Rodders scores v Chelsea he'll be the fourth player to score in the first three games of the season, top flight, in our history

Anyone wanna guess the other three without resorting to google?

Sheer guesses

John Charles
Allan Clarke
Lee Chapman

[The Subhuman]

Sheer guesses

John Charles
Allan Clarke
Lee Chapman

Good guess, but no

Pre war for one, the other two guessable for sure, they're both 9's

[Bluebucket]

If Rodders scores v Chelsea he'll be the fourth player to score in the first three games of the season, top flight, in our history

Anyone wanna guess the other three without resorting to google?

Eddie Gray
Brian Deane

Sorry, I don't know any pre-war players.