Pre Season Friendlies 2021

Will watch the game later today.

Sounds like a much improved performance and result.

Hopefully we'll have Llorente, Firpo & Shacks available next week.

Summerville scored for the U-23, feel he would offer something different from the bench.

Forshaw also again played with the U-23's, perhaps in a few weeks time he'll be ready to beef our first team squad somewhat.

2-2. surely now the boss can see that Costa is not fit for purpose. Brought on again to show ermm…. Nothing; not a glimmer of yes this is a sub we can rely on for finishing/rescuing games. I had hopes for this lad but since he signed a contract he has just taken the p out of LU. Obviously all the so called interest from other clubs have been watching the preseason & thought no thank you. Looks like we r stuck with him but hopefully don’t see much if him in the upcoming season.

You're certainly not wrong BB.

Fully expect our second Premiership season will prove to be far more difficult.

Teams know what to expect and with such a small squad it may well be beyond us to achieve the same kind of results & performances as last season. Far from improving on it.

So basically i've lowered my expectations. Realisticly, I just can't see us closing down ground on any of the 8 teams who finished above us last term.

I know we can't spend anything like the top six clubs + Spurs, Arsenal & even Villa. But there must/should be some money available, if only to prove there's a real and clear project in place.

How else would you convince players like Firpo to sign up, and more importantly keep hold of your Philips's, Raphina's...

That's without even considering MB's stance/view on things.

Am so glad I did not pay to watch that game! Would have broken my heart. Real test v Villareal. Need some confidence back.

BTW KP is a No6 and not a No8!

Just let him be the pivot/quarterback where he excels not a running back where he is quite ineffective!!

Ayling is not really a CB but a very good RB, Dallas is better at LB than as a No.8, Klich is better as a No.8 rather than No.10.

Totally frustrated with Costa, Poveda and Roberts. Would rather Summerville get a chance than any of those 3. At least he makes things happen.

Greenwood - probably better as a No9 rather than an invisisble No.10

Rodrigo is not a No.10 but a deep lying No.9.

Forshaw is a deep lying No8 not a No.6 but will he stay fit?

Need a top quality No.10/Winger and a top quality No.8 for this season. Come on VO, find those players!!!

Just my thoughts.

As usual, a good write-up, Belgian 👍 And if it wasn’t for the rather worrying result and performance, I would have laughed even more at many of your truly funny lines.

Rather worried about Shackleton, head injury and it didn't look good.

On to the game.

A heartfelt 4 - 0 defeat!

Again only a friendly, but we ended up well beaten, outplayed, outrun and outmuscled. Very much second best and we didn't look like scoring (Bamford did hit the post from an offside position).

Very early on Ayling, playing at CB got caught near our box and we were 1-0 down. Too many backpasses and drawing in players preceded it.

Wake up call?

We tried to worked our way back into it and more or less did so, but without really creating much (apart from a good shot from Koch).

As in the game with Real Betis, we were again opened up like the red sea, the Ajax player shrugged of a couple of challenges with ease, outpaced another defender and you know what scored.

Shackleton at RB had his work cut out and he felt the pressure, like most of our players, he struggle to get into his game.

Our best defender was Struijk, with Dallas at LB doing OK.

In midfield our wingers were well shackled, Raph was poor (passes going nowhere, losing possesion and Harrison couldn't get the better of his marker either. Koch again started of allright but more and more became ineffective.

MB: he's not a midfield player!

I feel Klich was our best player in the first half.

Rodrigo a player I like, had a mare, everything he tried just didn't succeed.

That's was as poor as i've seen him.

Bamford tried but didn't have much to feed on, second half he got caught offside rather a lot.

At half-time, not for the first time, we brought on the invisible man. That must have bemused Ajax somewhat.

At one stage, the invisible man had a clear run at their goal, he got inside the box, had the goal to shoot at and then decided to get the ball out of the danger zone ASAP. Well defended that was, injuries to our CB's → i'm not worried.

Roberts and McCarron came on a bit later, have to say McCarron did rather well.

Roberts tried to upstage Costalot, but in truth, just came short (only just).

After Shackleton's injury Jenkins came on in midfield and Koch reverted to CB. Ajax took their foot of the gas, but even after something like 35 substitutions still dominated us.

They even gave us a couple of chances to score, but we made sure of effing those up.

As I said, only a friendly and Ajax are a good side (mind you they were also missing several of their first team players).

Clearly we're missing Philips, Llorente, Coops (think Struijk is now above him in the ranking) and Firpo.

But it still doesn't settle my nerves/unrest.

Our squad isn't just small, it's plain tiny (even when counting Cinderella & Co).

Expecting us to do better or the same as last season with the current squad will be a very tuff call indeed.

Any silver lining for us fans, I've been proved wrong before.

Thought Drameh and Summerville looked very good and wouldn’t look out of place in the senior team. Agree that Ajax were outstanding which isn’t a surprise as they have by far the best Academy set up anywhere.

KP, Forshaw, Costa, Roberts and Coops all taken off at half time.

We look far better without them. Obviously all were a bit ring rusty.

Game finishes 3-1 to Ajax. Max Dean for us from the pen spot.

Entertaining game. We created a lot of chances but either the finish was missing or the final pass.

Ajax were a really good side and play the MB way. Out from the back, through the lines along the floor, players happy to receive the ball in tight spaces, loads of runners off the ball, high press and technically very good.

Dean and Summerville had good games and Drameh looked OK. Good learning curve for the young kids as they will have seen just how far off they are from a first team place.

2-0 down now. Belgian was right, we may be in for a tonking. That Ajax side is really impressive.

Cooper, KP, Roberts, Costa, Poveda and Greenwood all playing against Ajax U21.

Losing 1-0 after a Kenneh mistake and the Copps slipping when trying to turn.

Not a bad game

The U-23's could well be in for a tonking.🤔

2nd game v Ajax U21s announced for tomorrow. KO 12.45pm at their training ground with first team game brought forward to 7.00pm KO.

Looks like the U23s will travel with the first team for these games.

Hope LUTV stream the early game.

I dont read too much into preseason results from any team, nobody but those inside the dressing room know what the targets are for that particular game. I'd be of the opinion that most have on here, these games are for getting game touch ready, match sharpness, formations, players getting used to each other and re-building the combinations from last season.

Pascal's foul was a clear red and if it was any "normal" game it would have been.

Ajax and Villareal ties are very much for the old dinosaurs among us, big european club names from days gone by should be easy enough for the home team to get tickets sold.

Roll on manure, any heard of anymore positive covid cases in their camp?

Think Shackleton deserves a starting crack at CM in the next game. Think Phillips back in at CDM for at 45 minutes. If Struijk & Llorente are carrying niggles then our u23's captain Cresswell deserves a starting slot next Koch at CB.

Our players are looking heavy legged which understandable but the passing has been slow and Beilsa seemed very subdued as have all the other coaches...

Your welcome Danish and thanks.

As you say, we all know MB's fitness demands are very high and the friendly's are all about getting matchfitness and players (Firpo) getting used to the way we play. Lord Snoddy was not wrong, they cut through us with ease, leaving big gaps through the middle.

Can't put the blame on Koch, who certainly had a decent game but he can't hide the fact he just isn't a holding midfielder. Also felt that Dallas didn't perform to his usual standards (played down the middle in the first half), he improved when moving to left handside.

Foul on Struijk was indeed a deep red card, ref only produced a yellow after Leeds players (Ayling) complained to him.

Thanks, Belgian.

I prefer, by far, your write-ups to the more ‘official‘ ones 👍.

I think Bielsa’s pre-season training programmes are so physically brutal that the quality of our play (and the results) in these test games suffer. At least, this is how I remember the three last pre-seasons where we, as the reward of Bielsa’s method, have not only been in good shape but also played attractive, good football from the 1st game of the season. So here’s hoping for a good result against Manure 🙏. MOT

3-2 defeat against Betis.

Only a friendly, but today we gave away a couple of really sloppy goals, even more worrying was the amount of space & time we gave Betis.

We lost Llorente & Struijk with injury, not 100% sure but Llorente's looked like he did his cartilage?

Shackleton came on at RB and he once again was outstanding (Ayling went to CB). As mentioned before, Koch (holding position) did very well for a CB, but at times it obviously shows he's a defender.

Costa came on at HT, and once again proved he should'nt be anywhere near the first team squad, and that's me being kind here.

Roberts also on at HT, a total waste of space. To be frank it looked as if he was out for his afternoon stroll. My gran has more of a spring in her step than he does. No wonder he didn't get any minutes during the Euro's.

If you compare the effort and running that Shacks puts in with both Roberts' & Costa's... It's crystal clear who wants to play for the shirt and Shackleton deserves it.

=Looks like it BB, feel a bit sorry for Robbie.

Huggins allowed to leave aswell?

Something that no one has mentioned is that Koch was captain in the blackburn game.

McCarron - the lad was a striker when we signed him and the club are trying to convert him in to a left back? Everytime he plays upfront he is dangerous but steep learning curve being in defense.

McKinstry also was a striker being converted in to a midfielder.

Still no Gotts or has he gone on loan or injured?

1-1 after 10 mins.

Bamford for us with header from Firpo cross. They equalise with a deflected strike.

Fair comments too Belgian

A game of 2 halves (as aways😁), stand out performers:

Cresswell: strong, can tackle and for a big lad moves well, bullet of a header.

Led and organised our defence, once he went of it was like the red sea opened.

Forshaw: neat passing, bossed the midfield & protected the defence. Once he went off (ht), we lost control of midfield. Jenkins who had looked rather good became completely ineffective.

Summerville: quick, gets past people with ease, just needs to learn when to pass & shoot. Like the rest of the team he faded in the second half, mainly because of a lack of service.

Frankly, the rest of team are miles away from the first team.

Van Den Heuvel, not the tallest, looked hesitant and indecisive.

Kenneh, on this performance he will struggle to get into the U23, flat footed & far too pedestrian (slow).

Drameh: heard good things about him, but really can't see what all the fuss is about. Better going forward, but when defending often loses his man or finds himself on the wrong side of his opponent.

McCarron: if he's our left full back (U23's), we're in trouble. Looks the part going forward, but defending ? So poor → Oh dear, constantly out of position, gets caught on the ball...

Jenkins: good first half, without Forshaw struggled in the second.

Mckinstry: all right first half, poor second

Miller: who?

Dean: a 17year old playing in a men's game.

Poveda: as we've seen before, great feet but so very lightweight. If he wants to get in or near the first team, he'll needs to improve vastly.

A lot of what he does or tries (be it passing, running, dribbling) doesn't come off, it's always nearly or almost but never quite was it needs to be.

Bate: came on at ht, at first struggled to get on the ball, giving away the pen didn't help him settle. However as the game wore on, he showed a glimpses of what he can do and played in some very good passes.

Obviously we missed Geldhardt & Greenwood, but on this performance we'll struggle in the top U-23's Premiership.

Bate looked decent on the ball when he came on,he made a few mistakes in the first few minutes but grew into the

If Forshaw can stay fit we have decent cover for the No6/No.8 role next season. Looked a class apart.

Cresswell looks amazing. Surely only a matter of time before he challenges our 4 CBs for game time. No need to look for another CB or play Ayling/KP there if we have injuries.

Summerville looks far better than Poveda and Costa, just needs a bit more experience to channel his energies in the right direction.

Need to remember our team was basically teenagers playing against a far more experienced/older/more physical L1 side and they coped well for most parts. Not sure many of the others are ready for a step up yet.

Great stuff BB and hope you are enjoying your job as a bouncer at Wetherspoons.... 👍🍻😂😉

Mmm, definitely missed Forshaw in the second half.

Terrible piece of goalkeeping

I have no hair but is still in fashion from the late 80's!! Dark suit and tie, Ray Bans, Huggies with real diamonds, nicely polished boots and a shaven head. Now that is the look!!

Pavlova on for 2nd half.... with fkn cornrows!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬

WTF is it with our team who are grown from the ugly tree....

Ayling.... cr-ap hair

Strujik.... cr-ap hair

Kalvin.... cr-ap hair

Costa.... cr-ap hair

Klich.... basin head

Koch.... 1980s curtain hair

We have no stunners left anymore since Beradi has left.... come on Radz, sign some eye candy!

Got us live on Hesgoal....👍⚽

Team v Fleetwood:

Leeds United XI:

Van Den Heuvel,

Drameh, Cresswell, Kenneh, McCarron

Forshaw

Summerville, Jenkins, McKinstry, Miller

Dean

Subs: Caprile, Bate, Allen, Moore, Poveda.

No Geldhart (injured), Greenwood (played v Blackburn as well as Guisely) or McTurk

Looks like Bate will get 45 mins if Forshaw is subbed at half time.

For me Costa has had more than enough chances to show he is worthy of the shirt week in week out. You ask he has one good game then a few no shows, but lads seriously i cant remember the last "good" game HC has had, never mind an outstanding performance our outstanding half for that matter, genuinely i cant and i'm not kidding will someone fill me in please.

TBF to tyler he has certainly improved especially from Christmas to end of season and ive no problem with him having the Jersey although i would prefer if Poveda / shacks got a run out as well but im willing to bow to MB's judgement on TR over the others especially as he sees the stats and the work on the training ground where we dont have that luxury, so i fully trust Marcelo on Tyler.

But Costa not for me we need 11 players playing and asking the opposition questions not carrying one in PL games .

Lets hope so EEL!!

Would hate to get a 6-2 drubbing again.

manure pre season game called off v Preston due to Covid cases at Man u,they have only one pre season game left v Everton,none of their players who were at the Euros have played a pre season game yet.

not ideal preparation for them for 1st game of the season

Oh TC!! You are harsh!

Tyler has been a No9 all his life but MB is now using him as a No.10 so he needs time to learn his new role.

The boy has great talent and am sure you will have to eat a major slice of BB's humble pie come the end of this season!

As for Costa, I know he is frustrating. When on song he is great, when off his game he does not keep looking for the ball or take chances to create but rather play a risk free pass then really go at his man.

No matter how clever we think we are, MB is a genius so if he feels Costa deserves game time, who are we to argue? If he lets Costa go, then who are we to argue?

Lets just enjoy the ride. These last 3 seasons have been a wonderful dream. It cannot last forever, can it?

Surely the greatest manager in the world can see that Costa and Roberts are not good enough to play.... Shacks, Somerville, Poveda, Geldhert, Greenwood etc HAVE to be ahead of them!!

It's not as if we're not giving them a chance as they've had a couple of seasons each but they simply haven't IMPROVED.

Potential is simply that.... POTENTIAL until it is fulfilled!!

Believe me I WANT them to succeed and be legends!!

We REGULARLY play with 9 players EVERY week.... think where we'd be in the table playing with 11 players!!

Costa is a liability. He has had enough time to take his chance. He puts in one good game in (who knows the maths!) but the rest of the time it is a wasted shirt. For some reason best known the the Master he has kept Costa ( unless of course everyone else has reached the same conclusion as most of us and will not take the risk). Proveda has earned a chance to get a semi regular spot in the team over this clown.

I didnt see all the game last night but when i saw costa playing i feared the worst tbh.

His poor foul, for their goal, in the danger area just sums the guy up for me, eventhough this was a nothing game against lower league opposition surely Marcelo will now concede he cant improve Costa anymore. The guy has previous for committing these silly free kicks and when you consider the fact that we had a very poor set-piece record (goal concession) especially in the first half of last season the guy has obviously not learned. Maybe, just maybe this could be one of Marcelo's flaws continuing to invest time and resources into a guy and not admitting the road has run its course and Costa's potential has been reached. Every player has their limits nothing wrong with that but maybe MB believes every player can improve year on year, but if we start with Costa against the scum in 3 weeks time i'll be chewing the nails clean off the fingers or kicking the telly (again).

Please Marcelo offload Costa, loan him out for the season, give him to derby heavens knows they could do with a few players. I dont care but id prefer him out of ER than to be taking a spot on the bench (at mininium) that Pavoda, sommerville or shacks could sit on.

TC10 is right lads

Bielsa out ...... Hoddle in (our Glenn would never pick Costa) mind you he wouldn't have picked Kalvin either, the joys of football management its all about opinions ;)

With Coops, Ayling, Kalvin and Dallas missing from the starting X1 v Blackburn, we needed a new captain.... Klich and Harrison were the next most prominent players based on appearances.

Bielsa apparently doesn't get involved in choosing the captain and leaves it to the players who chose Koch.

It's great news that a foreign and relatively new player was chosen and he's obviously held in high esteem by his teammates👍⚽

Good to see Koch is appreciated oop north....

Costa, didn’t offer a great deal, stupid foul. How many times have those words appeared in a piece together?

I though we were moving him on?

well that’s crap

And vip box

The numbers on the back of the shirts are terrible BTW

Costa playing in the 10 role is a surprise, the rest are understandable substitutes, Koch for Phillips and Shackleton for Ayling....

Team v Blackburn tonight

Meslier,

Shackleton, Llorente, Struijk, Firpo

Koch

Rafa, Klich, Costa, Harrison,

Rodrigo

Subs: Van Den Heuvel, Ayling, Dallas, Roberts, Greenwood (surprise as he played last night)

So no Cooper, Bamford, Poveda at all. Hope none are seriously injured.

Looks like some are going to get the full 90mins.

Yes Mouseman but the friendlies are exclusively live on Radz channel, LIVENow, and not LUTV?

tc you get lutv in your price of membership

Ticket for Sunday were trickling Dow to members for sat game

I wasn't going to get the membership this season for the first time since it started circa 20yrs (?) ago due to the boy playing on a Saturday every week. However, I have just decided to purchase as I suppose loads of games will be changed to Friday, Sunday and Monday....

It cost me £133 as the boy is now classed as an adult. This entitles me to MAYBE a chance of a ticket but at what percentage chance?

On top of the £133 I'd have to fork out a further £80 for the tickets, £80 for transport and £100 for food and drinks.... that's without forking out even more buying the fkn norvvennors drinks!

I was under the impression that the pre season friendlies were free to watch for season ticket holders and members but we have to pay on top of this!

I suppose success breeds more fans and we've all wanted to be back in this position. We need a bigger stadium allocation NOW!!

I totally understand that tickets should be more available to fans who can go more often.... gone are the days when I can get to 10-12 games per season but just seems an awful lot to pay for the 'privilege' of getting into a draw or first come first served lottery on the computer.

Hopefully, we'll get relegated in the next couple of years and I'll be able to get tickets again....