Lucas

For me, yesterday only highlighted how much Liverpool and Arsenal need the reliability of a quality Number 9.

They can both score goals from anywhere on the pitch which is great, but in the crunch games, that's what your main man up top does. Neither have one.

You just can't miss those chances. Criminal.

Arsenal certainly won't win this league till they bag a Top Quality striker and I don't mean Ivan Toney either. Got to aim bigger. 

Darwin's all action and does bring a lot to the attack but sadly when he gets the chance, you expect the miss.

For a striker, that's bad. Even Andy Cole was more clinical and he got ribbed for years how many chances he took to score.

17 hours ago, Stan said:

Summerville wins Player of the Season, but Szmodics has been absolutely robbed. 

Thing is, if you are basing these things on goals scored or whatever, you'd say Adam Armstrong who collectively has the most goals and assists has been robbed too. But then you need to look beyond that sometimes as to what a player contributes overall. Most goals doesn't always mean beast player.

I think Summerville has got it because he's arguably the most destructive/eye catching player in the league. For us, it all seems to go through him and you see how many times he skins players, scores goals etc. But it's also hard on players like Dewsbury-Hall who has contributed massively and a lot of their work can go unnoticed.

No surprise Archie Gray wins Young Player. Started the season as a boy and come what may, will finish it as a man.

Nice to have three players in Team of the Year too although I don't entirely agree with the XI.

5 hours ago, Stan said:

You joined in 2018, so neither  

 

I was in uni when I joined the initial forum before it became tf365. 

@Lucas and I joined a few days apart. Looking back I think it was a real sliding doors moment for the forum, we really upped the forum game and put it on the map. 

Monumental I'd say. 

This forum would never be the same without the contribution you've made on the whole for sure.

On 13/04/2024 at 19:45, Stan said:

@Lucas you've lost faith in your Leeds players like I have for Leicester ones

 

Yeah, sadly they had to make way for more fixtures for the doubles 

God, I hate my club. Got to be one of the biggest bottle jobs going in the Sport, we have to be. Shambles. Seen it so so many times, we're not built for pressure situations, we crumble every time.

Blackburn, without doubt, one of the worst teams we've played this season. Fewest passes, fewest shots we've faced from any visiting opposition this season and yet they've become the first team to beat us at home. One chance and took it. 

This team needs to suffer and take a long, hard look at themselves tonight because they've fucked it all right up in the last 7 days.

I absolutely hate this league as well. So many things get missed by the officials, shit teams consistantly shithousing to break your rhythm. We never seem to get the right amount of added time either. We got 3mins added Tuesday at the end of the game, Saints get 7 today and still score in the 99th. Really?

My only shock is Ipswich didn't but I'm that fucked off by our own inadiquacies that I can't even look at the situation and feel remotely positive about it. We've not got killer instinct in us, soft as shit. 

Saturday 13th April 2024
Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham, 12.30
Brentford 2-1 Sheff Utd
Burnley 1-2 Brighton
Man City 3-0 Luton
Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolves
Bournemouth 1-2 Man Utd, 17.30

Sunday 14th April, 2024
Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace, 14.00
West Ham 1-1 Fulham, 14.00
Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa, 16.30

Monday 15th April, 2024
Chelsea 2-1 Everton, 20.00

27th

16th

On 10/04/2024 at 01:10, Dan said:

Have a bit of a thought on next season - I'm tempted to make it so you can stake either £5, £10 or £20 on any given week. Obviously this is just pretty much allowing you to back something heavily or lightly and obviously you'll take a harder hit should you lose.

Happy to stick with just tenners but think it could make it a bit more dynamic (not sure this is the word but )

I don't mind it.

Either that or keep the regular £10 play and incorporate maybe the £25 one maybe 6 or 7 times during the season with the caveat that on that designated week of your choosing, we all use the £25 one so its easier to track. Makes those weeks quite unique when they come round so you can try to maximise profit.

Something I was gonna suggest also at the end of the season so it encourages people to keep betting, if you go maybe two/three weeks without a bet, you incur a £10 fine.

I thought about this earlier in the season when I had a big win and thought, you could just sit on that. Or if someone didn't play for like like 3 or 4 weeks, it keeps the competition active. Seems a littke harsh you can have people that participate every week and be so far behind someone that's maybe bet like half or a quarter of the bets.

8 hours ago, Dan said:

Ipswich are the best side in this league. I accepted this weeks ago. I wonder if Southampton aren't quite out of the auto race yet. I think another week like this midweek happens at the weekend and they will smell blood - particularly given they play us both.

I dunno if I can get on board with that. We've stuck four goals past them in two games. Six points. It was pretty convincing so for me we are definitely a better side than them. They've not beaten yourselves either where as we have twice.

Outplayed by Southampton that Monday last week and only won due to Saints missing chances and getting a dubious Red Card. Hanging on at Blackburn the game before that. They have very good character and team spirit but not a better side.

But I don't think Ipswich have to contend with the same factors that we do, and I'd include yourselves in with us too as you carry weight in this league too with what you've done in recent history.

For example, Sunderland, absolutely nothing to play for last night but come to Elland Road to park the bus and not get beat because they are playing a big side at a prestegious ground with a superious home record. They would rather do that than go for a win. They celebrated  point at the end which vindicates my point. There's no way they have that same approach at Ipswich, it's not quite the same buzz the opposition get.

I think the pressure we put on ourselves (as well as the media) also is huge because of our expectancy levels and what comes with representing the club, where as that's not the case with Ipswich. They literally have nothing to lose and no expectations. They are an underdog and they are playing that tune well.

Let's also remember that when you get promoted from League One, you often run the wave and have a good season in the Championship if you got something about you. No upheaval at their club in the summer, able to get a good start on the board and continue momentum. We weren't able to even settle with a team till October with all that's happened at the club post relegation/takeover, so we've had a lot of ground to make up.

But all that said, you have to accept all this stuff when you come down to this level. At the end of the day, we have bigger squads, more money. We are a prize scalp for the others in the league and everyone else tries that extra bit harder against you.

I know there is the old addage of "if X finish higher they must be the better team" but I simply can't buy into that with Ipswich. They've got lucky so many times.

But they are in a position where it's all in front of them and if they hold their nerve, they've done incredibly well and they will have deserved it.

But better team? Not for me.

4 hours ago, Lucas said:

Saka, Kane, Haaland and Vinicius, 1 SOT each

Skyboost 5/1. £10 wins £60.

The one plus point of the evening. Flew in before HT with how those games went.

£50 richer this evening as a result too.

I wasn't gonna lay into them Saturday but tonight they can get fucked. Sunderland, or rather, Jack Clarke FC have absolutely nothing about them.

Farke waiting till 80mins for a triple sub when we hadn't managed a single shot on target or created anything of note is ridiculous. He should have changed way sooner. That result is on him.

Bamford, start after start and is a virtual passenger. What's he giving to the team to justify this? It can't keep happening.

Leeds always, ALWAYS do this. That's why we have a song about us falling apart. The club's never handled the pressure down the years.

And you just know Ipswich win in 90+3 tomorrow. See it a mile off.

On a side note, these officials are absolute dogshit. I'm fed up with seeing penalties turned away and we've had two tonight for clear and obvious handball, including this 2nd one. Not one person hasn't said it wasn't, so infuriating.

But penalties aside, we didn't do enough. Just look a complete different side since Internationals and that break may well have ruined our flow.

Saka, Kane, Haaland and Vinicius, 1 SOT each

Skyboost 5/1. £10 wins £60.

31st

17th

This will feel a little ironic given what happened in the game but I really like the look of Quansah.

Shame for him really as I thought in the main he had a great game, and I really like for such a big tall lad, how much skill he has when he goes forward.

Never looks like doing that classic centre back thing of playing a hopeless ball or pass and some real moments where he showed great skill to keep an attack flowing. Big future that kid.

Also on Bruno's goal. If Allison is playing, I don't think he get's beat there, no way. Just saying.

Bad time to chuck in a performance like that, although I don't think we've been right since Internationals tbh, its really ruined our flow losing a few of the guys. Just the timing of the loss really given Ipswich's result is what makes the result feel so crucial but you can't be too brutal on them really.

How can we be harsh on a team that were 17pts behind Leicester on 29th December and then put together a run that milked 41 out of 45pts? It was an incredible sequence of results and yet, we still don't know if it will be good enough for automatic. Sometimes you just need perspective, they are not robots after all.

Very hard to blame individuals. Bamford missed another shocker and Piroe has to score that last minute chance obviously, but for the best part, the performance was miles off it by most of them, including fan favourites like Rutter, Ampadu and Rodon.

There's no doubt this will hurt because they had got used to not losing. It's now about staying calm, and reacting in a positive way, coming out all guns blazing v Sunderland. Back to back home games now, Elland Road is where we've been at our strongest and we know it has to be 6pts from those games.

Crystal Palace 0-2 Man City
Aston Villa 2-1 Brentford
Everton 1-2 Burnley
Fulham 2-1 Newcastle
Luton 1-2 Bournemouth
Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Brighton 1-2 Arsenal

Sunday
Man Utd 1-3 Liverpool
Sheff Utd 1-2 Chelsea
Tottenham 3-1 Nottm Forest

People wonder why Leeds fans sing "Sky TV, are fucking shit..."

Well, not content with moving our away game with Middlesbrough to a Monday night, they've now moved the away game at QPR to a Friday.

So from both games being 7 days apart, we've now got to to go to Boro and QPR in the space of 5 days, the penultimate week of the season. Last sort of thing you're wanting as you come to the end if a gruelling season.

This will mean 7 out of our last 8 have been moved for Sky and the total for the season is beyond ridiculous compared tot he others. They've well and truly milked this cash cow dry.

Leicester will still win the title. They have had their wobble and in some respects, been taken down a peg from what seemed like a cakewalk, particularly Enzo Maresca. Think he's shown a little naiveity as a manger new in the game the last couple months and I'm sure he's learnt some lessons.

But they remain a top quality team and the fixtures are too good. The West Brom/Saints double header in April is maybe the one bump in the road you could see but you'd fancy them with two home games. That was a big psychological win for them Monday, a release for players feeling the pressure and feels like the moment they got their house in order despite everything going on around them off the field.

Either us or Ipswich for 2nd. I look at Ipswich's games and think surely they'll drop points but I've been thinking that for a while and they just don't go away. They deserve the plaudits for everything they have done absolutely. However, I do feel like they've rode their luck and some. Can that keep happening? I've got to believe it can't but as I said before, they have so much momentum now I just don't know.

I'll be gutted to finish below them given we've stuck 8 past them in two games and IMO, a much better side but I know Football doesn't always work like that.

I also know supporting Leeds, we'll find any way we can to wobble and shoot ourselves in the foot so I still expect a wobble. We really need Gruev back as soon as possible. Losing him, Gnonto and Connor Roberts over Internationals was brutal. But we do have a manager with prime experience of this situation and he won't panic. Can't call it though.

Playoffs are interesting because whoever falls in there between us and Ipswich will obviously possess a massive danger still, albeit, be on a massiver downer. I'd fear for us if it was us given our history in these, where as I feel Ipswich could go again given they've surpassed so much expectation.

Southampton will be like a wounded animal and possess a lot of class still. West Brom are tatctically the best well drilled team. Then it's a toss up between Norwich and Coventry for the final spot. Kinda feel Norwich might just keep it together and get over the line so there is huge potential for an Ipswich/Norwich playoff semi which would be pretty epic.

But I'd find it hard to back against Southampton I think. Over two legs they beat West Brom for me and I'd fancy them in the final.

Rotherham are gone.

I fear for Plymouth, it's just not happening for them. I was certain Warnock was going there when I saw they had sacked their manager, but they have refused that option. You'd have fancied him to keep them up, not so sure now, think they'll regret not going that way and drop.

Last spot for me is a toss up between Wednesday, Huddersfield and Birmingham.

Always find it humourous how terrible Wednesday are but how massive they think they are. And I really don't give a jot about Huddersfield who absolutely despise us.

But being honest, and I think many may agree here, if you're wanting poetuc justice, you're wanting Birmingham to drop. It'd be the perfect ending to shitting on your own doorstep. Firing a manager when you are in the playoffs to getting relegated. Fingers crossed.

17th

22nd

all kick-offs 19.30 (BST) unless stated

Tuesday 2nd April, 2024
Newcastle 2-1 Everton
Nottm Forest 1-1 Fulham
Bournemouth 1-1 Crystal Palace, 19.45
Burnley 2-1 Wolves, 19.45
West Ham 2-2 Tottenham, 20.15

Wednesday 3rd April, 2024
Arsenal 4-0 Luton
Brentford 2-1 Brighton
Man City 2-1 Aston Villa, 20.15

Thursday 4th April, 2024
Liverpool 5-0 Sheff Utd
Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd, 20.15

Horrible game for us that but we've dragged ourselves over the line. Just felt like it was going to be one of them nights from Bamford's miss. 

It was so nervy tonight. Think there was a ton of pressure on us playing last with the other two winning, especially kicking off about 20 odd mins after seeing Ipswich nick a 96th min winner yet again. That would have deflated the atmosphere somehwhat as it looked a nailed on draw and a potential gain.

But sometimes you just got to tough it out and keep going. Hull really had us on the ropes at times and they were silly really because that was such a needless penalty to give away near the end. All in all though, they had played well, better than us in my eyes.

Jesus Christ do we miss Gruev. Gnonto too but Gruev is the key man. We need him back soon. That international break has been a big hinderence for us but we've negotiated two very tricky games playing last both times in four days and just need to steady the ship now with a few days training and normal routine.

If Ipswich win at Carrow Road Saturday lunchtime then I feel like they are going to do a 2016 Leicester.

16th

21st

Personally don't see a massive deal as to Arsenal being cautious to get a draw. Their record at City is horrendous, so a point is decent for them. Yeah ok, it's a gamble that hands control to Liverpool for now, might backfire but it could be a good calculated gamble by the end, we'll see.

Let's be honest, if Trossard plays in Martinelli there for that chance near the end, they've actually put in the perfect away performance. Fine margins.

I thought City looked flat and out of ideas tbh. Foden and KDB were nullified and City really missed Walker's overlapping runs. Build up was too slow.

City also miss a specialist LB too for me.

So often it's Ake or Gvardial who are CB's by trade, and they just have to check back and play the ball inside. Don't offer nothing on the outside to the man wide left.

We'll have to take that.

It was a 5/10 performance from us. So many issues we had to contend with. Its been a great time for Watford to catch us fixture wise. But as the saying goes, if you can't win, don't lose. Could turn out to be a massive point.

Had so many players away on Internationals, the Welsh lads had extra time on Tuesday night too, 3 of our boys come back injured which was also key, especially Gruev and Gnonto. Rutter had his hernia op, Firpo played Wednesday then had a 20 hour flight back, not one session with the team together.

Farke's messed with the centre back partnership by breaking up Rodon and Ampadu and bringing in Cooper and we looked all over the place back there. Cooper is finished, a liability, just as Ayling sadly became. When he changed it back 2nd half, we took total control. No shock.

Watford were very good first half, they pressed us hard, very athletic side, and went at us and we were miles off it. They deserved to take the lead twice.

Unfortunately we came back into it too late. If that game goes on another 5mins, we probably nick it. You could moan the changes were too late.

You can't win them all though. It's not Football Manager. Leicester and Saints haven't won so thats a little bit of insurance at least. Fair enough, Ipswich did but they were fortunate to. And they have Saints next. Someone there is dropping points, maybe both. 

Got to win our game Monday though. Home games are key now. Got 4 of them left and if we can win all of those, we have to be there or thereabouts.