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No damage done

We have two goalkeepers, three full backs, four centre backs, six midfield players, three wingers and two strikers who are all of a similar quality, so if spread out reasonably
we could lose five players without it impacting the team and performance too much
, assume it is the same for you. With five players out our bench could look something like, Meslier, Byram, Bornauw, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha. Who are all experianced players so I guess that your squad may be a bit younger than ours.
what bs you post.
 

The missing players is a compounding problem.

1. Ballard, Sadiki, Reinildo, Diarra are absolutely nailed-to-the-wall first choice, and some of the best players at the club.

2. Talbi, Traore have been our most used wingers this season. Both gone.

3. The current list of unavailable players is Ballard, Reinildo, Onien, Alese, Masuaku, Sadiki, Diarra, Talbi, Traore. That means that not only are 5 or 6 first choice players unavailable, but some of the players we would rotate in for them are ALSO unavailable.

4. Because of #3 we've had play a barely-fit Cirkin, who hadn't played a minute of first-team football since the playoffs through injury. We've had to play Geertruida in CM, rather than using him in his natural position as a Ballard replacement, which in turn would've allowed Mukiele to stay RB, Hume to go LB and not have to bring in Cirkin from the cold. We couldn't even go to a back 5 today either, with Onien suspended, Ballard injured, Geertruida in MF, and 2 defenders at AFCON and Alese injured. We literally did not have a defensive option on the bench, other an academy bairn whose never kicked a professional ball.

We played Chris Rigg (our probably 5th choice CM) as our starting RW because Talbi, Traore are both unavailable, and Mundle is just back from long-term injury and isn't fit enough to start games. We could have played Le Fee out LW and moved Adingra RW, but we couldn't because Le Fee had to play CM because 2 of our 3 first choice CMs are at AFCON.

5. Our bench was completely f#cked, because almost everyone that would normally be on it, was either on the pitch or unavailable.

All of this, and we've taken 2 points from Brighton away, and an impossible task against the Yorkshire Globetrotters.
It's interesting that RLB chose to play Cirkin rather than Dan Neil or Rigg in the centre, which would have allowed Geertruida to go CB, Mukiele to play RB and Hume to go LB. Rigg in the centre maybe gives us a problem on the right, but Mayenda looked good there today. Maybe too attacking to start a game for le Bris.

Seems Neil is all but gone imo.
 
Good point, unbeaten at home still, edging every closer to that magic points number, what a fantastic season so far. The match thread and some other threads have brought out some right knackers this weekend though. They should be banned from social media.
 
All things considered, it was a good point against a side in decent form. Leeds will cause a problem for a few teams with that set up, although they'll probably end up being high scoring results due to them leaving the back door open. I mean we still had a couple of very decent chances and hit the bar.

Think Sadiki was our biggest miss yesterday as we were overrun in midfield Enzo being quiet and Rigg not actually at the level of a PL player (in my opinion) just yet.

Point in that bag is a welcome one and a transfer window around the corner and a small game against city lodged in-between which isn't a must must win due to where we are in the league.

It's all good 👍
 
We have two goalkeepers, three full backs, four centre backs, six midfield players, three wingers and two strikers who are all of a similar quality, so if spread out reasonably
we could lose five players without it impacting the team and performance too much, assume it is the same for you. With five players out our bench could look something like, Meslier, Byram, Bornauw, Gruev, Tanaka, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe, Nmecha. Who are all experianced players so I guess that your squad may be a bit younger than ours.
Imagine we had all of 1st choices available yesterday.

Then imagine we took:

- Stach and Ampadu out your midfield

- Bijol and Gudmunsson out of your back line and that Justin had just returned from a 6 month layoff and had played 0 minutes and had to start.

- Okafor, James (already out), and Aaronsen out of your squad

- Then throw in a couple of injuries and suspensions on your bench

Then imagine what kind of side you're putting out to face this

Gk Roefs
LB Reinildo
CB Alderete
CB Ballard
RB Mukiele
CM Xhaka
CM Sadiki
CM Diarra
LW Le Fee
RW Traore
CF Brobbey

That is a totally different game, and you get comfortably beaten.
 
im totally calm about it all. This season has far and away surpassed my expectations, survival by goal difference was our aim.

This lot have convinced Granit Xhaka to sign for a newly promoted side, imagine what they’ll be able to do with an another season of PL football and PL money.
 
We missed some of our more physical players yesterday and got bullied in the air a bit. I’m still concerned about Alderete as he’s not very good in the air. I bet we are looking at another tall CB.
 
Hopefully a few signings in January!
Yep. I think maybe 2 players?

A RWer to replace/compete with Traore, as he seems to be the only trusted option out there.

A CM option to replace Dan Neil, as he's clearly not going to be involved and we don't seem to trust Rigg yet to play CM. We need someone else who can step in - although Diarra will help massively once back, as we'll then have Enzo, Diarra and Sadiki as trusted options in the midfield in front of Xhaka.
 
Imagine we had all of 1st choices available yesterday.

Then imagine we took:

- Stach and Ampadu out your midfield

- Bijol and Gudmunsson out of your back line and that Justin had just returned from a 6 month layoff and had played 0 minutes and had to start.

- Okafor, James (already out), and Aaronsen out of your squad

- Then throw in a couple of injuries and suspensions on your bench

Then imagine what kind of side you're putting out to face this

Gk Roefs
LB Reinildo
CB Alderete
CB Ballard
RB Mukiele
CM Xhaka
CM Sadiki
CM Diarra
LW Le Fee
RW Traore
CF Brobbey

That is a totally different game, and you get comfortably beaten.

I am glad you posted this because it allows me to try and highlight some of the similarities between us that the fairer posters on here will hopefully appreciate.

First of all I am not a big lover of 5-3-2 and don't think it is the answer it just worked to a certain extent against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool which gave us a much needed boost in confidence and momentum, which is so important as you have found out and we looked a lot better when we went 4-3-3 yesterday.

Leeds best 4-3-3 would arguably be :

Gk Piroe
LB Gudmundsson
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Stach
CM Longstaff
CM Ampadu
LW Okafor
RW Aaronson
CF DCL

Defense. Is our goalkeeper as good as yours ? No, he seems to be improving but seems to have a touch of Gary Sprake about him, brilliant save followed by a rush of blood and an error I would prefer Darlow. Is Gudmundsson better than Reinildo ? Reinildo is a better defender but Gudmundsson is better going forward. Is Struijk better than Alderete ? No Struijk is our weak link who only just gets in above Bijol because the right foot/left foot Rodon/Struijk partnership seems to work better. Is Rodon better than Ballard, both seem much of a muchness Championship CB's who have made the step up to PL and are currently keeping expensive signings (Geertrudia/Bijol) out of the side (Rumour has it Bayern want Rodon).

Midfield. Is your midfield three better than our midfield three. They look a more skillful midfield three but a PL midfield contest is often more of a battle with very little time on the ball which tends to level the playing field. I am aware of the contempt on here for Longstaff but he would have been in the thick of yesterdays battle.

Attack. Seems much of a muchness Aaronson is our 'tucked in winger a lot like Le Fee, Okafor is your Traore and DCL is your Brobbey. Given his current form I think DCL gets in above Brobbey but I don't think most Sunderland fans would have anyone other than DCL in your first eleven and as a Leeds fan I have not got a deal of issue with that, but I think the margins a far tighter than most posters on here realise and think it would be a tight game if both sides played their first elevens in a 4-3-3. For info our impact subs would be James, Gnonto, Tanaka, Nmecha, not quite PL standard but too good for the Championship.

I must admit I am basing most of my opinion on Sunderland players from what is posted on here and reported in your local press and some match of the day highlights rather than any in depth watching of your game but I have tried to be fair, or fairer than some Leeds fans who do watch you in more depth one who posted recently 'they are delusional, Sadiki has got no assists or goals but they think he is worth ÂŁ50m'.

The problem with these sort of rational posts on an opposition message board is the vast majority of replies will be wind u posts saying 'our first eleven is miles better than yours we would wipe the floor with you'. When in reality you have not really wiped the floor with anyone (maybe West Ham) it is not really your game.
Imagine we had all of 1st choices available yesterday.

Then imagine we took:

- Stach and Ampadu out your midfield

- Bijol and Gudmunsson out of your back line and that Justin had just returned from a 6 month layoff and had played 0 minutes and had to start.

- Okafor, James (already out), and Aaronsen out of your squad

- Then throw in a couple of injuries and suspensions on your bench

Then imagine what kind of side you're putting out to face this

Gk Roefs
LB Reinildo
CB Alderete
CB Ballard
RB Mukiele
CM Xhaka
CM Sadiki
CM Diarra
LW Le Fee
RW Traore
CF Brobbey

That is a totally different game, and you get comfortably beaten.

Our injured 4-3-3 side would be.

Gk Perri
LB Justin
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Gruev
CM Tanaka
CM Longstaff
LW Harrison
RW Gnonto
CF DCL

If we had Nmecha and Bijol missing from the bench our would be.

Darlow
Byram
Piroe
Gray
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21

I don't think our first eleven would be massively impacted if we were playing at home, but the bench would be horrific as yours was yesterday, would certainly take a draw and blame all the missing players if we lost.
 
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I am glad you posted this because it allows me to try and highlight some of the similarities between us that the fairer posters on here will hopefully appreciate.

First of all I am not a big lover of 5-3-2 and don't think it is the answer it just worked to a certain extent against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool which gave us a much needed boost in confidence and momentum, which is so important as you have found out and we looked a lot better when we went 4-3-3 yesterday.

Leeds best 4-3-3 would arguably be :

Gk Piroe
LB Gudmundsson
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Stach
CM Longstaff
CM Ampadu
LW Okafor
RW Aaronson
CF DCL

Defense. Is our goalkeeper as good as yours ? No, he seems to be improving but seems to have a touch of Gary Sprake about him, brilliant save followed by a rush of blood and an error I would prefer Darlow. Is Gudmundsson better than Reinildo ? Reinildo is a better defender but Gudmundsson is better going forward. Is Struijk better than Alderete ? No Struijk is our weak link who only just gets in above Bijol because the right foot/left foot Rodon/Struijk partnership seems to work better. Is Rodon better than Ballard, both seem much of a muchness Championship CB's who have made the step up to PL and are currently keeping expensive signings (Geertrudia/Bijol) out of the side (Rumour has it Bayern want Rodon).

Midfield. Is your midfield three better than our midfield three. They look a more skillful midfield three but a PL midfield contest is often more of a battle with very little time on the ball which tends to level the playing field. I am aware of the contempt on here for Longstaff but he would have been in the thick of yesterdays battle.

Attack. Seems much of a muchness Aaronson is our 'tucked in winger a lot like Le Fee, Okafor is your Traore and DCL is your Brobbey. Given his current form I think DCL gets in above Brobbey but I don't think most Sunderland fans would have anyone other than DCL in your first eleven and as a Leeds fan I have not got a deal of issue with that, but I think the margins a far tighter than most posters on here realise and think it would be a tight game if both sides played their first elevens in a 4-3-3. For info our impact subs would be James, Gnonto, Tanaka, Nmecha, not quite PL standard but too good for the Championship.

I must admit I am basing most of my opinion on Sunderland players from what is posted on here and reported in your local press and some match of the day highlights rather than any in depth watching of your game but I have tried to be fair, or fairer than some Leeds fans who do watch you in more depth one who posted recently 'they are delusional, Sadiki has got no assists or goals but they think he is worth ÂŁ50m'.

The problem with these sort of rational posts on an opposition message board is the vast majority of replies will be wind u posts saying 'our first eleven is miles better than yours we would wipe the floor with you'. When in reality you have not really wiped the floor with anyone (maybe West Ham) it is not really your game.


Our injured 4-3-3 side would be.

Gk Perri
LB Justin
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Gruev
CM Tanaka
CM Longstaff
LW Harrison
RW Gnonto
CF DCL

If we had Nmecha and Bijol missing from the bench our would be.

Darlow
Byram
Piroe
Gray
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21

I don't think our first eleven would be massively impacted if we were playing at home, but the bench would be horrific as yours was yesterday, would certainly take a draw and blame all the missing players if we lost.
Bayern want Rodon? What
 
More made up trollop like.

why would we drop le fee and play a winger and keep Rigg in?

I don’t even know what point you’re trying to make. We’ve had 7 first team players ripped out of the squad either through afcon or injury.

2 suggestions for you.

You don’t know our selection choices or our team better than SAFC fans, you keep on getting things glaringly wrong. As we don’t know Leeds ins and outs. You’re now just making yourself look daft.

Number 2. You’ve joined this board and you’re going on like a bit of a tit. You’re gonna end up banned, ridiculed or just told to do one everytime you post. So either settle yourself or fuck off.

Exactly 👍🏻

I have answered a couple of posts on here in some depth but will respond to yours by saying most of the differing responses are all about spin, obviously you highlight who was missing whilst I focus on their replacements.

And I get most of my info on the replacements from the glowing player threads on here and in your local press. My spin on your team yesterday would be :

GK Roefs (One of the best Goalkeepers in the PL future Dutch no 1)
RB Hume ( Northern Ireland right back who has made the step up to the PL)
LB Cirkin (Championship left back may not make the step up to the PL)
CB Mukiele (3rd Choice CB and first choice RB)
CB Alderete (Steal of the Summer transfer widow)
CM Xhaka (Signing of the summer transfer window)
CM Geertrudia ( Fourth choice CB and DM but yesterdays MOM)
CM Le Fee ( Way too good for the Championship, PL quality)
RW Rigg ( Probably not PL quality)
LW Adingra (Almost MOM, Wonder goal, pretty decent ÂŁ20m back up winger).

Cirkin and Rigg seem to be the two big drop downs in quality and your bench was pretty shite, but apart from those two the other 9 players were all PL quality players and were never going to be the pushover some Leeds fans thought. Was happy with the draw. Could have been 3-3 on chances.
Bayern want Rodon? What

Yes, is a big admirer of Leeds United defender , having tried to sign him for Burnley previously, and views him as a player ready for the top level, with reports indicating Bayern's interest and Rodon's value increasing as he excels for Leeds in the Premier League.
Key Details:
  • Kompany's Admiration: Kompany, a former Belgian international and manager, has a long-standing interest in Rodon, seeing him as a strong, warrior-like defender with Premier League qualities.
  • Previous Attempt: When Kompany managed Burnley, he tried to bring Rodon to Turf Moor, but the move didn't happen.
  • Current Situation: Rodon has since moved to Leeds United and impressed in their push for promotion and now in the Premier League, validating Kompany's belief in his abilities.
  • Transfer Interest: Reports from late 2025 suggest Bayern's interest continues, with Kompany's team identifying Rodon as a key target, and his transfer value has significantly risen.
 
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I am glad you posted this because it allows me to try and highlight some of the similarities between us that the fairer posters on here will hopefully appreciate.

First of all I am not a big lover of 5-3-2 and don't think it is the answer it just worked to a certain extent against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool which gave us a much needed boost in confidence and momentum, which is so important as you have found out and we looked a lot better when we went 4-3-3 yesterday.

Leeds best 4-3-3 would arguably be :

Gk Piroe
LB Gudmundsson
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Stach
CM Longstaff
CM Ampadu
LW Okafor
RW Aaronson
CF DCL

Defense. Is our goalkeeper as good as yours ? No, he seems to be improving but seems to have a touch of Gary Sprake about him, brilliant save followed by a rush of blood and an error I would prefer Darlow. Is Gudmundsson better than Reinildo ? Reinildo is a better defender but Gudmundsson is better going forward. Is Struijk better than Alderete ? No Struijk is our weak link who only just gets in above Bijol because the right foot/left foot Rodon/Struijk partnership seems to work better. Is Rodon better than Ballard, both seem much of a muchness Championship CB's who have made the step up to PL and are currently keeping expensive signings (Geertrudia/Bijol) out of the side (Rumour has it Bayern want Rodon).

Midfield. Is your midfield three better than our midfield three. They look a more skillful midfield three but a PL midfield contest is often more of a battle with very little time on the ball which tends to level the playing field. I am aware of the contempt on here for Longstaff but he would have been in the thick of yesterdays battle.

Attack. Seems much of a muchness Aaronson is our 'tucked in winger a lot like Le Fee, Okafor is your Traore and DCL is your Brobbey. Given his current form I think DCL gets in above Brobbey but I don't think most Sunderland fans would have anyone other than DCL in your first eleven and as a Leeds fan I have not got a deal of issue with that, but I think the margins a far tighter than most posters on here realise and think it would be a tight game if both sides played their first elevens in a 4-3-3. For info our impact subs would be James, Gnonto, Tanaka, Nmecha, not quite PL standard but too good for the Championship.

I must admit I am basing most of my opinion on Sunderland players from what is posted on here and reported in your local press and some match of the day highlights rather than any in depth watching of your game but I have tried to be fair, or fairer than some Leeds fans who do watch you in more depth one who posted recently 'they are delusional, Sadiki has got no assists or goals but they think he is worth ÂŁ50m'.

The problem with these sort of rational posts on an opposition message board is the vast majority of replies will be wind u posts saying 'our first eleven is miles better than yours we would wipe the floor with you'. When in reality you have not really wiped the floor with anyone (maybe West Ham) it is not really your game.


Our injured 4-3-3 side would be.

Gk Perri
LB Justin
CB Struijk
CB Rodon
RB Bogle
CM Gruev
CM Tanaka
CM Longstaff
LW Harrison
RW Gnonto
CF DCL

If we had Nmecha and Bijol missing from the bench our would be.

Darlow
Byram
Piroe
Gray
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21
Under 21

I don't think our first eleven would be massively impacted if we were playing at home, but the bench would be horrific as yours was yesterday, would certainly take a draw and blame all the missing players if we lost.
You’re not going to get anyone on here agreeing with you. We have a better squad. We have a better team. The league table, our results and yesterday is proof of that.
 
You’re not going to get anyone on here agreeing with you. We have a better squad. We have a better team. The league table, our results and yesterday is proof of that.

I don't agree. Our manager picked the wrong side yesterday he is like your manager too cautious at times 5-3-2 is okay against the big six, we looked a lot better with 4-3-3 and even then our front three should have included Gnonto to tie Cirkin in knots.
 
I don't agree. Our manager picked the wrong side yesterday he is like your manager too cautious at times 5-3-2 is okay against the big six, we looked a lot better with 4-3-3 and even then our front three should have included Gnonto to tie Cirkin in knots.
We had 7-8 players out. Take DCL out and you’re screwed. You couldn’t beat us despite us being at bare bones. Nobody is going to agree with you.

For what it’s worth I thought Leeds were very good yesterday once the formation changed.

Again I’ll point out you’ve come two footed into this forum and have some bizarre obsession of trying to get us to tell you Leeds are equal or better than us and we shouldn’t be where we are in the league and you should be higher. It’s fuckin weird.
 
Calvert Lewin was better than I expected mind, probably him and Thiago are the best centre forward performances we've played against this season.

He was much better than I expected.

Was a pain in the arse all day , barely lost the ball all day. Won headers and a few nice passes and flicks , if he's like that every week and avoids injury he'll be at the world cup
 
I don't agree. Our manager picked the wrong side yesterday he is like your manager too cautious at times 5-3-2 is okay against the big six, we looked a lot better with 4-3-3 and even then our front three should have included Gnonto to tie Cirkin in knots.
I agree with you there to a extent. We perhaps played an overly cautious side yesterday playing Rigg as a RW. He is a CM player, shoehorned in for his workrate. I'd have started Eliezer Mayenda on the RW yesterday which would have given you a fast, dribbling goal-threat to worry about. With Rigg there, we had nothing down that side and just invited pressure down there.

I understand why he did it. He's naturally safety-first and stay tight and use the bench. Especially because we had so many players missing. That starting 11 and subs bench will probably be the worst match squad we put in any league game all season. We had very few options to make changes to the starting 11.

It might be a difficult few weeks for us with our current options, but we'll only get stronger moving forward. We'll get all of those players back and we'll probably shift a few peripheral players in January and bring in 1 or 2 more new signings. Financially we can do it as well.

We could do with a better RW option, as Traore is the only one he trusts there really. Talbi can't really play there. We also need another CM player because he absolutely won't play Dan Neil (contract expiring, hasn't had a kick all season) and he doesn't really trust Rigg in that middle 3. Enzo can play there of course, but when Diarra is back in think Enzo moves out to LW again. We're a bit light in depth in those 2 areas atm.

Cirkin, Rigg are not PL players right now. I'm hoping they can be useful squad players in the long run, but Cirkin is perpetually injury-prone and has the sane issue as Dan Neil as well - contract running down. And if shift Masuaku in January as expected, we're going to need Cirkin (or someone else) as a back up. Trai Hume is probably our primary RB/LB cover, but if lose Masuaku and Cirkin there's not great depth if we get an injury or 2.
 
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