The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 12th February) Leeds breeze past sorry Millers
Good Morning. It's Monday 12th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds breeze past sorry Millers
Leeds made easy work of Rotherham Utd at the weekend, extending their win record to six straight games across 2024. It was always going to be a tough ask for the Millers. They sit bottom of the table, with just one win on the board since the end of October; and to be honest it showed in their display.
Bamford opened the scoring on ten minutes, after the referee failed to spot the ball glancing off his arm on the way in. The hosts could have easily have added two or three more in the opening 45 minutes had it not been for sturdy woodwork, last gasp challenges and fine shot stopping. Leeds perseverance paid off soon after the break, when Crysencio Summerville toe poked the ball past the despairing dive of Johansson, after a surging run through midfield by Rutter.
Eight minutes later, the Whites made it three, after Summerville was clumsily bought down in the box. A spot kick had been a long time coming, but having taken the lead under controversial circumstances, it probably evened itself out. The Dutchman wrestled the ball out of Bamford's grasp, before cheekily chipping the ball past Johansson after sending him the wrong way, to the delight of 36,000 screaming fans. It may not have been a Yorkshire classic, but three valuable points nevertheless, heading into Tuesday's game at Swansea.
Players who request loan moves are difficult to integrate back
Daniel Farke believes it is difficult to integrate players back to their parent clubs after demanding loan moves.nThe Leeds gaffer made the claim whilst speaking to journalists following the permanent departure of Columbian International Luis Sinisterra. There are thousands of analogies the gaffer could have used, but ended up comparing the Sinisterra situation to a microwave meal; on the basis the food never tastes as good as when it is fresh!
His comments give Leeds fans an insight into what may happen with the other players that jumped ship last Summer. 49ers Enterprises have nearly £100m invested in players such as Marc Roca, Jack Harrison, Diego Llorente, Brenden Arronson, Max Wober and Ramus Kristensen, all of which have medium to long term contracts at Elland Road.
I think overall it's a good decision, beneficial for our future. “Many compliments for our main people involved in negotiations. "We wanted to have the perfect result for us and think we did. I never made a secret I really rate Luis from his football point of view, good player, good person, wish him all the best. “He also made it clear in the summer he wanted this move. You have to accept there are good players playing for other clubs.
We wish him really all the best, no hard feelings at all, fingers crossed for his future. For us as a club it's the right decision, it frees up some money to do some business we want to do in the summer. I'm always a bit careful when a player wanted to go away, to bring him back. “It's like when you put the food in the microwave, it never tastes like when it's freshly cooked.
Is Firpo proving the doubters wrong
Junior Firpo grabbed his forth assist from six starts at the weekend, giving the Leeds faithful an indication that there maybe hope for the Dominican Republic International moving forward. The 27 year old is finally showing some form, under Daniel Farke's Management. He's racked up a respectable 'Whoscored' rating of 6.89 over his 610 minutes of game time this season, placing him seventh in the squad rankings.
He has only picked up two yellow cards this season too, maybe showing the Elland Road faithful that he has better control, and is less reckless compared to previous seasons. Although his defending (the prime reason for his selection) maybe considered a little shaky, he is proving to be a real asset going forward. He's making the right passes at the right times, and does not give the ball away needlessly!