Leeds United

indiana · Tennis legend

Leeds United

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

My Leeds themed week continued last night with a visit to a local town of Orihuela (20 mins for me) to watch them play the Leeds U21 side. Orihuela are in the equivalent of the 5th tier of Spanish football, so roughly National League standard. But despite the absence of the majority of Leeds' usual U21 squad who were training with the first team, we still managed to get the win 1-0 with a 2nd half header from the prolific young Max Dean - a real potential star of the future.

But what I really liked about last night was the tweet from Orihuela after the game. Clearly in our Leeds culture, being a potential star footballer of the future, doesn't stop you from fulfilling your other duties and still requires you to respect others, as young Max showed last night.

twitter.com/Orihuela_CF/status/1600256804209901568

Proud of my club.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

You sound like youre having the week of your life Bob! Enjoy !

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Brilliant hour long documentary this evening on Sky Sports Premier League all about their training camp in Spain. Brought back such great memories.

Being repeated tomorrow (Friday) at 19.00 hrs under the title of 'Premier League Stories. Well worth a watch for Leeds fans.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Brilliant hour long documentary this evening on Sky Sports Premier League all about their training camp in Spain. Brought back such great memories.

Being repeated tomorrow (Friday) at 19.00 hrs under the title of 'Premier League Stories. Well worth a watch for Leeds fans.

Dang dont get Sky !

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Hey Bob - my daughter works (during Uni holidays time ie now and over Xmas etc) at a tea rooms in Harrogate called Betty's , quite well known place, as a waitress.

Yesterday she had the pleasure of serving Luke Ayling and his wife and child. She had no idea who he was but someone told her - apparently he was a really nice guy, nice family . Not sure if Luke lives in Harrogate, quite a few players, managers do - Gareth Southgate, Michah Richards, George Graham, David O'Leary all do and probably a fair few more as well

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Leeds have confirmed the signing of Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim. France U21 international striker and bags of raw potential. Broken our transfer record for this one so hope he can pull us clear of that relegation battle.

seagull · Hall of fame

2 goals in 17 this season. Hell of a gamble but not sure clubs outside big 6 have much choice?

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

seagull wrote:
2 goals in 17 this season. Hell of a gamble but not sure clubs outside big 6 have much choice?

He's been played out on the wing at Hoffenheim which distorts the statistics somewhat. People 'in the know' seem to think he is a huge talent.

Well done to your lot today.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Bielsa at Everton would leave me with very mixed emotions.

indiana · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
Bielsa at Everton would leave me with very mixed emotions.

Could be hilarious. Bielsa is surely not a type of manager to be brought in for a mid season fix mission. He can't magically transform players to his ways and fitness. it sounds as if he is less than jumping at the chance himself.

I'd expect most teenage Football Manager players to have similar reservations.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Bielsa at Everton would leave me with very mixed emotions.
Could be hilarious. Bielsa is surely not a type of manager to be brought in for a mid season fix mission. He can't magically transform players to his ways and fitness. it sounds as if he is less than jumping at the chance himself.
I'd expect most teenage Football Manager players to have similar reservations.

Itll end in tears!

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Bielsa at Everton would leave me with very mixed emotions.
Could be hilarious. Bielsa is surely not a type of manager to be brought in for a mid season fix mission. He can't magically transform players to his ways and fitness. it sounds as if he is less than jumping at the chance himself.
I'd expect most teenage Football Manager players to have similar reservations.

It seems all wrong to me too, but he is sufficiently interested to have flown into the UK today for talks. Plenty of pictures of him on social media arriving at Heathrow this morning.

What does seem strange is that if the ownership are clear on the model they want moving forwards, having such polar opposites as Bielsa and Dyche as the final two candidates to choose from suggests they are taking a shot in the dark with no clear direction.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Thursday 26th of January 2023 08:44:38 PM

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
indiana wrote:
Bob in Spain wrote:
Bielsa at Everton would leave me with very mixed emotions.
Could be hilarious. Bielsa is surely not a type of manager to be brought in for a mid season fix mission. He can't magically transform players to his ways and fitness. it sounds as if he is less than jumping at the chance himself.
I'd expect most teenage Football Manager players to have similar reservations.
Itll end in tears!

I tend to agree. If he does agree to take over, it wouldn't surprise me if he left again well before the end of the season.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

And breathe ......

twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1618934337508102149

Edit:

Further to this story, there are strong rumours that Bielsa proposed to bring his entire back room staff to Everton and offered to .... wait for it .... coach their U21s until the end of the season, before stepping up to the 1st team next year.

Everton didn't agree to that proposal.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Friday 27th of January 2023 01:41:35 PM