Yorkshire football review: Transfer talk and early kick-off woes
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00:00At Deepdale, Leeds were certainly capable of a win, but whether they would claim one was debatable.
00:30However, there are two main themes from this game.
00:38Number one is the number of huge missed chances that Leeds failed to put in the back of the net in this game.
00:45Particularly Patrick Bamford's, which I think had an xG of something like 0.98 or whatever it was.
00:50I've not watched it back a few times yet, but it just looked like a certain goal.
00:55It was put wide from close range from a James Cross.
00:59It wasn't just him though, it has to be said.
01:01Aronson in the first half was pretty much one-on-one from an angle.
01:05It wasn't even close, blazed it high wide over the bar.
01:08The other thing to think about here is a real baffling refereeing decision when we all looked at each other
01:16and were absolutely convinced that Preston captain Ben Whiteman was about to be given his marching orders
01:23Jadon Bogle towards the end of the first half had already been booked.
01:26That was for taking down Brendan Aronson, who had turned him and got away from him.
01:30It wasn't that long after that that he went through Bogle on the edge of the box.
01:33At first glance, it looks like a pretty nasty tackle really.
01:36You half wondered if it was even going to be a red anyway if he hadn't been booked.
01:40Obviously he had been booked, so obviously everybody's thinking it's going to be a second yellow card.
01:44Amazingly, no second yellow card.
01:46In fact, the only yellow card that came out was one for Daniel Farker on the bench for protesting.
01:50I was surprised, to be honest, about that decision. It was one of the worst decisions I think any of us have seen.
01:54Across at Valley Parade, Bradford knew that against Swindon, they were facing a struggling side in League 2.
02:02This they took full advantage of, winning by one goal to nil to finally claim three points after several games without a win.
02:08All in all, Bradford were good value for their victory, with the winning goal coming midway through the first half thanks to Callum Cavanagh.
02:15A lapse in concentration by those at the back for Swindon allowed the Bradford man to latch onto the ball and get an initial strike away.
02:23This effort was parried away by the keeper, but Cavanagh was alert enough to still be running forwards
02:28and slotted the loose ball home into the empty net to give his side the lead.
02:33No further goals came during the match, meaning that Bradford were able to see themselves into 10th place in League 2
02:40and only three points away from Grimsby and Chesterfield sat just inside the playoffs.
02:45The win is certainly therefore a platform on which the side can build,
02:49but tough tests are to come over the festive period in the coming weeks, including Chesterfield and Port Vale,
02:55both of whom sit higher up than Bradford in the table.
03:00Looking at whether Leeds perhaps need strengthening in the January transfer window,
03:05in particular in that sort of attacking midfielder, number 10 slot,
03:09because of course for large parts of the season they've either played with Ethan Ampadu, Ilya Gruev,
03:15and then when they got injured you've had Joe Rothwell and you've had Ayrton Arker as well,
03:20and all of those are sort of defensively minded central midfielders.
03:25Obviously you sold Routier to Brighton in the summer and he sort of was in that role last season at least,
03:35and you've not really replaced him to be honest,
03:37and so do Leeds need someone who can unlock defences in the middle of the park?
03:43You've got enough wingers, you're fine there to be honest,
03:46you've got enough defensive central midfielders, but you've not really got that sort of attacking number 8 or number 10 even,
03:51who can unlock the door a little bit when Leeds perhaps are faced with a team who are sitting in deep,
03:56which let's be honest happens a lot because of the way Leeds are and the way other teams are,
04:01and that can be a frustration to Leeds.
04:03So is that something you think they'll actively look for in January?
04:07I definitely think they should do, yeah.
04:09Whether they do or not remains to be seen.
04:12I'm sure they'll certainly look.
04:13I mean, Daniel Farker always says, I think the phrase he always uses is,
04:17we've got to stay awake in the transfer market, and I'm sure they will do.
04:20We'll probably have this whole thing about January not being the ideal time to buy players,
04:24but I think every club says that, and I think that is true.
04:26But equally, I don't think it's an exaggeration to suggest that getting another attacking option or number 10 might end up being the difference.
04:34It might well be.
04:35And I think when you're talking about the whole package of midfield and attacking midfield,
04:39I think Leeds will almost certainly be fine in terms of a centre midfield point of view,
04:44because obviously it looks like they're going to continue to play basically two midfielders in front of the back four.
04:49It's a number 10 and up front and kind of like almost a combination between the two positions, really,
04:54where you feel like they probably could do with a different option.
04:57And you don't want to pick out one player, but I mean, it's going to be picked out because Daniel Farker keeps playing him there.
05:02He's playing Brendan Aronson there as his number 10.
05:05And basically, I mean, his work rate is fantastic.
05:08He causes problems and stuff, but the end product hasn't been there enough.
05:13And there's been too many games where you are right, where Leeds are facing a low block and stuff,
05:18and they just need something to sort of unpick these teams a little bit more.
05:22And another option in there would definitely not go amiss.
05:25I mean, obviously, wherever they go for that and who they can get and how much they cost, it all remains to be seen.
05:30Let's not forget that when the January window comes around as well,
05:33obviously, we'll all be talking about who Leeds should go and buy.
05:35Leeds United have got very, very good players.
05:37Some people will be after their players as well.
05:39Let's not forget that.
05:40I mean, that definitely almost certainly will be the case.
05:42But yeah, I think it's definitely something they should do.
05:45I think it's, as I say, it could end up proving the difference.
05:47The problem I feel at the moment is that it doesn't almost feel like a massive natural alternative to Brendan Aronson.
05:53And like when you're sort of doing the predicted lineups, you're always putting Aronson in there
05:57because you just know Daniel Farker is going to play him in there.
06:01The lunchtime kickoffs, because as much as they did beat Derby in the lunchtime kickoff,
06:05this kickoff slot just doesn't seem to agree with Leeds for the most part.
06:08Obviously, as I say, they had that win against Derby.
06:10But, you know, it's just it's a kickoff slot.
06:14Obviously, it's early on a Saturday, half 12, and they keep getting selected for them.
06:17Because obviously, Sky have the Sky Sports Plus TV slot there.
06:21And Leeds seems to be quite popular in that because, of course, they are a big club who's going for promotion.
06:26But it doesn't ever seem to work for them apart from that one occasion.
06:29So, you know, you have this one, you have the Blackhurn one.
06:32I mean, that was a half one, to be fair, but even so.
06:35You've had the Bristol City, 0-0.
06:38I can't remember whether it was the Millwall one.
06:40Was that an early kickoff as well, or was that...?
06:42There have been a few. Yeah, I think so.
06:44Yeah, well, you're right.
06:45I mean, the Derby one's the only lunchtime kickoff victory this season.
06:48So, yeah.
06:49Yeah, for the most part, there seems to be a little bit of curse in this lunchtime kickoff.
06:52So, I'm not entirely sure why that is.
06:54I mean, I'll let you shed some more light on it, Lee.
06:56Is it just because, I don't know, is it the way their schedule is in terms of their training?
07:01And then they happen to eat early and, like, shovel down pasta at half nine in the morning?
07:04Yeah, well, I mean, you say that.
07:07Yeah, I mean, Daniel Farker has literally said that before several times in his press conference.
07:12He's basically said that everything gets affected by it in terms of, obviously, the travel, the sleep,
07:17what you're eating, can't eat the things you want, et cetera, et cetera.
07:20And I don't think it's rocket science to work out that he's not a massive fan of lunchtime kickoffs.
07:26I think that's pretty obvious.
07:27But equally, every time he does talk about them, he says they're not ideal and that it's a challenge.
07:31To be fair, he's always very, very keen to stress that's not an excuse,
07:34because it's the same for everybody and we have to get on with it.
07:37But I don't know about the same for everybody,
07:39because it feels like there's probably a bit more focus on it with Leeds,
07:41purely because it feels like they're in that slot a little bit more.
07:43And you are right. I mean, let's not beat around the bush.
07:45I mean, Leeds are the big team in the division.
07:48They're big fish in the pond, aren't they, and stuff.
07:50And obviously, they're going to feature on Sky as much as possible in slots such as that.
07:56But again, it's just something they're going to have to navigate.
07:59That is another thing, though, we say about Leeds being a bit unpredictable.
08:02I almost feel like when they're playing a lunchtime kickoff,
08:04I almost go into those games and sort of think,
08:07well, with a bit of trepidation, kind of thinking,
08:10because of what you're saying about their record there.
08:12And that's sort of borne out in the recent record, obviously,
08:15which isn't great, but for that derby victory.
08:17So it's another sort of thing they're going to have to iron out or get over.
08:20I mean, I don't know whether it becomes psychological.
08:23I mean, I remember a couple of seasons ago, which has still got to a degree,
08:27we had the big London curse, which is obviously more on the Premier League
08:30with a sheer amount of teams in the Premier League.
08:31And there weren't however many games.
08:32It was about a victory there and stuff.
08:34And so we've had the London curse.
08:36Now we've got the lunchtime curse, I suppose, you know.
08:38But I mean, anyway, they have beaten Derby recently.
08:41It was quite recently that they have had a victory there,
08:44although that was at home.
08:45And I think you almost feel like it's a double whammy
08:47when they're playing in a lunchtime kickoff away from home,
08:49because then it's accentuated by obviously the travel as well.
08:51The good news is, is that that's them out of the way.
08:53I mean, certainly covering these games,
08:54it feels like every single game we've been doing lately is a lunchtime kickoff.
08:57We're absolutely sick of them.
09:01Looking ahead to the visit of Oxford to Elland Road on Saturday,
09:06managerless, Oxford United, of course,
09:09having just relieved their manager of his duties.
09:13And so it's a game where it's always a tricky one,
09:15that one when you face a team who's just sacked their manager,
09:17because we don't know at this point in time of recording
09:20whether they've brought anyone new in by the time the game rolls around.
09:24But irregardless, it is like a bit of a fresh start, fresh slate for them.
09:30You don't know if they'll set up any differently,
09:32even if it's under just a caretaker manager, for example.
09:35And so it can be a bit of a banana skin for them,
09:37because obviously you can't maybe say they've got the new manager bounced straight away,
09:40but even so, they might just be a little bit different
09:43and might not be the way they were playing,
09:44which of course has got them, well, got their previous manager the sack.
09:48And so it's a difficult one to judge.
09:50It is a bit of a banana skin, but again,
09:52it's against a team who haven't been playing well, so lead should win.
09:56Well, they should do, but if you fancy this banana skin,
09:58how about 18-1 on Oxford, because that's what price they are?
10:01I almost couldn't believe it.
10:03Well, I can believe it.
10:05I think he's there running down to the buckies now, is our man.
10:08But yeah, look, I mean, that seems like a bit over the top, to be honest,
10:12because it's the championship and we all know how unpredictable the championship is.
10:15But I was sort of starting the previews of this game in the beginning of the week
10:18and I thought, I wonder what the prices are.
10:20I could see Leeds being crazy short.
10:21I mean, 2-11, some buckies are as short as 1-8.
10:24And as I say, 18-1 Oxford, it's absolutely crazy prices.
10:27But obviously, they're going to be massive favourites,
10:29so 1-8 on the spin at Ellen Road.
10:31Oxford have just sat the manager.
10:32I feel a bit sorry for Dez Buckingham, really.
10:34Obviously, losing his job.
10:36Obviously, took him up from the playoffs last season.
10:38I think it's back in the second tier for the first time in 25 years.
10:42And obviously, you know, the run hasn't been great.
10:45One win in 15, not good, is it?
10:47You know, nine points out of 15, so there's been a lot of draws in there.
10:50But, you know, at the time of him getting sat,
10:52they were still outside of the drop zone, really.
10:54And I suppose that would probably be success for them staying up,
10:57first and foremost, albeit they're only one point clear of it.
11:00But they've made a change.
11:01So we'll wait and see what happens on that front.
11:03You are right.
11:04You might get sort of like a bounce sort of, you know, effect on there.
11:07We'll wait and see what happens in terms of who comes in.
11:09You know, they've obviously come up from League One.
11:12So, you know, they know how to win and stuff
11:14in terms of getting themselves into the playoffs and getting up.
11:16It hasn't been great from them this season.
11:17But Dane Scarlett's a good young player on loan from Tottenham
11:20and maybe one to watch.
11:22But, I mean, it is a game, let's be honest,
11:25that you'd expect Leeds to win, they should win.
11:27And I feel like they must win, really, because, I mean,
11:30it's starting to get tight again at the top now.
11:32And not so much just this game,
11:34but we look what comes on the back of this as well,
11:36because obviously we're into the Christmas mix then and stuff.
11:38In the next two games, all the spotlight on Leeds is away form.
11:41Who could be 100% confident, really,
11:44that they'd go to Stoke away and Derby away and get six points?
11:47I mean, you couldn't be confident because of the form at the moment.
11:50As I say, the form away from home is not disastrous.
11:52It's far from it, but it's not amazing either by any stretch.
11:55So first and foremost, they need to get three points from this.