Leeds v Forest - Match Thread

[1964white]

Thursday 27th July | Pirelli Stadium, Burton


Leeds United are set to take on Nottingham Forest in their penultimate pre-season friendly on Thursday night in Burton. This match presents a valuable opportunity for Daniel Farke to experiment with different players and strategies ahead of Sunday's final friendly against Hearts.

Expected to guard the goalposts is Illan Meslier, still the number one goalkeeper in the squad until Karl Darlow's arrival. Against Monaco, Cody Drameh and Charlie Cresswell were left out of the starting lineup. However, both players will be eager to showcase their abilities on the right side of the defense this time around.

Additionally, with Max Wober's impending departure, Liam Cooper is the obvious choice left central defense. Junior Firpo's injury means Leo Hjelde is likely to start again as as he adapts to the inverted full-back role favored by Farke.

In the center, Ethan Ampadu is a strong candidate and will likely be one of the first names on the teamsheet when they face Cardiff. The question remains about his partner – whether it will be Archie Gray, who impressed in the weekend's game, or Darko Gyabi.

Georginio Rutter has been primarily utilized as a striker during the summer, but many believe his true potential lies out wide. As his impact as a center forward has not quite lived up to expectations, it would be interesting to see him cutting in from the right flank.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Luis Sinisterra could be a pivotal player if he manages to stay fit. He seems like the obvious choice for the opposite wing, leaving Willy Gnonto to cause trouble in the middle – a perfect complement to the experienced target man Patrick Bamford, who remains the club's only recognized number nine.

[1964white]

God knows why we are playing this friendly at Burton Albion's ground

The Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of just under 7,000, maybe that's the reason.

I remember visiting their dinky ground, twice. We won one & lost the other.

[1964white]

I wonder if the line-ups will be similar to the Monaco game?

[DDB220]

I would be surprised if the make up of what he currently perceives to be his first 11 do not start and complete 60 mins or so before the subs start. At some point he needs to look at the chemistry in a match that is not on the training pitch.

[1964white]

I would be surprised if the make up of what he currently perceives to be his first 11 do not start and complete 60 mins or so before the subs start. At some point he needs to look at the chemistry in a match that is not on the training pitch.

I reckon the Hearts line-up will be more telling, DDB.

[1964white]

I'll be watching on LUTV.

Good luck you streamers.

[1964white]

Joffy's mum Lynne Gelhardt tweeting on Twitter asking if anyone had a spare ticket for the Forest game, tonight,

[Kennyb41]

He needs to be fielding his chosen 11 for this.

If i'd been with these players now for 2-3 weeks i'd have a very very good idea of who trains the best, listens, has skill etc etc etc, i'd also know who i'm just not gonna be able to work with coz of 1 reason or another, it ain't rocket science for any manager worth his salt

I'd have been matching them up in training games and figuring out who my best RB etc is, i'm pretty sure DF knows about 8 players he wants starting v Cardiff and 2-3 places up for grabs like say Willy or Jimmy on the RW etc

He's got to try his best asap to get them familiar with each other especially your closest position player, like Cooper at LCH Byram at LB and Sinisterra LW...all 3 of those have to have confidence in one another and basically know where the other will probably be at any given time, and that goes for right throughout the team.

What he can try, is what disturbs the balance of the 'team' if he introduces someone he's not sure about (and there's a number of options there) and the most important thing is getting his chosen formation right and working asap, he could possibly try 4-2-3-1 first half and 4-1-4-1 second half with 2-3 changes.

But with this and Hearts to go, we've got to get settled as much as possible.

[weasel]

He needs to be fielding his chosen 11 for this.

If i'd been with these players now for 2-3 weeks i'd have a very very good idea of who trains the best, listens, has skill etc etc etc, i'd also know who i'm just not gonna be able to work with coz of 1 reason or another, it ain't rocket science for any manager worth his salt

I'd have been matching them up in training games and figuring out who my best RB etc is, i'm pretty sure DF knows about 8 players he wants starting v Cardiff and 2-3 places up for grabs like say Willy or Jimmy on the RW etc

He's got to try his best asap to get them familiar with each other especially your closest position player, like Cooper at LCH Byram at LB and Sinisterra LW...all 3 of those have to have confidence in one another and basically know where the other will probably be at any given time, and that goes for right throughout the team.

What he can try, is what disturbs the balance of the 'team' if he introduces someone he's not sure about (and there's a number of options there) and the most important thing is getting his chosen formation right and working asap, he could possibly try 4-2-3-1 first half and 4-1-4-1 second half with 2-3 changes.

But with this and Hearts to go, we've got to get settled as much as possible.

As a manager sometimes friendlies are more about giving players the chance to rule themselves out of the starting line-up. A lot of players think they are better than they are and so you give them the chance, they do sh*t, and you have your clarity of mind that what you think to be your best XI is the best XI.

You also have to factor in that with a few of our youth players it is important to give them matches for the first team even if it is just a friendly. They may be nervous and it might take a few games playing with the 'proper' players before they start to feel comfortable and start playing as well as they can. Players like Gyabi and Gray may need these games. I remember watching Leeds lose 4-0 to Bury in a friendly many years back (Schmeichel in net for us) and despite the loss the one thing that stood out to me was how good Davide Somma was. Somma had hardly had a sniff since we'd bought him, fairly much an unheralded cheap buy, but in the warm-up I was watching him and his control was exceptional. You could see how good a player he could be. In the match he had a couple of chances and fluffed them but my feeling was that if he scored a goal then his confidence would be sky high and he could be a fantastic player for us. It proved to be the case as he wa superb that season for us, albeit mainly scoring when coming on as a sub. He was looking to be an amazing player until he got a bad injury and never really recovered. A lot with football is mental and players being able to show their talent at first team level, friendlies are great for that even if you are playing against Dog & Duck Reserves, it is the fact you are playing for the first team and with first team players.

I think the line-up will still be quite experimental as Farke will still be wanting to bring in a few players.

[Kennyb41]

As a manager sometimes friendlies are more about giving players the chance to rule themselves out of the starting line-up. A lot of players think they are better than they are and so you give them the chance, they do sh*t, and you have your clarity of mind that what you think to be your best XI is the best XI.

You also have to factor in that with a few of our youth players it is important to give them matches for the first team even if it is just a friendly. They may be nervous and it might take a few games playing with the 'proper' players before they start to feel comfortable and start playing as well as they can. Players like Gyabi and Gray may need these games. I remember watching Leeds lose 4-0 to Bury in a friendly many years back (Schmeichel in net for us) and despite the loss the one thing that stood out to me was how good Davide Somma was. Somma had hardly had a sniff since we'd bought him, fairly much an unheralded cheap buy, but in the warm-up I was watching him and his control was exceptional. You could see how good a player he could be. In the match he had a couple of chances and fluffed them but my feeling was that if he scored a goal then his confidence would be sky high and he could be a fantastic player for us. It proved to be the case as he wa superb that season for us, albeit mainly scoring when coming on as a sub. He was looking to be an amazing player until he got a bad injury and never really recovered. A lot with football is mental and players being able to show their talent at first team level, friendlies are great for that even if you are playing against Dog & Duck Reserves, it is the fact you are playing for the first team and with first team players.

I think the line-up will still be quite experimental as Farke will still be wanting to bring in a few players.

As much as i'd like him to have the time to experiment, i feel he's got to get a shunt on pretty quick.

My main concern being how bare we are with back up to our scrambled together 11, i'm not privy to being with them or seeing them in action, but what little i have seen just ain't good enough, i would instantly know with Gyabi types if he just needs time and games under his belt and to introduce him at the right time in the right games.

Imo we can only throw in 1 or 2 inexperienced players like Gray and must go with most experienced players as much as poss at the beginning.

[Kennyb41]

Anyway he goes tonight Weasel is gonna be v interesting to me, i feel i can second guess what he's up to just by looking at the formation and players used in whatever positions, and particularly HOW they're trying to play football wise, from the Monaco game - it ain't gonna be kick n rush we already know that, it's looking like possession based for sure, and i wanna see who he feels can do that.

[weasel]

Hoping to get a stream tonight to see the progress, whatever the line-up. For me at the moment, despite how near the start of the season is, it is about the way we play, do we look fluid regardless of who is playing where, are we looking a bit more cohesive at the back. The defence would likely be the area where we need to get a settled unit sorted as quickly as possible. If we get that sorted and have Ampadu in front of them it gives us a platform to build and then for me it really is a case of being able to pick any of many for the forward positions. Would like to see Shackleton in midfield as think he could really do well under Farke this year as he also has the knowledged he gained from Bielsa. He could be the tidy player in midfield to knit the whole midfield together and is capable of scoring a few too.

[Chilli D]

What time is kick off?

[Barlow Boy]

What time is kick off?

7.45 mate.

[Ellandback1]

God knows why we are playing this friendly at Burton Albion's ground

The Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of just under 7,000, maybe that's the reason.

I remember visiting their dinky ground, twice. We won one & lost the other.

Most clubs have just relaid their pitch I'm guessing.

[Ellandback1]

I wonder if the line-ups will be similar to the Monaco game?

We haven't got that many to pick from!!!!

[Ellandback1]

I don't see Rutter as a 9. I also don't see him getting much of the ball, wide on the right, as we are not strong enough in the middle of the park, to work the ball into wide areas on a constant basis.

[Ellandback1]

Hoping to get a stream tonight to see the progress, whatever the line-up. For me at the moment, despite how near the start of the season is, it is about the way we play, do we look fluid regardless of who is playing where, are we looking a bit more cohesive at the back. The defence would likely be the area where we need to get a settled unit sorted as quickly as possible. If we get that sorted and have Ampadu in front of them it gives us a platform to build and then for me it really is a case of being able to pick any of many for the forward positions. Would like to see Shackleton in midfield as think he could really do well under Farke this year as he also has the knowledged he gained from Bielsa. He could be the tidy player in midfield to knit the whole midfield together and is capable of scoring a few too.

I'll try my best.

[Ellandback1]

God knows why we are playing this friendly at Burton Albion's ground

The Pirelli Stadium has a capacity of just under 7,000, maybe that's the reason.

I remember visiting their dinky ground, twice. We won one & lost the other.

Who did we lose to?

[Chilli D]

7.45 mate.

Thanks Barlow