Pre Match Leicester Vs Leeds (League Cup)

[David Gwilliam]

I want us to beat dirty Leeds and so I want our strongest side. Younger emembers of the forum may not know why Leeds are so hated.

It is not that they were the hardest side. By the 1960s referees were starting to clamp down on the worst excesses. They did not compare with the brutality of the Bolton side of the 1950s. However, Bolton did not fall down. The attitude throughout 1950s football was summed up by Bill Shankly's "Never let them know they have hurt you". Leeds dived and harassed the referees beginning the worst aspects of modern football.

However, Leeds were worse than that. David Frost once asked Brian Clough why he disliked Don Revie. His answer was "I can't tell you. It's impossible We'd be taken off the air". We now know that he walked in on a conversation between Revie and the referee at the end of the game that made it clear the referee had been bribed.

When Revie took over Leeds they were in a Second Division relegation fight. Bob Stokoe claimed Revie offered a bribe for Bury tp lose a match against Leeds.

When Frank Mclintock was at Arsenal he was offered a free holiday if he went easy against Leeds.

At the end of the 1972 season Leeds had to win against Wolves to win the league. Wolves manager Bill McGarry was so suspicious he warned his players that if he even thought any one of them had taken a bribe they would never play football again.

We will never know how many bribes were accepted. We do know that the most important thing in sport is that the result should not be fixed.

 

[Robin127]

I want us to beat dirty Leeds and so I want our strongest side. Younger emembers of the forum may not know why Leeds are so hated.

It is not that they were the hardest side. By the 1960s referees were starting to clamp down on the worst excesses. They did not compare with the brutality of the Bolton side of the 1950s. However, Bolton did not fall down. The attitude throughout 1950s football was summed up by Bill Shankly's "Never let them know they have hurt you". Leeds dived and harassed the referees beginning the worst aspects of modern football.

However, Leeds were worse than that. David Frost once asked Brian Clough why he disliked Don Revie. His answer was "I can't tell you. It's impossible We'd be taken off the air". We now know that he walked in on a conversation between Revie and the referee at the end of the game that made it clear the referee had been bribed.

When Revie took over Leeds they were in a Second Division relegation fight. Bob Stokoe claimed Revie offered a bribe for Bury tp lose a match against Leeds.

When Frank Mclintock was at Arsenal he was offered a free holiday if he went easy against Leeds.

At the end of the 1972 season Leeds had to win against Wolves to win the league. Wolves manager Bill McGarry was so suspicious he warned his players that if he even thought any one of them had taken a bribe they would never play football again.

We will never know how many bribes were accepted. We do know that the most important thing in sport is that the result should not be fixed.

All of which made the 1975 European Cup Final even more ironic.

 

[Brown Nose]

You can forget any of this lot starting tomorrow then - about to kick off for U23s: Bramley, Wood, Knight, Hughes, Dewsbury-Hall, Choudhury (c), Johnson, Muskwe, Thomas, Gordon, Eppiah

 

[Brown Nose]

Hamer, Jakupovic, Amartey, Dragovic, Benny, Chilwell, Iheanacho, Gray, King, Musa, Ulloa and Slimani are all fit and under-used.

If these plus one or two from the first team can't beat Leeds reserves, we don't deserve to win this.

 

[glyn]

Hamer, Jakupovic, Amartey, Dragovic, Benny, Chilwell, Iheanacho, Gray, King, Musa, Ulloa and Slimani are all fit and under-used.

If these plus one or two from the first team can't beat Leeds reserves, we don't deserve to win this.

Why risk it, with a bunch of players that people have written off on here and that would be just chucked on the field together?

Why can’t we actually try and win the thing? Two trophies in 3 years would be quite a nice ambitious thing to do?

Are our players really not fit enough to play most of a Tuesday match sandwiched between a Saturday and Sunday match against lower table sides?

I’d get rotating one, two or even three to help integrate and give a couple of players (eg Nacho or Gray) some more matches and to keep them happy. But keeping some kind of momentum for the starting XI would be more beneficial for the season as a whole.

We really want Ulloa and Benny on the field tomorrow?

I know it’s an unfashionable opinion but it’s part of modern football that really irritates me.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

I agree. Schmeichel hardly is going to get too tired is he?
Maybe rest Morgan, but he is a motivational Captain and playing well, and Everton are not overrun with fast, brilliant strikers at the moment.
Put Mahrez on the bench so Dirty Leeds cannot kick the shit out of him.
We are weak in midfield so use Iborra defensively and then go Route 1 and lump it up to Slimani and Ulloa. Again Vardy on the bench if needed.
Gray with Albrighton on the wings. Maybe Chilwell in for Fuchs.

 

[fitz]

Why risk it, with a bunch of players that people have written off on here

Unlike the usual bunch of players? Seriously though I think we need our strongest side as we should take this seriously and they owe us some performances.

 

[popillius]

Why risk it, with a bunch of players that people have written off on here and that would be just chucked on the field together?

Why can’t we actually try and win the thing? Two trophies in 3 years would be quite a nice ambitious thing to do?

Are our players really not fit enough to play most of a Tuesday match sandwiched between a Saturday and Sunday match against lower table sides?

I’d get rotating one, two or even three to help integrate and give a couple of players (eg Nacho or Gray) some more matches and to keep them happy. But keeping some kind of momentum for the starting XI would be more beneficial for the season as a whole.

We really want Ulloa and Benny on the field tomorrow?

I know it’s an unfashionable opinion but it’s part of modern football that really irritates me.

Perfect. Putting 11 players on a pitch, no matter how much better they may be than some of the opposition players, doesn't make a team. I also think we should take this seriously and I would like to see some building of momentum. I'm still convinced by the psychological explanation as to why the form has been so sporadic and so if the same players can win back to back games, albeit against dross, this will only help to create a winning mentality.

Almost the same team and set-up as Saturday for me with Iheanacho in for Vardy and possibly Gray in for Albrighton although he'll more than likely just stroll around like a petulant kid wanting sweets at the checkout.

 

[Miles Away]

Lenny, god bless him.

Should have left years ago.

 

[Motown Fox]

Hopefully nothing like this will happen this time.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

I was there. We did not play badly. Leeds were just immense that day. I remember singing 'We want seven. We want seven!'

 

[Miles Away]

Hopefully nothing like this will happen this time.

Counterpoint:

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

One of the greatest ever City goals, after Muzzey's bicycle kick of course!

 

[Brown Nose]

Why risk it, with a bunch of players that people have written off on here and that would be just chucked on the field together?

Why can’t we actually try and win the thing? Two trophies in 3 years would be quite a nice ambitious thing to do?

They are part of our squad aren't they? If we just detach these players from the first team or anything other than bit parts, why have them? We paid the best part of £100m for that list of reserves. We have a squad big enough for a European campaign, let alone a league cup run.

Remember, we are playing a lower league side at home that will rest most, if not all, of their first team.

I too want to see us progress. However, I want us to do it without risking our main players. Losing a Simpson or Mahrez or Ndidi to an injury this evening would be insane.

 

[Micky]

They are part of our squad aren't they? If we just detach these players from the first team or anything other than bit parts, why have them? We paid the best part of £100m for that list of reserves. We have a squad big enough for a European campaign, let alone a league cup run.

Remember, we are playing a lower league side at home that will rest most, if not all, of their first team.

I too want to see us progress. However, I want us to do it without risking our main players. Losing a Simpson or Mahrez or Ndidi to an injury this evening would be insane.

Speaking to Leeds fans, they believe that they will play a full strength side.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Speaking to Leeds fans, they believe that they will play a full strength side.

Maybe they HOPE they will play a full strength side to do a giant-killing job on us.
I agree with other posters that Friday's game against Sheffield United, 4th against 3rd, is a much bigger game for them, and they will want to save whoever their equivalent of Morgan, Mahrez and and Vardy is for then.

 

[Lako42]

Speaking to Leeds fans, they believe that they will play a full strength side.

Momentum

 

[popillius]

They are part of our squad aren't they? If we just detach these players from the first team or anything other than bit parts, why have them? We paid the best part of £100m for that list of reserves. We have a squad big enough for a European campaign, let alone a league cup run.

Remember, we are playing a lower league side at home that will rest most, if not all, of their first team.

I too want to see us progress. However, I want us to do it without risking our main players. Losing a Simpson or Mahrez or Ndidi to an injury this evening would be insane.

Yes, they are part of the squad and should be used as such; for substitute appearances, tactical options at given times in given positions and injury cover. Throwing them all onto the pitch together at any given time having had no game time as a team isn't the way to create a good squad mentality, create momentum or win games. It is also fair to say that some of them should be detached from the first team. Ulloa really doesn't need to be on our bench at all, as cruel as it may sound.

 

[tedfoxxx]

I don't really see why Appleton would make a lot of changes and give unused/unproven players a chance when his priority will be getting to stay in charge permanently.

I think we'll possibly see Grey and Slimani tonight but nothing like a 2nd XI.

 

[Brown Nose]

Yes, they are part of the squad and should be used as such; for substitute appearances, tactical options at given times in given positions and injury cover. Throwing them all onto the pitch together at any given time having had no game time as a team isn't the way to create a good squad mentality, create momentum or win games. It is also fair to say that some of them should be detached from the first team. Ulloa really doesn't need to be on our bench at all, as cruel as it may sound.

I just don't see any difference between this tie and the one vs Sheffield United a couple of rounds back.

Our back up players were fine then.