Saturday Fulham Stuff - 21/12/19...

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Preview: Fulham v Leeds United

We preview Saturday's encounter.

Leeds United travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday, (3:00 pm) in the Sky Bet Championship. The Whites go into this fixture in second position looking to extend the club's 11 game unbeaten run.  Fulham currently occupy the final Play-Off spot in the division, but come into the match on the back of three straight defeats against Bristol City, Preston North End and Brentford respectively, which has seen them drop down the table.

Manager/head coach

Fulham: Scott Parker

Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa

League position

Fulham: 6th

Leeds United: 2nd

Form

Fulham: WWLLL

Leeds: WWWWD

Top scorer

Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic (16)

Leeds United: Patrick Bamford (9)

Head to head

Fulham wins: 18

Draws: 15

Leeds United wins: 22

Last time at Craven Cottage: Fulham 2 (McDonald 33, Mitrovic 63) Leeds United 0 – Tuesday 3rd April 2018 (Sky Bet Championship)

Team news

Marcelo Bielsa is still without Adam Forshaw, but Jamie Shackleton and Tyler Roberts are close to returning to fitness and could target the Boxing Day game against Preston. Captain Liam Cooper is fully fit and could start. Fulham defender Denis Odoi is missing through suspension and Harry Arter is out with a calf injury.

The key battle

Ben White v Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham's top goal scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic will be looking to add to his goal tally of 16 as he comes up against the best defence in the league on Saturday. Summer recruit Ben White will be the man trying to stop him and try to add to Leeds' 12 clean sheets this season.

Betting odds with Ladbrokes

Fulham: 12/5

Draw: 13/5

Leeds United: 21/20 (Odds correct at time of article published)



https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/25973/preview-fulham-v-leeds-united

[WhiteJC]

Leeds: Fans react to Mitrovic plan

A lot of Leeds United fans believe that Marcelo Bielsa will have a plan in place to keep Aleksandar Mitrovic quiet.

The 25-year-old is the Championship's top goalscorer with 16 and, if not properly dealt with, poses a real threat to the Whites' defence.

However, it seems that Marcelo Bielsa is aware of how much of a danger the former Newcastle man is, and he has warned his defenders about Mitrovic.

This has convinced some Leeds fans that they will be fine and should be able to deal with the Serbian.

Other Whites supporters want to see Liam Cooper make an impression on Mitrovic.

What do we think?

Mitrovic, who is valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, has scored 28 goals in just 38 matches for Fulham in the Championship – so, at this level, he is lethal.

Scott Parker's men are, however, on a bad run, having lost their last three, and they need a win against Leeds to kickstart their promotion bid and narrow the gap to the Whites – which is currently at 12 points.

This is a huge game for Leeds as well as a win here will extend their considerable points gap and a key part to ensuring they do that will be keeping Mitrovic quiet.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2019/12/twitter/leeds-fans-react-to-mitrovic-plan/

[WhiteJC]

Patrick Bamford v Aleksandar Mitrovic: A closer look at the two men expected to be leading the line when Leeds United visit Fulham

Leeds United face Fulham tomorrow at Craven Cottage with the hosts looking to bridge the gap to the automatic promotion places, while Leeds are looking for the opposite.

The Whites travel to Craven Cottage knowing that a win will see them stay at least 10 points clear of third place and potentially stretch the gap to thirteen points if results go their way tomorrow.

It has been a great season for Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds as they look to rectify their capitulation last season by clinching automatic promotion at the second time of asking. One key issue that has plagued Bielsa's side is their lack of cutting edge in the final third despite all the chances they create.

The opposite cannot be said about Fulham who have serious firepower in Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro, amongst others, but have the opposite problem which is that they are struggling defensively.

This makes for an interesting matchup at the Cottage tomorrow and the focus will be squarely on the two frontmen for the respective sides, Mitrovic and Patrick Bamford.

The focus on these two was noted by Marcelo Bielsa in his pre-match press conference, where he was quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post as saying: "He's a great forward. Bamford also. They are goal scorers. They are very aggressive players. You have to take care of them."

There are definite similarities between the two but also clear differences that can be pointed out. Here, we take a look at the two strikers looking to fire their team to a much-needed victory for different reasons...

Both forwards are crucial members to their sides, with Bamford being an ever-present so far this season and Mitrovic missing just one game all season in the Championship.

Both sides are built around their influence and attacks would not come to anything without their input on matters. This has led to the Leeds man scoring nine league goals this season while Mitrovic has a whopping 16 to his name.

There has been much criticism laid at Bamford's feet this season as he went on a 10-game goal drought with Eddie Nketiah not getting a look-in, but he has turned this form around of late, scoring five in his last seven for the Whites. Mitrovic has scored 48% of the Cottagers goals this season (33) while Bamford has scored just 25% of Leeds' tally (35).

With their goals tally, there also comes the number of 'expected goals' the players have, and Mitrovic leads the way with an impressive 14.9, meaning he is strongly outperforming and scoring chances that not many in this division are expected to tuck away. Meanwhile, Bamford is seriously underperforming his xG as he stands at 13.72, which is largely down to missing constant chances whilst on his dry spell between September and November.

A frontman has to do much more than score goals, especially in teams looking to dominate possession like Scott Parker's side and Marcelo Bielsa's. Bamford has registered two assists this term while Mitrovic has just one, but there is no doubting that the pair are integral to attacking buildups as their passing statistics suggest. Bamford has a passing accuracy of 77.2% and Mitrovic is well clear of him on 84.7%, however, both players are demonstrating great link-up play to spearhead attacks and bring others into attacks. It has to be said that Mitrovic is clearly more of a physical presence than Bamford based on sheer stature, so it becomes harder for defenders to dispossess him.

This physicality mismatch also trickles into the percentage of aerial duels won for the duo, as Bamford has an average of 29.2% while Mitrovic is ahead with 37.5%. This comes as no surprise given the type of strikers the pair are, as Bamford is much more comfortable with the ball at his feet and using dribbling to beat defenders rather than brute force.

The two can barely be separated in terms of activity inside the box as Bamford has registered 97 touches in the box to Mitrovic's 94. Bamford and Mitrovic are both averaging more than four touches in the box per game and given their goalscoring form at the moment, that spells danger for any team.

It is sure to be a very interesting matchup at Craven Cottage and while the figures stack up certainly in the Serbian international's favour, the mismatch of defensive capabilities is sure to balance matters much more. Fulham (24) have conceded 11 more goals than the Whites (13) this season and only scored two more.

Two possession-based teams will be keen to supply service to their red-hot strikers and it is hard to call which number nine will come out on top.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/patrick-bamford-v-aleksandar-mitrovic-a-closer-look-at-the-two-men-expected-to-be-leading-the-line-when-leeds-united-visit-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Will 'aggressive' Aleksandar Mitrovic play on Leeds United's growing fear of heights

Never mind his 30 goals for club and country this calendar year, Marcelo Bielsa's use of the adjective 'aggressive' to describe Aleksandar Mitrovic ought to set alarm bells ringing in the Leeds United dressing room.

The Whites will therefore be hoping Fulham do not use the Serbian's full potential to prey on their recent Achilles heel.

Having wobbled against Huddersfield Town and Hull City, Leeds's winning streak came to a spectacular end against Cardiff City last week. Three-nil up and cruising with half an hour to go, Bielsa's men had to settle for a 3-3 draw.

It was hardly a disaster, but you can bet your life that analysts up and down the Championship have been studying the video over the past few days anxious to learn more about the chink in the Whites' armour.

Steve Mounie and Tom Eaves, two classic targetmen, unsettled the Championship's best defence in consecutive derbies without finding the net, just as Sheffield Wednesday's Steven Fletcher had in October. Cardiff, never shy in taking the direct route which had given the Terriers and the Tigers some joy, secured their dramatic comeback with a goal from 6ft 4ins substitute Robert Glatzel.

The last three matches have been some of the few times when on-loan central defender Ben White has looked less than imperious, the rare occasions where Liam Cooper's influence has been missed alongside him.

You do not need a Uefa Pro licence to work out the pattern.

Bielsa had been conscious of it, bringing on Pascal Struijk for last weekend's latter stages because: "We wanted to get more height out on the pitch."

The comparisons the Argentinian head coach drew between Mitrovic and his own centre-forward, Patrick Bamford, were therefore significant.

"He's a great forward," Bielsa said of the Championship's top-scorer, "Bamford also. They are goalscorers.

"They are very aggressive players. You have to take care of them."

Neither Leeds nor Fulham totally play to that aggression, preferring instead to get the ball down and play.

Mitrovic may "only" be 6ft 2ins, but he is formidable in the air. His time at Craven Cottage has shown there is more to his game. No wonder he was the most expensive striker in English football during the summer 2018 transfer window.

Sometimes when teams have a totem-pole-like striker, they find it hard resisting the temptation to hit and hope, but the Cottagers are made of stronger stuff.

"Fulham are a similar team to us," commented Bielsa. "The values we had last season, this season they are the same – possession, chances, quantity of shooting – they are one of the best teams in the Championship."

It takes a lot to outpass Leeds, and Fulham are the only Championship side to have managed it, keeping the ball for 60.5 per cent of their league matches this season. According to WhoScored.com, only Swansea, West Bromwich Albion and Huddersfield have hit fewer long balls this season, although no one else can match their accuracy when they do.

Mitrovic is unsurprisingly their most effective player in the air – winning the ball four times a game – but behind forwards such as Kieffer Moore, Matt Smith, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Fletcher.

Manager Danny Cowley has spoken recently about changing Huddersfield's style to adapt to their tough circumstances – in a relegation battle with an injury-hit squad – and to play on their opponents'. Elsewhere on these pages he speaks about sticking to his off-the-field principles, but when it comes to what happens between the white lines, sometimes even the best managers have to resort to a bit of pragmatism. Will Scott Parker watch the videos of Leeds' recent games and decide he has to do the same?

Leeds certainly have done their homework, and Mitrovic's status as the Championship's top scorer means there is no danger of them taking him lightly.

"We work every day on ourselves and we know what we need to do to nullify Mitrovic," said centre-back Cooper, who could return at Craven Cottage today if the Whites are satisfied they are not taking a risk with the fitness of a player who has been beset with minor issues since the autumn.

"He's an unbelievable player, he plays for his country, he's proven at the level and he scores goals at this level and I think we have got to do everything we can to nullify his attributes and then concentrate on us and how we are going to hurt them."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/will-aggressive-aleksandar-mitrovic-play-on-leeds-united-s-growing-fear-of-heights-1-10165814

[WhiteJC]

Seen Lots of Leeds United, We Can Be Better Than Them – Fulham Star

Fulham right-back Cyrus Christie is full of belief that the Cottagers can match Leeds United on Saturday and be better than Marcelo Bielsa's men, as they look to take all three points from the Championship encounter.

Scott Parker's side are in a mini-slump and have suffered defeat in their last three league games, something which has raised the stakes ahead of the visit of Leeds to Craven Cottage.

Christie makes no bones about the fact that he views Leeds as a good side, but he is fully aware of just how vital beating the Whites could be for Fulham.

The 27-year-old also noted Leeds' performances under Bielsa and revealed that he knows players who have played under the Argentine at Elland Road and they have sent back positive reports.

"Leeds are in the top-two at the minute and are obviously a good side", Christie told his club's official website.

"After four wins on the bounce we're now on a bad run, so if we can go out there and put on a performance against Leeds and get the win then it's definitely another momentum starter and confidence boost for the lads.

"[Marcelo Bielsa] has come in and he's done really well.

"I know a few of the lads who have played under him at Leeds and they said he was really good to work for."

The Fulham defender believes that all the Leeds players are well versed in their roles, with Bielsa having imposed his style, but has no doubt his side cannot just match, but be better, than the visitors.

"He's implemented his style and we've got to match it, we've got be better than them, and I'm sure we can. I've seen quite a bit of them this season.

"Every player knows what they're doing and their roles, the manager's been in place for a while and, like I said, has implemented his style.

"Clearly they're all buying into it and it's working for them as they're up in the top-two, and I'm sure they're going to be in and around it come the end of the season."

Despite being on a poor run of form, Fulham could cut the gap between themselves and Leeds to nine points by beating the Whites on Saturday.



http://www.insidefutbol.com/2019/12/20/seen-lots-of-leeds-united-we-can-be-better-than-them-fulham-star/446258/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham's promotion chances would receive a massive boost with the return of this £25m star

Why Jean Michael Seri's return to Fulham would be a massive boost

According to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet (h/t The Lancashire Post), Jean Michael Seri is set to return Fulham after failing to impress during the first half of his loan spell with Galatasaray.

The Ivory Coast international, 28, joined Fulham from OGC Nice in the summer of 2018 for around £25m. He made 32 appearances for the Cottagers but could not prevent their relegation to the Championship after one season back in the Premier League.

Following Fulham's relegation, Jean Michael Seri joined Turkish club Galatasaray on a season-long loan. Galatasaray paid a loan fee of £1.34m, with the option to make the move permanent for £15.2m in the summer of 2020.

However, the midfielder has struggled to make much of an impact in the 17 appearances he has made across all competitions. As a result, the Turkish club doesn't want to sign Seri permanently and he'll return to Craven Cottage in January.

Fulham, meanwhile, have endured an inconsistent campaign so far but occupy the last playoff spot. The West Londoners will look to rectify three-straight league defeats when they host second-placed Leeds United on Saturday.

It's a mini-blip in form for the Cottagers, who registered four straight wins last month. The performances in November were excellent, with manager Scott Parker showing his nous by getting the best out of his players.

But a couple of bad games changes the context completely. Nonetheless, Fulham have a long way to go and must start stringing positive results again, starting with Leeds tomorrow.

The Londoners have an array of midfielders but Seri's return in January would certainly provide a boost to Parker's side. It is tough to deny that a midfielder of his calibre and experience could be a massive upgrade on Fulham's current options in the middle of the park.

The Ivorian never quite hit it off during his time at the club and in the Premier League, he looked very much out of his depth. But he is more than capable of thriving in the Championship, competing with the likes of Harry Arter, Josh Onomah, Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen for a spot in central midfield.

Verdict

Given Fulham's current poor run of form, Parker may well be delighted to have another midfield option in his squad. Seri would be like a new signing for the Cottagers, one that could make the difference when the race for automatic promotion enters the business end.



https://soccersouls.com/why-jean-michael-seris-return-to-fulham-would-be-a-massive-boost/

[WhiteJC]

'We all know' – Ben Parker heaps praise on Fulham ace who could 'punish' Leeds

All Leeds United fans will know who the main danger man is for Fulham in London on Saturday. Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The powerful forward tops the Championship goalscoring charts this season with 16. He averages a goal every 118 minutes [BBC] and is a thorn in the side of every defence he comes up against.

Fulham will hope that the 25-year-old is at the top of his game on Saturday, with the Cottagers having lost their last three games, a run that has seen them drop to sixth in the table.

Ben Parker was particularly impressed with Mitrovic, claiming the Serbian international is one of the players who could take the game away from Leeds at Craven Cottage.

"We all know about him," he said on the LUTV app.

"He's got plenty of experience on the international stage, played a lot of games in the Premier League.

"He's the guy who is a predator in the box, he's one of those players as a centre-half, you don't really like playing against. He can be difficult."

"But, if you give him a chance, give him anything around the box, he will punish us."

Well, the timing of Liam Cooper's return from injury could be vital for the Whites then. Marcelo Bielsa confirmed in his latest press conference that the Leeds captain is back with the team.

The 3-3 draw against Cardiff highlighted a potential fragility against tall, physical forwards, so going up against Mitrovic with the same defence might be a terrible idea.

Cooper has proved he is much more prepared for the tough battle, both in the air and on the ground, so bringing him back in for the test on Saturday should be a straight-forward decision.



https://motleedsnews.com/matchday/we-all-know-ben-parker-heaps-praise-on-fulham-ace-who-could-punish-leeds-united/

[WhiteJC]

MOT View: Leeds fans will hope Klich prediction benefits Whites v Fulham

Leeds United and Fulham. Two of the best attacking sides in the Championship meet on Saturday.

That usually means that it will be a 0-0 draw with not many chances at Craven Cottage. Just because both sides aren't topping the scoring charts, it doesn't mean that they don't play some of the most attractive football in the league though.

Not everyone believes that it will be a boring clash though. Mateusz Klich has predicted that the game at Craven Cottage will be very open and that he expects numerous goals.

"Fulham are a tough team and it will be a good game," he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"There's no easy games. It's another game we must play. Fulham probably want to be in our place but we don't want to let them get it.

"It's going to be nice, open play and very offensive. I expect a lot of goals."

An open game could definitely benefit Leeds. The Whites rarely get the chance to counter-attack teams under Marcelo Bielsa, who has previously admitted that his side are at their most dangerous when on the break – something that has been proved numerous times this season already.

Having an in-form striker could be key then, and Patrick Bamford is certainly at that level right now. The 26-year-old scored twice against Cardiff, and could finally be finding the back of the net to match his performances in recent weeks.

Us Leeds fans would surely prefer another clean sheet and a straight forward win. Having said that, we are hoping that if Klich's prediction of an open game comes true, it will benefit us more than the home side.



https://motleedsnews.com/comment/mot-view-leeds-united-fans-will-hope-klich-prediction-benefits-whites-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

"May already be too late" – Pundit feels Leeds' "huge" trip to Fulham will spell the end

Sky Sports' Championship expert David Prutton has suggested that a Leeds United win at Fulham on Saturday could spell the end to the Craven Cottage natives' automatic promotion aspirations.

The Cottagers head into the weekend on a three-game losing streak, that has seen Marcelo Bielsa's Whites grow what was a two-point advantage to a gigantic 12 point lead, with Scott Parker's side now only in the Play-Off places through goal difference to Bristol City.

Two wins in their last six Championship fixtures has seen the margin between United and third-placed Preston North End grow to ten points, as well, though Prutton is reluctant to go all-in on Leeds securing promotion as a slight blip in form could see the club begin to look over our shoulder once more.

"This is a huge game for Fulham," Prutton noted in his column for Sky Sports. "They should be right up there with Leeds and West Brom with the squad they have, but are badly adrift. If they don't win here, you think it may already be too late for them to make up that gap.

"Leeds really threw that win away against Cardiff last week. They head into the weekend with a 10-point lead over third place, but a few poor results at this level and that can dissipate quickly. I fancy them to bounce back and win here, though."

While Fulham have lost their last three league games and are now perilously close to being out of reach of United, the Cottagers' defeats have all been in close affairs.

The South West London outfit were beaten 2-1 at home to Bristol City earlier this month having enjoyed almost twice as much of the possession as their guests, along with striking 21 shots to the Robins' 12, per WhoScored data, but a want of accuracy saw most of their chances spurned.

It was a closer story when Fulham were beaten at Preston on December 10 and at Brentford on the 14th, as Parker's men boasted 15% more of the ball at Deepdale and 5% more at Griffin Park, but could only register one shot on target from 15 strikes against the Lilywhites and two from 11 against the Bees.



https://leeds.vitalfootball.co.uk/may-already-be-too-late-pundit-feels-leeds-huge-trip-to-fulham-will-spell-the-end/

[WhiteJC]

Can Leeds Get Back On A Winning Run?

Leeds United will travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon where they will face Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship in a 3pm kick-off.

The game marks the first of four games in 12 days over the festive period. Leeds ended their seven-match winning streak last weekend when they drew 3-3 with Cardiff City at Elland Road. They led the Bluebirds 3-0 after 52 minutes thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford (2) and Helder Costa. However, they were unable to hold their lead after Cardiff found the back of the net three times in the last half an hour of the game. The Whites currently sit in the second position in the league and hold a ten-point cushion in the automatic promotion places.

Marcelo Bielsa has revealed that captain Liam Cooper will be available for selection after recovering from a calf injury. He has also confirmed that Jamie Shackleton and Tyler Roberts are healthy and will be back to full training next week and could be set to make a return in the game against Preston North End on Boxing Day.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Bielsa spoke about this weekend's opponents. He said:

    They [Fulham] are one of the best teams in the Championship. They are a similar team as us for possession, chances and quantity of shooting.

When it came to comparing Patrick Bamford with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Bielsa said:

    They are goal scorers and aggressive players. You have to take care of them when you face them.

Fulham currently sits inside the Championship play-off places in 6th position. They suffered their third straight defeat last weekend where they were beaten 1-0 away at Brentford. Fulham boss Scott Parker says that there is no side he would rather take on than Leeds United on Saturday.

Defender Denis Odoi will miss out on Saturday's clash as he continues to serve a three-match ban after receiving a red card against Preston North End two weeks ago. Midfielder Harry Arter could feature against Leeds this weekend after it was reported that he is back in training after struggling with a calf injury. Harrison Reed has also been back in training this week and could make a return to the starting XI.

Speaking to the media earlier in the week, Parker spoke about what lies ahead for him and his team on Saturday. He said: "It's a game where we need to turn up. After Brentford at the weekend, I'm looking at it and thinking what's the team we want to play next, and I want to play Leeds. You want to play a top team and I'm looking forward to it. There's a massive challenge ahead of us. Leeds are sitting second in the league; they're a good side and we need to be right at it at the weekend to get anything out of the game."

Leeds last beat Fulham back in March 2015 where they won 3-0 at Craven Cottage thanks to goals from Sam Byram, Sol Bamba and Mirco Antenucci. Since then there have been five games where the result has finished a draw. However, Fulham had the bragging rights the last time the two teams met back in April 2018. The Cottagers beat the Whites 2-0 thanks to goals from Kevin McDonald and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The top goal scorer in the Championship Aleksandar Mitrovic will be the one to watch for Fulham this weekend as he has already bagged himself 16 goals. However, he will come up against tough opposition especially with Kiko Casilla in goal as he has kept 12 clean sheets and only conceded 13 goals so far this season.

Leeds will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they head into a busy festive period which can be a tough but vital time in the season.



http://rightinthegarykellys.com/can-leeds-get-back-on-a-winning-run/

[WhiteJC]

Full Leeds United squad revealed for Fulham trip as Marcelo Bielsa handed injury boost

Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton are the only absentees for the Argentine at Craven Cottage

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has no fresh injury concerns ahead of his side's first game of the Championship festive schedule, as he prepares to make the trip down the M1 to face Fulham.

The Whites head to Craven Cottage boosted by the availability of skipper Liam Cooper, who has missed their last three matches with a calf strain.

The Scotland international will be hoping to slot straight back into his side's starting XI, where he will be called upon to keep the division's leading scorer in Aleksander Mitrovic quiet.

This weekend's game has come too soon for recovering trio Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton who remain on the sidelines, with the former continuing to battle back from a long-term issue and the latter pair looking to return to training next week.

Forshaw has been missing for much of the season with a hip issue, while Roberts meanwhile tweaked his hamstring against Reading and Shackleton, who made his return from a prior lay-off in that very game last month, is out with a fresh muscular injury.

Leeds begin the hectic festive period sitting second in the table, two points behind leaders West Brom, but ten ahead of third-placed Preston North End. Fulham, meanwhile sit two point further back in sixth place after losing their past three games.

Full Leeds United squad: Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Barry Douglas, Ben White, Liam Cooper, Patrick Bamford, Ezgjan Alioski, Kiko Casilla, Eddie Nketiah, Stuart Dallas, Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez, Jack Harrison, Kalvin Phillips, Gaetano Berardi, Kamil Miazek, Bryce Hosannah, Pascal Struijk, Robbie Gotts, Alfie McCalmont, Leif Davis, Mateusz Klich, Mateusz Bogusz, Jack Clarke, Jordan Stevens, Olly Casey.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/full-leeds-united-squad-revealed-17455149

[WhiteJC]

'Slowly shrinking' – Holloway issues verdict on C'ship race, predicts Leeds clash v Fulham

Leeds United will be sitting comfortably towards the top of the Championship with their 10-point gap to third-placed Preston.

The Whites will know better than anyone that it can come crashing down quickly. Marcelo Bielsa's men sat top at Christmas last season but became one of the first sides to not turn that into promotion.

Christmas is a gruelling period for many. Leeds' fixtures make their run possibly even worst, with games against Fulham, West Brom, and Preston all to come in the next three weeks.

Ian Holloway has claimed that despite a large gap at the top of the Championship, that will soon close. The EFL on Quest pundit went on to predict that it could be Fulham who deals the first blow to Leeds on Saturday.

"I don't see Leeds and West Brom running away with it. I reckon come January you'll see that ten-point gap from second downwards slowly shrinking," he wrote in his Mirror column.

"You can toss a coin on Leeds' visit to Fulham. It looks from the outside as if Leeds will continue their solid form, especially because the Cottagers have lost their last three.

"But ultimately Fulham is a team who can hurt you – they've got so much quality on the pitch, but off it as well."

Leeds will be looking to bounce back quickly from the disappointment of the draw against Cardiff. There would be no better way to do that than putting one of their promotion rivals to the sword at Craven Cottage.

Holloway is spot on though. Fulham might not be in the best run of form, but they have quality players running throughout their side who are capable of amazing things if given the opportunity.

Leeds will need to be at their best in London on Saturday, but a win against Fulham would send confidence levels through the roof – possibly squashing the fears brought to light by Holloway.



https://motleedsnews.com/news/slowly-shrinking-holloway-issues-verdict-on-cship-race-predicts-leeds-clash-v-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Marcelo Bielsa's final message ahead of Fulham clash

Leeds United head coach's press conference transcript

Marcelo Bielsa held his latest Leeds United press conference on Thursday ahewad of Saturday's trip to Fulham.

Here is the full transcript of every question and answer from that briefing.
Marcelo, shall we start with team news? Liam Cooper seemed confident he might be fit for the weekend. Are you confident he will be?

Cooper is back with the team.

With that in mind, and with the defensive issues last Saturday, would you expect him to start now?

Cooper's features are not different from those of the players who played in the last match. Last season we received goals similar to those we received with Cardiff, with Liam or without Liam. Obviously we cannot explain the result, but it wasn't how we controlled the match that allowed us to think we would draw the match. We played in the same way at 3-1, 3-2, 3-3. Of course, we cannot explain a defeat (sic) like this one. When we were 3-3, we had two chances to win the match, we cannot explain it. In this match, we cannot explain this because of how we controlled the match. In other matches we didn't manage them well. How we managed other matches justified the opponent creating danger in our goal, but in this match that didn't happen, but we are responsible for this because we cannot explain a result.

Sometimes, Marcelo, your team plays so well and it was, probably, the best football I've seen at Elland Road, is it best to say nothing to the players and just say 'guys, go and do that again'?

We are sorry because we lost two points, but we cannot blame it on the players. Say nothing to the players. I always doubt what I think, but when I analyse the match and see our points put to each player, not just the values we give to the players as staff. We know the valuation of people outside Leeds that gave me valuation of the team. The media too. The average of the team was one of the higher valuations of our two seasons here.

Marcelo, Fulham are up next, what are you expecting from them and how much of a dangerous opponent do you think they'll be, not just on Saturday, but potentially in the automatic promotion race?

Fulham is a similar team to us. The value we had last season are the values they have in this season. The values I talk about are possession, chances, quantity of shooting. They are one of the best teams in the Championship. For us, this match is a great challenge for us. We need to fix our position in the opposite half with a great opponent.
What about Aleksandar Mitrovic? What does Marcelo think to him as a player and how does he compare to Patrick Bamford, obviously Leeds's own number nine?

He's a great centre forward. Bamford also. They are goal scorers. They are very aggressive players. You have to take care of the when we play against them.
How significant is the 10-point gap? I know it was nearly more at the weekend, but 10 points back to the play-offs, how significant is that gap and how important is it not to think about that or even to think about it?

We don't have to consider this advantage. What we have to do is try to increase this gap. We lost two points we should have won. What we have is maximal ambition.

Thank you and, just finally, any more injury updates on Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw in particular? How are they progressing?

Tyler is healthy. Shackleton also. Forshaw there is no different information so far.

Marcelo, do you think playing Fulham will suit Leeds' style because Fulham will want to attack, they're at home, the onus is on them to be the protagonist? Do you feel that will suit you, having more space to play in?

What both teams play invites you to take the conclusion you are proposing, but after what we think is going to happen doesn't happen.

Marcelo, with a player like Mitrovic, how much do you specifically target him in your pre-match analysis or how much do you rely on your team's own strategy to negate him automatically?

If you have to develop one very good centre forward, with the characteristics of all centre forwards in the league, you have a difference between the players who are big players and don't move a lot, the more agile players, more technical, but they move a little bit more. Mitrovic, [Eddie] Nketiah, Bamford are a mix of both characteristics. When I saw the last jump in the last match of Eddie, it's the jump of one player at 1.80m. Centre-backs are very used to knowing how to face the different centre forwards. It's difficult to find something they didn't face in the past. It's not about how much you know about the opponent, it's most important to have the ability to face him and beat him.

Can I just ask quickly about Roberts and Shackleton: when we might see them?

Next week they are going to train with the team.



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/marcelo-bielsa-leeds-united-fulham-17454319

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'Brilliant' – Exclusive: Paul Robinson thrilled by early Leeds team news v Fulham

We're delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist. Each week he'll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...

Paul Robinson thinks that Liam Cooper will come back into the Leeds starting XI to play Fulham today and hailed the brilliance of the 28-year-old centre-back.

Cooper has missed the last three games through injury but is now 'chomping at the bit' to make his return.

Bielsa confirmed that Cooper was fit for Fulham and would be in the squad, although he stopped short of saying he would start.

Robinson is in no doubt, though, and said the partnership between the "brilliant" Cooper and Ben White is "very important" for Leeds.

Talking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said, "Bielsa hasn't confirmed whether he's going to play three or four at the back against Fulham, but if Cooper is fit, he'll come back in place of Berardi.

"Cooper has come on so much under Bielsa. I think they all have, I think he's improved them all and you see how Bielsa works on the training ground. He has different groups all over the training ground doing different things, he gets the best out of the players because he gets them to the peak of their fitness.

"I think he (Cooper) is one that has really brought into the Bielsa way. He's got a good relationship with the manager and his performances have shown that.

"He's done a great job as captain and has been brilliant alongside Ben White – that's what really important from your centre-half partnership."

Leeds travel to Craven Cottage to take on promotion rivals Fulham in the 3pm kick-off on Saturday.

They've built up a 12-point lead over their promotion rivals, helped by the fact that Fulham have lost their last three games in a row.

Leeds are unbeaten in 11 games and they've won eight of those. A win for Leeds today would be a massive step towards the Premier League.



https://motleedsnews.com/exclusives/exclusive-robinson-thrilled-early-team-news/

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MOT Super Fans: Forget last week, Leeds have massive opportunity for season marker v Fulham

This column is part of a regular series from our panel of Leeds United Super Fans. Each week, our Super Fans will deliver their verdicts on the biggest talking points and news stories around Elland Road and Thorp Arch

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It felt like a loss didn't it? 3-0 up and playing arguably the best game and football of our season so far.

The Whites were head and shoulders above Neil Harris' side. Then, an absolutely shambolic last 30 minutes threw away the game.

There was an ominous feel of last season creeping in, a distinct loss of control, and mental fragility leading to some basic errors. Leeds ripped through Cardiff with ease for 60 minutes and looked every bit the side who had put a 10 game unbeaten run together before a couple of moments of magic from Lee Tomlin and Sean Morrison snatched away the extra two points.

It wasn't all bad news for Leeds. Hernandez played arguably the pass of the season for the first goal... it was a sublime assist and Costa continues his hot streak of form at the moment. Bamford collected his eighth and ninth goals of the season too and looks full of confidence once again.

The issue is that the game left many fans with flashbacks to the games against Derby and Wigan at the end of last season. Leeds had only conceded 10 goals in the league and never more than two in one game going into Saturday's game. Records are obviously there to be broken but Leeds' consistency for shutting out games and maintaining control has been apparent all season; a real central part of their game.

The main positive to take is that Leeds still remain unbeaten since October the 5th, and can put this disappointing draw right with a win against Fulham today.

If they manage that they will have 50 points at the exact halfway point of the season and on course for a 100-point season. That's a huge marker to put down.

This is a Fulham side completely out of form and lacking in confidence. A win would put Leeds 15 points clear of their hotly tipped promotion rivals; how's that for incentive lads?

It is easier said than done with Fulham boasting a wealth of attacking talent with the likes of Cairney, Mitrović, Cavaleiro, Knockaert, and Reid on their books. But nothing seems to be clicking for them at the moment having lost the last three games. This is a real opportunity for Leeds but it would only take a couple of those players to turn up and Leeds will have problems.

Skipper Liam Cooper's return appears timely to say the least, but he could have his hands full – Tom Cairney's recent record over Leeds is truly excellent. He has played 10 career games against us, won five and drawn five of them... again, records are there to be broken, right?

Adam Elliott is a member of the MOT Super Fans panel and provides his post-match thoughts on Leeds after every game



https://motleedsnews.com/super-fans/mot-super-fans-forget-last-week-leeds-have-massive-opportunity-for-season-marker-v-fulham/

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Early team news: 19y/o to feature for Leeds v Fulham – report

Jack Clarke could have one foot out of the door at Elland Road, but he is set to feature for Leeds today.

That's the news from Football Insider, who claim that the 19-year-old is set to be in the squad for the big Championship game against Fulham this afternoon.

It's highly unlikely that he'll start the game. He hasn't started in the Championship all season and has only come off the bench for one cameo appearance.

If the report is correct and he is in the squad, it will show that Marcelo Bielsa is hoping that Leeds can hold onto Clarke in the second half of the season.

That's also looking unlikely now, though.

Football Insider have also reported that Clarke is heading to Tottenham after the game today for talks with new manager Jose Mourinho and that Spurs will recall him as soon as the January window opens.

That wouldn't be entirely surprising.

With Leeds out of the EFL Cup early, game time for fringe players at Leeds has been hard to come by.

Clarke has suffered from both Helder Costa and Jack Harrison finding their form this season – and especially in the last couple of months.

Costa has scored two in his last four games – his first goals of the season – and he finally seems to be clicking in the Bielsa system.

Harrison has been the in-form player for Leeds over their unbeaten 11-game run. He's scored three goals and added four assists over that time.

Both wingers are expected to start today.

Losing Clarke will be sad sentimentally but it won't make any difference to the team. Freeing his wages up will also mean more money to spend in January if Eddie Nketiah is also recalled for lack of game time at Leeds.



https://motleedsnews.com/matchday/early-team-news-19y-o-to-feature-for-leeds-united-v-fulham/

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Leeds' Kalvin Phillips could provide the key to Fulham win

There are several key areas which could determine the outcome of Leeds vs Fulham on Saturday, but Marcelo Bielsa will likely be counting on a reliable figure to show his usual effectiveness.

Key battle

Patrick Bamford continuing his recent goalscoring prowess of five goals in seven games could be very useful, as will Ben White's handling of Aleksandar Mitrovic, but the battle in the middle of the park is what is most important.

Both teams have been exceptional on the ball this season, with Fulham's 61% average possession making them the only team to outclass Leeds in that department, who have managed 60%.

Phillips will be pivotal to Leeds with and without the ball, as he has the ability to disrupt Fulham's typical free-flowing style by getting in the face of their most creative players.

The Cottagers' number 10 has been a very important player for Scott Parker and central to a lot of what Fulham do well, as his 90% pass accuracy and 1.9 key passes per game evidence, as per WhoScored.

That may be a worry for most teams, but not for Leeds and Phillips, who has the attributes to not only contain Cairney, but to put his team on the front foot also.

According to WhoScored, the 24-year-old has averaged 3.4 tackles per game, a rate bettered by only two players in the Championship.

His stats also evidence his brilliant ability on the ball, which is what makes him so important for Leeds and a big factor which could ensure his team picks up all three points.



https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/leeds/leeds-kalvin-phillips-could-provide-the-key-to-fulham-win

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Fulham captain Tom Cairney on the timing of today's clash with Leeds United and what it could do for Cottagers
Fulham captain Tom Cairney admits today's game against his former club Leeds United is a less than ideal fixture coming on the back of three straight defeats.

But the midfielder, who was released by the Whites as a teenager, believes a win for the Cottagers today could snap them out of their mid-season lull.

A 12-point gap exists between second placed United and sixth-placed Fulham.

"When you've lost three games in succession, you probably don't want to be facing one of the best teams in the division but sometimes these sort of fixtures are the ones you can win and get out of a rut," he said in his programme notes.

He believes Fulham can make life difficult for the visitors, however and issued a rallying cry to Fulham fans to play their part.

"Leeds are a very good team, as shown by their league position, but they'll know it's not going to be easy for them today," he said.

"We'll need the fans to get behind us as we try to return to winning ways."

Boss Scott Parker echoed the call for home supporters to back his side, especially if Leeds are on top.

"The last three matches haven't provided you with much to cheer about but we're going to need you encouraging us from the first minute right until the last kick," he said.

"In particular, during the patches in the game where we may come under some pressure or adversity, we need you right behind us so that we can get through difficult moments together as one."



https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/latest-leeds-united-news/fulham-captain-tom-cairney-timing-todays-clash-leeds-united-and-what-it-could-do-cottagers-1347355

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