Leeds United v Newcastle United match preview and match guide.
Posted on July 30th, 2011 | 14 Comments |
Of course, like Newcastle, Leeds are a large one club city, and like Newcastle United, Leeds United are a cautionary tale that even the mighty can fall through mismanagement in the Boardroom. Thankfully for Newcastle though, we managed to make it back to the promised land of the Premiership in one season, whereas Leeds still have been frustrated in their attempts to return to where they should be as one of the traditional big clubs of English football since 2004. Last season, they just missed out on a chance of a promotion playoff place after finishing seventh in the final Championship standings.
Speaking on the upcoming game, as he does about almost everything, Alan Pardew said that he was looking forward to having some “creative force” back in the side now that the team are not encumbered by the Gestapo like forces of US Immigration. I once had to turn down a chance to appear on Jay Leno’s ‘Tonite’ show in the US because of them so I bear a personal grudge, but I digress. Getting back to the bloviator himself, he said:
“We’ll have a lot of creative force back in the team in Cabaye and Joey Barton.
“Some of Demba’s movement in the last game was encouraging, because against Leeds I expect to see technicians like Joey and Yohan picking that out.
“We’re going to be really threatening the goal and both of them will enjoy playing with Demba Ba.”
Meanwhile, ex Leeds player, Alan Smith, who controversially left Leeds for arch enemies, Manchester United, has also been speaking about the game, saying that he expects a yet another hostile reception after he was booed by Leeds fans virtually every time he got the ball in our last ‘friendly’ at St James’ Park, a 0-0 bore draw. He told Tyneside ‘paper, The Chronic:
“I don’t know what the reception will be – we played them at St James’ Park two seasons ago and I got a bad one then, so I am expecting the same at Elland Road.
“I have been back to watch games but never as a player. It is not something I have really wanted to do to be honest.”
On his original club, with whom he rose through the Academy he added
“I have a great affiliation with the club, they brought me through. I was an academy player and a senior player when I left.
“I am not going to go into details as to the destination I went to. I don’t want to touch on it. People will express how they feel and I know that.
“I hope that whatever happens people have seen when I’m playing I am giving it everything.”
Team news
Assistant manager, John Carver has given a strong indication that the strongest line up of the pre-season so far will be fielded, giving a very good indication of who’s out and who will be coming back in after recent injury woes. With the likes of Joey Barton and Yohan Cabaye missing out on the club’s recent US Tour due to visa problems. Cheick Tiote however will miss the game, once again due to visa problems which he is currently sorting out in Ghana apparently, though I don’t know what that is all about as Tiote is from the Ivory Coast. Anyway, Carver said on the Leeds game:
“We’ve got a few important players coming back in. Yohan Cabaye trained with the reserves on Friday, as did Ryan Taylor and Joey Barton, Mike Williamson, Danny Simpson and James Perch will all be back too.
“The only real absences will be Cheik Tiote, who is sorting out his visa in Ghana, Hatem (Ben Arfa), Shane Ferguson and Danny Guthrie.
“I think you’ll probably get more of an idea of where we are in pre-season after this game. It’s a perfect test for us really.”
Quite why Tiote is in Ghana sorting out his visa problems when he comes from the Ivory Coast, I don’t know. Tiote’s absence will probably give Leeds’ favourite son, the above mentioned Alan Smith, an opportunity to create his usual midfield mayhem, though if his reception is anything like the last ‘friendly’ game with Leeds, he will be barracked mercilessly by the home supporters, but I digress once again.
On the other side, Leeds manager, Simon Grayson, will be missing strikers Davide Somma (cruciate) and Luciano Becchio (hamstring). Ex Toon old boy defender, Andy O’Brien, picked up a side strain and hasn’t featured in any of Leeds’ pre-season games so far, and winger/striker, Robert Snodgrass, is doubtful with a turned ankle and left back, Ben Parker has also picked up a knock. Of these injuries, Grayson said:
“We’ll have a look and see where we are with the lads.
“If there’s any doubt they won’t play on Sunday and it may be that we look to get in a behind closed doors next week to get them some game time.”
The match will be shown on LUFC TV’s pay per view, however that would involve paying the princely sum of £10.99! (one months subscription + £5.99 for the game). However I will endeavour to keep you informed should any other video streams become available.
Howay the lads!
Match details
Venue: Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds (click on link for stadium guide, directions etc).
Date and time: Sunday, 31st July 2011. Kick-off – 2.00PM.
Other notes: NUFC.com had these warnings for anyone who may be travelling to the game:
“Roadworks mean that the Inner Ring Road through the Woodhouse Tunnel will be partially closed on Sunday. The home side’s website advises avoiding this route and going via the M621.
“The ‘Party in the Park’ live gig at Temple Newsam Park (just off the M1 at junction 46) also means that 70,000 punters will be heading there on Sunday for a 1pm start.”
NUFCBlog Author: workyticket
workyticket has written 1091 articles on this blog.
A club like leeds deserve too be in the pl just like nufc where really badly Directed… there chairman thought he could buy sucess hope they come up this season and they prob will… on another note hope we wallop um tommorow lol come on the toon (hopefully we will have some kind of news on the transfer front by tommorow)