Good Morning. It's Thursday 27th November, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Stach ruled out of Manchester City clash
Leeds will have to make do without star midfielder Anton Stach when they travel to face Manchester City this weekend, after the midfielder was ruled out through concussion protocols. The £17m summer arrival from Hoffenheim suffered a head injury during an aerial challenge in the opening stages of the Aston Villa clash last Sunday, landing awkwardly and was withdrawn as a precaution.
The club have to follow the Premier League’s strict head injury guidelines, meaning Stach will miss the trip to the Etihad, and is questionable whether he can make the trip to Chelsea next Wednesday. It’s a frustrating blow for both player and fans, particularly after struggling with the broken rib, picked up against Spurs last month.
Prior to this, the 27 year old had established himself as a calming presence in the middle of the park, known for his tidy passing and ability to break up play. Leeds now face the tough task of replacing his physical presence and composure against a City side that thrives on dominating midfield battles.
Three horse race foe ER hot seat
Bookmakers have suspended bets on the Premier League sack race, amid strong rumours that 49ers Enterprises could be about to terminate Daniel Farke's contract at Elland Road. The rumour mill has been cranking into overdrive this week, with three familiar names jockeying for pole position.
Parimatch, the Official sleeve sponsor of the Leeds Utd men's first team may have the inside track. They’re calling it a three-way shootout for the Elland Road hot seat. Carlos Corberan and Bo Svensson are locked at 13/8, with Brendan Rodgers just behind at 15/8. Outside chances? Kjetil Knutsen at 12/1 and Marco Rose at 16/1, but are they chasing shadows?
Adding more fuel to the fire, a leaked 50-slide dossier from 49ers Enterprises, dug up by New York Times reporter Matt Slater several months ago revealed that Leeds’ owners hold periodic talks with potential managers, even when the current boss is in post. The reasoning? With the average Premier League tenure barely scraping 18 months, contingency planning is simply “part of the process.”
So, in all likelihood, the 49ers could already be in closing stages of interviews! Corberan’s Leeds links and tactical nous make him an appealing choice; Svensson’s reputation for defensive steel is equally tempting; and Rodgers’ pedigree could bring instant authority to a dressing room in need of a lift. Whether the interviews have already begun behind closed doors or not, the atmosphere around the club has shifted unmistakably. Right now, it feels like when, not if there will be a big change at LS11.