Leeds United - v - Southampton ***Matchday Thread***

[BelfastAndy]

This is it folks!!



The 2023/24 football season comes to an end on Sunday, as Leeds and Southampton lock horns at Wembley to decide the biggest prize in World club football today. TV deals, sponsorship and other income streams worth an estimated £265m are at stake for the winners, as well as trips to the likes of the Etihad, Emirates and Old Trafford, a sharp contrast to days out at Portsmouth, Derby and Oxford Utd. Leeds have been given the home England dressing room, and an allocation of 35,796 seats (East side), with their South coast opponents occupying the West (35,667). Leeds will play in their famous all white kit, inspired by the late, great Don Revie; how ominous that this game should be decided exactly thirty-five years to the day of his sad passing.

There's no love lost between Daniel Farke and Russell Martin who Captained the Canaries during Farke's early tenure at Carrow Road. The two don't get on, which led to the Scot ending his eight year stay with Norwich, and joining Walsall (in 2018). Leeds will keep their cards close to their chest regarding the fitness of Patrick Bamford. He has missed four games with a knee injury (minor trauma in his patellar tendon). Joel Piroe, who impressed in the second leg against Norwich, stands by. Pascal Struijk remains a long term casualty. On-loan defender Connor Roberts is still looking to get back to full fitness, having picked up an ankle injury whilst on duty with Wales last time out. Both he, and fellow International team-mate Dan James (bruised ribs v Boro) were given a run-out during the last twenty minutes or so during the 4-0 win last Thursday evening.

Saints Striker Che Adams will be fit for the visit to Wembley. The 27yo forward has been in sparkling form for the South Coast outfit, netting 18 times this season from just 27 starts. Fellow forward Adam Armstrong (23 goals and 13 goals) shook off an ankle injury, and terrorised the West Brom defence in their 3-1 drubbing. Namesake Stuart Armstrong (no relation) misses out through injury. Shot stopper Gavin Bazunu has a ruptured Achilles tendon which is likely to keep him out until next year. One time Leeds keeper Alex McCarthy will continue to deputise. Striker Ross Stewart could play his first game in over six months after coming a troublesome hamstring problem!

A nice long build up to the final, 9 days to wait. 3rd vs 4th in the table with the 2nd vs 3rd biggest budgets in the Championship. The match-ups are tantalizing; Summerville vs Armstrong, Rutter vs Adams, Meslier vs McCarthy. Will Flynn Downes make it? His fitness seems on a knife edge. Will Bamford be fit enough for the bench?

Farke vs Martin Round 3. The tactical minds of Farke and Martin will also be on full display, with Farke carrying a personal edge after Martin publicly criticized his handling of his departure from Norwich. This history adds an extra dimension to an already intense rivalry, with Farke especially keen to avenge recent losses to Southampton.

Both managers are acutely aware that anything short of promotion would be seen as an underachievement. This mutual understanding heightens the stakes even further. Despite recent struggles in form, both teams convincingly dispatched the fifth and sixth-placed teams in the playoffs, showcasing their latent potential.

Their shared preference for possession-based football raises the question: will one team sit back or press forward in this critical one-off game? The risks of inviting pressure are immense, and neither side can afford a misstep. Southampton's tactical adaptability has paid dividends in previous encounters this season, forcing Farke to decide whether to counter their strategy or impose his own.

There seemed to be a better attacking plan against Norwich, a better attacking structure through midfield with the spaces and the positioning of the central midfielders, Rutter and Piroe, a braver approach dare I say, is this what we will see vs Southampton. Confidence should be high in our team after one of if not our best performance of the season last match, Rutter, Piroe, Summerville and Gnonto had their mojo back.

Credit: motforum.com

MOT.

[Pacaman]

We turn up, we win. Simples 😥

[BelfastAndy]

[BelfastAndy]

Same line up. Good.

[cherrypie7]

Come on Leeds!

[Billyni]

Can’t even bear to watch the build up.
Nerves shattered already.
Just go straight to the kick off.

[spaldy]

Brutal nerves

[Billyni]

Did we not think about marking their top scorer

[WTF11]

Did we not think about marking their top scorer

Apparently not.

[cherrypie7]

Not good start.