The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 3rd April) Are Leeds overthinking the Luton task
Good Morning. It's Thursday 3rd March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Are Leeds overthinking the Luton task
Leeds travel to Kenilworth Road on Saturday desperately needing a win to reignite their promotion push. A disappointing return of six points from their last five games has seen them relinquish the top spot to Sheffield United, and they now cling to second place only by virtue of goal difference over Burnley.
Luton, on the other hand, are enduring a season to forget. Relegation from the Premier League has been followed by a difficult Championship campaign, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the table. Currently nestled between Plymouth and Cardiff, a victory against Leeds could provide a crucial lifeline and lift them out of the relegation zone.
While Luton's struggles are evident – they've scored the fewest goals in the Championship (35) and conceded almost twice that amount (60) – they possess specific threats that should make Leeds fans wary.
A significant portion of their points have come from set-piece situations – long throws and free kicks launched into the penalty area. This is an area where Leeds have shown vulnerability recently. Add to that the notorious curse of the lunchtime kick-off, historically a difficult time slot for Leeds, and the recipe for a potential upset is brewing.
However, despite Luton's potential to cause problems, Leeds undeniably possess the strongest squad in the Championship. The key to success on Saturday lies in avoiding overthinking the task at hand. Analysing Luton's strengths is important, but focusing too much on their set-piece prowess and the lunchtime kick-off jinx could lead to unnecessary anxiety and disrupt the team's natural flow.
Ultimately, Leeds need to trust in their own abilities and let their football do the talking. They need to impose their game plan on Luton, control possession, and create scoring opportunities. Farke's men have consistently topped the performance charts and statistical rankings throughout the season. They need to trust in their abilities, play their attacking brand of football, and let their skill and dominance on the ball do the talking
Dallas throws his support behind Darlow
Former Elland Road favourite Stuart Dallas has thrown his support behind Karl Darlow, believing he's "more than capable" of stepping into the Leeds United goal should Daniel Farke decide to replace Illan Meslier.
Meslier's errors against Hull City, Sunderland, and Swansea City have cost Leeds valuable points, putting his position under scrutiny. While Farke has so far maintained faith in the Frenchman, the pressure is mounting.
All eyes are now on Farke's upcoming press conference ahead of the Luton Town match. The goalkeeping situation is sure to be a key topic, with many wondering if a change is imminent with just seven games remaining.
Dallas, a respected figure at the club, believes Darlow, the current Wales number one, possesses the experience and ability to perform well if called upon. He's confident that he can handle the pressure and deliver for Leeds during this crucial stage of the season. Whether Farke will heed the calls for a change remains to be seen, but Dallas's backing will surely boost Darlow's confidence should he get the nod.
Illan's obviously been here a long time now and he's done fantastically well up until this point. It's been a difficult season for him I think, simply because of the mistakes that he's made. I know the boys will be rallying around him because at the end of the day, he's a footballer, but he's a human being as well, he has feelings, and it's not nice to see somebody going through a difficult time.
But there's huge pressures of playing for this club, and obviously the spotlight on them is intense. I'm sure the manager will deal with it in the right kind of way, [Illan] needs an arm around him as well, but I know you're hinting to take him out of the team - he's done really, really well and he still is a fantastic goalkeeper but for me, they've got Karl Darlow there as well, who is an experienced goalkeeper.
"He's not an 18-year-old kid with no experience. He's a really, really top, top goalkeeper. It might be time to take [Illan] out. I don't know. Obviously, only the manager will make that decision. As I said before, he's had a difficult season. I said it a number of weeks ago, after the Hull game, obviously, Karl played in the Harrogate game and I was asked about it on ITV for the Sheffield Wednesday game. My point then was that Karl is a more than capable replacement, so it'll be interesting to see what Daniel does.