The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Thursday 12th February) Dyche sacking can only be a good thing for Leeds
Good Morning. It's Thursday 12th February, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Dyche sacking can only be a good thing for Leeds
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sensationally sacked Sean Dyche their 0-0 draw against basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers last night. The result leaves the tricky trees hovering just three points above the drop zone, and equally three points and two places adrift of Leeds in 15th place. The news was met with mixed reception; Dyche has a reputation of stabilising clubs at the wrong end of the table, and whilst results haven't been going their way, many believe the gaffer wasn't to blame!
The numbers last night told a compelling story. Forest created a staggering 34 scoring chances, boasting a healthy expected goals (xG) tally of 2.73, a stat that suggests they were every bit the dominant force their play indicated. Dyche’s philosophy prioritising structure, pressing, and converting possession into danger, had clearly put them in positions to win. The failure to convert opportunities into goals was arguably beyond his control, so should he have borne the brunt?
With just 12 games left, Forest face the daunting task of appointing a fourth manager of the season, rebuilding trust among players, coaching staff, and their despondent ban base; but time is running out! Traditionally, a new manager needs time to implement changes - time they don't have! For Whites fans, the enfolding drama surrounding one of their relegation rivals, brings comfort and a degree of smugness, that for once it's not Leeds at the wrong end of the dirt sheets.
Chelsea hierarchy shot down by PGMOL following handball claim
Leeds Utd's equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening continuous to dominate social media. Chelsea fans have taken to 'X' in droves, sharing slow-motion clips that appear to show the ball striking the arm of Jayden Bogle before the goal was scored. The incident, which was reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the time, was ultimately deemed not to be a handball offence, allowing the goal to stand.
In the wake of the match, the Premier League Match Centre released a brief statement to clarify the decision, noting, “The referee’s call of goal to Leeds United was checked and confirmed by VAR – with there deemed to be no handball offence by Bogle in the build-up.” However, the explanation did little to quell the frustration among the Chelsea faithful and, initially, the club's management.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, the Chelsea hierarchy held direct talks with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) regarding the officiating of referee John Brooks. While the conversation was described as civil and respectful, part of an ongoing effort to maintain a positive working relationship between the club and the officials, the club has since come to an agreement with the governing body. It has been reported that Chelsea now accepts the on-field and VAR decisions, acknowledging the ruling despite initial reservations.
VAR referee Rob Jones judged the contact to be non-deliberate. Replays indicated the ball struck Bogle's thigh before deflecting onto his elbow, which is generally considered accidental if the arm is in a natural position. Also, the Non-Goalscorer Rule states that a goal is only automatically disallowed for an accidental handball if the offender scores it themselves. In this instance, Bogle's action merely "caused chaos" in the box before teammate Noah Okafor finished the move.
Chelsea Manager Liam Rosenior was visibly frustrated immediately following the match, expressing a firm belief that the goal should have been disallowed. “The rule in football is that any handball in the build-up should make a goal disallowed,” Rosenior stated, adding, “and you saying the handball was non-deliberate just made me even angrier.”