The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Monday 2nd March) Leeds pay price after squandering chances
Good Morning. It's Monday 2nd March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds pay price after squandering chances
Leeds United were left fuming at referee Peter Bankes following the 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday evening. For the better part of the match Leeds looked the busier side, the likes of Dominic Calvert‑Lewin keeping the City keeper on his toes, with a flurry of near‑misses in the opening half. Yet the hosts never managed to turn that dominance into a lead and, and just before the break, the visitors took he lead.
There were two moments in the second half sparked the post‑match fury, both of which seemed to get ignored by both the man in black, and VAR. The first came in the 57th minute when Gruev, (lying on the ground after a challenge) was stamped on by Cherki (his boot snapping down hard on Gruev’s shin.) leaving the Bulgarian International wincing in pain. Cherki was the best player on the pitch by far; so had the visitors been reduced to ten men (as per the letters of the law), Leeds would have been in a much better position to get something from the match.
The second controversy arrived in the 86th minute. Matheus Nunes blocked a teasing cross towards Calvert‑Lewin, with his outstretched arm in the penalty box, only for the referee to wave it away, leaving the Elland Road faithful angry and bewildered. When the final whistle blew, head coach Daniel Farke erupted. He stormed toward the officials and launched a tirade that forced Karl Darlow to step in and pull him back. He promptly received a red card for his efforts leaving Edmund Riemer to take care of the post match press conference.
VAR defended Peter Bankes after the game, insisted that the Manchester City player’s arm was in a natural position. However, had the ref awarded the spot kick, and be sent to the monitor for a second look, you'd imagine that the majority of officials would have stuck with their original decisions. Fortunately for the Whites, other results over the weekend went their way. West Ham were hammered at Anfield, Spurs lost the fourth match in a row (against Fulham) whilst Nottingham Forest too were unable to pick anything up at Brighton.
Gamesmanship or playing smart
The final minutes at the Leeds game at the weekend turned into a little comedy sketch, with the visitors adopting a stance, seen by many as ungentlemanly conduct to break up play and run the clock down. It looks ridiculous on TV, but the strategy works: by choking the tempo and flirting with the referee’s patience, Manchester City virtually guarantee that the opposition never gets a clean, late‑game surge; the reason they seldom surrender a stoppage‑time winner.
Sure, it's gamesmanship, but when the silverware is polished and the league table shows European football next season, respective fans chalk it up to “smart football” rather than “cheating”. Lets not forget Arsenal too have their own catalogue of borderline‑shady tricks. The extra yardage they steal on every throw-in, spotting an outstretched foot so they can stumble to the ground with the theatrical flair of a stage actor. Critics call it diving; the Gunners call it “playing the angles”.
These little edges accumulate, turning tight contests into three‑point hauls and keeping their team at the summit. The Premier League is high stakes, but fine margins. Would you like to see Leeds Utd adopt the dark arts of gamesmanship or simply rise above it all?
ER faithful criticised for booing
So, there was a bit of an uneasy moment when the referee paused play 13 minutes into Saturdays game at Elland Road to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast as the sun went down. As City stars like Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Omar Marmoush stepped to the side-lines for a drink, loud boos echoed through sections of the stadium. It was a strange vibe, especially considering Leeds have Muslim players of their own like Joel Piroe.
After the game, Leeds assistant manager Edmund Riemer said he was disappointed by the supporters' reaction and that the club needs to “do better next time.” The anti-discrimination group Kick It Out called the whole thing “massively disappointing,” while City boss Pep Guardiola stepped up to remind everyone that a little more respect for religion and diversity goes a long way. Obviously, I can't talk for every Leeds fan (there's millions of us), but a couple of points. Leeds had dominated the first ten minutes, and a break in play would only hinder the hosts, and allow Manchester City to regroup, and most of the team left the pitch to converse.