Pre-Blackburn Presser

Oh, it seems that Popey is indeed AWOL … this has just appeared on the Beeb by another reporter:

Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Leeds United's Championship game against Blackburn on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from the Whites manager:

On Ipswich Town and Leicester City also "dropping points" earlier this week: "My attitude is not that you drop points, it is that you can't win points. Obviously, we would have preferred to have made a big step with three points, but you always have to be respectful. If you can't win a game, then you have to make sure there is a second best result, where you win one point."

Farke is "not sure" whether he will watch Leicester City in action against Plymouth on Friday night because Leeds have already played against the two teams twice, so therefore he does not feel it is "necessary to analyse them a bit more".

It is "difficult to predict" what to expect from Blackburn: "In this league, you cannot compare anything. I am pretty respectful of their quality in the offence. If you are not switched on against them, they can hurt each and every opponent because they have so many players who can make things happen."

He believes Blackburn "probably need a few points" to completely be out of relegation danger and he expects "a highly motivated team who want to show a reaction at a ground where they have nothing to lose".

Farke praised Rovers' top goalscorer Sammie Szmodics: "A player in record form. He has scored so many goals during this season and also a handful of assists. They are very dangerous. They have shown, just a couple of weeks ago, what they are capable of doing. They were able to score five goals against Sunderland and cut them into pieces."

There were no further injuries picked up midweek and "everyone is in good shape". It was "important" for Ethan Ampadu to "recover a little bit" and for Willy Gnonto and Connor Roberts "to prepare after their muscle injuries".

Farke said the younger players have not yet realised what they have achieved this season: "When they are in it, they don't think much about it. You need the energy and enthusiasm just to enjoy the road and not think too much about what we can achieve, or how we can write our names in the history books of the club - because otherwise you are too nervous, over-motivated and over-excited.

On having confidence going into the final stretch, Farke added: "I like the fact that we are playing, in terms of points, the best season in the history of this club. We have got the best home record in the history of this club this season. We are by far the best team in the second half of this season. We have the best home record and defensive record of all the teams."

Earl again (🤣) asks DF ‘can you understand the emotions/tensions of the Leeds fans? DF essentially says ‘yes’ and that’s a key reason why he joined Leeds (i.e. us lot and our emotions😱).
________________________________________________
I wish it was me LB.
You would be amazed how many Leeds supporters there are on this island. Only 2 teams have more supporters clubs, no guesses who they are

Genuinely feels like we're in safe hands.

comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Ok, Popey seems to have gone AWOL so here’s my take on what DF said:

- Glowing and heartfelt tribute to ‘legend’ and ‘real-deal’ Stuie Dallas. DF said he is thankful and blessed to have ‘been allowed’ to work with him, albeit not as a player, over the past 9 and 1/2 months.

- DF said he probably won’t watch the Leicester game tonight as he’ll still be at Thorpe Arch but might make the last few minutes - or even watch the Masters! He says that his players might watch tho’ …

- DF is respectful of Blackburn’s ‘quality’ and ‘danger’ and expects a highly motivated team with ‘nothing to lose’ at ER.

- DF stated that there are no points that can be dropped, only points that can be won. I understand where he’s coming from but only from a literal point of view.

- Northern Irish journalist (was that you Earl?😁) asked DF about whether he has 2nd-guessed his substitutions. DF, correctly (logically), answered that he can’t really comment in that it’s impossible to know what would have happened if he had/hadn’t substituted players.

- Earl again (🤣) asks DF ‘can you understand the emotions/tensions of the Leeds fans? DF essentially says ‘yes’ and that’s a key reason why he joined Leeds (i.e. us lot and our emotions😱).

- No new injury concerns for Blackburn match. DF states that ‘we are in a much better position than 10 days ago’.

- DF lists the (genuinely impressive) stats that show him/Leeds/current squad are performing impressively this season … however, he immediately follows by saying that that’s no guarantee of achieving promotion.

- DF states that the Leeds shirt ‘is the heaviest in the league’.

- DF, humbly, accepts that for all his success so far this season (see above) it may also be the case that HE is the reason we’re already not promoted 😁.

- DF says that everyone is fully motivated to achieve (auto promotion) this season.
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Adam's at Aintree.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 11 minutes ago

Genuinely feels like we're in safe hands.

^^^

Feel same.

comment by Earl * * Not available in N.I. (U9333)
posted 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
Earl again (🤣) asks DF ‘can you understand the emotions/tensions of the Leeds fans? DF essentially says ‘yes’ and that’s a key reason why he joined Leeds (i.e. us lot and our emotions😱).
________________________________________________
I wish it was me LB.
You would be amazed how many Leeds supporters there are on this island. Only 2 teams have more supporters clubs, no guesses who they are
----------------------------------------------------------------------
👍

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 46 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Ok, Popey seems to have gone AWOL so here’s my take on what DF said:

- Glowing and heartfelt tribute to ‘legend’ and ‘real-deal’ Stuie Dallas. DF said he is thankful and blessed to have ‘been allowed’ to work with him, albeit not as a player, over the past 9 and 1/2 months.

- DF said he probably won’t watch the Leicester game tonight as he’ll still be at Thorpe Arch but might make the last few minutes - or even watch the Masters! He says that his players might watch tho’ …

- DF is respectful of Blackburn’s ‘quality’ and ‘danger’ and expects a highly motivated team with ‘nothing to lose’ at ER.

- DF stated that there are no points that can be dropped, only points that can be won. I understand where he’s coming from but only from a literal point of view.

- Northern Irish journalist (was that you Earl?😁) asked DF about whether he has 2nd-guessed his substitutions. DF, correctly (logically), answered that he can’t really comment in that it’s impossible to know what would have happened if he had/hadn’t substituted players.

- Earl again (🤣) asks DF ‘can you understand the emotions/tensions of the Leeds fans? DF essentially says ‘yes’ and that’s a key reason why he joined Leeds (i.e. us lot and our emotions😱).

- No new injury concerns for Blackburn match. DF states that ‘we are in a much better position than 10 days ago’.

- DF lists the (genuinely impressive) stats that show him/Leeds/current squad are performing impressively this season … however, he immediately follows by saying that that’s no guarantee of achieving promotion.

- DF states that the Leeds shirt ‘is the heaviest in the league’.

- DF, humbly, accepts that for all his success so far this season (see above) it may also be the case that HE is the reason we’re already not promoted 😁.

- DF says that everyone is fully motivated to achieve (auto promotion) this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adam's at Aintree.
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Nice! Hope he bags a winner👍😁

comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 hour, 36 minutes ago
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 11 minutes ago

Genuinely feels like we're in safe hands.

^^^

Feel same.
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Well done The Batster! 😁

Looking the last 6 games involving the top 3, not a single goal scored. Ipswich 0.1 and 0.0, Leicester 0.1 and 0.1, and we all know our results.

DF knows exactly what he is doing, despite our frustrations. A win today will be so big and I am sure he will calm the nerves. Hopefully the crowd, if nece6are patient, rather than pressure building.

I miss the whole game as flying home today but will be looking up the score the second we land.

Everything crossed that today is the day we come good again.

MOT.

I was wrong, forgot we scored at Coventry, but you get the point. The top 3 all feeling the heat and Southampton making ground...