Contracts Expiring 6/25
Firpo
Byram
Byram will probably sign a year-on-year extension given his injury record.
Firpo is not so straight forward. If we're in the Championship, you'd probably offer a 2 year extension before Jan 2025.
If we get promoted though, is he going g to be good enough? Probably worth still having him as a squad player.
So. Extend asap, or not?
Contracts expiring 2026
Meslier
Bamford
Darlow
James
I know many on here will say sell Bamford/Meslier with a year left on their contracts, next summer.
The alternative is to try and extend those contracts between now and next summer to maximise sale price, even if we do decide to sell next summer.
And if we are promoted we're selling at 'Premier League team' prices.
James, I think should be offered an extension before next summer.
Darlow, couldn't care less either way.
Lights blue touch paper.....and retreats 🏃
Summer 2025 contract decisions
posted on 4/9/24
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 49 minutes ago
comment by Loidis-Norvegicus (U9680)
posted 10 hours, 20 minutes ago
Middlesbrough laughed all the way to the bank when they got rid of Bambi.
And Leeds stood there with their pants pulled down
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That’s not what happened at all. We paid a good fee for him and over the first three years got really good value.
When fit the side relied on him, Bielsa was hugely reliant on him.
The problem he’s had over the last three years is his crazy injury record. Just to let you know, he doesn’t choose to be injured. And one of the big reasons why we dropped off so much and ended up relegated is not being able to get him on the pitch or more importantly be able to adequately replace him. That’s the clubs fault, not his.
Finally Joseph looks like a proper replacement that can do so much of what Bamford did, but also do a lot of the things Bamford was poor at a lot better.
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I agree. We are often too quick to forget the contribution made by players who are no longer fit as they once were. Ok, so he can't make the same impact as before, but despite his oft-quoted profligacy in front of goal, he did play a major part in getting us promoted.
posted on 4/9/24
A question.
If Joseph was injured and Bamford was fit. Would you play Bamford or Piroe, or what?
If you say Bamford then he's the backup player in case of need, this season.
I think there's no doubt the club are looking for another striker and will determine the level of that striker when they see where we are in early 2025. If we're looking good at having a chance from promotion they'll be looking at getting Premier level striker in the summer, and Bamford will either go or see out his contract on the bench.
If promotion is looking dodgy, they'll look for a different level striker for 25/26 season. What they'll do with Bamford in that situation is anyone's guess but it wouldn't surprise me if they'd offer him a one year extension on reduced wages, to try and create something like a Byram situation where they've got a spare body who can fill in if needed.
Firpo is an interesting one. Jonty, what makes you think he won't stay?
posted on 4/9/24
Of established strikers/centre forwards at Leeds during an almost lifetime of supporting the team Bamford, in my opinion was probably the most passive I’ve watched and not the type of player I would want Leeds to have as the main striker.
Bielsa’s tactics of having the striker chase around, wasting energy closing space down, was a misuse of the supposed teams main goalscorer…no wonder Bamford was tired and missed many chances.
I would never use a striker this way…a striker needs his energy for goal scoring, not chasing around like a cross country runner.
Most modern strikers don’t waste their energy and get away with the least closing down space, they leave that to others. From a Leeds context strikers like Yeboah, Viduka, Hasselbaink had energy to explode into the penalty area…can you imagine Chapman chasing opponents deep into our half of the pitch?
But he knew where the net was.
I do hope they use Mateo in the right way a striker should be used and not use him like you would use a donkey, not overwork him.
Good examples of strikers he could look at would be Haaland, Lewandowski, Aguero, Messi though not an out and out striker, he could do everything at a walking pace!!
posted on 4/9/24
Most modern strikers DO use a lot of energy pressing from the top and making runs to make space for others as well as dropping in to aid build up.
Very very few can get away without it now. Not if you want to get to the top.
Haaland is one example of one who can doesn't do much but he is an exemption, and even he has had to adapt his game to be able to press more for Pep.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle were the next top teams in the country last season and all rely on forwards that press high, work hard, and aid build up.
posted on 4/9/24
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 12 minutes ago
Most modern strikers DO use a lot of energy pressing from the top and making runs to make space for others as well as dropping in to aid build up.
Very very few can get away without it now. Not if you want to get to the top.
Haaland is one example of one who can doesn't do much but he is an exemption, and even he has had to adapt his game to be able to press more for Pep.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle were the next top teams in the country last season and all rely on forwards that press high, work hard, and aid build up.
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Most successful strikers conserve their energy for the important moments of goal scoring opportunities, quite often you see jogging or walking around the halfway line, not wanting to defend only when the team is under heavy pressure.
As for making space for others…well you would hope that every player in the team is trying to make space for others, surely part of the job description…this daft comment that you hear and see of making space for others, as if you’re complimenting a player for doing so, is absurd. Players are fit and use lots of energy no doubt, but clever strikers know how to conserve energy for scoring goals and not aimlessly chasing about with no positive consequences, as Bamford did most of the time.
posted on 4/9/24
comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
A question.
If Joseph was injured and Bamford was fit. Would you play Bamford or Piroe, or what?
If you say Bamford then he's the backup player in case of need, this season.
I think there's no doubt the club are looking for another striker and will determine the level of that striker when they see where we are in early 2025. If we're looking good at having a chance from promotion they'll be looking at getting Premier level striker in the summer, and Bamford will either go or see out his contract on the bench.
If promotion is looking dodgy, they'll look for a different level striker for 25/26 season. What they'll do with Bamford in that situation is anyone's guess but it wouldn't surprise me if they'd offer him a one year extension on reduced wages, to try and create something like a Byram situation where they've got a spare body who can fill in if needed.
Firpo is an interesting one. Jonty, what makes you think he won't stay?
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If Joseph's injured Piroe comes in. All day long.
posted on 4/9/24
comment by NJS (U8272)
posted 2 hours, 27 minutes ago
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 12 minutes ago
Most modern strikers DO use a lot of energy pressing from the top and making runs to make space for others as well as dropping in to aid build up.
Very very few can get away without it now. Not if you want to get to the top.
Haaland is one example of one who can doesn't do much but he is an exemption, and even he has had to adapt his game to be able to press more for Pep.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle were the next top teams in the country last season and all rely on forwards that press high, work hard, and aid build up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Most successful strikers conserve their energy for the important moments of goal scoring opportunities, quite often you see jogging or walking around the halfway line, not wanting to defend only when the team is under heavy pressure.
As for making space for others…well you would hope that every player in the team is trying to make space for others, surely part of the job description…this daft comment that you hear and see of making space for others, as if you’re complimenting a player for doing so, is absurd. Players are fit and use lots of energy no doubt, but clever strikers know how to conserve energy for scoring goals and not aimlessly chasing about with no positive consequences, as Bamford did most of the time.
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Spot on NJS.
posted on 5/9/24
Bamford's 31st birthday today, pretty certain Batty will not be wishing happy returns.
posted on 5/9/24
comment by HaveFaithInLeeds (U8688)
posted 1 day, 3 hours ago
Most modern strikers DO use a lot of energy pressing from the top and making runs to make space for others as well as dropping in to aid build up.
Very very few can get away without it now. Not if you want to get to the top.
Haaland is one example of one who can doesn't do much but he is an exemption, and even he has had to adapt his game to be able to press more for Pep.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle were the next top teams in the country last season and all rely on forwards that press high, work hard, and aid build up.
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Completely agree, people can’t seriously watch much football if they disgree.
posted on 16/9/24
Was thinking about this last night.
What if we dont go up?
I dont see Firpo staying, it looks like we have bought what we think is his replacement.
James will be in last year of contract, do club cash in as will Bamford and Meslier, do they cash in on all of those?
Who else is there of any value, Gnonto?
Aaronson and Wober we're stuck with, it's a really thin squad.