posted this 3 days ago



Nearly every player, form has dropped off a cliff, and running stats are lower.

this is what happens when a team starts struggling, its a lot easier to play well, when a team is player well.

but because rafa is foreign and could be leaving at emd of season, he’s suddenly, not very good, troublemaker and doesnt care.

its utter balls, to many are like jilted lovers.

He’s done well, gave his all, and if leaves for big money, great all round.

we not far enough along, in our development as club, to be able to fulfil these types of players ambitious.

Will be interesting to see how compelling AR, Orta, Marsch and 49ers are in being able to retain Raphinha.

That is of course, if they want to retain Raphinha.

comment by LIW Rad a %#@% and so is Orta (U8453)
posted 27 minutes ago
posted this 3 days ago



Nearly every player, form has dropped off a cliff, and running stats are lower.

this is what happens when a team starts struggling, its a lot easier to play well, when a team is player well.

but because rafa is foreign and could be leaving at emd of season, he’s suddenly, not very good, troublemaker and doesnt care.

its utter balls, to many are like jilted lovers.

He’s done well, gave his all, and if leaves for big money, great all round.

we not far enough along, in our development as club, to be able to fulfil these types of players ambitious.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree with you 100%. Anyone who believes Raphinha hasn't given his best for us should pay a visit to Specsavers.
He has earnt the right to move to a better club, whether in the EPL or overseas.

I hate to think he’s going but if he does then he goes with my thanks for the great football he’s given us.

He’s ambitious and football is a short career.

He’s given his all and you can see on the pitch how upset he has been when things have gone against us.

Maybe in three or four years we will be able to attract his like again.

Good luck to the lad.

while the price for rodrigo was a bit steep his desire and commitment to the team cant be questioned.
too bad raphinha came when he did and not when we were more established but it shows that there are some gems out there. dont begrudge his move especially if his hearts not in it and i dont think it will be.

also ill get sh!t for this but i think well miss him less than alioski.

not a chance

comment by montleeds (U18330)
posted 16 minutes ago
also ill get sh!t for this but i think well miss him less than alioski.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Whilst I don't agree with you in terms of influence on the field, I do think we miss Alioski as a person with an infectious and bubbly character.

Raph's an incredible talent. We've seen some absolute
magic out of him since he joined (I think we paid 17 mill?).
Steal. Bargain. One of Orta's finest moves.

But I agree, he joined a club whose development
was not as far along as his. He's gone this summer. And
who can blame him? Barca, Bayern, Liverpool already
mentioned as wanting him. Broke into Brazil's team.

He's looked distracted at times, mainly during transfer
window when we know club's came asking. Anyone
in his position would be distracted. Since JM came in
he's looked refocused and Raph of last season.

Incredible player. Gem. Loved watching him play.
Wherever he goes, like Alioski, Pabs, and Berra,
I'm keeping tabs on where he goes and what he does.

Saying that, I hope we get 60+ mill for him.

I've already resigned to that fact we will be losing him. Great player, I'm sure at a top club he will thrive.

Even with him we probably still need at least 3 signings so hopefully the money will be invested wisely.

Been trying to get my head round this release clause written into his contract, do all players have these written into their contract or did he insist that the clause be written into the contract so that if one of the big fish did come sniffing around and triggered the release clause we would be forced to sell. Is the clause how we managed to get him so cheap in the first place?
Why is it set so high? Rapha has been trying to get the club to reduce it, is he hearing that there are clubs interested but not for the amount in his contract? Has the lower rate if we get relegated influenced his recent form, it's not in his interest for us to stay up.

I like him as a player he has moments of genius, the nutmeg of Cahill was one of my favourite moments of last year. I don't however see a team player there. I don't know because whilst I watch every game and nothing beats being there in person but you rarely see him celebrating with the lads when someone else scores and there are times when others have gone over to hug him after he has scored and he's having nothing of it.
On the Alioski debate, I think his team mates miss his infectious personality but to argue that either will be mist more than the other is a strange one as they are like chalk and cheese.

missed.

comment by Elsbels - The Specials' One (U21658)
posted 10 minutes ago
Been trying to get my head round this release clause written into his contract, do all players have these written into their contract or did he insist that the clause be written into the contract so that if one of the big fish did come sniffing around and triggered the release clause we would be forced to sell. Is the clause how we managed to get him so cheap in the first place?
Why is it set so high? Rapha has been trying to get the club to reduce it, is he hearing that there are clubs interested but not for the amount in his contract? Has the lower rate if we get relegated influenced his recent form, it's not in his interest for us to stay up.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I had seen written somewhere that the release was £66m or thereabouts and only £22m if we go down.

He’s 100% gone in the summer…£50-60m I’d say.

Dan James and Rodrigo have been way better than Raphinha since Christmas, just saying

I'm sure I read that the release clause is only
triggered if we're relegated. If we stay up, I guess
the club's bargaining position is vastly improved.

comment by gelderd82 (U6817)
posted 6 minutes ago
Dan James and Rodrigo have been way better than Raphinha since Christmas, just saying
----------------------------------------------------------------------
agreed.

Phil Hay said theres only a release clause if we go down. Theres no upper release clause. Been made up by the press it seems.

He's a player that when they get the ball, make you wonder what they'll do next. Absolute box of tricks (and talent). After a few weeks of him playing, you could just see he was different beans to what we've had for the last decade or so. Pabs fantastic, as other players have been, but this guy is world class 100%.

Only a matter of time before he got tempted. Don't blame him for leaving if he does. Actually surprised there wasn't more attempts last summer.

Just hope we can wring as much money and/or players out of any transfer to make up for it, and that any money raised is invested wisely in building up the squad.

It's been magic to see that quality in a Leeds shirt ... simple as that.

comment by gelderd82 (U6817)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago

Dan James and Rodrigo have been way better than Raphinha since Christmas, just saying

^^^^^

I love Dan James effort and speed. But touch of an
elephant and couldn't hit a barn door with his shot.

Rodrigo's been on fire since JM arrived. I know that
JM added him to the leadership group. He must've
also asked him to be the leader on the pitch too. It's
showing. He has been instrumental. I think he's been
our best player a few games now.

*DJ displayed his poor first touch and shot against
Austria the other night too. It really slams home that
we need a true CF to cover any and all PB absences.

As you say, Rodrigo…..£30million.

Which is precisely why £50 million for Raphinha is for the second time in 18 months, is ‘undervaluing’ him.

He is worth more to us on the pitch than bringing in another Rodrigo and James for £55 million….which is if sold, is likely the type Orta will pitch up with if he is.

Learn from Villa. Would they have even floated the idea of selling Grealish for £50 million? Not a chance! Aside from Grealish’s superb ability to dribble the ball, Raphinha has far more vision than Grealish.

Orta’s terrible signings took Middlesbrough straight back down from thenPrejier League….if anyone cares to flip back through the pages of Orta’s CV.

So he has track history. This is not bad luck. Many of us have forgotten that we raised eyebrows when Radrizzani first brought him on board.

All that said, Bielsa and Radrizzani have their faults and it is the obstinacy of both has come close to taking us down. It is completely wrong to blame just Radrizzani for the total mess this season has panned out.

Absolutely agree Raphinha is a great player who has match-winning qualities. If he goes, then he should go with our blessing as he has contributed a great deal to the club over the last two years. And if he goes, he should go for BIG MONEY because he has shown he has that something special - match-winning qualities. And for our sakes, let it be to one of the European clubs!

Trawling through Newsnow, I see we're still interested in signing Aaronson, and maybe this is more credible now we know he's played under Marsch before. Does this mean Phillips will be sold too?

And I also have doubts about Victor Orta's contribution and am not sure I'd trust him to manage the investment we certainly will need during the summer. He can no longer play the get-out-of-jail-free card Bielsa gave him.

I'd bet money Aaronson deal happens. He's a JM guy.

Another American worth looking at is Gio Reyna. This
kid's going to be some player. Big lad too. At Dortmund.
And developing fast. Only 19.