Leeds United face another daunting away trip in the FA Cup as they face up to Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round at White Hart Lane tomorrow.
Leeds put themselves well and truly back on the footballing map after the win at Old Trafford but their form has dipped considerably since that victory. The majority of Leeds fans will be glad to see the back of the cup competitions, with winning promotion from the third tier our only priority this season. That said, Simon Grayson and his side will be fully motivated as they look to spring another major shock.
I am on the fence really. I absolutely hate losing and my heart tells me we should win at all costs tomorrow. My head, however, is telling me it is a long hard season and these cup runs have the potential to derail our promotion challenge. We already look jaded so the sooner we can fully concentrate on League One, the better. I think the best scenario would be losing by a single goal after producing a display full of pride and passion and giving another great account of ourselves.
Spurs know this is their only realistic chance of silverware this season so will come at us hard. It is a shame Aaron Lennon will miss the game but I’m sure Andy Hughes will be a very relieved man. As much as Hughes has improved, that would have been hard to watch.
Harry Redknapp has stated he will play a few youngsters, who will no doubt be mixed in with experienced players like Leeds old boy Robbie Keane and Roman Pavlyuchenko. I am expecting a strong line-up, there is a slight fear we will suffer a demoralising defeat.
Team news
A few of the players are nursing knocks after the Carlisle game, according to Simon Grayson. All the players will want to play in this one though so I am not expecting anyone to miss out because of a slight knock.
We should employ a similar tactic to the one we used at Old Trafford – playing with two strong banks of four and counter attacking with pace and purpose when we get the chance. With the form we have been in this type of game should suit us.
The defence has looked shaky recently but should receive a lot more support from the midfield in this one. We will go with our most solid back four which, if everybody is fit, looks like this: Leigh Bromby, Paddy Kisnorbo, Richard Naylor, Andy Hughes.
The rest of the side should be the same as the one from the previous round, the only change being Robert Snodgrass replacing Jonny Howson.
Prediction
Leeds need to find some inspiration from somewhere to overcome a very strong Tottenham side. We have looked well off the pace in the last few games but I’m sure we will see a totally different Leeds side for this one. It will be a performance full of guts and determination but ultimately we will come up short.
Spurs 3 Leeds United 1
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Agree totally with the hearts and heads conundrum.
Being the underdogs should suit us after some poor results where we have been expected to win. Not sure if tottingham will inspire the same performance that scum so as long as it’s not a cricket score they will have done us proud and we can concentrate on promotion.
Be nice if the Gradel move was completed in time for him to be in the squad. Can just imagine him coming on for the last 20 mins and having a blinder.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:22 pm
We’ll stuff the Yidds if we play half as good as we did against the scum, they wont stand a chance, if Van’ the Man Nistroy’ had of came to them they might have had a chance…Another Scalp…
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January 22nd, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Just read graysons interview in the telegraph, i think he knows promotion is the main priority this season, and may rest some key players, his message seems to be more go out and enjoy yourselves than we can win this, which was the mantra before old trafford. I have a gut feeling we will win tomorrow though, 2-0, leeds. I am appalled that we werent able to compete with southampton for lee barnard by the way, i can only hope that we make up for it by signing sharp.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 9:07 pm
mark my words we’ll be lucky to only lose by 7 or 8
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January 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm
my yid based housemate called this draw – he’s well up for it. as are, i believe, most spurs fans
i don’t think you’ll get hammered – it’s the teams (with all due respect to you) that they should be beating that they’ve actually struggled against this year (stoke and wolves did em at their place)
They blow hot and cold a little and frankly while they try to reshuffle their side to allocate modric and kranjcar, it’s a good time to play them as it’s not *quite* working
my thoughts anyway!
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January 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
What do you think the chances are of Max Gradel being in the squad, maybe even another player? Grayson’s has previous for keeping signings under wraps till the last minute. We could do with Gradel on the bench today.
A draw would be a bit of a nightmare for us but it would be great to get them back to ours in front of a packed house. We are in a real catch 22 situation – as much as I would love to see us win I know it could really damage a promotion aspirations. I just hope the players aren’t having the same conundrum because we could be on the wrong end of a hiding!
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