Jewell Looks Set to Keep Faith in Youngsters at Leeds
Friday, 20th Jan 2012 15:11

Town boss Paul Jewell will be weighing up whether to stick with youngsters such as Josh Carson, Luke Hyam, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Tommy Smith or recall some of his fit-again senior players when the Blues take on Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon. Last week’s youthful line-up impressed as they drew 2-2 at home to Blackpool.

The Town manager has skipper Grant Leadbitter (hip) and central defender Damien Delaney (foot) available again after injuries, while striker Jason Scotland is expected to be fine after suffering a hamstring problem at the end of the draw with the Seasiders.

Jewell says that in addition to those three, midfielder Jimmy Bullard is getting stronger after his recent illness: “Jimmy’s training, he came on last week having trained for only a couple of days. It was a really nasty virus he had.

“He’s been in training this week, so it’s only Lee Bowyer out of the senior players who isn’t fit.”

Ultimately, the Town boss will probably keep faith with last week’s XI with Hyam and Andy Drury having formed a feisty central midfield partnership against Ian Holloway’s men, while Lee Martin was employed in a free role behind lone out-and-out striker Scotland.

Carson and Emmanuel-Thomas are likely to continue on the left and right of midfield respectively with Alex McCarthy in goal, Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards the full-backs and Smith and Ibrahima Sonko at centre-half.

The Blues boss says Leeds will have been missing skipper Jonny Howson, even before his still ongoing move to Norwich: “He’s been injured anyway and I think they’ve missed him since he’s been injured.

“They’ve got Robert Snodgrass back, which is a big boost for them and he scored against Crystal Palace last week.

“Leeds are another team who have aspirations of being in the Premier League, and in fact the Champions League. It’s not that long since they were in the Champions League.

“That’s the level of difficulty of this division; everyone thinks they should be in the Premier League, they’ve got a great history, great support, they’ve done this, done that.”

He has praise for his Leeds counterpart Simon Grayson, who played for him during his time as Bradford boss: “I think the manager there has done a fine job. People have been talking about him being under pressure, which I think is quite amazing really.

“Who am I to be talking about people being under pressure, but I think he’s done a terrific job - they got relegated three years ago, they almost got promoted the first season after they were promoted [from League One], they had a terrific season last year and are on the edge of the play-offs again this year.

“It’s a hard place to go to, Elland Road,“ he added. “It’s a hostile ground, so, like every game in this league, and I say it every week, it’s not going to be easy.”

While Howson has all but departed, the Whites have re-signed former midfielder Fabian Delph on loan from Aston Villa. Winger Robert Snodgrass could return to the starting line-up having recently undergone an appendix operation.

Central defender Paddy Kisnorbo is out for the season due to a knee injury, while new signing Robbie Rogers is still waiting for the paperwork to go through on his move from MLS side Columbus Crew.

Historically, Leeds have the superior record in the fixture, winning 26 (25 in the league) clashes between the teams, Town have been victorious on 23 (18) occasions and with 19 (16) games ending in draws.

In August, Scotland and Keith Andrews — a Whites target in the summer and reportedly again now - scored the goals as the Blues came from behind to beat 10-man Leeds United 2-1 at Portman Road.

The visitors dominated the first half and went in front via Ross McCormack, but after the break Leeds had Aidan White sent off for pulling down Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Scotland and then Andrews’s deflected last-minute strike saw Town to the points.

At Elland Road in March, Town recorded only their second 0-0 draw of the 2010/11 season as they left West Yorkshire with a deserved point.

Both sides could have been in front at the break after an end-to-end first period, Tamás Priskin and Lee Martin missing the Blues’ best opportunities. In the second half Town rarely threatened but their backline held firm.

Alex Bruce joined the Whites from Town in the summer of 2010 and former Blues loanee Darren O’Dea moved to Elland Road, also on loan, from Celtic during this close season.

Andros Townsend, who is on loan at Leeds from Spurs, was with the Blues on the same basis last season, making 14 starts and two sub appearances, scoring one goal.

Lee Bowyer, who misses the match with a groin injury, was with Leeds between 1996 and 2003, making 257 starts and eight sub appearances, scoring 55 goals. Keeper Alex McCarthy made six appearances during a loan spell at Leeds before Christmas, enjoying his time at Elland Road.

Town fitness coach Andy Liddell is from Leeds and is a supporter of the club, while boss Paul Jewell’s family home is a “nine iron away" from the hotel where the Blues are staying ahead of the game.

Prior to the match, the North of England Branch of the Supporters Club are holding their AGM with Kevin Beattie, Alex Mathie and Simon Clegg all attending. All fans are welcome to come along. Full details here.

Saturday’s referee is Geoff Eltringham from Sunderland, who has shown 54 yellow cards and three red in 24 games so far this season. Eltringham has never refereed either the Blues or the Whites before.

Squad from: McCarthy, Lee-Barrett, Wright, Edwards, Cresswell, Ainsley, Sonko, Smith, Delaney, Hyam, Drury, Bullard, Leadbitter, Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Carson, Murphy, Scotland, Chopra, Ellington.

Photo: Action Images

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jas0999 added 20:25 - Jan 20 p.s. I also call for h32 to return. Much better than the deluded few who are 'delighted' with 2 wins in 15. Even a win tomorrow would not make up for the utter ruibbish served up by PJ.
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alfromcol added 21:08 - Jan 20 jas0999 You didn't realise h32 WAS Priskin, hence his negativity
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Mutiny added 21:30 - Jan 20 Anybody seen Neil Warnock at PR?
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Lukeybluey added 22:50 - Jan 20 Warkywonderland' Leadbitters side ways crab movement made me laugh out loud! So very true. Stick with the same team, let this be the platform to build on for years to come. COYB's
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dragonalfa added 00:59 - Jan 21 A point against Blackpool and a refreshing discussion about keeping the youngsters in the squad, shouldn't mean much, but just have a feeling about this one. COYB...and bring on West ham......never stop believing.
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pazelle added 01:09 - Jan 21

The only change Jewell should make is chucking McCarthy and Murphy in the bin. Don't forget that it's all McCarthy's fault that we didn't win last week 2-0. The first goal he was dancing like a thunderbird on a tumble dryer and the second one exposed him as a true leaking salad.
Let the youngsters have a bash, reward their zeal and let all the old pros worry about how much land they own or whatever it is that makes them so passionless.

On a side note:
Our goalkeeper coach must be crap because all our goalies are leaking like salads.
Our fitness coach must be crap because we always concede goals in the last 15 minutes because our players are all knackered.
Our tactical technicians must be crap because all tactics are abandoned at halftime due to being 2 goals down.
I'm pretty certain our manager's crap as well

COYB! Leeds ?-? Ipswich

GiveusaWave added 01:12 - Jan 21

For once I am in 100% agreement with Jas.
Has everyone suddenly woken up deluded? We managed to scrape a POINT against Blackpool at home. Yes, we played better than we have done for a while, but we also should have lost it at the end. Blackpool were encamped around our goal for the last few minutes and McCarthy (who seems to have been lambasted by earlier posters) produced a couple of breathtaking saves.
2 wins in 15 is simply not good enough. As Jas, TractorBoy,Pjisagod, Ipswich (forgotten the number) have said-- this is a smokescreen for the fact that we have failed to get in players. Smith has been tallked up- sorry, I know he's a nice guy but apart from the last 2 games for us he has been ABYSMAL. How many posters here actually watch the games??? As for those defending Delaney---I am stunned into silence. Sonko has been ok, but he seems to be playing worse for us the longer he stays at the club. WE NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED NOW!!!!!
A RECOGNISED SOLID RIGHT-BACK. Edwards is good going forwards but should be an IMPACT SUB NOT A REGULAR RIGHT-BACK. How many times has he cost us goals??? Its a total joke.
TWO SOLID CENTREBACKS. Delaney, Sonko and Smith are not going to keep us up. Welcome to League 1 football if we continue with them.
YOUNG, HUNGRY STRIKER. Someone learning the profession rather than in their last footballing days (I rate Scotland- but is he really our future??)
NEW DEFENSIVE COACH. Whoever does this job should be sacked (and should have been sacked a long time ago)
PSYCHOLOGY/LIFE SKILLS COACH- most of our team seem to have problems of some sort- plus good for positive mental attitude and motivation.

I really worry for our club. Supporters have seen these problems for a long time. We have now lost Andrews, Ingimarrson, Collns, Pistol Priskin and O'Connor as outfield players and NO outfield players have been brought in.

Of course we are going to have to rely on youth.
RANT OVER.

GiveusaWave added 01:17 - Jan 21 pazelle- all our coaches should be sacked and we could employ the bloody teletubbies- they would motivate the lads more than this bunch.
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GiveusaWave added 01:27 - Jan 21

Don't get me started on our policy of giving away players for free btw (Priskin, O'Connor etc). Bad business, simple as.
Anyway, back to losing ways against Leeds. We'll probably concede a soft goal from our rightside again (like always) and then get caught by a longball that will go straight through everyone, to their striker and into the back of the net (like always).
2-0 Leeds. An easy win for them though.

bobble added 06:50 - Jan 21 the bloody surf is terrible here in russia
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planetblue_2011 added 09:15 - Jan 21 I think we have a great chance today to nick a win. I just hope jewell keeps to his word and plays the youngters. I am gonna go for a 2.1 town win. carson & scotland with the goals!!! COME ON KEEP THE FAITH
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sheepdags added 12:04 - Jan 21

Agree that ALB should return for McCarthy who cost us the game last week. Shame that PJ doesn't keep faith with players who have given good service and insists on bringing in players in positions we don't really need them rather than where we do such as CB and RB. Fact is that ME has lost faith in PJ's judgement and is not going to give him more money to spend and rightly so. If Warnock was at PR it's good news because he's a motivator and knows how to take a team up - he could probably keep them there too given a fairer chance than QPR gave him.

osborne1nil added 12:21 - Jan 21

sheepdags, although many of the fans have lost faith in PJ IMO ME has not. Bids have been made for players (which appear good prospects) and I don't think hat if that stage had been reached he would be letting him bid and would have released him and had Warnock or someone else in. I dare say that a few more defeats on this current poor run may change things but the targeted players could make a difference.
I don't rate Edwards as a RB and Sonko is good in the air but poor with the ball on the ground attacks and Smith is now starting to rebuild what was a very poor form earlier in the season. We have leaked so many goals, (one of worst in all divisions) because the defense has not been properly addressed for a long time and losing Macauley who was our best defender and not replaced him is a poor job. I didn't feel we needed another keeper as personally RW and ALB are not the problem at the Club it is the players in front of them, so a loanee keeper coming into the team was not required as Stockdale wasn't great in his time here either.
COYB you need a win.

portmanteau added 12:47 - Jan 21 we do have one thing going for us today. unbeaten in 9 previous meetings home and away. leeds must be saying here comes our bogey team...just like we say that about preston and its usually right. cardiff also must have sleepless nights before playing us. so this psychology thing does play a part in results. 2-0 to town.
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alfromcol added 12:54 - Jan 21 guentchev You can't get money for players that no other club wants!!!! You just keep handing over their wages.
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NewcyBlue added 13:43 - Jan 21 BET365 have odds of 280/1 of JET to Score anytime and Town to win 3-2. I figured it was worth a small bet. COYB!! Although I'll be working during the Second Half! Damnit!
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