Latest news with #WestYorkshireSportDaily
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Farke on Bamford, Boro, fire and fatigue
Leeds United's final six games of the regular Championship season begin at play-off chasing Middlesbrough on Tuesday are the key points from Leeds boss Daniel Farke's pre-match media conference:The German boss revealed defender Pascal Struijk (foot) will miss the game and Saturday's visit of Preston. If there is a fracture, his season will be Joe Rothwell (calf) will hopefully be available for the final two games while Mateo Joseph has recovered from illness and is fit to would not be "natural" to play Patrick Bamford from the start at his former club Boro after his "beneficial" cameo against Luton - his first appearance in three months - but Farke said the striker's availability was "always important".Farke says it is vital the "fire burns" within supporters and players during the "crunch time of the season" but that Leeds have to "stay calm and cool".He added he has to be "more there for the players" when they make mistakes and provide "some coolness" to "protect my players" from any Leeds boss labelled Middlesbrough a "really good side" but added: "If we are ourselves we will be successful."Farke dismissed any notion of tiredness within the squad: "I'm not a believer in speaking about tiredness because if you speak about it, you feel it. I look at Jaidon Anthony at Burnley who's played nearly every game but got a brace (at Coventry on Saturday)."Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Farke on 'reliable' Darlow and promotion belief
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media ahead of their Championship trip to Luton Town on Saturday (12.30 BST).Here are the key lines:Farke confirmed that Karl Darlow will replace Illan Meslier in goal for the trip to Kenilworth Road. On Darlow: "I have a reliable and proper option in Darlow. An experienced goalkeeper, proven at this level, top class character. I know he hasn't played many league games in the last few years, but he performs really well every day in training, loyal and in a good moment right now because he's played two solid performances for Wales. He's in a good rhythm so we got the feeling in this moment, heading into a nervy crunch time period, feeling the pressure, it's the right time to take this decision."Patrick Bamford and Max Wober are in training and are "in the mix" after long term injuries. Willy Gnonto is ready to start if available following his ankle injury. No further belief the club will be promoted: "It's my honest feeling, I'm not nervous at all, I'm totally calm and cool that we'll play in the Premier League next season. I'm older and have experience of a few situations. I've been involved in promotion battles in my managerial career, won the title and promotion five times. You get a feeling if you have a team that will make it and I wouldn't speak about it if I wasn't 100% convinced. "Of course at this stage you can't guarantee you'll finish in the top two, the race is too tight. We have strong opponents with Sheffield United, Burnley, even Sunderland have an outside chance. I can't guarantee top two, but I still think we have a great chance to finish top two and if not then the play-offs."On coping with Luton's likely physical approach: "I can't prevent this and this will be exactly the fact. Everyone expected Luton to be in a better position this season. They have many players who played Premier League last season, they have Premier League physicality and right now a good run of form. Last five games, they're in position five in the form table. They know they need each and every point."Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Farke on Schmidt, Ampadu and reaching 50 wins
It's a swift turnaround for Leeds United as they head to QPR on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) after Wednesday night's 2-0 victory over Farke held his pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch and here are the standout says he has no fresh injury concerns hopes and hopes to have defender Isaac Schmidt back from illness. Captain Ethan Ampadu is making progress with his recovery from a knee injury. He hopes to have the Wales international back in team training after this month's international break. Patrick Bamford and Max Wober remain what is the tipping point as to who decides who is fit to play when the medical department, the analysts and the manager are involved. "They (medics) are always worried and give warnings about players in the red zone, but I pick the team. They present data and opinion about recovery status, but it's my responsibility to take the call. If it doesn't work, they can't be blamed."On the decisions of officials going against his side with Joel Piroe denied a goal against the Lions due to offside. "I've calmed down since yesterday. But if you look how many fouls and penalties should have been given, we are normally on the wrong. So many obvious penalties were stone wall. Overall I like when the referee is careful with showing cards because I like it when we go for it and both teams, as long as its not over the line, are competitive."The tackle on Illan Meslier (at Portsmouth by Connor Ogilvie) in the Bundesliga would have been a red card. We want to have the best refs in the world. But I don't complain too much."Farke says he will not use the free agent market to recruit before the end of the season unless there are extraordinary circumstances. He would rather bring an academy product into the first-team being the fastest manager to 50 Championship wins with a single club, he said: "I'm happy with my players and my club. I work for a club where it is a bit easier to reach this. If you have excellent players and staff it is sometimes difficult for the manager to mess it up! All credit to the players."Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I came here to play every minute'
Nobody has had more minutes on the pitch this season for Leeds United than defender Joe Rodon. The Wales international has started every one of the club's 35 league games after which they sit top of the Championship. He is a warrior, often battered and bruised, but always there for his team-mates."I feel good to be fair," he told BBC Radio Leeds. "I think having the experience last season opened my eyes to the whole schedule with the league. "It's crazy as everyone knows, but every player wants to play every minute and this is what I came here to do. I'm enjoying every minute of it."Rodon, 27, plays with his heart on his sleeve and goes where others may fear to tread. "This season I've had more head knocks than I'd like," he said. "I try not to, to be honest. It does hurt. But if it happens, It happens. I guess that's part of the game I'm just used to it now."It's that attitude which sees him drive the side on from the back with his marauding runs and towering headers. But also with his vocal presence."I'm normally quite loud on the pitch anyway just in communicating with the team in order to try and help - to make other people's jobs easier," he is not afraid to hold his team-mates to account on the pitch if things are not quite right. It's a trait that has somewhat dissipated from the modern game. "The boss can get on to me about this, to always be positive," he said."I'm a really competitive person. So I think frustration and emotion creeps into that. I think it's the same for a lot of players, but yeah, I'm just really, really competitive. I'm a competitive problem. "I don't mean that in a negative way. It's more of a kind of a pick me up to work harder and do more." With his captain and compatriot Ethan Ampadu (knee) out for the foreseeable future does Rodon feel more of a responsibility to step up? "I always try to take the lead and lift it more, to help and to bring my say to it," he said."So I guess without Ethan's presence there's a bit of that. "There are a lot of other leaders in this dressing room, especially people like Junior (Firpo) as well who can benefit and lead the team. "I just love talking on the pitch to be honest, I just can't help it."Don't ever change Joe! Communication is key to success. Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00 GMT, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rodon does not need armband to lead by example
"Whoa! I don't think it's even sunk in yet!" admitted an emotional Joe Rodon to BBC Radio Leeds in the immediate aftermath of the dramatic 2-1 over Sunderland at Elland Road. "Those ones are the best ones when you score in the last minute to win. It's a fantastic night and now I'm really looking forward to next week."The defender is of course referring to Monday's top of the Championship clash at second-placed Sheffield United when he will be the first name on manager Daniel Farke's team-sheet. The Wales international has played 40 full 90 minutes for club and country this season, not missing a minute of league 27, wears his heart on his sleeve, is often in the wars on the pitch and does not need an armband to lead by example. He would rather reserve the praise for those who do, whether it be his compatriot and club captain Ethan Ampadu, or fellow centre-back Pascal Struijk whose brace as a substitute secured the points against Sunderland. "For Pascal to come on, after he hasn't played in a couple of games, and do that is incredible and I'm very happy for him," Rodon former Spurs man was just as effusive about midfielder Joe Rothwell who assisted both goals after also being thrown into the fray from the bench. "He's kind of our unsung hero is Joe," Rodon said."A brilliant technical player and you can see he has added to us this year with that more kind of direct play and by bringing the quality and lifting the level of the group. He changed the game but I'm not surprised at all."Every side needs game changers at times but it also requires its stalwarts - Rodon is certainly that. He was also savouring every precious drop of an ecstatic victory. "It's important as a team to celebrate moments like this and especially for the fans and the club," he a season when others have caught the eye, particularly from the wings, they owe many of their moments in the sun to the guile and spirit of the warrior behind them who is steering them on the journey whilst milking every United v Leeds United (KO 20:00 GMT) will be live from Bramall Lane on all BBC Radio Leeds frequencies with all the build up from 18: to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
