Leeds United

Leeds appear to be blessed with attacking options in their pursuit of Championship promotion.

The Whites overcame Swansea City at Elland Road on Wednesday, with a 3-1 win keeping them third in the table.

In his news conference, Daniel Farke talked about a lack of efficiency in Leeds' finishing, despite Swansea boss Michael Duff feeling the difference between the two sides was the home side showing "Premier League quality".

On a bonus episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, Leeds United correspondent Adam Pope said: "It's seven for Piroe, seven for Summerville, five for James and four for Rutter. That is some tally isn't it?"

Sports Editor Jonny Buchan replied: "It will now, all being well, be multiple players in double digits."

Despite a positive night for the home side, the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet team sense a major desire within the fanbase for Patrick Bamford's form in front of goal to improve.

The striker, who came off the bench for the final 20 minutes, is 10 games without a goal.

"Bamford to me looked frustrated," added Buchan. "It's just not happening for him. You feel for him."

Listen to the bonus episode here

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

Leeds United look to maintain the Championship's only unbeaten home record when they host Swansea City (Wed, KO: 7.45pm).

Here is the best of what manager Daniel Farke has had to say in his news conference:

• Both Georginio Rutter (abdomen) and Liam Cooper (cramp) will be fit enough for the game after both being substituted in the 1-1 draw at Rotherham United. The only player not available is long-term injury victim Stuart Dallas.

• Given Leeds are the only side who are unbeaten at home in the Championship, Farke was asked how he generates such mental strength: "No secret nor witchcraft... we speak about things and send messages to implement a winning mentality."

• On keeping transfer consultant Nick Hammond at the club: "He's brilliant. He's also key to our success in the recent months, gaining more stability. He's fully committed to our club and it's a perfect decision to keep him for longer."

• Farke says he expects a calm and "chilled" January window. He is confident that key players will be retained and says there will be no major change to the core of the squad.

• On Swansea, he said: "I like them. They've changed their style a bit but not in a bad way, not at all. You can still see their DNA, they're good in their passing quality. They put some intensity into their game."

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Adonis Storr, The Roaring Peacock, external

Coventry City's statement on Monday regarding their failure to agree reciprocal ticket pricing for away fans was worded very carefully.

"While advertised as being a 'reciprocal offer' to clubs, Leeds' proposal would result in their fans visiting the Coventry Building Society Arena paying less for the game than Sky Blues supporters."

Coventry failed to acknowledge that their fans would pay less than Leeds fans for the reverse fixture - that is how reciprocal pricing works.

Leeds United Supporters' Trust has campaigned for reciprocal away ticket prices for years - an issue which became inflamed after then chairman Ken Bates moved the away section at Elland Road to the stand with the most expensive tickets.

In 2020, Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear stated that: "Reciprocal pricing had been offered to a number of clubs, but most were not open to altering their prices as they see Leeds United as a financially important fixture."

Coventry's objection was also financial: "The cost of a price reduction such as this for Leeds fans would be around £30,000 to Coventry City."

Leeds' offer of reciprocal pricing should be lauded. And implementing an EFL-wide away ticket price cap would be a signal that football authorities acknowledge the need to keep fans at the heart of the nation's game.

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Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Leeds' Jonathan Buchan expects to see a more demanding side to Daniel Farke as Leeds head into a busy Christmas period. He told the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast: "I wonder if we are going to start seeing that other side of him, where he will still publicly defend his players, but might be more demanding of his players?

"Now that everything has settled and we are through that difficult period at the start of the season, they then had that great run - I wonder if we will see another side of him where he is like 'we expect now to win these games' and if that will change the mentality to ramp up the pressure on this group?"

Adam Pope added: "I think the way he talked about the missed chances [against Rotherham], that’s his way of doing it. Even when he’s doing it he has a knack of not looking like he’s hanging them out completely to dry.

"He does it in a way where he isn’t sugar-coating anything but there is definitely a hard side. I don’t want to call it a dark side, but there is a hard side to him."

Listen to Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast dissects Friday's 1-1 draw with Rotherham, with the Millers' goal described as "a series of unfortunate events" with a "catalogue of errors" from Daniel Farke's side.

Listen to Don't Go To Bed Just Yet on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds forward Patrick Bamford explains how the squad found out about Jesse Marsch's sacking in the latest episode of My Mates A Footballer.

Bamford told the BBC Sounds podcast: "When Marsch got sacked, us players found out about it through social media, we didn’t know.

"Normally there’s a note put into the WhatsApp group or something that just says ‘look lads the manager has been relieved of his duties’ but it's not like it’s a shock because sometimes with the way it’s going, you know it’s going that way.

"That message comes in, sometimes managers come in to say bye and sometimes that's it they're gone.

"When Marcelo left he came back in and just got us all in a meeting and said thank you, that was really nice and touching – especially after the kind of journey we went on because he got us promoted.

"At the end of the day it’s a job for them, everyone's got a family. I’d always send them a message and say thank you, even if we didn’t get on or see eye to eye."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonny Buchan compares Everton's 10-point deduction to Leeds' deductions in the 2005-06 season on the Don't Go To bed Just Yet podcast: "Everton are an easy target. What happened with Leeds and the 15 points and Everton getting their points is that it was managed badly by the owners of the club and the punishment hasn’t come against them but has come against everybody else, who aren't responsible for it.

"I think there is a claim for Leeds probably because they played within the rules with Raphinha and Phillips - then is there not a compensation that they could claim for saying they had to sell them for lower than what they wanted to in order to keep within FFP rules?

"With Leeds it’s fair to say there is a claim surrounding transfer dealings."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

Daniel Farke on the availability of Georginio Rutter for Friday's game against Roterham: "There are a few question marks behind a few players because some of them took some knocks.

"Rutter is a question mark because he has some abdominal strain and came back injured and hasn't been able to participate in the team training so far. He's a major doubt."

On the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast Adam Pope said: "Rutter managed 26 minutes for the first France under-21s game, but has not played since coming back [from international duty]. From a Leeds perspective for Friday, it looks like the players will do a recovery session and nothing else."

Simon Rix: "He didn't play many minutes at all. It looks like he just went to France had a nice time and came back injured, which is the worst scenario all round."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

In the latest episode of My Mate's A Footballer, Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford discusses the different ways managers take charge.

"Marcelo [Bielsa] came in and no one knew what he was going to be like," said Bamford. "He signed me maybe a month after he joined.

"When he first became manager, he made all the boys in the squad go around the training ground picking up litter. That was to show how the fans have to work to come and watch us play, to keep us humble.

"He did a lot of things like that in terms of keeping us down to earth and making sure we were in check with reality, which was excellent."

Bamford also shared his experience with current Leeds manager Daniel Farke.

"Normally when you go for dinner in the hotel the night before a game, players turn up, have your food and when you’ve finished eating you just go and do what you need to do," said Bamford.

"With Farke we all sit on one long table with all the players on and then he comes in five minutes later and says we can eat. Also, until the last player has finished eating, we aren't allowed to leave, everyone has to wait.

"Part of it is about the togetherness of the team. Everyone eats together, there's no mobile phones and everyone has conversations. Part of it is just having some structure."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Harry Redknapp says he wouldn't have been able to turn down the manager's job at Leeds if he was offered it after Jesse Marsch was sacked.

Leeds' then-Under 21 coach Michael Skubala was named caretaker manager after Marsch's exit, before the appointment of Javi Gracia.

On rumours he was interested in the vacancy, Redknapp told Kammy & Ben's Proper Football Podcast: "Listen, I would have walked there. I'll be truthful. But if someone actually asked me, I say to you, my life's good, I'm happy but you know if there was, I would take it.

"I wouldn't be able to say no, honestly. If someone come along and said, 'Harry, would you come and manage us?' I'm sure I would have dived headfirst like I've always done, you know, and think about it after and realise I should never done that.

"But that never happened. I was never in the running for that job anyway."

On what his wife Sandra would have said, Redknapp added: "She'd just go, 'It's up to you, Harry.' My missus is so placid... she would never interfere."

Listen to Kammy & Ben's Proper Football Podcast on BBC Sounds

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Friday's Championship trip to Rotherham United (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Farke said there is a major doubt over Georginio Rutter, who has not trained since returning from France Under 21s duty because of an abdomen problem.

• The United boss reiterated his confidence in Patrick Bamford and said there will have no concerns if he has to start in place of Rutter.

• Pascal Struijk (hernia) and Sam Byram (hamstring) returned training on Wednesday, while Joe Gelhardt (wrist), Djed Spence (knee) and Jamie Shackleton (glute) have all been in team training for the past five days. Farke said there will be late fitness calls on all these players and priased the club's medical staff: "I didn't expect them to back in team training so quickly."

• Meanwhile, Wales trio Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James, plus Italy Under-21 international Willy Gnonto will only be back in time for a recovery session. Farke said: "I'm not a friend of Friday night kick-offs after an international break."

• Farke said he is pleased with how the England youth set-up handled Archie Gray's minutes over this international break, after the midfielder had played all three matches during the last one: "It was definitely the right choice for his wellbeing and for the mental side that we could give him a rest."

• The German said preparation for Rotherham, who are without a manager, "is a bit more complicated and tricky", but added: "On the other hand, it's still the same squad and it's not like they have 20 other players. The interim bosses have experience, but I don't expect right now they will play like Manchester City."

• On applying pressure on Leicester City and Ipswich Town, the Championship's top two: "You need 26 wins and several draws to achieve automatic promotion. For me, it's just the last five or six games when you look at the table. We don't pay too much attention to the table right now."

Dan Roan, BBC sports editor

The same independent panel that docked Everton 10 points for breaching Premier League financial rules will decide on any financial compensation claims from rival clubs.

Leeds and Leicester - who were relegated to the Championship last season - along with Burnley - who were relegated in 2022 before returning - are weighing up whether to press ahead with a claim against the Toffees.

Had the 10 point deduction been applied in 2021-22 , Burnley would have stayed up, as would Leicester last season if it had counted then. Leeds would have finished a place higher, but would still have done down.

It has been reported Everton could potentially face claims for tens of millions of pounds.

The clubs have 28 days from the date of the ruling to decide.

If they do, barrister David Phillips KC, High Court judge His Honour Alan Greenwood, and chartered accountant Nick Igoe (former West Ham finance director), would hear their arguments.

In last week’s ruling, Phillips KC referenced applications for financial compensation from a number of clubs, saying he was "satisfied” that they had “potential claims”.

Everton have 14 days from the ruling to lodge an appeal.

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Bamford says he always tries to "train better or score more" than other strikers to get or keep his place in the team.

The Leeds United striker has recently returned from injury and is trying to work his way back into a regular starting XI spot.

Now one of the more experienced players in the squad, Bamford says his attitude hasn't changed and he hopes that can help his younger team-mates.

"When I was younger, so I was coming up and trying to get into that top-dog position, I was always competing and trying to train better or score more than them and to be honest it hasn't really changed much," Bamford said in the new BBC Radio 5 Live My Mate's A Footballer podcast.

"Now I'm a little bit older and they're almost looking up to me the younger ones, I still do the same. So I make sure that I'm training better and scoring more in training which in the end I think pushes them as well. If they're feeling how I was feeling when I was younger then they're going to be trying as well so it's just going to improve everyone.

"There's some youngsters - there's one especially called Joe Gelhardt - and when I was younger I liked being able to ask the more experienced players or the strikers who had been around and achieved a lot for little tips and where they could help me and stuff and Joe is the one really. Since I've been at Leeds, he wants to learn all the time, he's always looking for tips."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Warning: some strong language

Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch says he is "not bitter" with anyone at the club, but believes the decision to sack him was "foolish".

The American was sacked in February after less than a year in charge. He won 11 of his 37 matches in charge, drawing 10 and losing 16.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast that following in Marcelo Bielsa's footsteps was always going to be difficult.

"I was complimentary of Marcelo a thousand times publicly. One time I criticised him for over-training the team and this became a lightning rod with the public," Marsch said.

"For anyone to follow Marcelo in any situation is not easy and certainly he was a cult hero in Leeds. I had followed Marcelo, I had watched him and learned from the things that he does. He’s incredibly unique, he’s authentic and in some ways so off the wall with so many things that he tries to do, that if you don’t pay attention to what he’s doing then you are not really doing your job effectively as a football coach. Fundamentally we have a lot of differences and as coaches.

"The truth about the Premier League and when you’re a club like Leeds with where we were at the time is it’s not just turn key, you need time, you have to develop everything from tactics to mentality to understanding to bravery, and then you have to have luck on many days to be effective in that league. I was never afraid of that, I always enjoyed that challenge.

"The unfortunate part was many games where we were better than the opponent we did not get the points. In the end if that becomes a trend that puts pressure on the entire environment and the process and when there is a lot of money on the line, owners feel pressure to make, for me, foolish decisions.

"Decisions that are against the metric, against the logic and the rationale of what is being developed or what is actually happening. But I’m not bitter with anyone. I’m very appreciative of the experience, I learned a tonne from it. It’s made me a better person and a better coach."

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Hear more from Jesse Marsch from 29'50 on BBC Sounds

Manchester City have agreed a £1.2m deal with Leeds United to sign 15-year-old attacking midfielder Finley Gorman. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

In the first episode of new podcast My Mate's A Footballer featuring Patrick Bamford and comedian Joe Wilkinson,Bamford reveals which one Leeds footballer their former boss said he would pick to marry his daughter.

Listen to My Mate's A Footballer on BBC Sounds