Rocco's Round-Up (29/3/24 to 4/4/24)
Friday, 29th March 2024
Good Friday was almost a Great Friday, with Leicester losing and Southampton drawing in the first two games of the day. Alas, as the sun set our fortunes turned. Ipswich survived three disallowed goals to take three undeserved points at Blackburn, and Farke’s walking wounded did well to snatch a 2-2 draw from their trip to Watford, a point the boss was pretty pretty pleased with.
Saturday, 30th March 2024
Kalvin Phillips was in the headlines today after being caught on camera swearing at his own fans after another disastrous appearance. Well, they're not his own fans, they're West Ham fans... he'd never swear at his own fans no matter what. Come home Kalvin!
Sunday, 31st March 2024
Easter Sunday was a day of rest and quiet contemplation. I'll never forget last year's Easter Sunday, that 5-1 mauling at home to Palace. How far we have come since dropping down a league. God bless the Championship!
Monday, 1st April 2024
Just like Jesus of Nazareth and Simon Grayson's 2010 promotion team, Leicester rose again on Easter Monday. Their victory over Norwich ended a dismal run of form, and Ipswich's latest 97th minute winner was no preparation for Leeds’s tough night against Hull. But Farke's Fighters got the job done, with Dan James spectacularly silencing his hometown fans with a 97th minute goal from the halfway line to seal the points.
Tuesday, 2nd April 2024
SNAKES & LOSERS
Jack Harrison: It's one win in 17 now for Everton, and Harrison was finally benched for tonight’s draw at Newcastle. Poor performances and Everton's perilous financial situation make me doubt the possibility of a permanent move.
Marc Roca: Four defeats in a row have derailed Betis's season, but Roca was injured in the second of those games and not due back until mid-April. The finish line of his Elland Road career is surely in sight.
Max Wober: His club are sliding towards the drop zone and The Wet Warrior was benched for their recent 3-0 defeat at home to Freiburg. Not looking good for a permanent move.
Brenden Aaronson: Things are looking up for Brenden. He's starting games for Berlin (scoring his second goal 2 weeks ago) and is back in the USA squad. I can't see his loan becoming permanent, but with a strong finish to the season you never know.
Rasmus Kristensen: An injury at the beginning of March may or may not help Razza earn a permanent move. Roma had been winning with him in the team but are still doing well without him, and conceding less goals (surprise surprise).
Diego Llorente: Llorente scored before the iBreak, but was benched at the weekend and I struggle to believe Roma won't think they can find a better and cheaper CB.
Sam Greenwood: After a few weeks warming the bench, Sam was back in the team for Boro's Easter games and two good results bode well for his exit. He's only got two goal contributions in the last 22 games mind.
Cody Drameh: In Drameh’s last seven starts, the Brady Bunch have lost six and drawn one, finally returning to winning ways when he was benched on Monday. Perhaps they'll retain him for League One, unless Borussia Dortmund come knocking again.
Victor Orta: Sevilla are now six points clear of the relegation zone. Boooo.
Andrea Radrizzani: Sampdoria have catapulted themselves into the play-off places with four wins in a row. Boooo.
Wednesday, 3rd April 2024
Good news and annoying news today. The good news being the nominations of Daniel Farke, Cry Summerville and Archie Gray onto the three-man shortlists for EFL Manager of the year, player of the year, and young player of the year respectively. A clean sweep is a lot to ask, but Cry and Archie must be nailed on winners. The annoying news came from the release of club accounts, which revealed our promotion rivals Leicester spent a whopping 116% of last seasons PL turnover on player wages. Our relegation rivals Forest and Everton were the only other clubs over 90%, while Leeds shared the 62-64 percentiles with Liverpool and Brighton. A Great Man once said, 'respecting the rules is not naive', but perhaps Marcelo is just too pure for the cesspit of elite club football.
Thursday, 4th April 2024
Farke was on top form in his presser today, he is a model professional and his team will be ready to fight with the knife between their teeth for the last six games. In the evening, over 10,000 flocked to a sodden Elland Road and were treated to a classic, as Leeds reached the FA Youth Cup Final for the first time in 27 years, overcoming Millwall 4-3 in a ding-dong battle. The boys done good!
