Rocco's Round-Up (5/1/24 to 11/1/24)
Friday, 5th January 2024
An explosive day in Twitterland as debate rages over Djed Spence’s terminated loan. Reading between the lines of Herr Farke’s press conference comments it seems The Big Easy was taking it too easy, and Spurs immediately placed him on the transfer list upon his return.
Saturday, 6th January 2024
Speculation is beginning to intensify, with Ayling and Cresswell seemingly on the verge of exits. Summerville to Newcastle, Struijk to PSG and Gnonto to Everton seem a touch more fanciful. No solid murmurings of incomings as yet.
Sunday, 7th January 2024
2024 continues to amaze, as a much-changed Leeds United strolled to victory against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup, with Bamford morphing into James Rodriguez to score one of the greatest goals in FA Cup history. Heavens, we could even get a home draw in the next round; stranger things have now happened!
Monday, 8th January 2024
And so it came to pass. Herr Farke got his wish for a fourth round tie “in our living room”, where we will host Plymouth Argyle for place in the last 16. If ever Leeds were going to reach the FA Cup final it would surely be this season, with the Wembley showpiece scheduled for the day before the Play-Off final. At least we’d save on travel costs.
Tuesday, 9th January 2024
Robin Koch today signed a pre-contract agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt and becomes the first of the relegation loanees to depart full-time. No incoming transfer fee for Leeds, but we did get a second goodbye message to follow the one we received in the summer, as Kochy Robin again thanked us for making him a better person and player. It’s a shame he couldn't make us a better team. He did do a lot for children's charities in the region though, so I for one wish him the best. One down, nine to go.
Wednesday, 10th January 2024
Another day, another departure, with Luke Ayling ending his legendary United career by moving on loan to Middlesbrough ahead of his contract expiring in the summer. The marauding runs, the goals, the flops, the ponytail, the courage and the leadership; Ayling will be sorely missed at Elland Road and always welcomed back as a hero. Like with Koch, we'll get nothing for this transfer except our goodbye message, but this one was a real tear-jerker, with Ayling signing off in typically modest fashion: 'I hope I've done you proud.' Too bloody right you did, Bill. As proud as any Peacock.
Thursday, 11th January 2024
Another day, another departure, as The Great Fuhrer continued his quest for a streamlined and laser-focused squad by sending Darko Gyabi on loan to Plymouth. Maybe Gyabi will become a good player, but spending 5m quid on a guy that had managed only a dozen u-23 appearances for Man City is proving to be as ridiculous as it seemed. Speaking of Victor Orta’s insanity, Jesse Marsch's latest podcast appearance dropped today. My dedication to this round-up drove me to sit through the full hour of his insufferable guff, with my personal highlight being his insistence that he deserved to keep his job because on Matchweek 20 we were 13th. Star-spangled banter.
