West Brom (A): Preview

We are past the halfway stage in the season and the top two teams at Xmas usually go up…as they say. With still 22 matches left there are lots of points to play for but our prospects of automatic promotion have taken a heavy blow with the defeat at Preston on Boxing Day and Leeds United are now in 4th place having been leap-frogged by Southampton, who have not lost since beating Leeds at the end of September. That is a magnificent run and they are now 3 points ahead of Leeds, who face 5th placed West Brom tonight at The Hawthorns. Another defeat  will surely mean the end of Leeds hopes of being in the top two, come the end of the season.

We look nailed on for the playoffs; 9 points clear of 7th  and 8 points behind 2nd place makes us heavy odds-on favourites to be part of the end of season jamboree. Maybe it is time to look positively at that scenario. Leeds have to go up; if we don’t we will lose Summerville and Rutter for sure and very likely Rodon and Struik and Meslier. There is an opportunity in January to strengthen the squad and improve our chances of winning the playoffs. I don’t know how much they are allowed to spend with the financial fair play situation but however much it is will be money well spent on players that will mitigate losing our star men, if we fail to go up, and will improve our chances of winning the world’s most valuable game in May. After all the failures in the playoffs in the past our time has to come one day.

With Mes now out for the next two league games, following his stupid red card at Preston, the Leeds team is  weakened tonight by his absence but it is an opportunity for Darlow to play real football and get rid of some rustiness and maybe Leeds will be under less  pressure now, every game is no longer a must win. I know I am dreaming but three signings in January, if the right players become awhaleable, will make sure we are the best in the league…a left back and a striker that will make a difference when coming on from the bench, and a player that can score and create from midfield…. Klich coming back on loan would be nice and he said his time was not finished at Leeds when he left for America.

Tonight I expect some changes and hope to see Byram return at left back and Spence switching to the right. It would be interesting to see how Archie fits in to the midfield with Kammy and Amp and I would like to see Piroe as a striker that will come from the bench and make a difference. It is a long day to wait for a football match with an 8.15 kick off and a draw tonight will be ok.

By David Dean