James Ashby

Family Man, Leeds United and Castleford Tigers Supporter

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@_offside18 Japan

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Leeds United can take pride in their season. Leaving Wembley disappointed and frustrated actually shows what they have achieved this season. They under-performed compared to some of their more vibrant, assertive form on that seven-game unbeaten run. Leeds lost (deservedly) to a newly-motivated Chelsea side whose starting XI cost £551m. Leeds’ starting XI cost £103m. It's not a level playing field for starters.

Leeds went out with a whimper, too meek in the first half, but have over-achieved this season. Plenty of reasons for positivity. Close to confirming they’re staying up, against gloomy pre-season predictions of many rivals. Six points clear of the drop zone with four games remaining and Burnley at home on Friday. Showing a togetherness in the team and between players and supporters that others covet. Generating atmospheres in stadia that few can match.

Guided by a likeable head coach in Daniel Farke who made the right decision when the pressure was on most, changing the tactics and mood (Etihad, Nov 29). Good players like Gudmundsson and Ampadu stepping up, Calvert-Lewin getting back in England contention, Stach class.

A fully fit Stach would have helped against Wembley (arrived at the break). An earlier tweak to 3-4-2-1 to combat Chelsea’s control and give DCL some support might have helped (Farke did go to a back-four at half-time but Chelsea closed down the game, including time-wasting and tactical time-outs).

Leeds can still take pride in reaching the semi-final of the Cup, taking 34,000 to Wembley, and could easily have sold out the stadium on their own. That river of white and yellow flowing from all parts towards football's HQ confirmed the size of the club and the passion it stirs. Need to strengthen further in the summer, keep key players, and continue building. A bad day at Wembley, a missed opportunity, a sense of dismay, cannot slow Leeds United's revival. #LUFC

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@talkaboutlufcv2 Should have started with Nemecha and DCL in attack instead of a defensive setup with Gruev. Very poor decision by Farke.

[CLINT⚽N @footballpoetry2]

Peter Drury poetry🥰 on Leeds United vs Liverpool 3-3🤩🔥
#LUFC

[James Ashby @jashby12]

Such a terrible performance by Leeds in a must win game. Shocking. We are still crying out for creativity, very very poor signings and poor decisions by Farke again. Time to go i'm afraid not all his fault, let down by the board but he is the only thing we can change.#lufc

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@apopey Defending was awful and no creativity going forward. Need some quality in attack desperately.

[The Away Fans @theawayfans]

🇩🇪 Former Bayern Club President, Uli Hoeness on the clubs season ticket prices. 💶

🗣 “We could charge more than £104. Let's say we charged £300. We'd get £2m more in income, but what's £2m to us?”

🗣 “In a transfer discussion you argue about that sum for five minutes. But the difference between £104 and £300 is huge for the fan. We do not think the fans are like cows, who you milk.” 🍼

🗣 “Football has got to be for everybody. That's the biggest difference between us and England.” 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Old but gold but perfectly put, and relevant with some of the extortionate prices some clubs are charging currently on this country.

British clubs could do with taking note…

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@BerenCross It was the manner in the defeat. Pathetic, didn't even give it a go.

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@apopey Embarrassing by Leeds today. Just let Arsenal play and looked beat before we kicked off. If Farke doesn't fix this quick, he will be gone.

[WhoScored @WhoScored]

Only Liverpool (2.51xG) registered more xG on the opening weekend of the Premier League than Leeds (2.28xG).

[talkSPORT @talkSPORT]

⚒️ Could #WHUFC go down?
⚪️ #LUFC to buck the trend?
🐝 #BrentfordFC to struggle?

@ChelseaRory reveals who he thinks are getting relegated next season! ⬇️

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@lufc could play for another hour and won't score today. Extremely poor team performance again, just like last few weeks. Playoffs it is then. #Fallenapartagain!

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@MikeGore2 Looking to be a mirror of last season if we are not careful.

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@GrahamSmyth Take bloody Gruev off, it's like playing with 10 men 🤦‍♂️

[James Ashby @jashby12]

@BerenCross Typical Leeds, could see it coming from the 1st minute. Poor passing, low energy. Looking like the play offs again, a mirror of last season.

[COPA90 @Copa90]

The story of Raphinha is one of rags to riches. To understand his rise, you must understand the humble beginnings that turned him into a household name.

🧵THREAD

[Justin Allen @justinallen1976]

So sad to see the breaking news that Sir Chris Hoy has terminal cancer aged 48. Best wishes to him. A true champion - one of the very best. #ChrisHoy

[Daily Mail Sport @MailSport]

A HOMETOWN HERO AT LAST! Billy Bremner was hailed by Pele as one of the best players of his generation ... but only now is the Scotland and Leeds legend being given the recognition he deserves in his native Raploch in Stirling https://t.co/jfSTnOEaCn

[James Rowlands @JamesMRowlands]

Marcelo Bielsa steers Uruguay past Brazil to the SF of the Copa America and while the whole place goes nuts he seeks out Raphina and does this. Find me a better person in football. Vamos Uruguay y viva Bielsa 🇺🇾🇺🇾🇺🇾🩵🖤 #lufc #bielsa