A Wednesday night in Leeds with kids on the bench. What could possibly go wrong?

Today at 01:50 AM

Let's not mess about. No point.

Not since the grim days of our ill-fated and ill-conceived Premier League campaign of 2021-22, seldom have I feared an away fixture more. Amid the current injury crisis, Leeds (a) is probably the last fixture we need.

It's not because we may (will probably) lose – it's hardly a new phenomenon when City are on the road – but more because of the potential fallout if we do.

As hard as I try to throw my behind support the 'keep the faith/transition season' mantra, with every passing defeat – particularly those of the disheartening variety – I sense more City supporters hopping off the positivity train and aboard the 'this isn't working' express.

And, of course, they are more than entitled to that opinion.

Those who claim that we have taken a step back compared to last season's playoff campaign have a point… just about. The cold hard facts are that at this same stage last season we had 37 points compared to the 36 we currently have, while in both campaigns we occupied 11th place after 27 games.  

But those good folk are not content with no tangible signs of progress … even against the backdrop of having a threadbare squad.

So, my fear is that an unfavourable/disastrous result tomorrow night will add further fuel to that fire while offering more ammo to those already tiring of the Knapper/Thorup axis.

As tedious as it is to some, I'm content to bear with the 'project' and give it time to breathe but, equally, I understand the frustrations. We want to see our team play well and win. Full stop. Football supporters are not generally fussed with long-termism (even medium-termism) on the basis that in football you never know what's around the corner in.

Many a building block has remained unbuilt upon as personnel, ideals, and owners come and go … so there's always the danger of a well-formulated plan never coming to fruition.

We just have to trust Mark Attanasio, Ben Knapper, and Johannes Hoff Thorup to still be here in a year and to have moved the 'project' on from its current state.

But… in there here and now, we have said Galacticos of West Yorkshire to negotiate – armed with little more than a plastic novelty gun. And no ammo.

Leeds will play in a style that's very familiar to us, albeit Farke-ball has evolved a little since we saw it first-hand, but with players that are probably, on paper, better than those he had originally had at his disposal at Carrow Road.

Against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, they lined up thus…

Quite how this will differ at 7:45 pm tomorrow remains to be seen, but the shape will be the same and James, Aaronson, and Solomon will likely be rotated with Gnonto and Ramazani, either from the start or during the game.

I suspect both Gnonto and Ramazani, who both tormented us at Carrow Road, will start the game.

For City’s part, the team almost unavoidably picks itself and is almost certain to look very much like the XI that started at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

Without Jose Cordoba, the left side of defence has little option but to include Callum Doyle at centre-back and Ben Chrisene at left-back, unless JHT was sufficiently seduced by Lucien Mahovo’s cameo after Chrisene had been hooked after making that error for the Blades’ penalty.

It would be a brave call at Elland Road though.

The midfield triumvirate looks likely to be Emiliano Marcondes, Kenny McLean, and Kellen Fisher again, while Lewis Dobbin, Onel Hernandez, and Ante Crnac, again, look likely form the front three – hopefully with Hernandez on the right and Crnac down the middle.

The only possible change could be a start for the fit-again Josh Sargent, although caution remains the key as he continues his recovery, and a start may be a game too soon.

As for the bench … other than, maybe, Sargent and George Long, it will have a creche vibe, with a mix of 17, 18, 19 and 20-year-olds. Against Sheffield United, it was Ken Aboh, Uriah Djedje, Brad Hills, Mahovo, Elliot Myles, Oscar Schwartau, and Jaden Warner, and it’s hard to see it changing too much.

All have talent and promise … but are any of them ready for a Wednesday night at Elland Road?

We’ll see.

I’d love nothing more than to be proved wrong.

C’mon, lads. Stand tall.

OTBC.