Your Leeds United headlines for Friday, January 13.
Poveda unlikely to join Blackpool permanently
Blackpool manager Michael Appleton is not convinced Ian Poveda will sign for the club permanently in the summer. The 22-year-old is yet to feature for an entire 90 minutes in the Championship this season.
However, the Seasiders' boss cited wages as the reason why a deal would prove difficult. “I’ll be absolutely astonished.," Appleton told reporters before their clash with Watford.
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“The reason I say that is, listen, when you’re playing and you’re at a Premier League club you’re clearly being paid handsomely. Ian is established enough to be earning handsomely, so I’d be surprised if that happens.
“Would I want to do it? Absolutely, he’s a top-quality player and he’s in a really good place at this moment in time. But I don’t know where you’ve got that from, but it’s actually made me chuckle.”
Cooper on inconsistency
Liam Cooper has admitted that his side have not put in a "full 90 minute performance" this season and claimed that the squad know exactly what Jesse Marsch is asking of them.
After stunning Liverpool at Anfield with a 2-1 win, Leeds followed that performance up with victory over Bournemouth at Elland Road back in November. Since that result, Marsch'sside are yet to win a competitive match.
Speaking to BBC West Yorkshire Sport Daily, he said: "For me, I think we're starting games very well. We've scored the first goal a lot in games. And then I don't know, whether it's a bit of nervousness creeping in because we've been in the situation before and then we've conceded quite quickly after.
"Our sole focus has been on carrying on, being aggressive and trying to get a performance for 90 minutes, which I don't think we've really had this season. And that's where the inconsistency comes in, we're not getting a full 90 minutes or even a 70 minute performance."
To read more, click here.
Marsch stats breakdown
Jesse Marsch is statistically experiencing the worst league season of his managerial career, after registering just one point per game in the Premier League this term.
It must be said that the American previously managed Red Bull Salzburg, who were a supreme force in the Austrian top-flight, as well as RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga.
However, his points per game total during the 2022-23 season has fallen well below any of his previous campaigns. Leeds will match their total of 38 points from last season if Marsch continues his current form, which could very well be enough to see Leeds preserve their Premier League status.
It's been 12 years since a club was relegated with 38 points or more, as both Birmingham City and Blackpool faced the drop in 2011, despite both amassing 39 points.
For the full breakdown, click here.
Pundits' ominous prediction
The Whites look to keep their unbeaten streak in 2023 going with a good result at Villa Park on Friday night. Marsch's men have drawn their last three matches in all competitions, including fighting for a well-earned point at St. James' Park against high-flyers Newcastle United.
However, the pundits are predicting defeat for Leeds against an Unai Emery side reeling for their shock FA Cup exit to Stevenage.
To read what they had to say, click here.
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