A parting shot for the boardroom
Leeds United’s draw with Brighton & Hove Albion will be remembered for the injury-time heroics of Joe Gelhardt and Pascal Struijk, but Sunday was not all sunsets and rainbows at Elland Road. Before the goal, yet another after the 90th minute this term, the Whites were heading for a fourth consecutive defeat and some of the natives were restless.
In the 84th minute, Marcelo Bielsa’s name rang out from the home faithful for the first time in several weeks. One minute later, the board’s sacking was being called for before, finally, the ownership was being told to sell up and head back to where they came from.
As is always the case with these things, this was not every single fan on the terraces at Elland Road chanting, but more than enough for the messages to be heard loud and clear. Andrea Radrizzani, Paraag Marathe, Angus Kinnear and Massimo Marinelli were the board members present.
READ MORE: Phillips's family kickabout, Radrizzani hears the anger and Leeds United moments missed
Jed York, San Francisco 49ers chief executive, and Victor Orta were also there to hear exactly what was being chanted inside the stadium on Sunday. As Kinnear admitted in his programme notes, this season has been endured rather than enjoyed and tempers threatened to boil over for some at 1-0 down.
Struijk’s goal pumps life into this scrap for survival and puts a spring back in everyone’s step as players, management, staff and board push together to get Leeds over the line next weekend. That goal cannot, and will not, muffle Radrizzani and co’s ears from the dissatisfaction of some match-going fans.
This was the last chance for fans to make themselves heard for at least another two months before football returns to Elland Road. The club’s hierarchy can plainly see there are lessons to be learned from this season, but based on the vitriol in the Aston Villa loss, that late equaliser may have saved the directors’ box from some harsh words at close quarters.
Phillips and Raphinha’s last dance?
The photographers must not have believed their luck as they saw Kalvin Phillips carrying over a fan-made cardboard sign for Raphinha after the full-time whistle. Elland Road was emptying, Raphinha was sitting against a goalpost brooding, taking in the stadium for what may be the last time and Phillips, the other big name with a questionable future, had to be the one carrying a sign asking the Brazilian to make him smile.
It was picture-postcard stuff and neatly poses the questions which every fan had as they left the ground on Sunday afternoon. Would this be the last time these two play at Elland Road in white shirts?
For Raphinha, the World Cup-bound Brazil sensation with no meaningful roots in the area and a contract expiring in 2024 under an agent working for Barcelona, the future seems clearer. Survival or relegation, this 25-year-old looks likely to be the big sale this summer and most have, begrudgingly, accepted it’s the way of the world for a talent who should be playing in the Champions League.
With Phillips, the 26-year-old on the back of an injury-hit season and a life built around United since he was young alongside a family entrenched in the city, it seems harder to call, at least with survival. Relegation would surely make Sunday his final Elland Road game, but a third consecutive term in the top flight means he stays, right?
Many fans felt the lingering pitch lap, tears, pointed stroll alongside his mother and kickabout with his wider family suggested a deeper acknowledgement of where his future lies. His partner labelled this the last home game on Instagram, but left off the 21/22 context everyone wanted to see.
If Leeds do stay up, losing both of these assets in the same summer after a campaign as abject as this one would make for a very difficult sell from Radrizzani et al. Ambitions would be questioned, but if Phillips did not sign a new contract in that scenario it does leave the club horribly exposed next year with one year to run on his deal.
All eyes on Villa Park
Everton may have teasingly pushed the door ajar to implosion once more, but it’s fair to say attention this Thursday will firmly be on Burnley’s Aston Villa trip. A repeat of the Turf Moor result from nine days ago would be most welcome.
The Clarets somehow kept Tottenham Hotspur down to one, dubious, goal in Sunday’s early kick-off and ensured Leeds could not be effectively relegated in the Brighton match. The win was what fans were crying out for, but the point at least drags Leeds out of the bottom three and puts the ball into Mike Jackson’s court.
Yes, United’s fate remains out of their hands and four wins between the Toffees and Clarets relegates them, but can they deliver those wins? Burnley’s spurt has regressed to consecutive losses and perhaps, some doubts.
Everton, considered safe before yesterday, are now struggling with their own injuries and suspensions before Crystal Palace, who held Villa on Sunday, go to Goodison Park. Arsenal, eyeballs out for the top four until the last kick of this year, await on Sunday.
Should Burnley lose on Thursday, Leeds would simply need to match their result at home to Newcastle United on the final day. A midweek Burnley draw puts Leeds back into the drop zone and demands they better the Lancashire side’s final-day returns.
An unthinkable Burnley win in Birmingham requires a Newcastle victory at Turf Moor and a Leeds win at Brentford. They are in this fight.
Gelhardt’s majesty
Across this torrid nine months of football, one of the few silver linings has been the emergence of Joe Gelhardt who, once again, proved to be the man of the moment. His two goals and two assists (three if you include winning that penalty at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers) have all come in the 83rd minute or later.
By the time you have read this, you are sure to have seen the goal. To have the composure to not only consider the flick over Lewis Dunk, but then execute it, is extraordinary for a 20-year-old.
To then deliver a cross so perfectly onto the head of Struijk, when service has been such a problem all season, was divine. A special footballer who should never forget his breakthrough season at this level.
Rodrigo’s struggles
Time is running out for inquests into Rodrigo’s Leeds career to matter right now when there are far bigger things to worry about and everyone just needs to get on with it. That time will come though and Sunday, in the first half at least, was another sorry episode for the record signing.
Time and time again, simple passes went astray, he dribbled towards his own goal or missed promising openings entirely. Patience sounds like it ran out for a great many inside Elland Road, especially as one especially good chance was spurned and punished with an immediate Brighton goal.
The groans grew louder and louder to the point you questioned whether it was best to take him off at the break for his own mental wellbeing. There was some improvement after the break, but from a very low bar set.
For all of the speculation about Phillips and Raphinha’s final farewells, there’s every reason to believe this was Rodrigo’s last appearance at Elland Road.
