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[Leeds]

I don't mean this in a confrontational way, I'm just genuinely curious about it, and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. If you're an Irish person who supports an English soccer club, can you please answer the following questions. Just be as straight and honest as you can with each one.

1 - Which team do you support?

Leeds

2 - How long have you supported them?

Since 1972

3 - Are you from the same town or city as that club? If not, do you have any personal or familial connection to it? Did you live there for a while? Do you live there now?

No

4 - If the answers to 3 are all no, why do you support this team? How did you pick them out of all that's available?

When I first started getting into football, they were the top team, and on the TV more than others. They also had my favourite footballer at the time - Allan Clarke.

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

E. I actually thought I was getting milder in my old age and moving towards D, given that some of the players come across as decent, but ultimately, cometh the hour, and they are one up with fifteen minutes left in a World Cup semi-final, I'm pleading for an equaliser.

6 - Are there any local clubs in your own town or city that you could give your support to? If there are but you don't, why not? Is the quality of the competition not worth your while? Are the facilities crap? Did you just never get into it? Is it not well publicised and you don't know the games are on?

Armagh City. Never really got into local soccer. Probably the standard was a factor. It didn't help that playing local soccer myself ensured I couldn't go to games, even if the notion took me.

Can I add - I do notice an increasingly loud narrative being pushed in social media around this issue - people who follow English Clubs, being challenged because they don't follow / support local clubs. Interesting.

Many thanks.

Margaret McConville (mother of Oisin and Jim, grandmother of Oisin, Rian and Aaron and Cian) a real lady. RIP.

So sorry to hear this. The First Lady of Armagh GAA and a truly wonderful human being.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Just wanted to add my congratulations to the Mayo posters here. Absolutely delighted and I found myself getting quite emotional watching the Mayo emotions pour out. What a wonderful day. And as a few others have done already, can I mention our friend Farrandeelin, at this time. I'd love to think he's still going crazy somewhere, celebrating that victory.

• The City of Chicago
• Back Home in Derry
• McIlhatton

There's something about Down in their pomp, for us older ones, that has a warm feeling.

The thought of it makes my blood run cold. 

[Moreso than any other county.]

There is unfortunately a LARGE group of Armagh fans who love to treat these games as an excuse to get drunk and act the fool. Moreso than any other county.

Would love to see the stats on this, as there is no way that that is a throwaway comment based on any particular dislike of Armagh.

• A Forest
• Just Like Heaven
• The Walk

Last night was as gut wrenching a defeat as I can recall - could very easily have won that game, but to leave with nothing was painful.

The team continue to play with a lot of confidence which means the side is producing more than the sum of the parts, IMHO. So I hope last night's gut punch does not affect that.

There are a lot of concerns this morning about Perri, and I would share these concerns myself, although I actually thought he might have been unsighted for the winning goal. But, under the barrage of corners, he offered no meaningful presence, and we looked like conceding each time a high ball came in. Furthermore, I'm convinced there may be a 'bravery' issue there, which has seen him get caught in no mans land for a couple of concessions, rather than commit fully to a 50:50 challenge. The goal conceded on Sunday was a case in point.

Darlow should get a game on Sunday in the Cup, which will offer Farke an opportunity to make the change in nets for the league, going forward.

By the way - I hate Harvey Barnes.

Currently standing at seven matches unbeaten - our longest run in the Premier League since O'Leary was in charge. They are playing with confidence now, and with a bit of luck could have had more than the two wins in that period.

The confidence of the team (squad) was evidenced for me by the fact that we have lost key personnel but are still getting results against teams like Liverpool and Manure. Others have stepped up in the meantime, and a shout out in particular for Justin (who was man of the match against Liverpool) and Bournaw who has put together two solid displays in the last week. For me, there are still question marks over the keeper. I thought he was terrible for the goal conceded yesterday. One definitely to watch. 

However, the absence of Ampadu yesterday underlined how much he remains the leader and driving force on the pitch. He is irreplaceable at the moment. Another huge test on Wednesday, away to Newcastle, before a trip to Derby for the Cup.   

• Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas
• Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again
• Steeleye Span - Gaudete

It's all still very tight at the bottom, and it is looking like the final relegation spot could be between us, West Ham and Forest. They are both decent and well managed sides, so it may all go to the wire.

Still early days, but I don't think Brentford and Fulham are by any means clear of the drop zone and I don't get the impression they have what it takes to be clear of trouble for the rest of the season. Still a very long way to go though, of course! Indeed if (and it's a big if) we were to beat Brentford, we'd go to within a point of them.

The last three (or two and a half) matches have given renewed hope, and on paper at least, the next three fixtures would be considered easier. However that in no way means they are easy!! I'd snap your hand off for 4/ 5 points. 

Mate of mine was at the game last night. Flip he had a great night.. some videos coming through lol

Brilliant!! Great rendition of I predict A Riot at the end.

Great night but last time we pumped Chelsea at Elland Road we went down so need to build on it too. 352 seems to work quite well. I'm a massive Tanaka fan. Proper duracell bunny leading the press and then DCL and Nmecha are everything the modern centre half hates. It gives us a fighting chance. I'd still bite your hand off for a 17th place finish.

Agree with all of that and the 3-0 at home to Chelsea three years ago resonated with me too. 3-5-2 definitely seems to be the way to go, and yet we'd only be one or two injuries away from that being seriously impaired. The need to strengthen in January is still paramount.

One of THE great nights at Elland Road, as Chelsea were swept aside in a thoroughly deserved victory. You will always have a chance with guts, heart and determination, and those characteristics were on display in abundance last night, and was reflected in excellent performances across the pitch. It illustrated as well how much the players are playing for the manager, who is (was) clearly under pressure.

As a mate of mine said, Farke appears to have stumbled on a system that works and is suited to our players and has now produced back to back performances that gives real hope going forward. Liverpool at the weekend though is another acid test, but at least it can be approached with some optimism.

MOT. 

Matt Hughes of The Guardian is reporting that Farke needs a positive result from tonight's match against Chelsea or Saturday's match against Liverpool if he hopes to save his job.

The nature of the article - relying on a range of unnamed sources from within the Club - would suggest that plans are already being made for a change.

[Changing manager won't fix this.]

The EPL is about money.
Total value of West Ham players is £400m.
Total value of Nottingham Forest players is £640 million.
Total value of Leeds is £316.

Changing manager won't fix this. It's time in January to get the chequebook out. Parrott is avaiable at the right price.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/leeds-united/startseite/verein/399

You're right - changing the manager will not address the issue of the underlying quality, which is ultimately the primary issue. Leeds are not in a position to invest heavily, given Financial Fair Play (or whatever the term is now). So they are going to have to think on their feet in terms of outgoings and incomings in January.

However, as the team continues to spiral, and the supporters see (what they perceive to be) the same mistakes / misjudgements being made, the atmosphere is going to turn nasty and the mob will grow increasingly loud. A point will come where the owners will essentially need to consider their options - even where those options offer little hope - and make a change in the hope of rescuing the season. The only realistic change is the manager.