Last season, based on the level of their performances, Leeds United had about as much chance of getting promoted as I had of getting close to Rihanna without receiving a restraining order. This season is different.
I’m still not likely to get near Rihanna without the force of law coming down hard on me, but Leeds United are in a great position. Reborn under Marcelo Bielsa, the Whites are sat in 2nd place, have a five point cushion to 3rd and are on a four-game winning streak. Things are definitely looking up.
However, one man seemingly ready to cast judgement and aspersions on Leeds’ rise to prominence is Talksport football pundit Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams. What he has to say is quite unequivocal, a snippet of which is below.
“It will be bad for English football if Norwich and Leeds get promoted to the Premier League”#NCFC and #LUFC fans will want to hear this from @BroadcastMoose…
Would you be happy to see Farke and Bielsa in the top flight? pic.twitter.com/uqotfeRS2j
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 10, 2018
Whilst Leeds United fans are hoping beyond hope that this time will be THE time, Talksport’s Abrahams is definitely not of that pattern of thought. In the above clip he disparages Leeds United’s 2018/19 assault on gaining a Premier League place, as well as that of league leaders Norwich City.
Abrahams says: “My argument says it will be bad for English football if Norwich get promoted, and indeed Leeds…”, he is then interrupted by host Jim White and asked to explain his reasoning. Starting on Norwich’s Daniel Farke, he says that the German was brought in to ostensibly copy Huddersfield Town’s plan in bringing in David Wagner.
He then lays bare the nub of his argument, it seems that Norwich and Leeds United are ‘guilty’ of brining in foreign coaches in Farke and Marcelo Bielsa, and that promoting these two will be at the detriment to Chris Wilder (Sheffield United), Darren Moore (West Brom), Frank Lampard (Derby County), Dean Smith (Aston Villa) and Tony Pulis (Middlesbrough) – all of whom are English coaches.
That’s basically his entire argument – Leeds United and Norwich being promoted is bad because they have foreign coaches and will be denying the progression of English managers. It didn’t take Leeds United fans long to reply, and some are particularly cutting.
Time to go moose you clueless buffoon your constantly upsetting people wherever you go in the country always talking utter crap. Talk Sport are loosing listeners because of your attitude and very poor reporting. You need sacking off for the good of the radio station.
— Paul Cunni & Dolby (@CunniLeedsutd01) December 10, 2018
How this fool steals a living week at after week at Talksport beggars belief
— Steve Penn (@stevepe123) December 10, 2018
So its bad for English football that #lufc had 7 British players in the match day squad on Saturday with a number from our own academy.
— Matt (@MWJS82) December 10, 2018
I think for the good of English football @BroadcastMoose should stop talking pic.twitter.com/Hmrkzngcf6
— Kevin (@kevinh0270) December 10, 2018
His jumper says it all the talksport moose ! Did he mention during his diatribe that 12 of leeds’ 18man squad were British on the weekend… usual agenda driven rubbish to expect on talksport now though
— Dan Graham (@DanGraham_14) December 10, 2018
English players like Roofe, Cooper & Phillips have MASSIVELY improved under Bielsa who’s also brought through Clarke & Shackleton amongst other English youth players. Might be worth asking them if Bielsa is ‘bad news for English football. One more thing, Pulis is Welsh
— Mike (@geeemondo) December 10, 2018