A group of Leeds United supporters have been discussing the planned restart of the Championship season after it emerged that not all of the league’s clubs were pleased to learn of the EFL’s plans to restart the competition this month. The Athletic’s Phil Hay shared an article, written by Jack Pitt-Brooke and Matt Slater, stating this development via his Twitter account.
The piece emphasises the point that the timing of the announcement is what a number of clubs were most disappointed by. The frustration comes from the fact the EFL publicised the planned restart date prior to phase two of training resuming meaning that clubs would have less than two weeks of contact training before being expected to play competitive fixtures (as per The Athletic).
It is also understood that a number of clubs had ‘no idea’ the statement was coming until 30 or 40 minutes prior to it being publicised which hasn’t gone down well with many of the league’s stakeholders.
Here is how some of the Elland Road faithful have responded to the post on Twitter.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail…
— Josh Holden (@JoshuaHolden93) June 2, 2020
With Bielsa at the helm being ready was never in doubt get ready for the whinging backlash
— optimisticleedsfan (@nivekmulla1965) June 2, 2020
To be fair @LUFC have been preparing for the restart from the day they went on lockdown…the thought that other clubs weren’t doing the same boggles the mind.
— Simon McMaster (@simonmc68) June 2, 2020
This has PPG finish written all over it!
— Paul Walker (@PaulWal56567799) June 2, 2020
Are you confident Leeds United will pick up where they left off?
Yes
No
It’s clear from the above responses that the Leeds fans believe their team are ready for the restart and have done everything within their power to give themselves the best chance of picking up where they left off prior to the enforced break.
At the time of the league’s suspension, Marcelo Bielsa’s side had won five out of their last five fixtures, a run of form which saw them pull away from those in the playoff positions and hoping to finish in the automatic promotion spots.
Many fans continued to react to the post.
Too bad, get on with it.
— Rob (@mightywhitesfc) June 2, 2020
The moaning ill prepared football clubs who wrongly assumed from day one that there would be no resumption of the Championship. In one word UNPROFESSIONAL
— Steven Wilkinson (@scottie_sw51) June 2, 2020
Seems to me like some of these clubs only made preparations for the season to be curtailed
— L?i?a?m (@LiamJenkins85) June 2, 2020
There doesn’t appear to be much sympathy towards those clubs who are less prepared. The Whites’ last outing was in the Yorkshire derby versus Huddersfield Town, a game in which they ran out 2-0 winners (as per leedsunited.com). With nine games remaining, the supporters will no doubt be desperate to see their side hold their nerve and secure promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since they were relegated from the top-flight in 2004.