Portsmouth pre match chat
We welcome League 1 winners Portsmouth to Elland Road.
1 defeat in the last 19 league games for Pompey, 13 wins, 97 points overall last season.
A team high on confidence, will that play a part? Momentum from a successful season can spur a team on.
John Mousinho is the manager, only 38 years old in his first manager role he has done a fantastic job.
Only 11 defeats in his 70+ games in charge.
A modern coach, Portsmouth play a high possession, high pressing, intense risky style with a focus on switches of play to catch the opposition off guard.
Key players include former LUFC man Conor Shaughnessy who has become a key player for Portsmouth and was named in the EFL League 1 team of the year.
He was joined in that by goalkeeper Will Norris who conceded less than a goal a game and veteran Championship midfielder Will Pack.
A massive blow for Portsmouth is the loss of top scorer Colby Bishop who they have lost for a time as he has surgery over a heart scare.
They have also lost impressive winger Abu Kamara who got 10 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season but has returned to parent club Norwich.
In terms of incoming Josh Murphy has signed after an impressive season at Oxford and Danish striker Elias Sorensen has arrived after a stunning season in the Danish 2nd division where he got 26 goals and 15 assists and a goal or assist every 60 minutes.
So not an opponent to be taken lightly.
However we have been in decent form in pre season, Mateo Joseph in great form.
Piroe has found confidence and we have Struijk back.
Hopefully Gnonto (if he stays) and James can thrive out of Summerville's shadow and Georgie can build on last season.
So what we hoping for formation and lineup wise?
How do we approach the game? More bravery or same as last season?
And so on and so forth