- 2 years ago
Leeds United: Title charge, missing chances & injuries
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00:00 Leeds have certainly made a positive start to the season, they sit in third place, only
00:05 about seven or eight points away from the top two in Leicester and Ipswich. Firstly,
00:12 how successful would you rate their start to the season, how good is it being? But also,
00:17 how big are their chances of capturing the top two? But is there anything, or any other
00:22 teams perhaps, below them who could also catch Leeds?
00:26 This is the danger, isn't it? I think everybody automatically thinks so. We're talking a three-horse
00:30 race here, but all of a sudden you look at the table, if you do, and obviously you've
00:33 got Southampton are only one point below and there's teams below that even, the likes of
00:36 West Brom. So, it is far from a three-horse race, but they are very much the three teams
00:41 at the forefront of the betting at the moment by quite some distance. At the moment, it
00:46 would be looking that way, although Southampton in particular, I think, might emerge as a
00:49 big threat. But yeah, Leeds United start to the season, I think very good, really. I mean,
00:53 obviously not perfect, but I don't think anybody expected it to be perfect, especially, you
00:57 know, given the ins and outs of the summer, the uncertainty, you know, you didn't know
01:00 who was coming and going. Daniel Farker said himself when he came in, there would be a
01:04 bit of a bumpy start and, you know, that he expected Leeds to be better as they went on.
01:08 And that's obviously proven the case. And you look at it now, I mean, six wins out of
01:11 the last seven, I mean, that is promotion form. It's as simple as that. The only defeat
01:15 obviously coming at Stoke. And I think quite simply, if they keep that sort of form up,
01:19 then they'd have a very, very good chance of, you know, going up automatic. You'd have
01:23 to think so. I mean, obviously, because there is that gap, a lot does depend on what happens
01:28 with Leicester and Ipswich. But I mean, that gap's already been cut. Obviously, now it's
01:31 down to eight points. And you've got to remember the fact is, is that Leicester and Ipswich
01:35 still have to play each other twice. So obviously, they're not both going to pick up maximum
01:39 points in those two games. Leeds obviously have also played both of those two teams away
01:44 from home. And have obviously picked up three points at both of those games. So they've
01:47 got both of them to play at Ellen Road, where you would definitely fancy them. But I mean,
01:52 that's like talking about it almost as if it's like a shootout at the end of the season.
01:54 There are obviously still 30 games to go. And, you know, obviously all three of those
01:58 sides and Southampton and West Brom will drop other points, you know, here, there and everywhere.
02:03 But even so, I think it will be a very, very exacting standard. I don't think you'll be
02:06 allowed to get away with many slip-ups. But yeah, I think the way that Leeds are going
02:10 so far, ticking along nicely. There are obviously areas that can improve on. I mean, the finishing
02:14 chances is the main one, obviously, because I mean, games like the Plymouth game, you
02:17 should have been out of sight and 2-1 at the end. It could have, you know, all it takes
02:21 is a set piece or anything and all of a sudden you're leaving with a draw. But yeah, it's
02:25 been a very good start to the season. It's interesting now because obviously the betting
02:28 has changed, obviously, you know, over the summer Leeds were straight away second favourites
02:31 and whatnot. And then they drifted out after the poor start they had. But it's now getting
02:35 very, very close between Leeds and Ipswich, but you know, second in the betting, I think
02:38 four to one and nine to two. So it almost suggests to me that probably one more slip-up
02:42 from Ipswich and another win for Leeds and they'd probably be second favourites. But,
02:46 you know, it's not always about the betting, it's about the points. But yeah, as I say,
02:50 on that sort of hall at the moment, six wins out of the last seven, if they can keep up
02:53 something similar to that, then it'd be very hard not to see them going up automatic. But
02:57 there's an awful lot of work to do and the bottom line is you just got to stay consistent.
03:01 But yeah, it has been a good start to the season. I don't think there's any doubt about
03:03 that and Daniel Farke has done a fantastic job so far.
03:06 You mentioned there that against Plymouth at the weekend, Leeds probably should have
03:10 been out of sight in that game. 2-1, it's still a victory, it's still the three points,
03:14 it could have perhaps been more comfortable. Is this a bit of a recurring issue that Leeds
03:19 are creating a lot of chances but not scoring perhaps as many as they should be?
03:23 Yeah, I think so. And to be honest, as long as I've been doing these videos here, it's
03:28 been a sort of theme at Leeds. It was a massive theme under Marcelo Bielsa. The difference
03:32 under Marcelo Bielsa was that they created so many chances that, I mean, even if they
03:35 were sort of a bit perfidious in front of goal, you know, they'd almost always, especially
03:39 in the Championship, score enough goals to get the job done. But yeah, it's funny because
03:43 you sort of think about that Plymouth game and you're right, they should have been out
03:46 of sight. I mean, they were 2-0 up very early on and it was almost starting to sort of threaten
03:49 towards, get towards Huddersfield's sort of extremes where it was totally done by half-time.
03:54 But obviously, it didn't add any more to the tally. And sort of watching it, the feeling
03:58 was there should be more ahead of this. But when you actually look back on it, I mean,
04:00 they did have lots of chances. I mean, in terms of shots on goal, 14 attempts and six
04:06 on target, which is a decent amount. But it sort of felt like it was more than that at
04:10 the time. But as you say, they did enough to get the job done. It's just, you know,
04:15 if they are going to miss chances like that, then it makes it even more important, obviously,
04:17 than they're going to keep clean sheets at the other end. They've got a lot of clean
04:20 sheets this season already. Obviously, Melies has been very, very solid between the sticks.
04:24 But I think if you're looking at areas that Leeds need to improve on, it is the obvious
04:27 one, you know, just be a bit more clinical in front of goal. And as I say, it's something
04:31 we talked about before. It's, you know, what do you do about it? I mean, I don't think
04:34 there'd be any temptation to change things up. I think Routier and Pirro, that works
04:39 very nicely up front. The wing slots as well. I mean, obviously, Somerville Player of the
04:42 Month for me, and he starts as simple as that. Dan James is starting to add more of an end
04:46 product to Woods' game. So, I don't think there's any great temptation to sort of change
04:49 things up. There are other options there, obviously. You know, your likes of Bamford
04:53 and Nonto and Jadon Nance and everything. But I think it's just, you know, I suppose
04:57 the idea is, you know, just continue to create as many chances as possible. The more chances
05:01 you create, the more goals you're likely to score. And obviously, just work on it in training.
05:04 It's just, you know, it is an area that needs to improve on, but they're creating chances,
05:09 which is the main thing. And the bottom line is, as you say, they've got the job done and
05:13 you just look at them results, you know, six wins out of the last seven and it shows they're
05:16 doing something right. So, yeah, all good at the moment. But obviously, there's always
05:19 areas you can improve on.
05:21 There are a couple of injury concerns at the moment. Pastel Stroyk is our first, third
05:24 runner is Hoerner. We've also got Sam Byram, who has a hamstring injury. Firstly, just
05:29 how big of blows are they? But then also, you could look at Junior Firpo, who could
05:34 come in as a left back and fill in that position. Is that a suitable replacement?
05:39 I think so, yeah, definitely. I mean, it'd be an interesting one with Junior Firpo because
05:42 obviously the jury is still, I think, very much out with him in terms of, obviously,
05:45 it was a pretty big money acquisition to come in and be the sort of first choice left back
05:49 and he's had his struggles. There's been the odd game where he's looked decent, but I mean,
05:52 by and large, it's been pretty tough for him. But the bottom line is, he's stuck around
05:56 and this is now the Championship and we all know the difference between the Premier League
05:58 and the Championship is absolutely massive. And it's not difficult to imagine him now
06:02 that he is back fit, coming into the team and really thriving in this side as a Championship
06:07 left back. But what I would say is that I think it's probably fair to say that he's
06:11 come back into the side a little bit sooner than ideal because he was out for a long time.
06:15 Obviously, with his injury, this is the first time we've seen him since the end of last
06:20 season, basically. Obviously, Sam Byram's injury almost forced Daniel Farker's hand
06:24 a little bit at a time when another option, I suppose, in Shackleton is also out. So,
06:28 yes, we'll have to wait and see. And Pascal himself, who obviously is a colossus at centre
06:33 back, he is another left back option technically. So, it kind of pushes the need for Firpo to
06:38 be back possibly a little bit sooner than ideal. Daniel Farker said post-match that
06:42 you'd have to wait and see really with Sam Byram and in terms of how bad that hamstring
06:47 strain, I think he said it was. I mean, he said he'd probably be looking at missing
06:51 Rotherham, but it's not difficult to imagine missing a bit more than that. He's obviously
06:54 got his injury troubles in the past, but it's difficult to know. I mean, he walked off all
06:58 right and stuff and went down the tunnel and aided. So, hopefully, it's not too bad.
07:03 The Pascal one, obviously, that would be a massive blow if Leeds didn't have other centre
07:07 back options because, I mean, you only have to look at the minutes he's played this season.
07:10 He was one of only three ever present in the team. Obviously, Daniel revealed that he'd
07:16 been sort of playing through pain with the hernia issue and whatever, and he's gone for
07:20 surgery on that now, which is obviously the right thing to do to get it sorted. But he's
07:24 been brilliant. Obviously, he's been wearing the captain's armband as well. He's been one
07:27 of Leeds' standout players, but obviously, his absence paves the way for Liam Cooper to
07:31 come in and people can, if they want to write Cooper off, fair enough. But bottom line is,
07:35 he's won the promotion before Leeds. He's United's club captain and stuff. And I don't
07:39 think he's not a bad replacement as such, if you want to use that word. And there's
07:43 obviously Charlie Creswell there too. So, centre back, they seem reasonably well covered.
07:48 Left-back's probably a bit more of a concern. That's something maybe they might want to
07:51 look at in January. I don't know. But 100 per cent, it's a big opportunity for Firpo.
07:56 The injuries are sort of starting to stack up a bit, but hopefully none of them are particularly
07:59 serious. So, hopefully soon they'll have a clean bill of health. So, yeah, there are
08:02 options. It'll just be interesting to see when those two are back in particular. Daniel
08:06 was hopeful Pascal would be back after the international break. But again, if he's had
08:10 surgery and whatever, and it depends on his recovery, then it's probably a big ask to
08:13 expect him to come straight back. And I think you'd have to expect him to miss a few. But
08:17 he did say, Daniel Farker, that it's not like he's going to be missing 10 or 12 games. So,
08:21 you know, it does sound like, you know, hopefully it'll only be a handful.
08:25 Staying in defence, Joe Rodon's another centre-half who's done quite well recently. And Ethan
08:30 Ampadu as well. We could have a bit of a chat about him. But if we look at Joe Rodon first,
08:35 he's on loan, of course. Is this perhaps another Ben White situation where, of course, Ben
08:39 White was on loan at Leeds and then has left again and gone on to good things at Arsenal?
08:44 Yeah, well, I certainly heard it said by a few people and I can see the similarities.
08:48 Yeah, because he's basically made that sort of impression, really. I mean, Ben White was
08:52 fantastic when he came to Leeds, obviously. I mean, playing every single minute. And,
08:56 you know, I mean, obviously no surprise really that Leeds tried to buy him in the summer,
09:01 which obviously didn't end up possible. And now look where he is at Arsenal and whatnot.
09:04 And it's different with Joe Rodon because he's a bit, obviously, he's older. I think
09:07 Ben was 21 when Leeds signed him. Joe Rodon's now 26. So, he's five more years on him. And,
09:13 you know, he's obviously, you know, still got, you know, he could be anything in terms
09:17 of his future. He's got an awful lot of potential still. You know, it's not like he's knocking
09:20 on his 30s yet or anything like that. So, it's just difficult to see what will happen
09:25 with him, really. I mean, obviously, he's on a season-long loan at Leeds. I don't think
09:28 there's any doubt about it that he's the sort of player that Leeds would want to buy permanently.
09:31 I mean, but whether that ends up happening or not, I suppose that just depends on the
09:34 player. It also depends on Tottenham and it also ultimately, you know, just depends on
09:38 where Leeds find themselves. But he has made a very, very big impact. There's no doubt
09:42 about that. Been extremely impressive at the back. Him and Pascal at centre-back, it looks
09:47 like, you know, a cemented duo, obviously, until Pascal's gone for surgery, which means
09:52 obviously Cooper's come back. But yeah, he's been fantastic so far. I mean, as I say, we
09:58 just have to wait and see. I think his contract's up in 2025, so about 18 months left there.
10:02 I mean, 26-year-old. I mean, Spurs paid ÂŁ11 million up front. I think it was rising to
10:06 ÂŁ15 million. So, these are all things you think about in terms of what he's worth. Wales
10:10 international. So, it's difficult. He'd probably be worth around about the same amount of money
10:14 now, I would suggest, possibly a bit more because of how well he's playing. So, it's
10:19 a difficult one, isn't it? Because Leeds have done brilliantly to get him on a season-long
10:22 loan. He's obviously helping them enormously. But when a player comes in like that, it's
10:26 not just Leeds looking at him and impressed with him. And it won't just be Tottenham looking
10:29 and being impressed. Other clubs will look at him and be impressed too and stuff. And
10:33 it's hard to say really what the future will hold. But obviously, Leeds will put themselves
10:37 in a much better position if they get promotion, which is obviously the aim. And with him in
10:40 the side, you would think there'd be a very good chance of them doing that.
10:43 Looks a natural leader as well, Daniel, really. I think he's the sort of player that, you
10:46 know, like I know Leeds aren't short of leaders with Cooper as captain, Ailing when he's there,
10:51 Pascal having picked up the armband. But he is definitely the sort of person you could
10:55 imagine as a captain as well.
10:57 If we move into the academy now, under-21s boss Michael Scubala is set to leave Leeds
11:02 United to go to Lincoln City and become their head coach.
11:05 Does this leave a bit of a gaping hole in the academy? Of course, you don't really want
11:09 some of your coaches leaving and going off to pastures new, especially when you're trying
11:14 to nurture young players coming through. But is it something that they can easily replace?
11:19 Well, I mean, I think he's, I sort of think they're quite big shoes to fill, really. I
11:22 mean, to me, it's no sort of surprise that he's moved on. I'll tell you what was quite
11:26 interesting was Leeds' statement when he left, which was obviously the fact that they were
11:29 sort of like, you know, so proud of the way that he's sort of like, you know, progressed
11:32 and now moving on to football league management and stuff and outright management at Lincoln
11:37 City. But, you know, he's evidently an extremely bright young coach, very, very well thought
11:42 of, obviously, former England Futsal manager and then at the under-18s coach, came to the
11:46 21s, obviously done a fantastic job. And I've done quite a few under-21s games for Leeds
11:50 and spoke to him a few times and you can tell he just gets a real buzz off, like, sort of
11:54 improving players, really, which is what it's all about.
11:56 And I did sort of wonder with Scubala that basically once he obviously got the opportunity
12:01 to take the first team home for three games after Jesse Marsh had gone, he obviously was
12:05 very much in the spotlight, especially Manchester United away, getting a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
12:09 I mean, it was even talking, you know, in some quarters, you know, maybe, might he be
12:14 a contender for the job. I mean, I think that would have been a bit too much too soon, especially
12:17 with Leeds in a relegation battle and the damage had been done before that, to be honest.
12:20 But I did sort of wonder then, you know, does that like now put him more on the public eye?
12:23 Will it sort of like, you know, sort of like really raise the appetite for sort of going
12:27 on to like get a permanent job somewhere else, sort of like first team wise.
12:31 But obviously, he became first team coach, went to the bat for the 21s and now obviously
12:35 this Lincoln move has come up and it's a good job for him, I think.
12:37 I mean, they're doing decent in, you know, it's a League One team.
12:39 It's not like a team that's struggling towards the bottom.
12:41 I think ninth on the table they are at the moment.
12:44 I expect him to do very, very well there.
12:45 In terms of what happens with the 21s, yeah, I mean, you know, one person moves on.
12:49 It's another opportunity for somebody else, isn't it?
12:51 Leeds quickly announced that Scott Gardner, the eight-teams coach, would be moving up,
12:55 but only as interim, and I suppose interim can always change.
12:59 It just remains to be seen what happens there.
13:00 But he's someone who's very, very highly thought of as well.
13:02 And Rob Edrington moving up, you know, as his assistant to now become eight-teams coach.
13:06 So it's a chain of progression and people move up and people move on.
13:09 But Skobala was extremely well thought of and he'll go with everybody's best wishes.
13:14 And it's a massive chance now for somebody, as I say at the moment, Scott Gardner coming
13:17 forward because they've got some very, very talented young players, Leeds at the moment.
13:21 I mean, I think the 21s game they did recently, I think there was eight youth
13:25 internationals starting or something like that.
13:26 And the chop full of talent, obviously, you know, there's a lot of, like, you know,
13:30 nurturing that needs to be done and improving, but extremely bright future there.
13:34 And yeah, it's a great opportunity for somebody.
13:36 But good luck to Michael Skobala, definitely.
13:38 And finally, if we look ahead to just after the international break, Leeds return to
13:42 league action with a trip to Rotherham.
13:45 Now, Rotherham are a side who sometimes are often said are perhaps too good for League
13:50 One, but not quite good enough for the championship and they often slip between the two.
13:56 Of course, a win could see Leeds move within five points of the top two if results were
14:01 to go their way.
14:02 Yeah, it's sort of a game where you've got to come back from the international break
14:05 and hit the ground running, isn't it?
14:06 Oh, yeah, yeah, 100 percent.
14:07 Yeah, it feels like, I mean, they're all massive games when you're trying to sort of
14:10 like chase all of that promotion and chase the top two down.
14:12 But this feels like a very big one as well.
14:14 And it's the sort of one you'd look at as a sort of obvious banana skin, if you like,
14:17 like going to Rotherham, like Yorkshire derby.
14:19 They'll be the new manager factor for them as well.
14:22 So there's various things to look at, various facets to take into it.
14:24 You've got to look at the fact that also, yes, they might be third bottom and they haven't
14:28 got many points this season.
14:29 I think it was at 11 points, but they did get a 2-2 draw against Ipswich, which of course,
14:33 you know, who's scoring right at the def and of course, everybody in Leeds would have
14:37 been cheering that one and now the boot's on the other foot because Leeds go there.
14:40 But yeah, I mean, they've had their struggles, obviously.
14:43 The other thing with them is, is they're a lot better at home and they have beaten both
14:46 Norwich and Coventry at home.
14:48 So, you know, it can't be taken lightly, that's for sure.
14:50 But from a Leeds point of view, like, you know, you might look at this almost and think,
14:54 is this a Premier League team in waiting, going to a side who might end up in League
14:57 One? And really, this should just be a bit of a big golfing class.
15:00 And I think one element that you've got to look at is the fact it's on a Friday night,
15:05 because obviously that means Leeds have basically got one less day to prepare, obviously,
15:09 because you've got the two-week international break.
15:10 Daniel Farke said himself after the Plymouth game that that meant that basically some of
15:15 the internationals would be coming straight back without even having a proper training
15:18 session when there's nothing you can do about that.
15:19 That's just the nature of the beast, what they've been dealt with.
15:23 But they should just have too much quality, really, if you're being brutally honest about
15:26 it. And that's why the rods are on, I think, the two to five and Rotherham can be back to
15:29 like seven to one, eight to one, which I'm not really surprised about.
15:32 And in terms of the opportunity, it's one they've got to take, yeah.
15:35 I mean, the fact is it's a Friday night game.
15:37 They're playing first week of the weekend.
15:39 So if they win, they'll be five points behind Leicester and Ipswich.
15:41 And from that gap being double figures, all of a sudden, if you're slashing it straight
15:45 down to five, you know, we're still like a long way to go.
15:47 Like, that's pretty decent.
15:49 And that will pile the pressure on both of those two at the weekend.
15:51 We said in our video before the Plymouth game, we looked at how Leicester had Middlesbrough
15:55 away and we sort of looked at that and we sort of thought that's the sort of game they
15:58 could slip up in. I mean, I thought they might get a draw, but obviously they got beat there.
16:02 And you half wonder if after the international break, it might be Ipswich's turn.
16:06 They go to West Brom. I mean, that's going to be a difficult game.
16:08 West Brom are a team, obviously not just in the top six mix, but will also be ultimately
16:12 in the top two. Leicester are at home to Watford.
16:14 But yeah, if Leeds can go there and get another win, it will pile the pressure on those two.
16:18 And I think they'll feel it, you know, they'll feel Leeds and Southampton as well,
16:21 breathing down their necks and pressure can do things and stuff.
16:24 So, yeah, got to go there, got to go there and win.
16:26 And if they do, obviously it'll be seven wins out of eight, which is a fantastic return.
16:30 And that's promotion form.
16:31 And, you know, don't take it lightly at all.
16:33 But I fully expect Leeds to go there and win.
16:35 So, Lee, just on Ethan Ampadu, he's one of only two players to have played every minute
16:48 in the Championship this season.
16:50 Just how vital has his contribution been so far?
16:53 Yeah, he's been immense.
16:54 I mean, you sort of go through the team and look at standout performers so far this season.
16:58 I mean, the freshest one in the memory would obviously be Christenzie O'Summerville,
17:02 because obviously he got the Player of the Month award.
17:03 And he has been absolutely fantastic.
17:05 Giorgianni Rute has come back and been outstanding up front, obviously perot of his goals.
17:10 Rothen at centre-back and stuff.
17:11 But you could go for nearly the whole team.
17:12 But realistically, in the middle of the park, I mean, the stats speak for themselves.
17:16 And other than Elan Mellier, the goalkeeper himself has been fantastic, you know, upon,
17:20 not return, but obviously, you know, back in the Championship.
17:24 Ethan Ampadu has been outstanding in midfield and, you know, playing every single minute
17:28 tells you all you need to know, really.
17:29 You get the whole thing about first name on the team sheet.
17:33 And, you know, I don't know, it didn't really work like that in terms of you doing it like,
17:36 'Oh, who starts first?' or whatever.
17:37 But he must be surely one of them when you look at it.
17:39 And in terms of summer business and stuff, I mean, seven million for Chelsea means looking
17:43 like an absolute steal for him now.
17:45 I mean, you've got to remember, he's still only 23 years old as well.
17:47 So he's got an awful long time, long future ahead of him and probably only going to continue
17:51 to get better and loads of international experience under his belt already.
17:54 It's going to be an interesting one in midfield with Leeds, because obviously there is, well,
17:59 when Jed Spence comes back, there's going to be a situation you would assume he would come
18:02 back and be first choice right back.
18:03 I mean, he's a fantastic player, so I can't see him not being first choice right back
18:07 once he gets back in the groove.
18:08 You're going to have this situation where you basically have Ethan Ampadu, Glenn Kamara
18:12 and Archie Gray, who are basically three very good centre midfielders.
18:15 And you're only going to be able to play two of them almost certainly.
18:17 But I think the way that Kamara is obviously getting better and better and starting to
18:20 look very impressive, we all know how good Archie Gray is.
18:22 He's still only 17, though.
18:23 So whether he drops to the bench for a little bit, I don't know.
18:26 I mean, but then is he too good to drop to the bench even at this stage?
18:28 It's, there are all questions that need to be answered.
18:30 But one thing that's not in doubt is that Ethan Ampadu has been a fantastic signing.
18:33 And I think it's the case really when you look at the midfield and everyone's fit,
18:37 probably him plus one other.
18:38 Obviously, he's sort of seen as sort of like a CDM, I suppose, but it's his range of passing
18:42 as well. You know, and he does get forward occasionally, has the odd shot as well and
18:46 stuff, brings an awful lot to his game.
18:47 And yeah, they've just signed a very, very good player there, have leads and hopefully
18:52 one that will be integral in Farhamton's promotion.
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