00:00Hello there, we are back. Lee Sobot at the Yorkshire Evening Post here from Ellen Road
00:06where Leeds United were back in action today with their penultimate pre-season friendly
00:11against Villarreal. A Villarreal team who finished last season's La Liga campaign in fifth place
00:17which is absolutely no mean feat qualifying for the Champions League.
00:20So this was always likely to present a very, very tough friendly and that's exactly what it was.
00:24And it's a friendly that ended in a 1-1 draw and I think if you take this game as a one-off game
00:29I think everyone will be probably pretty satisfied with that given the level of opposition.
00:34But lots of questions after the game really and during it as well really
00:38and the main sort of talking point again I think is about Leeds United's strike force really
00:44and what they've got in the final third. There's no doubt that that's what the club need to add to
00:49in these last few weeks of the window I think in order to give themselves the best chance possible
00:54of surviving the first season back in the country's top flight at a time of course
01:00when we all know the last six teams who have been promoted have all gone straight back down.
01:04I mean the facts so there are staring you straight in the face really.
01:08And today it looks like one of those games where maybe it looked for a long time like it could end in a goalless draw
01:13to be honest 0-0 at the break. But no surprise really that the man who got Leeds' goal was last season's top scorer
01:19championship golden boot winner Joel Peru who was one of four players to come on at the break
01:25and you know typical strikers finish really. Leeds were 1-0 down at the time.
01:29Brendan Aronson crossed from the right hand side. It has to be said you know he's had his knockers as Brendan over the years
01:34and stuff at Leeds. Obviously a lot better last season on his championship return.
01:39There's no doubt that he was one of Leeds' better players today. No doubt about that.
01:42And he was the creator of his cross cause and all sorts of bother in the box. Bit of pinball.
01:46And there was Peru to a side foot home and make it 1-1. And that's the way it finished.
01:52Leeds had gone 1-0 down about five minutes earlier. Etta Rayon with a header to put Villarreal in front.
01:59Fell a bit sorry for Mellier who came on at the break. Made a good save to deny another header to put onto the bar.
02:05But Aon was basically left with Mellier on the floor with a simple task to head home into an empty net.
02:10And that was 1-0. As I say Peru then equalised five minutes later. Both teams had had chances really to win it.
02:16Villarreal did finish strongly but Leeds had chances themselves. And in the end 1-1 which is I don't know probably about a fair result I'd say.
02:22Not that really the results matter too much in pre-season. It's all about you know getting the fitness and getting the run outs.
02:28You know the run outs and you know chemistry and such on and such forth really.
02:32And as I say if you take that one off game I think you know people would be pretty pleased with it.
02:37Amazing crowd. 35,000 odd. You sort of wondered coming in today what the crowd would be like.
02:41But basically full house. I mean the support of this club is just absolutely phenomenal.
02:45Fantastic to see that yet again.
02:47But really the question marks I suppose a lot about the absences as well.
02:50Team news when it broke and there were several players missing that we thought were a surprise.
02:55Luca Perry the club's new keeper did sign with a little bit of a knock. Nothing particularly serious.
02:59But he was missing and Daniel Farker said that he hasn't really trained with the group as yet.
03:03That he's sort of hopeful they'll be fit for Everton but he couldn't guarantee it.
03:06So straight away that's one concern if you like.
03:09Although it has to be said Carl Darlow in particular played very very well in the first half.
03:13Made an outstanding save right at the end of the first half to tip a header over the bar which looked a certain goal.
03:19Also saved from a one-on-one situation beforehand.
03:22Although it was a poor finish there. I mean most keepers would have saved that.
03:25But he did well. Mellier wasn't too bad either after he came on for the second half.
03:29As I say he was unlucky with that shot that he tipped onto the bar.
03:32Basically the striker just reacted quicker than to put it in the back of the net.
03:36But obviously you know that's a bit of a concern I suppose about Perry.
03:39But I think long term obviously he'll be a fantastic signing.
03:42Other people missing. Dan James, Jack Harrison.
03:44Obviously James, player of the year. One of the star players.
03:47Yes he's got it to the Premier League level.
03:49But no doubt that he's one of the club's best players.
03:51I don't think those ones are particularly serious.
03:53But Daniel Farker did admit he was concerned about Shaden Bogle.
03:56And we all know how good he is.
03:58I think he's a banker for the fantasy team myself.
04:00It would probably be this season.
04:01The way he'll get forward from right back and stuff.
04:03Probably a decent price.
04:04But he was out with a hip flexor.
04:06And Daniel Farker did admit he was concerned of him.
04:09So we'll have to watch this space with that one.
04:11Matteo Josef, not involved, was here.
04:13But he's obviously asked for a transfer.
04:14And Fark said he can't be playing players who might be a distraction.
04:18So he wasn't there.
04:19And obviously Bamford, as we know, has been told he's not part of the plans.
04:23Sebastian Bornau, the other new signing as well, continues to recover from injury.
04:28So, you know, there's a fair few players out there, really.
04:30So there's question marks on that front as to as and when they will be back.
04:34But obviously the other big talking point is what happens in these last few weeks of the window.
04:38We all know the club are in for Igor Paschal, who would have been, I'm sure, a very, very good signing indeed.
04:43That sort of fell apart when Marseille sets up their interest at the last minute.
04:47And there's no doubt, I think, to my mind, I think probably to most supporters' minds,
04:51I think even to Daniel Farker's mind, he admitted it himself in his post-match presser that you can't really say
04:55Leeds have improved in an attacking sphere, which was very honest of him.
04:58And I think that's right when you lose Manor Solomon, obviously gone back on loan, gone back to Spurs.
05:03You know, he was like one of the club's best players.
05:06So there's question marks really on the wingers front.
05:08And also up front, I mean, Peru, can't knock him.
05:11He obviously got his goal today, top scorer last season.
05:14And he might well do it in the Premier League.
05:16But the fact is he hasn't kicked a ball in the Premier League.
05:18So it's a bit of an unknown.
05:19And Lucas Emetra as well, a bit of a work in progress, obviously, who started the game up front today.
05:24So, you know, there's lots of, you know, different questions that need to be asked, obviously.
05:28But this is pre-season.
05:29That's what it's for.
05:30And what you would say is there are, you know, still, well,
05:33basically a month left of the transfer window for Leeds to get this done.
05:36I think basically what they do in this last month will probably make the difference
05:39between them probably staying up and not, to be quite honest.
05:42Because I think in the Premier League, they obviously have made some very, very good defensive additions
05:46and midfield additions on stats, obviously starting today.
05:49Sean Longstaff coming in as well.
05:51Jacob Bion at the back looks like a very, very good signing.
05:54Obviously got a new keeper, Goodmanson as well.
05:57You know, so they have made some very, very good signings in there.
06:00But in the Premier League, you obviously need quality in the final third, real quality,
06:04ideally proven quality, or if not, then somebody who's going to come in and be a Rafinha or something like that.
06:09And obviously you're very unlikely to go and sign another Rafinha.
06:12But that's certainly got me the aim to try and get people in who are going to be quality.
06:16And that will really, I think, make the difference.
06:18But yeah, plenty to sort of chew over in the next week, really.
06:21But I think generally speaking, you know, fans are going pretty happy with this.
06:24As I say, amazing crowd, 35,000, absolutely superb.
06:27And now a week off until the game against AC Milan, which if this was hard, that would be even harder, that game in Dublin.
06:34And then before we know it, we will be back here at Ellen Road on the Monday night for the first game of the season at home to Everton,
06:40which, you know, you don't have must wins this early in the season, obviously.
06:44But that is a game where Leeds really could do with getting off to a very, very good start.
06:48So plenty to assess and talk about.
06:50There'll be loads of stuff on our website throughout the week from myself and Graham Smith and Cal Newbold.
06:54But that's it for now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
06:57The return to Ellen Road has finished in a 1-1 draw.
07:00Leeds United 1, Villarreal 1.
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