The Super(ish) Leeds United Thread

[Mourne Rover]

I seem to recall lamenting at this time last year that Leeds were facing a full blown crisis after just two league games. Things are even worse now, with only a single championship match played but the club in disarray over transfer upheavals. It is pretty clear that the club repeatedly handed out contracts which effectively allowed players to depart whenever they liked after relegation, and it is going to be extremely difficult to bring in replacements at such short notice. Most supporters are treating the loss of Rutter as the last straw, but £40m in other circumstances would be an excellent price to get for a talented but erratic forward who squanders possession repeatedly. The problem will be immediately finding new recruits of the required standard, particularly after a pathetic display against Middlesbrough in the league cup last night. While the owners are responsible, it is make or break time for Farke as manager.

[Captain Obvious]

Some blunder  https://x.com/SkyFootball/status/1842309186727616540

[Rufus T Firefly]

That was an excellent win last night against a very decent Boro team.

We started off like a house on fire but as always, couldn't make our dominance count on the scoreboard, and only went in 1-0 up at the break. Boro at this stage were increasingly coming into the game and equalised through a Wober OG, following an excellent corner. However, Leeds steadied the ship and began to reassert and deservedly retook the lead through a brilliant James' finish, with Aronson putting a gloss on the scoreline in injury time.

We are currently where we would want to be, which is top, and we are above two points per game. There should be opportunities over the next three weeks to go unbeaten, although Leeds never make anything easy.

I am convinced we have the best squad by a distance in the Championship, but I am not convinced we will go up. For me we lack a really top class Championship striker, despite being able to pick from Bamford, Gelhardt, Joseph, and Piroe. The Dutch man though would be my pick of the four.

For me, we need a striker and a number ten along the lines of Pablo, who can open up a defence. Our three defeats to date have been 1-0, and have been underlined by an inability to break down a low block, despite dominating the ball. Rumours linking Leeds with striker Dor Turgeman of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and talk of an exit for Bamford. 

I think we have strength in depth in defence and midfield (including the wings) which is reflected in the fact hat we have been able to overcome multiple injuries / suspensions in these areas and push on.

I hope we do not get into a similar scenario as last year, with four teams running away with things at the top, but my sense is that the Blades and Burnley are not going to go away anytime soon. Not so sure about Sunderland's ability to keep this pace up, though.

Shout out for a few players including Dan James who is playing sensational stuff and Ao Tanaka who is surely the signing of the season, anywhere. Must say I also applaud Brendon Arrenson who continues to give his all, and has won back the fans.     

[jcpen]

Red Bull Leeds are flying.

[SaffronSports]

James and Tanaka certainly deserve much praise. I'd disagree on Aaronson though. You are right that we need another creative type as imo Aaronson doesn't do that role well enough.

[SLIGONIAN]

Agree with everything you say Rufus. We found a few gems for nothing. I really like Rothwell too and Ampadu just coming back from injury is a huge boost. I was concerned at the lack of investment after the outlay on summerville, rutter and gray. Tanaka was 4m from Dusseldorf. It looks like it has all worked out and we are stronger but I'd like to get some more strength up front. Could we tempt a load for Evan Ferguson in January?

My only concern and its the same every year is our ability to handle the pressure of closing out the season. The pressure now is nothing compared to April/May.

We are where we need to be right now and that's all you can ask playing good football too. MOT

[SaffronSports]

This is exactly the type of game that is our kryptonite. Team organised well in the low block and we can't break them down. Thoughts on Aaronson summarised by how bad that shot he had was.

Disappointed in Struijk at the goal. Jumps in and slips going for a ball he's never getting. He jockeys the lads first touch and he's sending him into the stand around the halfway line. Meslier should have saved it though. Get hands on the shot, you should keep it out.

[Denn Forever]

what happened to the french guy that was in goal?

[SaffronSports]

what happened to the french guy that was in goal?

He probably wishes he'd left. Was linked with a pile of clubs at relegation but stayed and has had a fair few blunders. Today wasn't great but the Sunderland one was as bad as I've ever seen.

[Rufus T Firefly]

This is exactly the type of game that is our kryptonite. Team organised well in the low block and we can't break them down.

Which underlines yet again how we are lost for a figure like Pablo. We desperately need a number 10, and I know we are still being linked with James McAtee from City. Bamford's miss from in front of an open goal also underlined the need for a top class striker. It was ironic that as we threw all of our forward firepower into the game that it took an OG to save us.

In the end, I was happy enough with the point, as I was sure that the match would finish 1-0, once they opened the scoring. Not near good enough.

[SLIGONIAN]

Aaronsson and Bamford missed tap ins. Joseph even missed his chance but fortunately the defender saved him.

For me our biggest issue last few years is being clinical in front of goal. We miss too many big chances. We struggle when we don't score first.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Aaronsson and Bamford missed tap ins. Joseph even missed his chance but fortunately the defender saved him.

For me our biggest issue last few years is being clinical in front of goal. We miss too many big chances. We struggle when we don't score first.

Agreed. For me, I think we have balked in recent times at paying large fees for players who might have made a difference. We were linked for a long time with Gyokeres but we wouldn't pay the £18 million price tag. Something similar happened with Hamer and even as far back as 2020, we signed Augustin when Jarrod Bowen was an option - what a piece of business that was.   

I'd have to say that I was excited when we signed Piroe, but even though I still feel he's our best striker, he's had a disappointing stint. 

[Mourne Rover]

Leeds are definitely in good shape, with a 4-0 win yesterday, admittedly against poor opposition, leaving us in second place, but there is little doubt that we need to strengthen in the January window to make sure that automatic promotion is not thrown away again.
We are the top scorers in the division, so it might seem unusual to prioritise a forward, but the goals have been coming from almost everywhere except our strikers. 
Piroe has gone five games without one and, although he has ability, often drifts through games fairly aimlessly. Joseph has bags of potential, but has only managed to hit the target once all season, and poor old Bamford is on a barren run dating back eight months.
However, trying to bring in a striker in January is notoriously risky as the Augustin debacle and many other deals elsewhere have demonstrated. Even fringe Premiership players are unlikely to drop a division at this time of year and looking to Scotland or the lower English leagues seldom works. It may be a case of carefully checking out  some of the smaller European clubs and considering a younger value for money option who will have sell-on potential.
The danger is that we bring in an underachiever who costs far too much, alienates his teammates and undermines the promotion push, while turning out to be no better than Gelhardt, who usually cannot make the first team squad at the moment anyway.
We could also be doing with a creative midfielder. Aaronson had one of his better days yesterday but is very light weight against the stronger sides.
There is every prospect of a tight finish involving Sheffield United, Burnley and ourselves, so getting the balance right as soon as possible is crucial. Ending up in the play-offs again, with another heartbreak story always on the cards, would drive most Leeds fans to the drink, not for the first time.

[SaffronSports]

Easy 3 points tonight. Stoke were poor but we played very well. Sheffield United and Sunderland dropping points helps too.

[seafoid]

It's tight at the top