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These are tough times at Leeds and there must be a fair chance that Farke's time nearly up. All the signs are bad - five defeats in six games and three consecutive losses, including the last two in which we actually scored first - with unrest growing among supporters. We actually played quite well today, and could have been further in front at half time, but the sloppy equaliser immediately after the restart was a hammer blow. Perri's form in goals is a particular concern and his positioning for Villa's winner was atrocious. I feel sorry for Farke in many ways as the poor recruitment in the summer was not down to him and our squad is barely stronger than it was in the championship. However, his judgment in sticking every week with Aaronson - who works incredibly hard but is probably just too light for the premiership - and declining to make changes until late in the game may prove fatal. A tough run of fixtures is coming up, and the trip to Manchester City next week looks ominous.

The season is only getting started but there are already some ominous signs for Leeds and the defeat away to Fulham reflected the points previously set out by Rufus. While we were incredibly unlucky with the injury time OG, we will be heading for relegation if our attack does not undergo an unlikely transformation. We are simply not creating chances, never mind scoring goals, and the failure to strengthen the attack in the transfer window was shocking. Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha have potential but there were reasons for their availability on free transfers. We recruited pretty well in defence and midfield but it's clear that we also urgently needed a no 10 and another winger. The lack of quality up front means our only option is to scrap for every available point against the other teams at our level, and the trip to Wolves next Saturday will be massive.

It's always a roller coaster with Leeds, and we have managed to pack in a fair amount of contrasting emotions to the first four games of the season. What we can say with some certainty is that, while the financial regulations are grossly unfair, we have not handled our transfers well to date and the squad is of questionable overall quality. However, in difficult circumstances, four points from three difficult opening Premiership fixtures is a decent return. We can write off the Carabao Cup, where we usually underperform and were arguably worse at this time last year, but it was still an embarrassing perfomance. The win over Everton was crucial, thanks to a contested but probably justified late penalty, and we were realistically never getting anything from the trip to Arsenal. Today's 0-0 draw against Newcastle was hard to watch, but we got them on a good day and a point against a potentially top five side is a good result. The huge problem is that we are solid enough at the back and in midfield but painfully limited up front. Although Calvert-Lewin may make a difference when he is fully fit, a single goal from the spot in three games tells the story. At least one more creative recruit is vital before the window closes, and Elland Road, where we have not lost for 12 months, must remain a fortress if we are to survive.

The Aviva was a brilliant occasion and it was wonderful to see Dublin completely taken over by Leeds fans. It was a decent enough match, allowing for the constraints of a friendly, and Leeds were solid enough at the back and quite impressive in midfield, with Stach the star of the show and looking a class above everyone around him. However, as has been well documented, our problems are up front. Piroe won the golden boot in the championship and deserves his chance in the premiership but it is difficult to see him scoring regularly at the higher level. Nmecha will need time to settle in, but he seems quite similar to Joseph as a big, powerful striker, who can hold the ball up well but lacks a killer instinct in front of goal. While we clearly need a finisher, bringing someone in for big money at the end of the transfer window is very risky. The wide players did not really impress yesterday so a new winger could be required, and a number 10 who is physically stronger than Aaronson should also be on the list. It is likely to be a very tight finish and we would take 17th now.

At the risk of disappointing Urbangael, we are not demoted to the Tailteann just yet. If we make an Ulster decider next year, we will be back in the All Ireland series with the other seven provincial finalists. Even if we don't, we have a real prospect of qualifying via the NFL. Kildare will be big favourites to win this year's Tailteann and go through to the AI in 2026. The Munster championship is reportedly going to be seeded, meaning a likely Kerry/Cork final, with lower division sides like Clare and Limerick probably eliminated. All that means that the D3 winners can go through ahead of the the bottom two in D2, unless the rules get changed. Galway have been in two of the last three AI finals, and the idea that they are not serious title contenders is as ludicrous as the suggestion that this has been an unsuccessful season for Down. This team has put the pride back in Down football and we are not finished yet.

It's not often that blissful Leeds fans celebrate the end of the season with a trophy, and the only other time it has happened in more than three decades was in 2020 when Covid meant empty grounds.

Finishing with six straight wins to hit 100 points and 95 goals was a bit special, and a great tribute to the way the squad in general and Farke in particular stayed calm under enormous pressure.

It is probably only at Leeds that a manager's job could be under threat in such circumstances and it took the chairman a surprising amount of time to confirm that Farke would be in charge for the premiership return.

However, top level football is unforgiving, with the spotlight immediately moving to recruitment and the necessity to find at least five and probably more new faces of proven quality within the baffling financial fair play guidelines.

We need a goalkeeper, a left back, a central midfielder, a no 10 and a striker, as well as possibly a central defender and a winger, preferably without loans which have seldom worked in the past.

The most difficult position to fill is always up front, and, while it would be great to see a young Irishman like Evan Ferguson banging in goals for us, he would still represent quite a risk at a reported cost of £50m.

He had a brilliant start to his career, but injuries and loss of form mean that Farke has a huge decision to make and he may well be tempted to use his contacts in Germany instead.

Piroe managed five goals in two games during the run-in but had previously gone eight without scoring, while missing a stack of chances all season, so, like a few others from the championship winners, cannot be relied on for a starting role after promotion.

Farke knows that he faces an exit within ten matches if we have a dodgy start, but he more than deserves the chance to prove that he is a premiership manager.

The weekend victory over Preston felt like a defining moment and our fate is firmly back in our own hands now. The March international break proved calamitous last year, and, as previously posted, it seemed likely that we would require 16 points from our last eight games when the championship resumed this season. We have managed eight points from the first four of those fixtures and the unexpected collapse of Sheffield United has been a huge help. It means that another seven points will guarantee promotion, and, as they still have to go to Burnley, five points or less might even do the job.

A late disaster cannot never be ruled out at Leeds, so the loss of Struijk for the rest of the season does not help, we need to get the outstanding James back from injury as soon as possible and Piroe is on a dreadful run in front of goal. However, there is strength in depth elsewhere in the squad and Farke deserves credit for generally staying calm under pressure, and, admittedly at a late stage, acting decisively and replacing the unfortunate Meslier with the much more solid Darlow in nets.

Unless our form disintegrates, as happened at this time last year, a top two finish should be within sight and the title is a completely reasonable ambition. We tend to have more twists of fate that Rory McIlroy so perhaps he can inspire us to cross the line.

Eugene Branagan and James Guinness both did well yesterday but they play in entirely different positions - Guinness was in the corner while Branagan usually operates around our half back line. Branagan ran himself into the ground and scored a couple of fine points but he can also be caught in possession, as happened in first half injury time when we could have been in for a goal after a turnover. It was reasonable to replace him with nearly an hour gone and Guinness was also subbed a couple of minutes later. Laverty made all the right calls in Clones and, despite a very unlucky relegation in a tight division, we are in good shape going into the championship. If we keep our key men, McEvoy, Havern and above all Murdock fit, we are capable of making a decent impact. McGeough has suddenly emerged as a prospect while Burns is improving in goals with every game. We are definitely in our best shape since Laverty's appointment, and a little more strength on the bench could take us even further.

The March international break was not exactly kind to Leeds in 2024, with a string of players suffering either injuries or a drastic loss of form. We are hopefully in better shape this year, but it is still a very tight division. Most projections suggest 16 points from our last eight games will definitely take us back to the premiership. It all sounds achievable until we recall that we only managed eight points from the same period 12 months ago. We have a decent level of cover across most positions but if any one of Roden, James or Tanaka return from international duty needing treatment, we will be in difficulty. While the remaining fixtures look reasonable, we know that pressure does strange things to Leeds teams. Our goal difference is good, and it would not be a surprise if we need to rely on it in the end.

Burnley was an amazingly dull game but it was essential not to lose in the circumstances, and, after the setbacks for Sheffield United and Sunderland at home to relegation threatened opposition, it definitely goes down as a point gained. The wider issue, as Rufus points out again, is the lack of cover at no 9 and 10, with the transfer window closing on Monday and no hint of arrivals. Piroe and Aaronson have been decent rather than brilliant so far, and there are no compelling options in the squad if injuries occur. While Farke has suggested that players from other positions could be shuffled about, he has largely avoided experimentation so far. He has spoken of wanting to maintain the positive spirit in the group, but he will be taking an enormous risk if he does not bring in at least one new face. The poor goal scoring records of Joseph and Bamford mean they are unlikely to be the answer and the pursuit of Buendia never looked serious. Unless there is some undisclosed financial fair play disaster in the background, money must be available after all the departures last summer. Farke still gets flak from some fans but deserves great credit for steering the club through huge upheaval and keeping us top of the league. Nothing less than promotion will still be acceptable and it may well all come down to his recruitment policy.

The Leeds season is entering a defining period, with the opening of the transfer window and the announcement of Farke's verdict on our accident prone keeper Meslier. All the indications are that, despite the multiple errors which have cost us four points in the last two league games, Meslier will retain his place against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, so we have to hope that Farke's judgment is vindicated. It is equally important that he strengthens the squad in the coming weeks, so it has been perturbing to hear him suggest that, unless the injury to Struijk proves worse that initially suggested, he is not preparing for recruitment. Piroe, who tends to drift in and out of games, is our only reliable striker and any injury to him would have dire consequences. Bamford seems perpetually injured and has not scored since April. Joseph has potential but has only managed two goals during 12 starts and 14 appearances as a sub in the league, while Gelhardt has gone out on loan. Signing a striker at this time of year is risky, but failing to bring someone in would be asking for trouble.

We have to hope that Farke knows that he needs to recruit but is engaging in the familiar tactic of insisting that he is happy with the present squad to avoid paying over the odds in the transfer window. While January is a notoriously risky time to sign a striker, an injury to Piroe would come close to derailing our entire season. Competition for Aaronson is equally vital and the alarm over Meslier's record is steadily growing. Omobamidele would be decent cover in a position where we already have options. There is no doubt that the bookies have Leeds at an entirely false price, with Paddy Power today quoting 1/25 for promotion although it was 1/50 last week. A rational assessment, taking into account the way Leeds teams have crumpled under pressure over the years, is that our chances are slightly better than 50/50, but only if the right players are brought in shortly.

Leeds may be the only club who could go in the new year top of their league but with supporters feeling growing pessimism about their prospects. Late goals have cost us four points in the last two games and it's pretty clear that Meslier is going through a crisis of confidence in nets. He has always been prone to the odd mistake but his performance against Hull was verging on the disastrous, and he was jointly or solely responsible for all three conceded. While Darlow will almost certainly start the cup tie at the weekend, he has also looked shaky during his rare appearances. Farke is still insisting that he is unlikely to be active in the transfer window, but it would be a huge risk to leave the squad unchanged. A striker and a no 10 need to be on his list, and a keeper may also be required. The money is apparently there, and in a tight division, where the other contenders are already starting to invest, it will have to be spent soon.

There's a long way to go, and Leeds fans know all about false dawns, but the club is finishing 2024 in great shape. Three wins in a row, seven goals scored with none conceded, and tonight also saw our best score since the Bielsa era. While Aaronson has taken some time to find his best form, the winner against Derby was from the top drawer. Farke also deserves great credit for effective player rotation, and using his bench astutely. We still need at least one decent signing in the transfer window but the table makes excellent reading this evening.

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.