Leeds United are busy preparing for the return of the Premier League season and in just two weeks’ time they’ll face Manchester City at Elland Road. Jesse Marsch’s side have a couple of friendlies lined up over the next few days, but they’ll be itching for the competitive action to begin once more.
Ahead of the restart, our Leeds United reporters Beren Cross and Will Jackson have had their say on the season so far and what’s to come.
Can Leeds be satisfied with their opening 14 games of the Premier League season?
BC: It’s hard to look at four wins from 14 matches and say yes. The campaign began so promisingly with those sun-kissed wins at Elland Road, but the eight-match winless streak lives long in the memory.
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Yes, the late winners against Liverpool and Bournemouth perked people up and have given everyone a spring in their step, but those strikes cannot compensate for the prolonged stretch of disappointment through the autumn.
It was hoped there would be forward progress from where the club was at last season, but 15 points is the same tally at the same point 12 months ago. Based on the tone coming from the crowd after the Leicester City and Fulham losses it’s hard to then say it’s been a satisfying start three games later.
WJ: Probably not. They sit outside the relegation zone and they’ve pulled off a couple of major shocks this season, but it’s hard to say there haven’t been some bleak days over the last few months.
Defeats to Leicester City, Brentford and Fulham stand out as particularly low points during the club’s eight-game winless run and it seemed as though Jesse Marsch’s job was at risk when his side were being booed off at the King Power Stadium. Wins over Liverpool and Bournemouth lightened the mood, but the Whites still entered the World Cup break knowing they had to make big improvements on the field.
Leeds’ press has been too easy to negate and they simply must iron out the defensive errors and lapses in concentration that have cost them dear in games. When Leeds are firing on all cylinders they’ve been a joy to watch, but they have to figure out a way of finding some sort of consistency.
Where do you believe Leeds United need to strengthen in the window?
BC: A left-back is a must. Junior Firpo continues to frustrate when he’s fit enough to play while Pascal Struijk has performed admirably, but he’s a centre-back.
Victor Orta needs to find a natural option out there with all the attributes needed to play Jesse Marsch’s system. A striker is marginally less important because of the sheer number of bodies in that department, but they do need to strengthen there.
Patrick Bamford needs to get months of uninterrupted minutes under his belt before anyone breathes a sigh of relief on his long-term fitness. Rodrigo has continued to score freely, but he needs competition, someone better suited to the system and capable of stepping in when he needs a breather.
WJ: I believe this January transfer window could be pivotal, with additions a necessity if they are to keep the relegation zone at arm’s length. The Whites failed in their bid to sign a striker in the summer and they’ve paid the price for that at times, while the left-back issue has not gone away, despite the strong performances of Pascal Struijk there.
Personally, I would like to see Leeds push for another centre-back too, in an attempt to shore things up at the back. Just three teams have conceded more goals than Leeds’ 26 in the Premier League this season and another established centre-half option may help to slow down the rate goals are conceded at.
Do Leeds have enough to avoid relegation?
BC: Yes, but ask the question again in eight weeks when we have seen what impact Nathan Jones and Julen Lopetegui have in their new posts. The stark difference between this season and last is the absence, thus far, of one or two clubs quickly found to be out of their depth.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have the squad and head coach, on paper, to turn their listing ship around. Southampton fans may have less confidence about their roster and unproven boss.
Nottingham Forest initially looked like the league’s whipping boys, but Steve Cooper has overseen some signs of life in wins over Liverpool, plus draws with Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford. Frank Lampard, slowly but surely, is being found out at Everton, where form collapsed before the World Cup break.
West Ham United surely have enough in their armoury to pull away, while Bournemouth are surely sucked back in after the Gary O’Neil bounce fades away. If Leeds can keep Illan Meslier, Robin Koch, Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson fit while adding first-rate options next month, there should be enough to keep out of trouble.
Especially if they remain as hard to play against for the top six.
WJ: As mentioned above, the January window holds the key. There’s a long season ahead and there’ll be plenty of ups and downs, but two or three new recruits should be enough to ensure Leeds get over the line with a couple of games to spare, in my opinion.
For what it’s worth, I see January and February as crucial in the fixture list, too. The performances against the big teams have been great, but they have to start picking up more points against the sides around them in the bottom half of the table. Matches against the likes of West Ham United, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Southampton give them the opportunity to turn that around and put more pressure on those around them.
Who do you think will be Leeds’ star man over the second half of the season?
BC: Adams would be the easy answer because of how well he has already been playing for club and country. While he surely gets better and better with more football at this level, the one who may eventually rise to his grade is Aaronson.
Attackers are always the players to catch the eye as stars in a team and while he has shone brightly at points in the opening period, he has been inconsistent. I would back him to find more consistency and ultimately provide a lot more goals and assists based on how dangerous he has already looked.
The 22-year-old surely gets better with more and more experience in this division. Sinisterra has immense potential too, but his injury record is already showing how hard it may be for him to stay on the pitch long enough for that impact.
WJ: Rodrigo, Illan Meslier and Brenden Aaronson have been some of Leeds’ strongest performers this season, but Tyler Adams has been Leeds’ player of the season so far in my opinion and I’m backing him to excel after Christmas. The American has settled well into Premier League life and he’ll return to Thorp Arch with plenty of confidence after a strong World Cup showing.
He’s perfectly suited to Marsch’s style and he’s developed a strong partnership with Marc Roca in the middle of the park for the Whites. Rasmus Kristensen could be in for a strong second half of the season, too, despite initially struggling to settle at Elland Road and I firmly believe Wilfried Gnonto will continue to make an impact in the New Year, too.
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