From a footballing perspective, an unexpected month-long break would have been welcomed by Leeds United last season. At one point in 2021-22, the Whites had Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper sidelined at the same time.
Injuries were largely - but not solely - to blame for Leeds suffering second-season syndrome and being embroiled in a razor-close relegation fight. Pausing the fixture list would have been a blessing for Marcelo Bielsa at the twilight of his Elland Road reign.
However, it is hard to draw any on-field positives from the recent lull in action given Leeds' solid, but not spectacular, start to the campaign. Premier League football halted last weekend as a show of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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Top-flight chiefs announced on Monday that - barring a few exceptions - the schedule would resume this weekend. Unfortunately for Leeds, their trip to Manchester United is one of three casualties.
A stretched police force for the late monarch’s funeral means adequate security cannot be provided at Old Trafford on Sunday. Greater Manchester Police officers are being sent to London for the service which takes place the following day.
This means that, when Leeds line up against Aston Villa on October 2, it will have been 29 days since their last outing against Brentford. For context, the break between the final game of 2021-22 and the Whites’ pre-season opener against Blackpool was just 17 days more.
Little over two weeks difference means Leeds, essentially, require a mini pre-season before returning to the Premier League arena. Jesse Marsch demands a high-intensity style from his players but that could prove difficult against Villa with no game in nearly a month.
Throw in the added headache of a winter World Cup a few weeks later and the plot thickens. A stop-start season is not ideal for any manager - especially one trying to gel together a new-look side.
Of course, all Leeds can do is accept their misfortune. The Queen’s passing and winter World Cups are once-in-every-three-generation events. Complaining will not get Marsch’s men anywhere but to deny their disadvantage would be disingenuous.
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