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Leeds United 1-1 Villarreal: New faces — Square Ball 5/8/25

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No Perri, no party Words by: Chris McMenamy Going to Elland Road on Saturday felt like what I expected most Oasis fans to encounter when they first announced their return: missing faces. I assumed, fairly, that the brothers would fall out and/or there’d be a show where one of them — probably Liam — didn’t turn up. Lucas Perri was Liam Gallagher on Saturday, for me. I’d been hoping to catch a glimpse of Leeds’ burly Brazilian goalkeeper but injury meant we were treated to the creature comfort that is Karl Darlow in goal. The new faces lining up at Elland Road for the first time were Sean Longstaff, Gabi Gudmundsson, Anton Stach and Lukas Nmecha, with Jaka Bijol on the bench and Sebastiaan Bornauw joining Perri on the injured list. The sole novelty in the visitors’ teamsheet was seeing 2017 Leeds winger Alfonso Pedraza on the bench, whose appearance in the second half caused a split between the old and ‘new’ Leeds fans, many of whom were confused when Villarreal’s substitute left...
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Howard Wilkinson on Gordon Strachan, Vinnie Jones & Rebuilding Leeds United

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Leeds United full-time apology, wantaway man's tunnel appearance and off-camera Villarreal moments — YEP 3/8/25

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By Graham Smyth The YEP’s verdict and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Villarreal at Elland Road in the club’s penultimate pre-season friendly. Leeds United are edging closer to a Premier League return with just one more friendly left to play now that a 1-1 draw with Villarreal is in the books. It was far from a thriller at Elland Road but there were positives to take, particularly for two individuals involved in the Whites goal. It was far from a good day for others, however. Here's the YEP take on Leeds' battle with LaLiga opposition. Good day Joel Piroe Another game, another goal. The Dutchman knows where the net is and with no new number 9 in the door yet, Piroe has put together a good case to start up top against Everton if the need arises. Lukas Nmecha has also looked sharp but Piroe's status as the club's best finisher appears to remain untouched. It helps that he came back for pre-season in such good shape too, because he wil...
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Leeds United reassurance and retrospective evidence behind 24/25 decision — Graham Smyth's Verdict — YEP 3/8/25

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By Graham Smyth Leeds United drew 1-1 with Villarreal in their penultimate pre-season friendly as Daniel Farke’s transfer needs crystallised at Elland Road. The penultimate friendly of pre-season is ordinarily when you want to take a step closer to the team that will run out on the opening day, but this was not that. Perhaps in one way it was because it crystallised the urgency and the needs that remain in Leeds United's summer transfer window. But with the attacking additions and new full-back not yet in situ, it cannot be said that a 1-1 draw with Villareal told Daniel Farke much about who his best XI will be when the window closes. Farke’s 24/25 decision vindicated What it did was provide retrospective evidence to back up Farke's 2024/25 decision making in at least one position and offer a vital reassurance when it comes to big league opposition. On the first point, Farke started Isaac Schmidt at right-back, a player he knows won't start there in the Premier Le...
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Inside Daniel Farke's giant survival plan — Mail 3/8/25

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Inside Daniel Farke's giant survival plan: Why Leeds made physicality and set-pieces the focus of their summer - and the one key position they still want to strengthen, writes AADAM PATEL By AADAM PATEL and JONNY COOPER The running joke at Leeds United this summer is that if you aren’t around 26 years old and tall, then the chances are the club aren’t interested. And in reality, that is very much the plan, with all seven signings at Elland Road so far at least 5ft 11in and around their prime. When the recruitment team at Leeds set out their strategy for the transfer window and their bid to stay up, physicality and set-pieces were keywords. As one Leeds source told Mail Sport: ‘Physicality was something we lacked last season and something we identified as one of the major things we needed to improve if we want to compete in the Premier League. It’s no secret either that we had to get better at set-pieces.’ Of the 1,115 goals in the Premier League last season, 229 (20.5 p...
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Flexibility is fundamental for Daniel Farke but he needs a new striker urgently: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED as Leeds hold Villarreal to a 1-1 draw — Mail 2/8/25

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By AADAM PATEL Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal at Elland Road in their penultimate pre-season friendly on Saturday. Joel Piroe grabbed a well-taken equaliser in the second half after the visitors had gone ahead through Etta Eyong. A lively crowd of 35,273 turned out to watch Daniel Farke's side take on last season's fifth-placed team in La Liga. There were encouraging signs from some of the new arrivals, particularly in midfield, but questions remain elsewhere. Concerns over the striker situation persist, while Jack Harrison's continued absence only adds to the uncertainty. AADAM PATEL was at Elland Road for Mail Sport and has noted down five things we learned from Saturday's friendly. Flexible Farke shows tactical pragmatism Daniel Farke has spoken about flexibility when it comes to formations during pre-season. The early signs are that when Leeds come up against weaker opposition, they will set up in a 4-2-3-1 as they did during mo...
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Five things learned from Leeds United’s draw vs Villarreal as Anton Stach judgement given — Leeds United News 2/8/25

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Harry Dimond Leeds United continued their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Villarreal, as there was plenty to pick out. As Daniel Farke’s side continue their preparation ahead of their return to the Premier League, a gruelling test against Spanish outfit Villarreal took place. Leeds played their first game of the season at Elland Road as the Whites faithful could get a glimpse of what Farke’s side have been working on. It was also a chance to see new signings from the window in action, as Anton Stach made his first impression in front of the Whites crowd. Lukas Nmecha has impressed in pre-season so far, but it was an opportunity for a few others to get their own plaudits, whilst it’s obvious one player needs a move, and quickly. Anton Stach already looks like a steal for Leeds United As mentioned, it was a chance for the fanbase to see 6’4 Stach in action in the heart of Leeds’ midfield, and it’s safe to say, he didn’t disappoint. After Stach grabbed an assist on his ...
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