Why £25m Daniel James' variety performance felt like a Leeds United arrival that left Watford resorting to foul means - YEP 4/10/21
Daniel James’ dancing feet have scarcely touched the ground in a whirlwind first five weeks since swapping Manchester United for Leeds United.
By Graham Smyth
This week the winger is back on international duty,
alongside Whites team-mate Tyler Roberts, having spent recent weeks and days
welcoming a son into the world and playing a surprising amount of football for
a new signing under Marcelo Bielsa.
He joined up with Wales on Monday with the resounding praise
of his club head coach ringing in his ears, following what was undoubtedly his
best display as a Leeds player in Saturday’s win over Watford.
“Every time he plays he plays better than the previous
game,” said Bielsa.
“He shows resources and qualities we know he has. He is
going to become a special contributor to our team.”
Leeds expect Raphinha to feature #lufc https://t.co/5n6Hhi1BGG
— Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) October 4, 2021
Prior to the Watford game he had been learning the life of a
Leeds winger, playing 22 minutes against Liverpool, an hour against Newcastle
United, all 120 of the Carabao Cup win over Fulham and the first half against
West Ham United.
It was fair to say that, until Saturday’s game, he was yet
to make what you would call a proper introduction, showing glimpses here and
there or what Whites fans can expect from him.
And with Jack Harrison picking up a minor abdominal injury
and Crysencio Summerville picking up an illness, James was able to enjoy a
first full 90 minutes of Premier League football as a Leeds player.
While a caveat is needed – Watford were desperately poor,
offering very little going forward and struggling badly in both midfield and
defence – James was impressive from the first few seconds to the last.
It took him seven seconds to go at Watford, with an
incomplete attempt at a dribble, and 10 seconds later he was haring towards the
area to take Junior Firpo’s throw and tempt a defender into a risky challenge.
His most significant contribution in the early minutes was
using defence to put Leeds on the attack. When he spotted that William
Troost-Ekong was isolated as the ball came towards the centre-half, he left his
flank to charge towards the middle and force an error.
It was likely part of the Leeds plan to target Troost-Ekong
with James’ pace and two minutes later the winger very nearly stripped the
Nigerian international of possession.
Watford’s defender was uncomfortable, to put it kindly, and
desperately put an arm out before landing on James in the area with Leeds,
already a goal up, feeling they should have had a penalty. Replays did neither
Troost-Ekong nor referee Simon Hooper any favours.
There were some nice ideas at the end of James’ work, too,
that helped Leeds finish attacks in the area and keep Watford pinned during the
hosts’ first half dominance.
Fed by Stuart Dallas he sent a low ball across the area for
Rodrigo, which Francisco Sierralta desperately cut out at full stretch. When
James’ speed allowed him to escape from a trio of green shirts, he sent in a
cross from the byline that Sierralta could only half clear.
There was no escape for Troost-Ekong. Leeds and James were
relentless. The winger appeared suddenly in the beleaguered defender’s
peripheral vision and the result was a wayward back pass Ben Foster had to
prevent from going out for a corner, at the expense of a throw.
What stood out was the variety in James’ game, which kept
the visitors guessing. He shaped to run down the left as he intercepted a pass,
but with space ahead of him narrowing, sent an unexpected pass into Dallas who
had acres in which to attack. James stayed alive to the possibility of that
move, presenting a good option for Raphinha as he ghosted in at the back post
for a cross that never came.
The second half bore more promise and variety, but a little
more frustration too – he was free and in on goal a minute in, but Dallas opted
for a shot instead of a pass.
His quick feet drew a free-kick from Troost-Ekong, then he
threatened to go inside before straightening his run to zip between three
defenders and produce another dangerous low cross that Foster did well to
gather.
An intelligent switch of play, with his back to goal, showed
he could prioritise the simple option, allowing Jamie Shackleton to receive the
ball with plenty of room ahead of him.
Watford’s defence had suffered enough to resort to foul
means when fair failed them, Kiko Femenia and Ismaïla Sarr earning bookings for
a rugby tackle and a clumsy, late challenge respectively, James too nippy and
determined. They could kick him, but they didn't stop him.
Bielsa’s tactical change that saw Raphinha swap flanks with
the Welshman meant more defensive work – he was keeping an eye on former United
defender Danny Rose who had attempted to bomb forward – but he still impacted
the game.
Tracking back to beat Rose to the ball in the 81st minute
allowed Kalvin Phillips to take advantage of the full-back being out of
position to send Tyler Roberts away down the flank.
If James lost the ball, he scurried to regain it. He was a
persistent pest, his pace posing problems even in the final period, even in the
89th minute when a pirouette took two defenders out of the equation.
He’s a different player to Raphinha but they both have
acceleration, pace, a hunger for hard work and a gas tank that goes beyond 90
minutes.
Regular starting wideman Harrison has long been a favourite
of Bielsa’s but there always seems to be room in the Argentine’s affections for
another winger.
James joined the club on August 31 for £25m amid huge
fanfare but this felt like his Elland Road arrival. Watford will be glad to
have seen the back of the player hitting their back four like a whirlwind, his
feet not seeming to touch the ground. Leeds fans cannot wait to see more of
him.
