Mighty Leeds Weblog

Teenage substitute striker Sonny Perkins bagged a 93rd-minute equaliser to save Leeds United’s skin in the FA Cup third round and seal a 2-2 draw at Cardiff City and Elland Road replay. Lee Sobot Cardiff went ahead with their first real attack in the 24th minute as Jaden Philogene-Bidace fired home after Mark Harris had been played in behind Pascal Struijk and Junior Firpo. The Bluebirds then doubled their lead just seven minutes later as Sheyi Ojo netted from the middle of the box after Andy Rinomhota this time played the ball in behind Diego Llorente. But Leeds finally burst into life following a triple substitution ten minutes into the second half and one of the substitutes in Rodrigo pulled a goal back less than five minutes after coming on when heading home from a short corner after a Sam Greenwood cross. The Whites were then awarded a penalty with ten minutes left as Joel Bagan kept out a Junior Firpo drive with a handball on the line for which he was sent off but Rodrigo...

SCORING GOALS Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman Remember, remember, it’s just a friendly in December. Usually we can switch off after a lacklustre out-of-season friendly game and take our frustration outdoors into a sweltering pub garden, but that doesn’t work three weeks before Christmas. Maybe this is better, though, because a disappointing game at this time of year would normally mean dropping league points and increasing dread, whereas beaming over from Elche was Mateusz Klich grinning his head off, running around with an oversized trophy to celebrate his winning worldie. So thanks Fifa, I guess? The only problem with these so-called ‘meaningless’ games is that the long shadow of the league season prevents everyone from switching completely into exhibition mode. It restricts the players, who are trying to impress coaches with their workrate rather than fans with tricks, and it restricts fans, who can’t watch Crysencio Summerville limping off after five minutes without f...

Leeds United ended their week in Spain with a win, but it was far from straightforward against LaLiga's bottom side By Graham Smyth Elche took the fight to the Whites and impressed with their ability to play through the visitors' press, first-time passes around the corner leaving Jesse Marsch's midfield scrambling and dragging defenders out of position. Fitness was obviously key for Leeds, who have worked hard on the training ground all week, but the game showed just how much work there is to be done to get ready for the Premier League restart. Good day Mateusz Klich: Came on as a second half substitute and added something of what Leeds had been missing. Got involved in some needle - hurling the ball at a player who had previously beaten him with a lovely bit of skill - and scored a peach to win it for Leeds. Whatever the future holds, the finish was a reminder of how good he has been at times since rescuing his Elland Road career from 'the bomb squad' he fo...

MOCK EXAMS Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman This was a confusing night in the year of our football 2022, as measures of success were zapped in the magnetic field generated by these competing interests: winning a game, winning a cup, (re)building a football club, personal professional development of young footballers, appreciation and realisation of said young players as assets, and ‘minutes’. Of all the terms that have entered the soccer lexicon in recent years, fans copying coaches by talking about ‘minutes’ might be my least favourite. ‘Minutes’ are the necessary evil that cover up for any number of sins against entertainment, the dubious promise that if this game was a bit disappointing, that’s okay, because those ‘minutes’ will ensure that the players will put on a much better show at some unspecified point in the future. Just, not in the later rounds of this cup this season. And maybe eventually at some other club. At Molineux, Darko Gyabi, Mateo Joseph and Sonny Pe...

Whites boss Jesse Marsch felt his much-changed Leeds United side were unlucky to suffer a Carabao Cup defeat at Wolves and praised the display of his debutants. By Lee Sobot Marsch made ten changes to his side for the Wednesday night third round clash at Molineux and gave debuts to young trio Mateo Joseph, Sonny Perkins and Darko Gyabi plus 32-year-old keeper Joel Robles. Leeds began well and peppered the Wolves goal but ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat after an 85th-minute strike from Boubacar Traore after chances for both sides. Marsch also handed just a third outing to 19-year-old striker Willy Gnonto as a second-half substitute and the Leeds head coach was full of praise for the lesser seen players and felt his side had played well enough to merit going through. Marsch told post match media: "Cup matches can go a lot of different ways but we knew we put a lot of young players out on the pitch, a lot of young players that we believe in, and I think that they performed re...

Leeds United lost out to Wolves in the Carabao Cup Third Round on Wednesday as Steve Davis' penultimate game in charge of the West Midlands club ended with victory By Joe Donnohue Leeds United were eliminated from the 2022/23 edition of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night as Premier League counterparts Wolverhampton Wanderers secured passage to the Fourth Round with a late Boubacar Traore winner. United began the stronger of the two sides at Molineux, dominating territory during the early portion of the game. Jesse Marsch's side forced a succession of corners in the opening ten minutes, one of which was almost turned goalwards by young centre-back Leo Hjelde. The Norwegian was one of four Leeds Under-21 players named in Marsch's XI as he made ten changes from last weekend's win over AFC Bournemouth. Sonny Perkins, Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi all made their senior debuts for the club, with Joseph and Gyabi making their professional bows at Molineux. During the op...

Wolves 1-0 Leeds United: Substitute Boubacar Traore's 85th-minute strike sees hosts advance to the Carabao Cup fourth round at the expense of their Premier League rivals Wolves beat Leeds United in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night Substitute Boubacar Traore was the hosts' hero with a late strike at Molineux Incoming Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui will have the Carabao Cup to look forward to when he takes over the reins By TOM COLLOMOSSE Julen Lopetegui will have a Carabao Cup tie for this first game as Wolves manager after substitute Boubacar Traore's late strike was enough to send them into the last 16. The Spaniard's coaching team were watching from the stands at Molineux, with Lopetegui expected to take formal control over the weekend and watch Saturday's clash with Arsenal here. Despite Wolves' struggles in the Premier League, progress in this competition at least gives Lopetegui something to build from when domestic action returns a...

Leeds United's Under-21 side defeated Middlesbrough’s youngsters at the North East club’s Rockliffe training base on Saturday lunchtime By Joe Donnohue Leeds’ unbeaten run in Premier League 2 Division 2 continued at the weekend as Michael Skubala’s youngsters came from behind to defeat Middlesbrough 4-2. A hat-trick from star striker Mateo Joseph, as well as a cultured effort from Sean McGurk, secured all three points for the young Whites who went in at the break a goal down. Italy international Willy Gnonto made another appearance for the junior side as he awaits a first-team bow and was substituted at half-time, along with Darko Gyabi and James Debayo as United trailed their hosts. Shortly after the restart, Joseph pounced on Sonny Perkins’ rebounded effort to level proceedings, before McGurk bent a second past Boro ‘keeper Nathan Fisher. It was a case of ‘right place, right time’ for the young Spaniard on Saturday lunchtime as substitute Joe Snowdon provided the opportun...

SUNDERLAND SHUT-OUT Written by: Rob Conlon The bad news is that Sonny Perkins isn’t going to score in every game he ever plays in a Leeds shirt. The good news is he doesn’t have to. For the first time since leaving West Ham to choke on their bubbles, Perkins played a game of football and didn’t score a goal. At Sunderland on Monday night, Leeds Under-21s scored the fewest goals they have scored in a match all season, but keeping only their second clean sheet of the campaign meant Willy Gnonto’s first in a Leeds shirt was enough for a 1-0 win. It keeps them top of the Premier League 2’s second tier, too. From second bottom of the division, Sunderland weren’t supposed to provide one of Leeds’ toughest tests of the season so far. Their line-up showed how football as an industry has become obsessed with the developing and trading of teenagers, and that the spontaneity of a player’s progression can never be predicted by a formula of data, scouting, and logic. Sunderland’s team feature...

Leeds United U21s boss Michael Skubala has revealed the thinking behind tactical tinkering aimed at getting more out of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood. By Graham Smyth Both youngsters started in Monday night's 1-0 Premier League 2 win at Sunderland, a game won thanks to Willy Gnonto's first goal for the Whites. The 18-year-old might already have experienced goalscoring at senior international level for Italy, but he was still delighted to hit the net for the 21s. Skubala felt Gnonto could have added a second and even a third, too. "He's got his first, he's really happy," said the 21s head coach. "I think he was lively, I think he got a couple more [chances] so he could have had a couple more [goals] as the game went on, but I think he's happy to get a goal." If Gnonto's first was the highlight, the biggest downside to the evening was the sight of Harvey Sutcliffe hobbling off injured in the second half. "We're going t...

Aston Villa might have been thieves of joy at Elland Road on Sunday but players wearing the colours of Leeds United still delivered it to fans in spades this week. By Graham Smyth Who could have predicted that the Premier League would lose its 'best in the world' status to the Papa John's Trophy? When it comes to individual quality, global interest and financial clout, it's impossible to see the English top flight ever being bettered by another domestic competition. The rest of Europe's 'big five' leagues can only dream of the income, expenditure and exposure afforded to all and sundry in the division to which almost all of the world's biggest and brightest talents flock. Yet for Leeds United supporters this week there was no contest as Tuesday's Papa John's clash with League Two Tranmere Rovers delivered abundantly more joy than Sunday's Premier League stalemate with Aston Villa. And it might be that way, at least at times this s...

Leeds United Under 21s coach Michael Skubala replaced Willy Gnonto to 'calm' the situation in Tuesday night's Papa John's Trophy win. By Graham Smyth The transfer deadline day signing was enjoying himself on and off the ball, showing his ability to retain possession under pressure and flashing a grin to Tranmere players and fans in a second half that threatened to boil over at times. Leeds had gone down to 10 men after Sam Greenwood's straight red card and Gnonto was booked three minutes from time for preventing the hosts from taking a throw-in. He then engaged in some dialogue with Tranmere skipper Lee O'Connor at a number of stoppages in play and Skubala thought it sensible to withdraw the winger, who could be involved in the matchday squad for the first team trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday. "I thought Willy was really good on the ball," said the 21s head coach after the 5-3 victory. "In the end I took him off just to calm it you kn...

Leeds United’s Under-21 side were victorious in their opening Papa John’s Trophy fixture this season defeating Tranmere Rovers 5-3 at Prenton Park By Joe Donnohue Twelve months ago, a youthful Leeds United Under-21 side were beaten convincingly by League Two Tranmere Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy. On Tuesday night, the youngsters exacted their revenge on their Football League opponents with a resounding 5-3 victory of their own, on Tranmere’s turf. Goals from Sonny Perkins, Joe Gelhardt (2), Mateo Joseph and Cody Drameh sealed all three points for Leeds’ Under-21s in their opening Northern Section Group B fixture. The Whites had their work cut out early on, though, going two goals down within the opening 20 minutes. A repeat of last season’s visit to Prenton Park looked entirely possible with Leeds struggling to find a rhythm, but United’s exciting front four had other ideas. Before long Leeds had pegged Tranmere back with two quick-fire goals, courtesy of Sonny Perkin...

Joe Gelhardt scored twice as Leeds United Under-21s started their Papa John's Trophy campaign by winning an eight-goal thriller at Tranmere. Goals from Paul Lewis and Rhys Hughes saw the League Two side race into a two-goal lead. But Leeds turned the game on its head with three goals in five minutes as Sonny Perkins pulled one back before Gelhardt, who has made five Premier League appearances this season, scored twice in three minutes. Neill Byrne levelled in first-half stoppage time to make it 3-3 at the break before Leeds eased in front with goals from Mateo Fernandez and Cody Drameh. Leeds had Sam Greenwood sent off with 21 minutes left but the Premier League side's youngsters held on for a 5-3 victory.

GOOD MEAN FUN Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman As I stumble into October, trying to remember what football was and what we used to do, bless the Leeds United Under-21s for their brazen reminder that the game at its best can be about young lads messing about having fun. Cruelly expending some other young lads, true, but they only play for Stoke. As the curtain raisers for this season’s short second act, Leeds’ kids played with an anxiety to please that was denied them at Elland Road back in the other epoch. Their name was on the board of the last thing we saw that looked like football, but that eleven was given over to personalities like Pat Bamford, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper. Then came the Academy Dreams approved-reality show, lavishing attention on a bunch who have moved on from the U21s — Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Charlie Cresswell, Nohan Kenneh — and one or two others who now have to give reasons why they’re still hanging around for another series, if anyone’s making ...

The gulf between Under 21s football and the Premier League is too big for Jesse Marsch's liking, so he's trying to bridge it for four Leeds United prospects in particular. By Graham Smyth It was highlighted again recently, in a meeting with Southampton's youngsters at Elland Road, that for some players Premier League 2 is no longer presenting much of a challenge. Crysencio Summerville, as was the case for much of last season, was nigh on unplayable, scoring once and contributing a hat-trick of assists. The problem for Summerville, still only 20 years of age, is that at a time when his development must move on from 21s football, he's not yet established himself as a starter in Marsch's first team. And for another quartet of Leeds youngsters, the same issue may not yet be as pressing but it is not difficult to imagine them proving too good for PL2. "I think the gap right now between the 21s and the first team is a little bit too big," said Marsch...

Mateo Joseph bagged a hat-trick as Leeds United U21s beat Stoke City 4-0 at the LNER Community Stadium in York The Whites U21s are top of the table following their resounding win over Stoke City Leeds United supporters were left purring after the Under-21s made light work of Stoke City to remain top of Premier League 2 Division 2. The Whites beat the Potters 4-0 at the LNER Community Stadium in York, with Sonny Perkins and Mateo Joseph on target for Michael Skubala's side. Joseph grabbed a hat-trick while Perkins goal scoring run now stretches to nine games - with 12 goals in all competitions this season for both club and country. It's been a promising campaign for the Under-21s following last season's disappointing relegation. The Whites are unbeaten in the Premier League 2 Division 2 with five wins and a draw from their opening six games. Here's a look at what Leeds United supporters had to say on social media: @marvin100 said: "That's one of the ...

Leeds United signed teenage forward Mateo Joseph in the January transfer window from Catalan club Espanyol By Joe Donnohue Leeds’ acquisition of 18-year-old Mateo Joseph shortly after New Year turned out to be the club’s solitary addition at the beginning of 2022. While supporters were left disappointed as the club struggled to add first-team players, Joseph arrived with a reputation as a promising young striker from Spain. The former RCD Espanyol youth team attacker had been prolific in his last full season in Catalonia, leading top-scorer standings before fielding several offers from prestigious clubs. Barcelona were reportedly among them, offering a full ride in the club’s academy setup with a view to progressing into the B team and eventually the first-team at Camp Nou, however they were unable to come to an agreement. Espanyol and Barcelona are local rivals, therefore Joseph would not have been forced to relocate if he had moved across the city. Instead, though, the ...

I'M THINKING, WOW Written by: Rob Conlon Leeds United Under-21s won their first match of their Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign by beating, no, thumping, Derby County 5-2 on Friday. And if it’s good enough for the Yorkshire Evening Post to note in their headline, it’s damn right good enough for my intro: the result puts Leeds top of the table. You heard it, we’re top already! I don’t want to get too carried away, but… We! Are! Going! Up! With the best of the kids needed to fill the first-team bench last season, Leeds were relegated from the top tier of the academy competition. There is a renewed sense of intrigue in the rebranded U21s thanks to the signings of Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins, as well as new boss Michael Skubala. But Friday’s win belonged to one of the old new boys, Mateo Joseph, signed in January from Espanyol’s YouTube channel but shielded from the immediate hype by sharing his handful of appearances between the Under-18s and Under-23s. Max Dean’s injury...