Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Stuart Rayner Daniel Farke says Leeds United goalkeeper James Trafford has the “natural self-confidence” which will allow him to compete to be England's new No 1 goalkeeper and deal with being Britain's most expensive. Trafford's career has gone on fast forward after spending last season as Manchester City's domestic cup goalkeeper, winning the FA and League Cups, but not enough minutes to play at the World Cup. Since then he has moved to Leeds in a £45m deal, and was picked as England goalkeeper in two of the recent four Nations League games. That a home game against world and European champions Spain, England's first post-World Cup fixture, was one of Trafford's games rather than incumbent Jordan Pickford's felt significant. Pickford has always been an energetic character, but Leeds manager Farke thinks Trafford's calmer demeanour is what he needs. "He's relaxed," said the German, who predictably refused to give an opinion on...

Boring! Words by Chris McMenamy The perfect gauge of any Leeds United performance at Elland Road is Big Leigh Nicholson’s choice of full-time music. Monday night saw the club’s announcer break out I Predict a Riot to celebrate a 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle. He called time on Sunday’s painfully drab ninety minutes of goalless nothing by pressing play on The Killers’ Mr Brightside, the perfect full stop to an afternoon of mind numbing boredom — like the last song of the night at a wedding you regret going to. If you were to ask for a highlight from this 0-0 that wasn’t to do with Brenden Aaronson and Dan James offering nothing in attack, then I’d have to say the ninety second cameo of Jean-Matteo Bahoya looking comparatively like the best footballer that has ever lived. The young, unseen attacker rose from the United bench just as the fourth official prepared to signal that there would be a mere three minutes of added time. There was less than two minutes remaining by the time Lee...

Leeds United go into international break unbeaten in Premier League after 0-0 draw. As so often can be the case, the spectacular - Monday's battering of Newcastle United - was followed by something a lot more humdrum. Leeds United's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace will not live long in the memory, but when considered in the context of the season's opening stanza it plays its part. Heading into the extended hiatus, Leeds sit fifth in a Premier League table as one of only five unbeaten sides. The clean sheet also ensured that Leeds will go to champions Arsenal on 10th October with the division's meanest goals-against tally and just a three-point gap to the second-placed Gunners. That victory over Newcastle, or rather the manner of it, lent itself to a certain level of expectation prior to kick-off. Daniel Farke and James Justin both recognised as much in their pre-game utterances but sounded respective warnings that Palace's three points from their opening four gam...

By Tom Coates Daniel Farke has reflected on Leeds United’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace Leeds United manager Daniel Farke conceded his side could not “keep the fire burning” in Elland Road as they played out a goalless draw with Crystal Palace. Having been ruthless in their 4-1 rout of Newcastle United earlier in the week, Leeds were blunt as they failed to break down Palace. Leeds’ home was a cauldron of hostility as they clipped the wings of the Magpies under the Monday night lights, but an expectant crowd was given little to celebrate as the Eagles evaded a similar fate. Daniel Farke’s admission “I would take each and every night under the floodlights if I’m honest,” said Farke. “They're all human beings. “On Monday night, we come out, the whole stadium was already before kick-off, exploding, the floodlights are on, it's a special atmosphere. “Today, Sunday afternoon, everyone comes a bit more like, ‘come on, we want to be entertained’. It's also a b...

Leeds 0-0 Crystal Palace: Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned Leeds’ best chance when firing straight at Walter Benitez in the second half Mark Walker Leeds extended their unbeaten start to the season but had to settle for a point from a goalless draw with much-improved Crystal Palace at Elland Road. Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurned Leeds’ best chance when firing straight at Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez in the second half after visiting defender Tyrick Mitchell was denied a winner by VAR. These are heady times at Leeds after they climbed up to third in the table last week after dismantling Newcastle 4-1 and although they are only five games into their second season back in the top flight, expectation was high among fans before kick-off. But Palace turned in one of their best displays of the season and will consider themselves unlucky to have secured only one point after creating the better chances. Given Palace had conceded more goals – 11 – than any other side in the top flight...

By Tom Coates The story of Leeds United’s Premier League draw with Crystal Palace The sense of ease that descended upon Elland Road prior to Leeds United’s meeting with Crystal Palace was almost unsettling. A 4-1 rout of Newcastle United, under the Monday night lights, had pundits purring and fans dreaming. Praise for the Whites flooded radio airwaves and TV shows, with the word ‘Europe’ creeping into conversations both in studios and on sofas. Palace, having lost three of their opening four league games and played in the Europa League just three days prior, almost had the look of lambs to the slaughter pre-match. For Leeds, it was a case of ensuring the narrative building around them continued to play out. For Palace, it was a case of rewriting theirs. As the sides played out a relatively drab goalless draw, you could argue neither succeeded. First half Both sides made tentative enquiries early doors, knocking gently on the door rather than forcing entry. Tarik Muharemov...