Wham! Bam! Thank you, Sam! - The Square Ball 24/5/22

DIRTY NORTHERN BAST...

Written by: Rob Conlon

Because he signed from Arsenal, I always make the mistake of assuming Sam Greenwood is from the south of England. But when he joined Leeds, Greenwood told LUTV: “I started at Sunderland, got the move to Arsenal and now I’ve come here I feel like I relate to these people. Obviously Sunderland is a working class area, similar to Leeds, and I think I’ll fit into this kind of environment perfectly. It feels nice to be up north.”

Jermaine Beckford picked up on Greenwood’s comments about relating to the supporters when the latter appeared on the club’s official podcast in April, giving him some advice from a former Leeds striker to a burgeoning Leeds striker. “Trust me, enjoy that,” Beckford said. “Nurture it, and figure out how to make that work best for you, because once you’ve done that the sky is the limit bro.”

Maybe those words were on Greenwood’s mind after he sprinted from the dugout to the Leeds away end to join the limbs after Jackie Harrison’s last minute winner against Brentford, then calmly jogged back around the perimeter of the pitch, gleefully winding up the home fans en route. Beckford was right. I’ve felt relatively indifferent to Greenwood so far. Now I love him.

“It’s all kicking off,” whimpered the vlogger who captured the footage, which might be the best example of the north-south divide I’ve ever heard. It just looked like some children and old blokes giving it the wanker gesture to me. Have they learned nothing from Sergi Canos’ shithousing? Don’t film him. Throw something at him, you big softies!

Loving the Sam Greenwood shithousery after our 2nd goal #lufc pic.twitter.com/AX8Jw3SgxC

— • (@jamesxlufc) May 22, 2022

It capped a fine afternoon’s work from Greenwood, whose surprise selection in central midfield was part of a line-up that sent Twitter into meltdown at 3pm. After Lewis Bate understandably struggled when thrust into the team against Chelsea, it felt like a big risk to give Greenwood his first Premier League start — particularly given he was playing next to Rodrigo. Instead, he was quietly excellent, helping Leeds keep the ball and attack more comfortably than in any other game under Jesse Marsch. Wi’out ball, he made more pressures than any other player on the pitch, benefiting from the switch away from man-to-man marking because it allowed him to chase all over rather than stick to one person. As he has said himself: “That’s my game, getting into players.”

Greenwood might be the only person in Leeds disappointed the season has finished. He has been the unexpected winner of Marsch’s appointment. After the 3-2 win at Wolves in which Greenwood played over an hour off the bench and provided a subtle assist for Rodrigo to equalise, Marsch said:

“First of all, Sam’s been really good since we’ve been here and I said to him two days ago that if I look at the entire player pool, he’s the one that’s adapting the best and understanding what we want the game to be like.

“I think he showed that today and he also has quality. He has the ability to make some final plays, he’s very technical, so we’ve got to find ways to include him more, so I’ve got to find ways to include Joffy more, I’ve got to find ways to include Summerville more, so all three of those guys for me are going to be big players here and are important for us moving forward.”

Greenwood has an advantage over Summerville and even Joffy. Marsch has said he prefers versatile players, and Greenwood has now played as a 9, 10, and an 8 for both the Under-23s and first team. Jesse has also namechecked Greenwood as a potential “wide 10”, which is admittedly a role I never want to see Leeds use again — actual wingers are fun! — but I guess it’s nice to have options.

It must have been frustrating for Greenwood to remain in the U23s while his bezzie Joffy was becoming a terrace hero, but now both can enjoy their summers, reflecting on seasons that can legitimately be considered ‘breakthroughs’ — even if to different degrees — and enjoying the confidence that brings.

“At Watford, he didn’t feel nervous coming on,” Gelhardt said of his U23s partner in crime after Greenwood had got another assist for the grown-ups. “But [on] his debut, he was nervous against Arsenal. I said, ‘Every one gets easier,’ and he was like, ‘I felt that after the Watford game when I came on, I wasn’t even nervous, I was just excited.’”

Greenwood certainly didn’t look nervous on Sunday, in the way he played or celebrated. What could be easier than going to Brentford on the last day of the season with relegation on the line, knowing their fans and players are so desperate to beat you, and ending the day smiling in their faces after spoiling their party? Maybe he was inspired by Beckford’s advice, or maybe he was just thinking about his own response when asked in the same interview why he prefers the north to the south. “We’re harder.”