Mighty Leeds Weblog

Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Millwall and Stoke City at The Den as Charlie Cresswell scored twice on his Lions debut to seal an opening day victory for Gary Rowett's side. Charlie Cresswell scored twice on his debut as Millwall opened their Championship campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory against disappointing Stoke at The Den. The Lions have long been a team capable of threatening from set-pieces and it was from this means that they claimed both of their goals, with their lead rarely being threatened. The Potters, meanwhile, have been stuck in mid-table purgatory for the past few seasons and their insipid display in south London will need to be improved upon greatly if they are to even reach that this time around. Benik Afobe, who left Stoke for Millwall permanently over the summer, had an early opening for the hosts but failed to anticipate Billy Mitchell's cross falling for him at the back post and could not control. But it

Leeds United are delighted to announce the appointment of René Marić as our new assistant head coach. Croatian Marić arrives at Elland Road with an exciting CV, despite being just 29 years of age. He began his coaching career at TSU Handenberg before rising to prominence at Red Bull Salzburg, initially as a youth coach in 2016 and then as assistant head coach between 2017 and 2019. It was while at Salzburg that Marić began working with Marco Rose. After a successful period in Austria which saw the side reach the Europa League Semi Finals, Marić joined Rose at Borussia Monchengladbach at the start of the 2019/20 season. By 2021/22 the duo had headed to Borussia Dortmund, before leaving the club at the end of the season despite a second-place finish. Marić is a highly respected coach and we are delighted that he has chosen to join up with Jesse Marsch’s backroom staff alongside Ewan Sharp, Mark Jackson and Cameron Toshack. Jesse Marsch said: “I’ve known René for a number of y

By Andy Mitten It’s 9am on Saturday April 18, 1992, and the issue 18 of United We Stand fanzine is ready for pick up from the printers near Old Trafford. The cover says “Champions At Last” ahead of Manchester United’s surely imminent first league title since 1967. Three bags are filled and placed into the hold of one of the two Hurst’s of Wigan coaches waiting outside the Dog & Partridge pub by Old Trafford. We’d been organising these coaches since the start of the 1991-92 season (they’re still going) taking United fans to away games as glory beckoned. The mood was optimistic on the coach, the fare £12 per person. United were league leaders, two points ahead of Leeds United after 37 of 42 games and with one game in hand. Luton sat 20th of 22 teams. They’d been hammered 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier in the season, with Brian McClair scoring two. United received 1,800 of the 13,400 tickets, seats in the Oak Road stand priced £13.50 each. It didn’t meet demand but at least it wa

Leeds offered the chance to sign Colombian forward Julian Quinones after missing out on Belgian ace Charles de Ketelaere, who is poised to sign for AC Milan Belgian striker Charles de Ketelaere was Leeds' number one target this summer But he favours a move to AC Milan and will have a medical at the Serie A club The Whites have therefore turned their attentions to Colombian Julian Quinones The 25-year-old's goals helped Atlas win the Clausura title in Mexico this year Jesse Marsch is looking to bolster his attacking options following Raphinha's exit By SIMON JONES Leeds have turned their attentions to Colombian forward Julian Quinones after missing out on signing Charles de Ketelaere from Club Brugge. The 6ft 3in Belgian frontman was Jesse Marsch's number one target in the transfer market this summer and the Whites were willing to pay £31million for him, but De Ketelaere has always favoured a move to AC Milan. The Serie A side have not been able to matc

Liam Tharme Jesse Marsch no longer has to treat Leeds as the “band-aid” project they were when he was appointed in February. Ahead of their third consecutive Premier League campaign, Leeds’ pre-season has seen a three-match tour to Australia tour bookended by a 4-0 friendly win over Championship side Blackpool in York and a fixture against Cagliari of Italy’s Serie B at Elland Road this Sunday. Down Under, results were mixed, but this is pre-season — results don’t count. In terms of tactical identity, Leeds have a head coach who has clearly been influenced by his time as an employee of the Red Bull group, having coached more than 200 games for its clubs in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig. Marsch typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 shape, with the three behind the striker attacking narrowly, the full-backs providing the width, and a strong emphasis on vertical play along the ground. It’s a style that massively suits one Patrick Bamford, as the strikers are often fed through-balls. Aggr

Archie Gray's agent has likened John McGinn's tackle on the Leeds United teenager to the actions of a Sunday League 'old fella.' By Graham Smyth Hayden Evans, who along with Gray's father Andy represents a number of Whites players, was unimpressed with the Aston Villa midfielder's challenge during the pre-season friendly in Brisbane. Shortly after being booked for a tackle on Villa's Emiliano Buendia, Gray was caught on the ankle by McGinn and was stretchered off. McGinn made contact with the 16-year-old after the game to enquire after his welfare and the injury turned out to be minor, with Gray back in training a few days later in Perth and an unused substitute for the game against Crystal Palace last Friday. Speaking to Dan Moylan and Michael Normanton on The Phil Hay Show, Evans saw nothing wrong with Gray's challenge on Buendia but took a different view on McGinn's. "I thought it was typical McGinn really," he said. "

Andrew Hawkins According to numerous reports, Leeds striker Joe Gelhardt is close to agreeing a new five year deal, keeping the talented forward at Elland Road until 2027. One piece of business that simply has to happen this summer is the new contract for Joe ‘Joffy’ Gelhardt. It is rumoured he is very close to agreeing personal terms on a £25,000 a week, five year deal. TheTransferTavern have reported the details, and it is close to being confirmed. ‘Leeds United are reportedly on the verge of tying down Joe Gelhardt to a new contract, according to a report from TeamTalk journalist James Marshment.’ Taking to Twitter to cite the report from TeamTalk, Marshment claimed that the England youth starlet is in line for a ‘new five-year deal’ at the Whites. He stated: “As per TeamTalk sources, Leeds United are on verge of announcing new five-year deal for Joe Gelhardt, earning the 20-year-old a 55% pay-rise.” ‘The report claims that Liverpudlian sensation Gelhardt – who was haile

Kris Smith Birmingham City are not willing to sell young midfielder George Hall for any price as Leeds United remain interested. The Whites have already managed two teenage signings to strengthen the emerging group coming into the senior fold in the coming years, with Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins joining from Manchester City and West Ham respectively. More is needed for newly-appointed under-21s head coach Michael Skubala, as the side takes to the PL2 Division 2 once more after relegation last term. Alongside Perkins, Leeds also had their eyes set on Birmingham City midfielder George Hall, per The Athletic. The recently-turned 18-year-old is likely to be a key part of the plans at St Andrews this season and beyond, with the club boasting a handful of very talented youngsters at the moment. While Leeds would be keen to bring in the teen who registered four goal involvements at PL2 level last term, Birmingham Live are reporting that the Blues are not interested in entertaini

Leeds United are delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Skubala as our new Under-21 head coach. Highly rated Skubala has held positions within the FA for a number of years, starting with heading up the national Futsal side before moving over to work with the national team’s youth set-up, culminating in becoming the coach for the England Under-18 team. Prior to working with the FA, Skubala was the Director of Football at Loughborough University for four years. Skubala will be assisted by Michal Pujdak who remains in place as assistant coach of the U21 side. Previously, Pujdak worked alongside Mark Jackson who has moved up to work with Jesse Marsch and the first team on a full-time basis.   Director of Football Victor Orta said: “The role of head coach within the Under-21 side is clearly an important role at a club that sees so many players progress into the first team. “We interviewed candidates from across the world over the course of the summer, but the work Michae

Leeds United have issued another apology to fans over Adidas supply chain delays to kit sales and revealed a new timeline for the away and third kit launches. By Graham Smyth The Whites will launch their 2022/23 away kit next week but will only be able to sell a limited amount of stock from Thursday August 4, with further stock available later next month. Leeds say the initial stock will be sold exclusively online ‘to ensure that once sizes are sold out, pre-orders can be made.’ A third kit will be revealed ‘in due course’ according to Leeds and will go on sale to supporters on Thursday September 22. "Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused our supporters,” added a spokesperson. Leeds played in their new home kit during the two-week tour of Australia but it is not yet available for fans to buy. Jesse Marsch and his players made a number of commercial appearances at Adidas and JD Sports events across the two weeks Down Under, when merchandising oppo

Life at Leeds United is already exceeding Rasmus Kristensen's expectations. By Graham Smyth Growing up in Brande, the Dane was well aware of the Whites from an early age because most of his father's mates supported the club. And this summer, as a move to be reunited with his old RB Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch was mooted, Kristensen was sold the Elland Road vision in all its glory. Director of football Victor Orta sends all prospective additions a video that attempts to convey not only the size and stature of the club but the intensity of the fans' passion and the culture that has developed around them. Kristensen is yet to run out in front of a packed Elland Road but he has now at least played football in front of thousands of Leeds fans, thanks to the pre-season fixtures during the tour of Australia. He's yet to be disappointed. "Everything I was told and promised before I signed is living up to it and even more, so I'm really happy," he sai

Jesse Marsch is going to test the patience of Leeds United fans this season and their consistency, too. By Graham Smyth Patience was in abundance last season, to such a degree in fact that Marsch's predecessor felt the need to point out how unwarranted it felt. During the club's tour of Australia, Liam Cooper told a Brisbane bar of the importance, to the players, of that kind of support, although his assertion that the fans didn't take any opportunities to turn on the team was not strictly accurate - there were boos on the day Leeds capitulated to Spurs in a game that was, for Andrea Radrizzani and the board, the straw that broke the camel's back. Cooper's point was a sound one though - that it took until late February in such a season to bring frustration to the boil said so much about what Leeds fans could tolerate and how defiant they could be in the face of disappointment. Part of that was undoubtedly the credit Marcelo Bielsa had built up in a remarka

Tyler Adams has had his very own Back to the Future moment since arriving at Leeds United. By Graham Smyth A £20m summer signing from RB Leipzig, Adams got to know his new team-mates a lot better during a two-week tour of Australia that forced them all together in hotels, coaches and long-haul flights. Head coach Jesse Marsch was not someone he needed to spark up a friendship with, having worked under the head coach at two previous clubs - New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig. Their relationship was fully formed long before they were reunited at Elland Road. "He's given me an opportunity to start my professional career and I always owe him that," said Adams. "We have a very good relationship. He's very hard on me. He wants me to continue to improve and continue to have that hunger and that's why I was so keen to work under him again, because he pushes my limits. He pushes me to a certain point where you have to continually come in, continuing to earn