Mighty Leeds Weblog

Whites new boy Karl Darlow has made a particular Leeds United call to provide an added ingredient for a “special season” at Elland Road. By Lee Sobot Experienced goalkeeper Darlow was unveiled as United’s second signing of the summer on Saturday evening, joining the club from Newcastle United for around £400,000 on a three-year-deal. The 32-year-old stopper could make his Whites debut in next weekend’s Championship opener against Cardiff City at Elland Road and Darlow has quickly highlighted the atmosphere at United’s home ground as being a key factor towards getting Leeds back to where they want to be. "When this place is bouncing it's intimidating to come as an away team,” said Darlow to LUTV. "If we can get the fans behind us and play good football and attractive football and winning matches then everything adds up and it could be a special season." Darlow ended nine years at Newcastle to join Leeds and the keeper has hailed the similarities between the cl...

Daniel Farke was speaking after Leeds United's pre-season win over Hearts at Tynecastle Your team news first of all, so Georginio seemed to hold his side, what was the issue? A muscle injury in his core. I hope it’s not too bad, we have to wait for the assessment. Too early to say something but it’s a core muscle. Patrick, did he seem to hold his hamstring? Yes, it seems to be like a hamstring injury. It's more or less the same. We have to wait for the assessment. So he's experienced enough and felt that something happened after the sprint and now we have to wait for the assessment. Does that almost exacerbate one of the transfer issues that you most need, a number nine? No, because I don't think it will affect our transfer plans at all because I don't think it's an unbelievably long term injury, so it's not like an ACL or something like this where you are months out. So we hope that's not too long. It could obviously affect the first game, l...

Daniel Farke can find few arguments against signing Sam Byram but says Leeds United's ambition in the transfer market should be judged after August. By Graham Smyth Byram has been on trial with the Whites following his departure from Norwich City and the Thorp Arch academy graduate featured again at Hearts in the final friendly of the summer. The right-back has been used on the opposite side of the back four by Farke and with Junior Firpo currently out with another injury issue, Byram has joined Leo Hjelde as the German's left-back options. Farke is not yet ready to say that Leeds will offer the 29-year-old a deal. "We will see, so we will assess right now," said the manager. "We have not discussed so far but we know what we've got. Sam is a great lad, great attitude, experienced, homegrown player, free agent so then I don't find many, many arguments against him, with more or less some really good performances. “But yes, we'll have a closer lo...

A dominant Leeds United side concluded this summer’s pre-season friendlies with a 1-0 victory at Sunday’s hosts Hearts but lost two key men to injuries en route to the success. By Lee Sobot Leeds dominated from the outset and squandered a good chance in the early exchanges as Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville combined to play in Luis Sinisttera whose rising shot was beaten away by keeper Zander Clark. But the Whites were then dealt an injury blow as Rutter suffered a knock and the record signing was eventually unable to continue and replaced by Bamford, leaving the pitch as he held his side. Leeds, though, continued well on top and went ahead in the 38th minute with a strike that went down as a Frankie Kent own goal but was effectively netted by Luke Ayling. The Whites right back hurtled forward from right back to be played in by Summerville before producing a low finish across keeper Clark which Kent bundled home from close range. Bamford then went very close to dou...

Marcelo Bielsa was vindicated in bringing Archie Gray into 'murderball' sessions Teenager Gray shone in the former Leeds manager's notoriously tough exercise Now Archie, whose great-uncle Eddie is a club icon, wants to shine this season By ROSS HEPPENSTALL When Marcelo Bielsa summoned prodigious Leeds United talent Archie Gray to a notorious 'murderball' session, vindication was emphatic. Gray had begun training with the first-team squad and remarkably, aged 15, was named on the bench for a Premier League game against Arsenal in December 2021. Mark Jackson, who nurtured Gray in Leeds' vaunted academy and as his Under-23s manager, watched the midfielder in the gruelling training-ground game which sees the ball continually in play. 'Marcelo's murderball sessions were so intense, but Archie was fearless and had no apprehension whatsoever,' says Jackson. 'The way he used his physicality to protect the ball and get out of certain situati...

Whites boss Daniel Farke has issued a stern Leeds United message for today’s final pre-season friendly at Hearts and declared an important clear aim for the start of the new campaign. By Lee Sobot New boss Farke is now three and a half weeks into his Elland Road tenure and United’s quest to bounce back from last season’s Premier League relegation with Championship promotion will begin in just seven days’ time at home to Cardiff City. Farke, though, has highlighted the value of Leeds taking confidence and momentum into the new campaign in stating the importance of signing off from pre-season with a positive result in today’s 3pm kick-off at Hearts. The Whites boss says today’s test typifies a game where Leeds “have to deliver” as Leeds bid for quickfire back-to-back wins following Thursday night’s 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Thursday’s victory marked a second win of the summer for Farke’s side who blitzed Barnsley 9-1 in a friendly played behind closed doors, sandwiched b...

Leeds United are delighted to announce the signing of Karl Darlow from Newcastle United. The goalkeeper arrives at Elland Road in a permanent deal, joining the Whites for an undisclosed fee. The experienced 32-year-old shot-stopper has penned a three-year deal with the club, running until the summer of 2026. Darlow came through the youth ranks at Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest and went on to make his debut for the Reds in May 2011, in their 3-0 away Championship victory over Crystal Palace. Loan spells at Newport County AFC and Walsall followed, before he established himself as number one at the City Ground in January 2012. After consecutive top-half finishes with Forest and impressing between the sticks, Premier League side Newcastle United moved to secure his services for an undisclosed fee in August 2014.  As part of the deal he was loaned back to Forest for the 2014/15 campaign. In 2015, Darlow departed the City Ground having made 111 appearances, keeping 35 clea...

Leeds United are reportedly in a two-horse race to sign Swansea City forward Joel Piroe. By Tom Coates The marksman has been linked with numerous clubs this summer, with Leicester City, Southampton and Everton all said to be interested in the 23-year-old. However, according to Football League World, the battle to secure his services is mainly between Leeds and Southampton. Reported interest in Piroe is no surprise, as he has been among the EFL’s most impressive forwards for the last two seasons. Although Swansea have not come close to escaping the Premier League, Piroe has been in devastatingly prolific form. He arrived at Swansea from PSV Eindhoven in 2021 and quickly adapted to life in Wales, scoring 44 goals for the club over the course of 92 appearances in his first two seasons with the club. Leeds are light in the forward department, with Rodrigo and Tyler Roberts among those to have left Elland Road this summer. They have made just one senior addition in current window,...

The Whites are set to make another addition to their recruitment team. By Mark Carruthers Leeds United are reportedly closing in on a deal to strengthen their recruitment staff over the coming days. Elland Road has witnessed a number of changes since the Whites were relegated from the Premier League in May. The major change came when the 49ers Enterprises finally completed their long-awaited takeover of the club and their arrival signalled the start of several key appointments. Former Reading director of football Nick Hammond was named as an interim football advisor and Gretar Steinsson, once of Bolton Wanderers, has been appointed as technical director after holding key positions with Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and the Icelandic FA. New manager Daniel Farke’s support network is now set to be further boosted after Football Insider revealed the Whites had agreed a deal to make former Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa striker Gary Penrice part of their scouting and transfers ...

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke spoke to LUTV following Thursday’s pre-season victory over Nottingham Forest. Goals from Patrick Bamford and Ian Poveda secured Leeds United a 2-0 win at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium. Farke gave his assessment of the match at full-time, admitting there were lots of positives, but he won’t let his side get carried away with the result. “It was another tough opponent during pre-season, which is what we wanted to have,” said Farke. “We faced a Premier League side and a physical side and I was pleased with the performance, I thought it was a well-deserved win. “The most important thing for me was that we retuned back to the dressing room with a clean sheet and we were really greedy, defending our own goal. “We scored two really brilliant goals, we had chances for a few other goals and one or two situations which were very close to a penalty. “In general, it was a well deserved win, but it is just a pre-season win, so I’m not going to be da...

Daniel Farke is willing to give youth its head at Leeds United but he's not getting carried away with pre-season performances of Ian Poveda and Archie Gray. By Graham Smyth The pair caught the eye as second half substitutes against Nottingham Forest in Thursday night's friendly. Poveda was a livewire out wide and then in the centre, scoring a goal to cap an entertaining performance. Gray followed up a solid showing against Monaco by playing a part in Poveda's goal and displaying his ability to beat defenders with the ball. Poveda's time at Leeds appeared to have come to an end when he was first farmed out on loan to Blackburn in 2021, despite Victor Orta's insistence that the winger would come back and play a part. The summer of 2022 saw him sent away again, this time to Blackpool where he had a loan spell with ups and downs. Yet while Poveda was an unused substitute against Monaco, his cameos against Manchester United and Forest have been enough to change t...

Leeds United are yet to receive any expression of interest for Pascal Struijk, despite reports in Belgium that Club Brugge want the defender. By Graham Smyth Belgian-born Struijk spoke about his Whites future earlier this week, insisting that his intention was always to come back and play at Elland Road this summer. "I mean, my contract isn't till 2027 so I'm always ready to come back and then give my all for this club," he said. "So yes [I was always going to stay]." The 23-year-old has featured heavily in pre-season under Daniel Farke, in his preferred centre-back position, having had to fill in at left-back last season. Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad Sport are reporting that Brugge, who finished fourth in the Pro League last season, are keen on Struijk. Farke spoke on Thursday night of his desire to strengthen his central defensive options because at present he has just three centre-backs in Struijk, Liam Cooper and Charlie Cresswell. "The Cha...

Jamie Shackleton has been left beaming about a ”very good” Leeds United position heading into the new Championship season upon a successful Whites ‘away day’. By Lee Sobot Leeds headed for Thursday evening’s pre-season friendly against Nottingham Forest still seeking their first victory of the summer aside from the 9-1 walloping of Barnsley in a friendly played behind closed doors. Forest also effectively had home advantage in Thursday’s game staged at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium ground but the minority travelling Whites fans were sent home happy after second-half strikes from Patrick Bamford and Ian Poveda gave Daniel Farke’s side a 2-0 success. With just ten days left until United’s season opener against visiting Cardiff City, Shackleton says victory against a Premier League outfit like Forest has now boosted his team’s confidence, leaving Leeds in a “very good” position ahead of the new campaign. "I thought overall we put in a solid performance,” said Shackleton t...

Leeds United celebrated their first goals and first in-public victory of pre-season with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Burton. By Graham Smyth An even first half gave way to Whites dominance after the break, Leeds’ substitutes in particular taking the game to Steve Cooper’s Premier League side. There was a goal for Patrick Bamford against his former side and the second came from Ian Poveda, whose cameo was the highlight of the evening. Here’s the YEP take on the penultimate run-out of the summer before the Championship opener against Cardiff City. Good day Ian Poveda Take a bow young man, just don’t let it go to your head. This was exactly what Leeds have wanted to see from Poveda. The substitute got at players, beat them, delivered dangerous crosses and posed a serious goal threat. His shot hitting the net was a deserved exclamation mark on an electric cameo. Bielsa once spoke of Poveda having physical resources that he had not previously identified in a player and y...

Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper has seen similarities between Daniel Farke's methods and those of legendary Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa. By Graham Smyth Farke is the fourth managerial appointment at Elland Road since Bielsa's February 2022 sacking, following Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce. The German's possession-based football, disciplinary focus and fitness demands have drawn comparisons with life at Leeds under Bielsa. Cooper admits that a period of adjustment has been needed to reacquaint the players with a philosophy that emphasises keeping the ball. "I think every game we've played in pre-season we've improved and we've implemented what the gaffer has been asking of us," he said after the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest. "It's mad because the first couple of weeks in training the standards weren't there. It was a bit alien to us, we'd almost lost that side to our game, having possession and calmness on the...

Charlie Cresswell has made a Leeds United vow ahead of the new season and declared his immediate personal aim upon a very positive fitness update. By Lee Sobot Twenty-year-old centre-back Cresswell spent last season on loan at Millwall but the England under-21s international has returned to recently relegated Leeds this summer and says his immediate target is to make Daniel Farke’s XI for the Championship opener at home to Cardiff City. Ahead of a 46-game marathon, Cresswell says last season’s spell with the Lions has left him fully aware of what a year competing in the country’s second tier requires and vowed that he is fit, ready and raring to go ahead of the new campaign. "I've already had a year in the Champ so I know what the league is about,” said Cresswell to LUTV ahead of last night’s 2-0 win against pre-season opponents Nottingham Forest. "Hopefully I can bring that experience to the squad and really push on this season. Me, personally, I feel fit, heal...

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper says the message he delivered to any want-away players in the changing room at the end of last season still stands today. By Graham Smyth Cooper addressed the squad in the immediate aftermath of relegation following an Elland Road defeat by Tottenham Hotspur and after what he admits has been a 'strange' summer he has now made those words public. "After the Tottenham game last year when our fate was decided I was one to speak up in the changing room and I made it clear, if you don't want to be here next season - I won't repeat what I said, it was one of those," he said. "That's the way it's got to be. To play for this club you've got to invest in it, you've got to give your life for it and certainly those in the stands won't accept anything else apart from that. That was the message and the message is still the same. We need players who are invested." Leeds have said farewell to several fi...

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has pinpointed three key areas for strengthening in the transfer window as the Whites prepare to add goalkeeper Karl Darlow. By Graham Smyth The experienced stopper is in the throes of making a £400k move from Newcastle United to Elland Road and is expected to fly into the UK from the Magpies’ pre-season camp in America for a Friday medical. Farke preferred not to comment specifically on the deal for the 32-year-old but said enough to explain why Leeds are adding Darlow to the ranks. Speaking after a 2-0 friendly win over Nottingham Forest, Farke said: “Let's see – my philosophy is always to speak about business when it's really done and for that I have too much experience. It's done when all is agreed, signed and the medicals are done. What I can say is that we definitely need support on the goalkeeper position. [Joel] Robles has left so we're a bit thin in this position, and also in terms of experience and Karl Darlow is definite...

Leeds United claimed a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton on Thursday night Leeds United picked up their first win of pre-season, seeing off Premier League Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton. Here’s a look at the winners and losers from the clash. Winners Sam Byram The full-back continues to train with Leeds and after getting some minutes against Monaco, he was handed his a start against Forest. Eyes were on him and he didn’t disappoint as he seemed at home on the left of Leeds’ back four. He appeared a safe bet defensively and looked to probe and cause problems on the ball, pushing forward and attempting to combine with Dan James ahead of him. He’s looking for a contract and Leeds may well be tempted to offer him one on the back of his outing in Burton with the start of the season now just around the corner. With Junior Firpo injured, Leeds find themselves without a natural fit at left-back once more and while he’s more co...

Ian Poveda excelled from the bench as Leeds United clicked into gear under new boss Daniel Farke with a 2-0 victory against pre-season hosts Nottingham Forest at Burton Albion. By Lee Sobot Leeds were denied by the frame of the goal in just the second minute as a Luis Sinisterra strike cannoned back off the foot of the post and the first half instead ended goalless. But the Whites dominated after the break and finally went ahead in the 66th minute when Patrick Bamford cashed in on an awful back pass before applying a cool finish to put Leeds ahead. The Whites continued to create chances and bagged the second goal that their performance deserved when the excellent Poveda fired home a low finish from the edge of the box after good work from Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter, the latter having replaced Bamford upfront.

Karl Darlow is closing in on a permanent move to Leeds United By Ben McKenna Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has confirmed Karl Darlow is travelling back to England to undergo a medical with Leeds United ahead of a proposed move to Elland Road. Leeds looked set to miss out on the 32-year-old to Premier League outfit Bournemouth but the Whites pursuit of the player received a boost on Tuesday as the YEP revealed the two clubs in advanced talks over a permanent transfer. The Cherries were interested in Darlow, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Hull City, but widespread reports claim they are on the cusp of signing Inter Milan’s Romanian international goalkeeper Ionut Radu. With Darlow heading to Leeds on a permanent deal, Sky Sports Keith Downie has reported the fee is approximately £400k. It marks a reasonable price for a goalkeeper with 245 career appearances to his name and with plenty of experience in the Premier League and Championship. Reports earlier t...

Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca has told Spanish newspaper Marca the club are in talks with his representatives over a permanent exit. By Joe Donnohue Roca sealed a season-long loan to LaLiga side Real Betis earlier this month, but already appears unlikely to pull on a white shirt again on the back of comments made to the Spanish press this week. “I know that they have all made an effort for me to be here,” Roca said in an interview with Marca. “I am very happy, I have had a very warm reception from my teammates, I am where I want to be, I promise work, commitment and effort to the maximum, I hope we meet the objectives because Betis is a great team, and we are very hungry for victories. “In the end, I like to live in the present. Right now, the club is talking with my agents to see how we can agree all the details with Leeds. I don’t take it; I focus on training, and I leave it to them. This year I’m going to give my best and I feel prepared and with a lot of commitment.” ...

Daniel Farke has been 'direct' with the Leeds United squad since his arrival but a patient, possession-based style of football has met with Pascal Struijk's approval. By Graham Smyth The quiet man of the Whites dressing room, Struijk went away with his family seeking mental silence this summer. Last season brought another 29 Premier League appearances to go with the 56 he already had to his name but it was not the campaign he hoped for, or even a step forward in terms of his personal progression. Left-back was where the Ajax-trained centre-half made 22 of those appearances, out of necessity thanks to the injury and form issues suffered by Junior Firpo. Despite some solid outings initially as a full-back, Struijk too encountered a rocky patch and appeared shy of confidence as he and Leeds fell out of the Premier League. "I mean, at the end it was getting a little bit hard you know," he said. "It was nice to get away with family and then at the end [o...

Leeds United's revenue will fall by 50 per cent thanks to relegation, so slashing the wage bill is vital this summer according to one of the game's financial gurus. By Graham Smyth The Whites have suffered somewhat of an exodus since the transfer window opened, with several Premier League signings departing for clubs in Europe's big leagues. Brenden Aaronson has gone to the Bundesliga along with Robin Koch. The pair will shortly be joined by Max Wober, if Leeds and Borussia Mönchengladbach can finalise a deal. Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen will play in Serie A next season. Marc Roca has returned to LaLiga. Adam Davis runs his own financial management consultancy firm, has worked with clubs up and down the country on valuations and took a lead on the financial sustainability aspect of the 2023 Fair Game Index. He says the financial picture for a relegated top flight side can be a bleak one because the money coming in just isn't at the same level, and unles...

As Joe Gelhardt emerged from a Leeds United photo shoot on Thorp Arch's indoor pitch on Tuesday afternoon he spotted a stray football and natural instinct took over. By Graham Smyth The 21-year-old, for no real reason, took a touch and then accelerated, driving with the ball down the pitch. Footballers never need an excuse and Gelhardt has been doing the same things with a football since he was plundering goals as a schoolboy on Merseyside. What marked 'Joffy' out as special when he arrived from Wigan Athletic and began playing for Leeds' Under 23s, was not only a ferocious ball-striking ability but the way he got at defenders, running directly at them to leave them off balance and then blowing past them. When he got a chance to show Elland Road what he could do, it was a run at the heart of the Wolves defence that got supporters off their seats. He reached the area, won a penalty and Rodrigo smashed it home to secure a point late on. That moment was Gelhardt ...