Mighty Leeds Weblog

Leeds United loanee Jaidon Anthony says manager Daniel Farke is among the ‘most detailed’ coaches he has worked with when preparing for matches. By Joe Donnohue Anthony has only been at Leeds a matter of weeks but already has been struck by the level of detail that goes into Farke’s planning for games, he says. The 23-year-old joined co-hosts Matthew Lewis and Michael Bridges on the Official Leeds United Podcast prior to this weekend’s fixture at Southampton as the pair quizzed Anthony on working under Farke. “It's a bit of both, really,” the Bournemouth loanee said, when asked whether Farke choreographs attacking patterns of play or gives his forward players free reign in games. “I think he's probably one of the - obviously it's only the early weeks - most detailed managers I've worked with, I think. “The meetings are very long and he plans out exactly what he wants us to do. And then it's up to us as players. “We have a lot of options when we're

Teen star Archie Gray has set his sights on lofty Leeds United ambitions and the eventual aim of representing the Whites alongside a particular younger teammate. By Lee Sobot Gray has made an impressive ascension to the first team this season at just 17 years of age and already has nine starts under his belt ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime showdown against Championship hosts Southampton. Speaking to LUTV in an interview with his great uncle and Whites legend Eddie, the young midfielder said his aim was ultimately to win titles with Leeds as he set his sights on representing the club in the Premier League and the notion of playing alongside his younger brother Harry. Pressed on the task of eventually getting Leeds back to the Premier League, Gray said: “Definitely. That's something I have dreamed of when I was younger, winning titles with Leeds, it's what you dream of, especially as a Leeds fan. "You can't really ask for anything more. Obviously we want to do ou

Leeds United Under-21s’ head coach Michael Skubala says supporters at youth team games have played a part in Archie Gray’s first-team breakthrough this season. By Joe Donnohue Leeds teenager Gray has featured in each of the Whites’ first ten games across all competitions this season, starting the first nine under Daniel Farke. The 17-year-old made his professional debut in the Whites’ opening day draw with Cardiff City back in August but has taken to senior football with relative ease, earning plaudits for his mature performances in the second tier. Over the past two seasons, the great-nephew of Leeds icon Eddie Gray was, when fit, a regular under Skubala for the club’s Under-21s. Speaking following his team’s 2-0 win versus OGC Nice in the Premier League International Cup, Skubala credited exposure to crowds at youth level with Gray’s acclimation to the intensity of a first-team atmosphere on matchdays. “I think it's so important for their development to understand how

GLORY DAYS Written by: Rob Conlon Anyone who has listened to the sporadic Championship Manager 01/02 Extra Ball series will have fond memories of Brett Ormerod. He’s the striker the lads plucked from Blackpool to partner Alan Shearer in attack and latch onto through balls from Pablo Aimar (but rarely Joe Cole). In Champ Man, Ormerod became a virtual folk hero. In reality, he was briefly the bane of my childhood. Ever since my second visit to Elland Road, I’ve associated red and white stripes with Ormerod, who joined Leeds on a one-month loan in September 2004 from Southampton and made his debut against Sunderland, after turning down Sheffield United. Rejecting the chance to move to Bramall Lane was a good start to his Leeds career, mainly because it upset Neil Warnock: “Steve Wigley (Southampton boss) told me that Ormerod was going to Leeds and I am very disappointed. Perhaps I should have talked to the player first but it’s a lesson for me even at this stage of my career. Perh

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke feigned disappointment on Thursday when none of the assembled local media brought up his first touch in the win over Watford. By Graham Smyth The German's stone-dead trapping of a high ball received an Elland Road ovation and unsurprisingly went viral over the weekend. He was asked about it following the game and joked that if his players had his quality on the ball everything would be a lot easier. By the time the pre-Southampton press conference rolled around five days later that moment wasn't particularly on the radar of the quartet of journalists who gathered at Thorp Arch to speak to Farke. Had the national newspapers sent someone along then it might well have been brought up again, being the kind of light hearted topic that can elicit some nice colour to go alongside the more mechanical updates of team news, injuries and the upcoming match. But Farke's 'match day minus two' press conferences are not drawing the nationals

Daniel Farke pre-Southampton press conference every word on best fans, Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph, Ilia Gruev and Helder Costa Leeds United will return to action with a Saturday lunchtime showdown at Southampton, ahead of which Whites boss Daniel Farke held his pre-match press conference on Thursday. By Lee Sobot Farke’s side climbed into the Championship’s top six with last Saturday’s impressive 3-0 victory at home to Watford which represented United’s third league win of the season and first at Elland Road. Seven days later, Leeds will face another of last season’s relegated sides on Saturday lunchtime with a 12.30pm kick-off at Southampton. Russell Martin’s south coast side began life back in the Championship by taking ten points out of an opening possible 12 but the Saints have since slipped to four consecutive defeats and now find themselves sat in 15th place, three points behind sixth-placed Leeds. Whites boss Farke held his pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch on

Leeds United head of medicine and performance Rob Price has lift the lid on working at the club under Marcelo Bielsa's intense training regime Leeds United head of medicine and performance Rob Price has lifted the lid on the methodical way his department coped with the rigours of Marcelo Bielsa's training and way of playing. There was plenty of criticism aimed at the Argentinian head coach during his Elland Road tenure, with his sides having a history of burning out as the season approached its climax. Whites supporters saw that first hand with Leeds missing out in the Championship play-offs, but a year later they win the title and then finished in the top-half of the Premier League on their return to the top flight. Price told the Official Leeds United Podcast: "When any manager comes in, we have a discussion about what the risk parameters look like, we also look at what they want to achieve. Now Marcelo's style of play, the players had to be phenomenally fit.

As Leeds United continue to put distance between themselves and the foggy headedness of a relegation hangover, Southampton are struggling to shake it. By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke has spoken on a number of occasions of the lingering effects of a drop from one division into another and how normal that is. The hangover symptoms for Leeds included a burning desire to exit Elland Road at the earliest possible opportunity with an exodus of talent that admittedly was not all bad news. A number of those who left were players Leeds had no real intention of convincing to stay but there were some painful departures too. Relegation opened a pandora's box of contract clauses and it was a head spinning window until its very final hours. This season began with Leeds still coming to terms with the ins and outs and grappling with their final squad build and that was reflected in Farke's bench, both in terms of the experience and the number of players he had to choose from. Almost two m

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says scoring the ‘decisive’ first goal in matches is of great importance to him – something new striker Joel Piroe has demonstrated a knack for throughout his time in English football. By Joe Donnohue The ex-Swansea City forward netted on a regular basis for the south Wales club between his 2021 arrival and the summer move which brought him to Elland Road this year. Currently on 45, it is extremely likely the Dutchman will reach a half-century of Championship goals in just his third campaign this year, given how he has begun life under Farke. His next strike for Leeds will mark his 50th in all competitions since arriving on these shores. Piroe’s start for the Whites has helped propel Leeds from the lower reaches of the Championship standings to sixth in the table, currently occupying the final play-off spot behind Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Preston North End, Hull City and Sunderland. His £12 million signing was hailed by supporte

Elland Road has in recent years been populated by fan-favourite, competent defensive midfielders but few have taken to life at Leeds United quite like Ethan Ampadu during his first two months as a Whites player. By Joe Donnohue The Wales international is vastly experienced despite his tender years, enduring the lows of relegation with Sheffield United, Spezia and Venezia during loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, as well as revelling in qualification for, and participation in, tournaments such as the European Championships and the FIFA World Cup. At 22, he remains younger than predecessors Tyler Adams and Kalvin Phillips when they each rose to prominence at Elland Road, but has already demonstrated a proficiency at the base of Daniel Farke’s midfield allaying fears that Leeds would not, or could not, adequately replace the aforementioned duo. After eight league games this season, in which he has played every minute, there is a reasonable sample to judge Ampadu’s adjustment t

SHACK UP Written by: Rob Conlon After Daniel Farke professed his love for Jamie Shackleton, Phil Hay wrote for The Athletic that it might not be long before Farke makes sure his new teacher’s pet is contracted to Leeds United beyond the end of the season, when his current deal runs out. There was a caveat, however. Shackleton has been here before. He is established in Leeds’ first-team squad, but when his name appears on the team sheet it always feels like it has been written in pencil. When Leeds signed Djed Spence, Shackleton must have been wondering how smitten Farke will be with him when he’s not being picked out of necessity. Saturday was a good test, which both Farke and Shackleton passed. Marcelo Bielsa loved Shackleton too, but as a rule he usually gave his senior players the responsibility for going onto the pitch and doing what he was asking them to. With Sam Byram fit enough to start against Watford, the obvious move would have been to bring him in at Shackleton’s ex

Leeds United have conceded seven goals in eight Championship games this season, a record bettered only by table-topping Leicester City and in-form Preston North End. By Joe Donnohue The Whites’ defensive transformation under Daniel Farke has come about much sooner than many would have anticipated. During 2021/22 when the club escaped relegation from the Premier League by the skin of their teeth, Leeds conceded the second-most goals of any team that season. Defensive issues were not rectified the following year and Leeds went on to concede a further 78 times – the most in the division – succumbing to relegation in the process. Over the course of Leeds’ two most-recent Premier League campaigns, 157 goals were shipped, making them one of the most porous squads in Premier League history. After just eight games of the new Championship campaign under manager Farke, though, Leeds are averaging less than one goal conceded per game, goalkeeper Illan Meslier has recorded the joint-most c

By Kwadwo Ntiamoah Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has praised Glen Kamara after the midfielder got his first start against Watford. The Whites ran out convincing 3-0 winners against Watford on Saturday, with the Finland international making his first full start. Kamara had to wait for his chance to enter the lineup after an impressive start to the season from both Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray. When Farke was asked about the 27-year old’s performance, the German coach was full of praise: “Excellent,” “I think it was important because he had little pre-season because there was so many rumours and talks with Rangers that he didn’t get much game time, was tough for him. “Obviously when you come into a new environment and you’ve not played competitive games for such a long period, you need a few weeks in order to be then really prepared. I think he had also a bit of game time for Finland, I think this helped him, you could see him growing over the last two weeks or so in trainin

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke spoke to LUTV following Saturday's victory over Watford at Elland Road. The Whites climbed to sixth place in the Sky Bet Championship following an impressive 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Jaidon Anthony. It was Leeds’ fourth clean sheet in a row and the Whites boss gave his verdict on the latest three points. “We’re happy with how we played,” said Farke. “At half time I was pretty happy, it doesn’t often happen where you don’t need to speak about any topics because I think we were brilliant. “We created so many chances, dominated possession and dominated the game, we were all over them with good pressing and didn’t let them have one chance or hardly a touch in our half. “To convert this dominance into a result is what we did in the second half and overall it was a fantastic performance and win for us. “I was pleased obviously with the goals, but even more that we were able to return back to the dressing room

Willy Gnonto missed the 3-0 win over Watford with an injury By Ben McKenna Leeds United were dealt an injury blow ahead of their win over Watford after Daniel Farke revealed on Friday Willy Gnonto had injured his lateral ankle ligament. The problem was sustained 20 minutes into the midweek draw at Hull City with Gnonto forced from the field in East Yorkshire. After Saturday’s win over Hull City, Farke confirmed the Italian would need surgery before he was able to return to action. He is expected to be out until the next international break which takes place in mid-October. Providing an update on Gnonto, Farke said on Saturday: “He’s done his ligament. He also needs a little surgery but not because of the ligament but because there’s so little bone that has to be cleaned, so he will be out I guess until the next international break. “It’s obviously a blow for us but it happens in football, injuries happen and we hope to have him back as quick as possible.” Farke was unable t

IT had been a long time between drinks for Sam Byram. By Leon Wobschall Prior to Saturday, you had to go back over a decade to March 2013 for his previous Championship goal for Leeds United at Elland Road. Since leaving Leeds in January 2016, the defender – now in his second spell with the club - had netted just once. Hence his understandably exuberant reaction when he powered in a thumping header to make it 2-0 to Leeds in the 70th minute against Watford. Byram said: "They’ve been giving me stick in there. I’ve been away seven or eight years and come back and scored again. "It seems I can only score when I’m at Leeds, so I will take it. "I think the goals were coming after the first half. We had so many chances. If we are being honest, we should have probably done better with some of them. Their keeper has made some good saves, but the boss said 'keep pressing them' and once we get one, we should hopefully get a few. That's what happened and

A 3pm kick-off at Elland Road is the centerpiece of the weekend for many Loiners so a Leeds United performance like the one against Watford holds huge influence in the city. By Graham Smyth Anyone lucky enough to be there in person to see Georginio Rutter rouletting and pirouetting his way around defenders all afternoon in a 3-0 win left the stadium with a buzz to last for days. Clips of the goals on repeat, Rutter's highlights everywhere, social media awash with feel-good chatter. Kids who might otherwise have no real burning desire to go to school on Monday will be desperate to chat about it, draw it and maybe even write about it but above all recreate it with their mates with a ball at lunchtime. By happy coincidence the Watford game fell on the anniversary of a goal Tony Yeboah scored at Wimbledon that inspired copycat attempts in playgrounds in Leeds and beyond for years. This week ‘doing a Rutter’ will be the modern day equivalent. Even Daniel Farke, normally so sober