Mighty Leeds Weblog

In the slog of a 46-game season, some will inevitably be hard work. By Stuart Rayner So it helps when your team is not at their best if someone can provide a moment of sparkle to make it all worthwhile. Step forward Georginio Rutter, whose first touch at the end of the first half steered Leeds United's game against Swansea City in the right direction and set up not only his fourth goal of the season but a 3-1 victory. Until the Frenchman's intervention you felt Leeds' deep squad might conjure something to turn one point into three but you were far from sure – they had, after all, failed to at Rotherham United five days earlier. But Rutter's goal gave the game an air of reassurance which Leeds held onto until the job was done – not spectacularly, but decisively. Sometimes, especially on a chilly midweek night, that is all you can ask for. As a first half crying out for a spark tottered towards its conclusion, minds turned to the Leeds bench to wonder who migh...

All the latest reports that have come out on Leeds United's plans to redevelop Elland Road By Jamie Kemble Leeds United host Swansea City this evening in the Championship as the Whites aim to close the gap on the automatic promotion play-off places. There has been a good vibe around Elland Road in recent months since the 49ers' takeover and the surge up the table. For some time, Elland Road has been a big talking point when it comes to the club's plans to expand and redevelop. There has been a new update in the saga so here are all the latest reports around the topic from the last couple of years. Phil Hay of The Athletic has reported that Leeds have met a major architectural firm. Redevelopment of Elland Road would naturally lead to potentially higher revenues and strengthen the club commercially. Hay wrote: "When 49ers Enterprises lined up its takeover in the summer, it was suggested that the fund might be in a position to unveil more concrete plans before th...

Danny Bloomer Leeds United have now accepted that they were ‘under-resourced on the recruitment front’ during Victor Orta’s time as sporting director. Orta was sacked from his role at Elland Road after a series of poor decisions regarding managerial appointments and dismal success rate on player signings. But in Phil Hay’s latest piece on the Athletic, he reports that Leeds now acknowledge they did not have a sufficient number of staff to oversee the ‘countless requirements of a major football club’. San Francisco 49ers Enterprises are now working hard to address that and already have several people working alongside Nick Hammond, who was brought in on an initial interim basis during the summer. Hammond, though, has seen his contract extended so that he can manage the next two transfer windows, and already has both Gary Penrice and Gretar Steinsson working alongside him. Orta cannot get away from just how poor his record was in terms of player recruitment at Leeds, particul...

It was clear as Leeds United players effortless switched positions in Friday’s first half at Rotherham United, each seemingly instinctively knowing where they needed to be even when their mate popped up somewhere unexpected, that things are gelling nicely at Elland Road. By Stuart Rayner But Leeds’ failure to win the game shows there is still much to do in manager Daniel Farke’s endless search for perfection. Football fans, understandably, focus on the thing every aspect of a club ought to be geared to – the 90 minutes on a Saturday, Wednesday, or whenever the television companies want them to play. But underpinning it is what happens behind the scenes, and Farke is just as happy with the improving teamwork there too. The proof, according to the German, is that he is spending less time talking to American-based chairman Paraag Marathe, with both more comfortable in the structures around them. One of the pillars was reinforced when former Swindon Town and Reading goalkeeper Nick...

Will Butcher Daniel Farke has shared details of the chats he has been having with Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe during Tuesday’s press conference – ahead of Wednesday’s clash against Swansea City. Leeds will be looking to get back to winning ways on Wednesday night. It comes after last Friday’s draw with Rotherham, Leeds unable to make it four wins in a row. Still, it is six wins from the last eight games. Leeds worked wonders in the summer. Marathe working hard to get a deal over the line and buy Leeds from Andrea Radrizzani. Then, the appointments made from that point. It went as well as it could. Marathe deserves praise for his part in controlling what could have been a dismal situation for Leeds, and the spiral south. Marathe, Farke and co. have helped mould Leeds into a promotion-chasing outfit. Asked about his relationship with the chairman, Farke said that “in the beginning” there were numerous chats between the two parties. Now, not so much – with the “relentle...

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has heaped praise on the club's transfer consultant Nick Hammond for his 'brilliant' work behind the scenes as the Whites plot their January transfer business. By Graham Smyth Although it's fair to say Leeds are currently anticipating a relatively quiet mid-season window, Farke says work is going on in the background to prepare for any ins and outs the club desires for both this season and future seasons. Leeds brought Hammond in as an interim advisor to help guide them through a difficult summer 2023 window, alongside technical director Gretar Steinsson. Recently Leeds took the decision to keep Hammond on until at least the end of the summer 2024 window, in a transfer consultancy role. Farke is all in favour of Hammond sticking around having enjoyed the dynamic between them and the impact the advisor has had when it comes to this season. The German said: "He is brilliant. He is key to our success in the recent months by gaining...

The Leeds United academy graduate was sold to help ease the financial crisis at Elland Road Leeds United academy graduate Aaron Lennon has lifted the lid on how tough it was coming through at Thorp Arch in the midst of the Whites financial crisis. The now retired winger was sold to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005 where he'd spend the majority of his career after making 43 appearances at Elland Road. Lennon told Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five podcast: "We did then but it's a different situation when clubs go bust. There was players not getting paid. "I was a YT then so I was still young but in the first-team. I was on £80 a week but you were just seeing members of staff gone. I turned up one morning and there was only two physios, where's the other one? Ah he's gone. "It was cutthroat. Kitchen ladies gone, they'd been at the club for 50 years. Now there's one lady doing the drinks or whatever. Obviously it's a different situation but it w...

Former USA international Robbie Rogers speaks exclusively with Sky Sports News about coming out in 2013, not judging Jordan Henderson for his move to Saudi Arabia, and why Rainbow Laces matters By Mark McAdam and Harshini Mehta In February 2013, Robbie Rogers made history when he came out publicly as gay, becoming only the second male footballer in Britain to do so after Justin Fashanu in 1990. Only a few months later, Rogers continued to make headlines when he became America's first out gay athlete in a professional men's team sport after being substituted on from the bench in an LA Galaxy match. The Rainbow Laces campaign is celebrating 10 years this year, continuing to raise awareness and promote diversity and inclusion in the world of sport. To commemorate this special occasion, our reporter Mark McAdam reminisced with Rogers about when he came out, his inspirations, and what he believes would create progress in England for the LGBTQ community... "When I or...

EL TEL Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman I don’t know if Terry Venables had many encounters with Leeds fans in the years after he was sacked from managing the club, in 2003. He wasn’t the sort of manager, or character, many United fans would seek out for company. I can imagine some awkward glances across Mediterranean hotel bars. A Leeds fan spotting that trademark perma-tan, those gleaming teeth; Venables spying a white shirt, a Yorkshire rose tattoo. Maybe mutual nods of recognition, then each turning away. It would be a shame, because if Venables ever did sit down with a Leeds fan to compare notes from his time in charge, I can imagine a lot of common ground. ‘I never knew things were so bad until I got there,’ Venables might say. ‘We never knew things were so bad until you got here,’ we might reply. In some ways Venables was a dream managerial appointment, but that 2002/03 season woke everybody up. We had, as chairman Peter Ridsdale famously put it, while Venables was s...

LANDSPEED Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman Good players play the game at their own pace, and great players dictate the pace of a game. And then there’s Lee Peltier. In Rotherham on Friday night, it looked for a while like playing at the speed set by the Millers’ 36-year-old right-back was leading to the cricket score Leeds should have got against Huddersfield. By the end, I was wondering if Pelts might be a tactical genius. Crysencio Summerville scored for Leeds after just six minutes and the way it happened looked cruel to our former captain. Peltier had already crunched through Georginio Rutter and did worse later to Dan James, but it’s hard not to feel a strange fondness for the player who used to write such diligent emails to the fans in the build-up to games, asking us to ‘get behind the lads’ or, stretching the favour a bit, ‘buy season tickets’. These were never very tempting offers, but that was only Peltier’s fault in the sense that part of what was not tempting w...

Frustration was the over-riding emotion for Leeds United at a freezing New York Stadium on Friday night but in dropping two points they picked up a valuable lesson for the rest of the season. By Stuart Rayner Manager Daniel Farke complained about the clear penalty he felt his side were denied when Lee Peltier challenged Dan James in the area and the miniscule margin of the correct decision to deny Jaidon Anthony a very late winner for offside. But the main reasons for the 1-1 draw were self-inflicted. Farke called it "karma". The football and interchanging of positions from Leeds in the first half was wonderful and when Crysencio Summerville scored after just six minutes, a big away win felt on the cards. But to use Farke's phrase, they failed to "bury" Rotherham United, and against opponents as dogged as them, that can be costly. Hakeem Odoffin equalised totally against the run of play just before half-time and as the Millers improved the Whites dimin...

Leeds United were unable to make their technical superiority or possessional dominance count at New York Stadium on Friday night, settling reluctantly for a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United. By Graham Smyth It was a clash of a promotion contender and a relegation battler, and for much of the game that was how it looked, Leeds in control of the ball and camped in the Millers half, or at least close to halfway. But a glut of missed chances in both halves and a phase of sloppy play in stoppage time before the break proved costly for Daniel Farke’s men, who must consider this two points dropped. Here’s the YEP take. Good day – Crysencio Summerville: Although the flying Dutchman was not at his absolute best, he was still the best player on the pitch. The way he took the goal summed up the confidence and form flowing through him this season. He worked hard out of possession to win it back too, particularly in dangerous areas. Of all Leeds' talented attackers, Summerville was the bigg...

Leeds United were denied a fairytale of New York Stadium by a familiar bad guy, but it wasn't Rotherham United, Lee Peltier or referee Oliver Langford. By Graham Smyth Former Whites man Peltier, now 36 and into his second season at Rotherham United, was caught on camera crunching the leg of Daniel James with the kind of challenge that can only ever be dealt with by a red card. Fortunately for the defender Langford and his officials missed it. Unfortunately for Leeds it took place in the area and would likely have decided the game, one way or another, in Leeds' favour. Later, in stoppage time, Leeds were stripped of a winning goal by an offside flag that went up almost as soon as Patrick Bamford stuck out a toe to connect with a ball bound for the boot of Jaidon Anthony. Into the net it went, but not onto the scoreboard. The sarcasm dripped from Daniel Farke as he spoke after the 1-1 draw of how keen the linesman was to spot Bamford being two inches offside. Offside is off...

ONE thing that can be ascertained about Daniel Farke is that he is not easily satisfied. By Leon Wobschall Leeds United are in a good league position after a refreshingly stable start to a season, for sure. It's just what the doctor ordered after a chaotic 2022-23 campaign, complete with unwelcome headlines off the pitch. And more especially a turbulent summer of the club's own making. Farke, a very sensible appointment, is applying the balm. At the same time, the German is not interested in pats on the back. He has gone so far as to say that Leeds have made progress since the close season. That represents high praise. Farke, whose side were in action at Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United on Friday night, said: "We are still a work in progress and not the finished end product. "We work in many areas in this club in order to create a bright future, not just in the short (term), but the mid and long term picture. "There's still lots of stuff to d...

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke hopes to have club captain Liam Cooper available for next Wednesday night's fixture against Swansea City but admits the Scotland international may have picked up a 'slight injury' against Rotherham United. By Joe Donnohue Farke admitted his disappointment following the 1-1 draw in South Yorkshire and offered an injury update during his post-match press conference after Cooper had to be withdrawn late on in the game. Pascal Struijk replaced the veteran centre-back with ten minutes remaining as Cooper trudged from the field holding his hamstring. "Yeah, there was a cramp," Farke said. "He also felt a little bit in his hamstring. We have to assess him, so it could be that there's a slight injury. I hope it's just a cramp, hope to have him available on Wednesday but we need to wait for further assessment." French forward Georginio Rutter was also substituted during the second half, but Farke confirmed the dec...

Daniel Farke says Leeds United will come to value the point they earned at Rotherham United but he admits poor finishing cost them all three. By Graham Smyth Farke’s men were guilty of squandering good chances in the first half, having taken a sixth-minute lead through Crysencio Summerville. Daniel James, Glen Kamara and Joel Piroe were all off target when well placed to stretch the Whites’ lead and the wastefulness was punished in first half stoppage time, Hakeem Odoffin finding the net after a catalogue of errors from the visitors. The second half saw the managerless Millers digging in and sitting deep to defend and although Leeds did have their moments, including a goal disallowed for Patrick Bamford touching the ball after straying just offside and a huge penalty claim for a challenge on James, the half-time 1-1 scoreline stood to the final whistle. “The first emotion is definitely disappointment because we were that dominant in many periods it should be enough for three po...

When Leeds United's clockwork football is in full flow, it can be mesmerising. By Stuart Rayner To watch Ethan Ampadu dropping in to make a back three, right-back Archie Gray pushing into central midfield, Joel Piroe finding pockets of space and Crysencio Summerville coming inside is to watch a team chock full of quality players who have been well coached. As they played their beautiful synchronised football in Friday night's first 45 minutes, you would have got long odds on anything but a comfortable away win. Rotherham United are a long way from the former Premier League club's talent – and bank balance – but what they lack in liquidity they more than make up for in grit, at least at their New York Stadium home. So when Leeds failed to put them away in a dominant first half, Hakeem Odoffin popped up for a stoppage-time equaliser and the hosts rolled up their sleeves and battled out a second consecutive 1-1 home drawn against serious promotion contenders. If Le...

Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford has spoken candidly about playing under Sam Allardyce – and revealed a particularly brutal post-match message. By Tom Coates Allardyce was drafted in with Leeds embroiled in a battle for Premier League survival last season. He took charge of the club’s final four games but was unable to prevent the Whites dropping back into the Championship. Speaking to comedian Joe Wilkinson on the ‘My Mate’s a Footballer’ podcast, Bamford has opened up on Allardyce’s management style. After the Whites fell to defeat against Manchester City under Allardyce, Bamford was given a particularly brutal post-match message. He explained: “When Sam came in, we played Manchester City away, obviously a tough game anyway. I felt like a dog chasing a ball that I was getting nowhere near. "I remember, after the game, I was like ‘wow, I’ve not done anything that game’. "He came up to me and he goes ‘alright?’. I said yeah. He goes ‘never play like that f...

QUE SERA SERA Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman Behind him, in the Family Stand, excited young fans chanted the name of their hero. “Tinkler! Tinkler! Tinkler!” This was the start of a big week for Leeds United Football Club, and the kids were playing their part. An inconsistent league season had been disrupted by injuries, suspensions, absences for the African Cup of Nations, new signings, new coaches, player sales and, lately, fixture congestion in the cups. Lining up for a league match with Everton at Elland Road on Sunday, Leeds were 12th in the Premier League. But in midweek they were going to Anfield to replay the FA Cup quarter-final, where victory would put them one big game away from Wembley. A match there was already booked; after Liverpool on Wednesday, Leeds were facing Aston Villa on Sunday in the League Cup final. With two huge cup games just days ahead, Howard Wilkinson wasn’t taking risks against Everton. 21-year-old Mark Tinkler was on corners because G...