How Leeds United have got more out of Dan James: Greediness, unselfishness and greater consistency — Yorkshire Post 13/2/24

-


Leeds United have got the best out of Daniel James this season with a mixture of greediness, unselfishness and greater consistency, according to manager Daniel Farke.

By Stuart Rayner

The Beverley-born winger has been one of the Championship's best players this term, adding more reliability to the talent which persuaded Manchester United and then-Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa to sign him, and has made him such a key player for Wales.

Missing since late January with a hip flexor injury, James was named on the bench at his old club Swansea City on Tuesday.

This is the first season James has scored double-figure goals, and former striker Farke puts it partly down to a change of mindset.

“Experience is important but the most important topic is the work on the training pitch, during the games and also to bring this greediness and hunger to score goals and assist into the heart of the player,” he said.

“Sometimes you have a natural-born goalscorer and you have this skill or you don't. You will struggle to make a golden boot winner out of a player who is not capable of scoring at all.

“We got the feeling throughout his career he could bring more consistency in these terms and for that we worked on a few bits and pieces, gave some hints and spoke about what he has to improve in other aspects of his game in order to be there with more confidence and to be clinical in front of goal.

“All credit goes to Daniel because we can work with him and speak about a few things, it's him who has to go through the door. It's him who has to works on it and believe in it.”

Farke says James' willingness to sacrifice himself for the team has marked him out as a leader.

“He’s an experienced player with his appearances for the national team too,” said the manager. “It’s quite natural that the older you get, the more important your word in the dressing room is.

“He’s known for his offensive qualities but he is capable of sacrificing himself with a sprint back to recover the ball with a great tackle or to initiate the pressing.

“This has a big effect on the whole team, sometimes even the whole stadium.

“He’s not there every day with speeches in the dressing room but leads by example in training and games, which is what we ask him for.

“He has to sense his importance to the team and for that he's due lots of credit.”

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

-
Will Butcher West Ham United are closing in on a deal to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, and Ben Jacobs has shared how much Leeds will receive for the Dutchman. The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with the Elland Road exit door all summer and was targeted as the one big sale Leeds needed to make before the Profit & Sustainability Rules deadline this month. But instead, Leeds sold Archie Gray for £40m to Tottenham. Leeds have since sold five more players in the form of Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Kris Klaesson and Charlie Cresswell – raking in around £60m in total. But more exits were always likely and Fabrizio Romano reported on Wednesday afternoon that West Ham had agreed personal terms with Summerville, and talks for a fee were ongoing with the Yorkshire side. Now, the story has moved on with multiple sources claiming a deal is done between Leeds and Angus Kinnear’s old club. The Dutchman is expected to sign a five-year at the London Stadium, until Jun...
Read more

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

-
By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have confirmed supporters' commemorative stones at Elland Road's Centenary Square will be replaced free of charge in a bid to improve their longevity. Beginning next month, Leeds supporters' personalised stones will be replaced with exact replicas, courtesy of a new company, to ensure of a 'much better quality' installation. The work is expected to take around two months to complete. An official club statement confirmed 'three larger stones dedicated to former managers Don Revie, Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa' will also be installed, 'similar to those located in Bremner Square', while additional space for supporters to purchase new stones has also been factored into the project. “The club have taken on board recent feedback from supporters on the stones at Centenary Square, and we are really happy that we can now announce that all of the stones will be replaced," chief executive Angus Kinnear confirmed,...
Read more

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24

-
By Graham Smyth Leeds United are not actively looking to cash in on Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto and believe any further outgoing transfer business will be done on their terms. The Whites, who sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday for £40m, expect that there will be continued interest in wing pair Summerville and Gnonto as the summer transfer window progresses. Summerville has been a target for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion but their interest has not yet materialised into a bid. The Albion did, however, send a £30m proposal for Georginio Rutter, which Elland Road chiefs rejected. Rutter is not expected to try and force an exit this summer and appears settled at Leeds after a far more positive second season in English football. The sale of Gray has helped put Leeds into a position where they do not need to sell star players and can dictate any moves that do happen. Club sources say they are not actively looking to sell the likes of Summerville o...
Read more