Leeds United man's full-time lesson, comical boos, Marathe reflection and off-camera play-off moments — YEP 17/5/24
By Graham Smyth
The famous Leeds United are off to Wembley thanks to a
ruthless pasting of Norwich City and it was a classic Elland Road night from
start to finish.
The pre-game play list, an atmosphere that started to build
even earlier than usual, the spectacle of the scarves and the snuffing out of
the Canaries kept Leeds' Premier League promotion dream alive. Here's the YEP
take.
Good day: Leeds United. You can't very well go singling
individuals out on a night like this because everyone - from the players to the
fans to Daniel Farke - understood their assignment and carried it out to
something close to perfection. The goalkeeper, his defenders, the central
midfield, the wingers and the central forwards all brought a level of
physicality and urgency to match the atmosphere they walked out into. For
Farke, who has faced big questions in recent weeks during a slump in
performance levels and results, this was the perfect response at the best
possible time. There are few, if any, better sights or sounds in English
football than Elland Road on a night like this one. Not just a team taking a
step forward, having halted their backsliding at Carrow Road, but an entire
club.
Bad day: David Wagner. There had to be a strong feeling of
helplessness in Wagner as he watched Leeds set about his team in such a
ruthless manner early on in the game. By the time he properly got the chance to
get into his players' heads, at half-time, the game was over. He admitted such
afterwards. And though he didn't know it at the time - well maybe he had an
inkling - this was to be his last memory of managing Norwich City. A pretty
horrible way to bow out.
Bad day: Jonathan Rowe. A wonderfully gifted player, having
a terrific season, but it was clear he was not at his physical best for this
game, even if he gamely gave it is all. The dive, however, when Archie Gray
actually pulled out of a challenge and failed to get anywhere near the Norwich
man, was horrendous.
Bad day: Ashley Barnes. Elland Road is not the place to be
if you're the opposition's chief wind-up merchant. It was brutal long before he
was dragged off, having been pocketed by Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon all night.
The walk off the pitch, being serenaded by 34,000 Leeds fans, must have been as
painful as the game itself.
Off-camera
The music man getting it spot on with Underworld's Born
Slippy as the atmosphere started to build inside Elland Road. Charlie Cresswell
testing out the rigidity of Connor Roberts' gelled quiff. Georginio Rutter
delighting some young West Stand fans with a wave from the warm-up. Ethan
Ampadu geeing up the starting outfield players as they got ready for their
possession game during the warm-up. Stuart Dallas and Kristoffer Klaesson down
in the technical area as the squad got to the end of their warm-up.
Daniel Farke and David Wagner with a warm embrace and a
chuckle before kick-off. Rutter whipping up the West Stand with 14 minutes gone
as Leeds survived Norwich's first corner and the second phase.
Farke appealing for calm as his players played with urgency
on and off the ball in the first half, wanting control and stability. The boss
watching Archie Gray, as the last man, fend off and beat Jonathan Rowe, then
steam past two other yellow shirts before laying the ball off and again calling
for calm before applauding the teen's effort.
Liam Cooper running out to warm up in front of the West
Stand and Kop and receiving a huge ovation and a chorus of 'one Liam Cooper.'
Willy Gnonto and Dimitrios Giannoulis, who had words and physical interactions
in the first leg, coming together off the ball. The Italian complained to the
officials but it wasn't spotted, or it was and they didn't think much of it.
Cooper blowing a kiss to the Kop from the Norwich penalty
area as they sang for him in the 90th minute as Leeds attacked with a
free-kick. Daniel James being booed for shooting instead of crossing for Cooper
to score. Cooper getting hugs from Sam Byram, Stuart Dallas and first team
security head honcho Martin Sykes. Farke's entire backroom staff joining the
players and the injured players for a huddle after the game. Dallas shoving
Cooper forward to receive applause from the Kop as the team and staff took a
lap of honour.
Farke, ever the perfectionist, bending Gray's ear on some
tactical aspect of his performance. The teen then just stood in the middle of
the pitch and took it all in for a few moments before going to applaud the
fans. Farke including Gray and the groundstaff in his wave at the Kop end.
Cooper being joined by his kids for photos down near the tunnel. Farke making a
point of wishing the visiting local Norwich press pack a safe journey home.
Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe taking a moment by himself in the directors seats
and politely declining the attention of club media.