Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Graham Smyth Leeds United having their cake in the sunshine and eating it too - wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time? On days like Saturday, when Coventry City escaped with only a 3-0 beating, the anxiety over the blueprint to frustrate Leeds is washed away by the assurance that Daniel Farke's blueprint is a proven foundation for promotion bids. Such was the level of control Leeds exerted that Mark Robins' Sky Blues' only real chance came from long distance when the game was long won. And when that dominance is married with attacking endeavour - which was showcased differently in both halves - it's impossible to envisage a top-six conversation taking place without Leeds this season. When they can make teams like Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City and Coventry look so ordinary, it's difficult to imagine a top-two conversation taking place without Farke's men. Portsmouth rode their luck in that 3-3 draw, West Brom were solid...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United delighted Daniel Farke with the way they excelled in two different ways in a 3-0 Elland Road beating of Coventry City. Farke’s men were utterly dominant in the first half but had just the one goal to show for it, Willy Gnonto hammering a Junior Firpo pass high into the net. An early goal in the second period from Jayden Bogle ended the game as a content and though the visitors ended the game with 51 per cent of the possession, they were handily beaten thanks to a late Joel Piroe strike and Leeds’ defensive solidity. The Sky Blues were restricted to one real chance, which came from a long-range strike late in the game. The only real concern from the fixture was the sight of Ethan Ampadu limping off having smashed into and won a challenge that left him injured. But the captain’s exit facilitated a proper opportunity for Ao Tanaka to introduce himself to Elland Road. The Japan international’s display was one of several impressive performances as Leeds se...

By Stuart Rayner For as long as it took to win the game, Leeds United were fluid, inventive and entertaining against Coventry City. That they do not go for the throat anywhere near often enough is a charge regularly levelled against Daniel Farke's Leeds but with away games on Tuesday and Friday and the game effectively won as soon as Jayden Bogle scored his first goal for the club in the 49th minute, there was no need for fireworks, just German efficiency. A 3-0 win did the job and there was plenty to be positive about, even if things did fizzle out a lot in the second half. Most of them revolved around the wide players, if you could call Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani that. Neither was chained to their flank, as likely to be on the opposite side or in the hole behind Mateo Joseph when the ball was at Coventry's end as, for most of the afternoon, it was. The first quarter of an hour was all Leeds without much by way of actual goal threat, but as soon as Gnonto put t...

By Stuart Rayner Leeds United look like a team still searching for the right chemistry. No one should be all that surprised. The Whites host Coventry City on Saturday having won a respectable three out of six in the early Championship, but to some on the terraces, it does not quite feel right yet. Manager Daniel Farke keeps banging the drum for their defensive record. Only four goals conceded in six games is very good but chop off the opening game against Portsmouth – if only it worked like that – and one in five is excellent. The problem is the other end. Six clubs, including newly-promoted Oxford United, have double-figure goals in the league and Leeds are not one. If you want to turn a blind eye to the 3-3 with Portsmouth to defend the defence, then the attacking record since is six in five. It is not terrible, but nor is it what you pay the transfer fees and wages Leeds have forked out under Farke for. Most supporters would gladly swap a cast-iron defence for a bit more v...

Looking ahead to his side facing Coventry City on Saturday afternoon, Daniel Farke addressed the media at Thorp Arch earlier this week. Farke is looking forward to facing the Sky Blues in fixture number seven of the Sky Bet Championship campaign, coming up against a manager he states has a lot of experience at this level. “I'm totally convinced of the quality of Mark [Robins, Coventry City manager] because I always rate him as a top manager in this division,” Farke began. “He has so much experience and also when I judge what he's doing, he more or less always delivers nearly each and every season. He is a really quality manager. Also, when I judge Coventry, I think what he has done, he has developed this club into a club who always comes close to promotion to the Premier League. So they finished either in the top six, even in the play-off final, or close to the top six. I’m full of respect and I'm pretty sure they will also be one of the competitors in order to finish o...

By Declan Harte Football finance expert Kieran Maguire expects short-term pain for Leeds United in their bid to increase Elland Road’s capacity. The club confirmed plans earlier this week to expand the Whites’ home ground to around 53,000 seats. The stadium’s current capacity is 37,645, meaning this will be a significant increase on the existing infrastructure. If the expansion goes as expected then Elland Road will become the seventh biggest club stadium in England, only behind the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates. It is hoped that Leeds will have one of the finest modern stadiums in world football once the project is concluded in the coming years. Kieran Maguire issues Leeds stadium warning Maguire expects that there will be some short-term pain for Leeds during the process of building the expansion to their stadium. He believes that there will need to be a reduced capacity during construction for one to two seasons, which will have an impact on the team, as ...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United manager Daniel Farke hosts his pre-match press conference this afternoon ahead of Coventry City's visit to Elland Road on Saturday. The Whites have taken three victories from their first six matches and face 19th-place Coventry this weekend, seeking to make it four from seven. Leeds ran out 2-0 winners over the Championship's basement side Cardiff City last Saturday but made hard work of the contest despite dominating possession, only scoring their second, three-point-clinching goal in the 88th minute through substitute Joel Piroe. There have been calls for the Dutchman to return to the starting line-up as a centre-forward in place of Mateo Joseph who has one goal in six starts this season, however the young Spaniard has added three assists to his goal contributions tally so far and is likely to remain in situ. Leeds' victory in South Wales came without on-loan summer signing Manor Solomon who missed out with a back injury, which allow...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United's designs for Elland Road redevelopment are still under wraps and at the planning stage but chief executive Angus Kinnear has previously provided an insight into how works are likely to take place once spades are in the ground. Leeds cannot press ahead with Elland Road's expansion to the new, proposed capacity of 53,000 seats until approval has been granted by Leeds City Council, however a rigorous planning stage is already underway with key ambitions outlined in an official club statement released earlier this week. While supporters may seek artistic impressions and blueprints of what a new-look Elland Road could possibly look like, those will not be made public until a later date, most likely after planning permission has been granted and the team are promoted back to the Premier League. The project is a significant one, logistically and financially, and will only be undertaken if conditions are in place, such as having the requisite funds...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke has revealed his post-debut message to Leeds United new boy Largie Ramazani was full of compliments yet it came with a ‘but.’ The winger was handed a first start in Leeds colours on Saturday when the Whites visited Cardiff City and he celebrated with a first goal for the club. Ramazani's pace was key to the opener in Wales, allowing him to take Mateo Joseph's flick and race away from the defence to score. It was an injury to Manor Solomon that opened the door for Ramazani and a goalscoring performance for the left wing stand-in will give Farke plenty of food for thought when Israeli international Solomon recovers from his back problem. At full-strength the wing positions will present difficult decisions for Farke, with Daniel James and Willy Gnonto also vying for starts and minutes on the opposite flank. Prior to his start Ramazani showed glimpses of his ability to run directly at opposition sides and the club regard him as their replacement...

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United have begun working alongside stadium specialist architectural firm KSS ahead of plans to increase Elland Road's capacity by 15,000 additional seats. Leeds announced earlier this week plans to bring Elland Road's capacity to 53,000, enlisting the help of various engineering and architectural firms to help realise one of 49ers Enterprises' main aims since assuming majority control of the club. In a statement released by the club, Leeds confirmed their 'key ambitions' for the project, including: modernising and improving stadium capacity from 37,645 to roughly 53,000, significantly increasing the availability of general admission seating, making Elland Road the seventh largest club stadium in the country and retaining the stadium's 'unique' atmosphere. Other core objectives included a 'phased approach to construction' which would allow Leeds to limit the loss of seating capacity in the West and North Stands durin...

By Stuart Rayner Elland Road's West Stand is symbolic of Leeds United – left behind, a shadow of past glories. It was built in 1957, before the innovative Don Revie transformed the Peacocks into the Whites, and one of England's great football clubs. Now Leeds rely more on their history and fanbase than what happens on a patch of grass there long before them to cling to that status. Upgrading Elland Road with new west and north stands is only part of restoring former glories, but one that cannot be put off much longer. Leeds are lucky to have the space for a feasible elite football stadium, meaning they can progress without abandoning their history. But it needs sensitivity and shrewdness. That they have a 26,000 waiting list for season tickets in a 37,000 stadium is enough reason to announce ambitions – detailed plans are still to come – to expand their 127-year-old ground's capacity to 53,000. Notable by its absence was a timeline, or a breakdown of how many ex...

No pressure Written by: Chris McMenamy Joel Piroe was the guy we signed to score goals, which I always assumed was something that a striker does. Those who watch football through the Twitter tactico and data lenses were sceptical of the idea that he was the man to be Leeds’ centre-forward. Time has proven that to be true, but only after Daniel Farke tried playing him behind Georgi Rutter, both out of position. Scapegoating Piroe when things break down for Farke’s Leeds United has become part and parcel of supporting the club in 2024/25. An attack breaks down when Piroe gets the ball? Nice one, Piroe. Jayden Bogle concedes a stupid penalty? Bloody Piroe. Manor Solomon gives Burnley an almost clear run at goal? Thanks Piroe. And so on, and so on. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe Piroe is a number 10, nor is he the right fit to start up front in this team. But he is something, I think. What that actually is, now that’s the question. Though we ‘know’ that Piroe is neither a tr...

Will Butcher Ross McCormack left Leeds United in Massimo Cellino’s first summer at the club back in 2014 after four years at the club and he has now shared details about his move to Fulham. Leeds paid a nominal fee to Cardiff City to sign McCormack in 2010. The star went on to have a hugely successful four seasons with Leeds, one of the most-underrated Leeds signings in the last two decades. He captained The Whites during his 157 games in which he scored a whopping 58 goals and laid on 31 assists, during a time in which Leeds had become stagnant way down in England’s second tier. Fast forward four years and McCormack was sold to Fulham for a big £12m fee, in what was Cellino’s first transfer window at the club. A summer in which Cellino lured in 14 new signings, including Liam Cooper. It was a disappointing sale but one the club had to make, with the finances perilous following Cellino’s takeover of the club. Now, McCormack has shared what it was really like in the lead-up to...

Key ambitions: - Modernise and improve stadium capacity from 37,645 to c.53,000 seats - Significant increase to general admission seating, which at present would make Elland Road the seventh largest club stadium in the country - A core architectural design objective is to maintain and enhance the unique atmosphere - Phased approach to construction to minimise loss of seating capacity during the project - Bring Elland Road in line with UEFA Category 4 status, to be amongst the elite in European stadia - Expert team, combining global stadium experience with local specialist knowledge, assembled to deliver artist’s impressions and planning submission Leeds United Football Club today announces next steps in the plan to re-imagine and enhance Elland Road Stadium, home of the Whites since 1919. Earlier this year, the ownership of the stadium was transferred back to Leeds United, giving the club full control of the ground for the first time since 2004, with plans now in the work...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke says Cardiff City surprised Leeds United with their starting formation on Saturday and has explained an unexpected switch of his own. The Whites handled the league's bottom side comfortably, almost from the off, without being able to properly reflect their superiority or dominance in the scoreline. Cardiff went down to 10 men with a first-half red card for Joel Bagan but it took 87 minutes for the visitors to open up a two-goal cushion and remove any nerves over an ill-deserved equaliser in the final stages. Largie Ramazani's 30th-minute opener was followed up by substitute Joel Piroe's late strike as Leeds bounced back from defeat by Burnley a week prior. Cardiff, who sacked manager Erol Bulut in the wake of the loss - their fifth in six league outings - had lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for each game prior to Leeds' visit. But, perhaps hoping to frustrate Farke's attackers in the same way Burnley did, they changed to a 5-4-1 on...

Mood & Vibes Written by: Rob Conlon As Ilia Gruev joined his Leeds United teammates celebrating Joel Piroe’s emphatic finish in front of the away end, he beckoned for the travelling support to calm down. The Leeds faithful were finally bouncing to the second goal they had been yearning for since half-time. Gruev wasn’t discouraging the celebrations, but it was a pointed gesture towards some of the angst in Leeds’ corner of the Cardiff City Stadium that had culminated in chants of ‘attack! attack! attack!’ ten minutes earlier. Gruev’s reaction summed up the mood around Leeds so far this season. United’s solid if unspectacular start to the campaign has failed to charm supporters, many of whom have become entrenched in the online battleground of Farke In or Farke Out that is slowly seeping onto the terraces. One supporter who made the trip tweeted that it was one of the worst away games they’ve been to in a long time — as comfortable a 2-0 win as Leeds are ever likely to secure ...

Whites boss spoke to the media following victory in Wales. Leeds United returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, defeating Cardiff City away from home. Goals from Largie Ramazani and Joel Piroe secured the three points for Daniel Farke’s side, whilst defensively, the team also made it four clean sheets from their last five games in the league. Speaking after the match, the boss gave his thoughts to the media. He said: “In this league it is always difficult to win games, especially on the road. “We have to say with what we are doing and delivering at the moment on the road, three difficult away games, seven points, we haven’t conceded one goal, four-nil goal difference. It is pretty close to perfect. “Today it was a pretty dominant and controlled performance from the first until the last second. “We were so dominant and created so much. We scored two fantastic goals, the only thing we can mention again that we didn’t bury the game earlier. “So, our conversion rate...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United’s final summer signing made his debut as a late substitute in Saturday’s win at Cardiff City. Whites new boy Isaac Schmidt quickly delivered a beaming Leeds United verdict after his Whites debut at Cardiff City as he immediately looked to the long-term future. Versatile Swiss full-back Schmidt became United’s eighth and final signing of the summer when joining from St Gallen on transfer deadline day in a £2.5m deal. The 24-year-old did not sign in time to feature in the hosting of Hull City before the international break and was then an unused substitute in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat against Burnley, also at Elland Road. Schmidt was again named on the bench for Saturday’s clash at Cardiff but was finally handed his Whites debut as an 89th-minute substitute as Daniel Farke’s side left with a 2-0 victory. Schmidt joined Leeds on a four-year deal and immediately looked ahead to “many more” Whites outings after his first experience alongside his new tea...

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from an emotional day for Leeds and Cardiff in South Wales. Leeds United made hard work of the Championship's bottom side, even with a numerical advantage, but a win is a win. Daniel Farke needed to get back on track, with grumbles in the fanbase following the defeat by Burnley. It was not the attacking performance he will have wished for, especially given Cardiff went down to 10, but the three points, two goals and clean sheet were important. Here's the YEP take on an emotional day for both clubs. Good day Largie Ramazani Even if the overall performance did not sparkle and even if he should have had two goals, scoring on his full debut will be something special to remember. He took the goal really well and showcased the pace Leeds hope to employ to good effect this season. Celebrating with the fans at the end will have iced the cake. Joel Piroe Off the bench, one chance, one goal. What made it even better fo...

By Graham Smyth This Leeds United season is shaping up to ask the same question as the last one, but with a slightly different tone. As Daniel Farke's 2023/24 Whites squad set about dominating games and winning plenty of them, with Leicester City and Ipswich Town winning even more, the question was always 'will it be good enough?' It was a good season. A 90-point season no less. Yet in the end, by the margin of a single Wembley goal, it was not good enough for promotion. This season is just six games old but after a 2-0 win at Cardiff City that left Farke purring about dominance and defensive control, the question looks like it will take on more of a philosophical nature this time round. They won, they scored two goals and they kept a clean sheet, but they prompted boos and 'boring football' accusations with backwards passing. With 11 points from six games, an unbeaten and concession-free away record and Farke's ability at this level, there is little to su...

By Lee Sobot Largie Ramazani delivered a “beautiful” Leeds United verdict after a first start and goal at Cardiff City but with an honest Whites admission after the 2-0 success. Summer signing Ramazani was handed his full league debut in Saturday afternoon’s Championship clash at Cardiff in which he took just half an hour to make a big impact as his neat finish after being sent through one-on-one put Daniel Farke’s side in front. Speaking post match to LUTV, Ramazani declared that he had a “feeling” he would score as he also hailed the “beautiful” moment of making his first Leeds start. A late strike from Joel Piroe eventually made absolutely sure that Ramazani’s league debut ended up being a winning one through a 2-0 success but the Whites new boy admitted his side should have taken other good goalscoring chances to make the afternoon a more comfortable success. Cardiff played three quarters of the contest with ten men after Joel Bagan was sent off in the 22nd minute for a lat...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke says Leeds United must ‘give their lives’ to score more goals after watching his side win 2-0 at 10-man bottom side Cardiff City. Leeds’ efficiency in front of goal was the manager’s only real concern as they missed a number of golden chances, including a second half penalty, en route to what was a comfortable if unspectacular victory in Wales. The Whites’ superiority had already started to show by the time Joel Bagan was shown a straight red card on 23 minutes, but it wasn’t until the half hour mark that they took the lead through Largie Ramazani. Pascal Struijk’s header and Mateo Joseph’s flick put the winger in on goal and he capped his full debut with a smart finish. But Leeds struggled to make the numerical advantage play in their favour, even if Ramazani could have added a second when played in on goal again by Willy Gnonto. The second half was particularly frustrating for the visitors, who provoked some boos from the away end for passing the ...