Mighty Leeds Weblog

 

By Graham Smyth Leeds United manager Daniel Farke eventually had to consider the bigger picture at Norwich City on Tuesday night, despite what he was seeing right in front of him. Football is now such a consequential business that the bigger picture can take your eye off the ball when something good is happening. At Norwich City on Tuesday night an injury to Ilia Gruev hung over Leeds United like a cloud as dark as the ones emptying rain all over Carrow Road for the duration of a 1-1 draw. Ethan Ampadu is already out until January with a serious knee problem, so the sight of Daniel Farke's only other defensive midfielder limping off in the first half with a suspected knee issue of his own was literally the last thing Leeds needed. There are injury problems elsewhere for Leeds. Wingers Manor Solomon and Daniel James were missing at Carrow Road. Defender Isaac Schmidt joined them on the unavailable list with a glute problem. The Whites can scarcely afford another problem in a

By Graham Smyth Leeds United boss Daniel Farke admits it was a difficult decision to take off two of his dangermen late on in a 1-1 draw with Norwich that he declared a ‘good point on the road.’ The Whites came from behind at Carrow Road but suffered another potentially costly injury with the first half departure of Ilia Gruev. The Bulgarian international came off just after Norwich went ahead through Josh Sargent’s penalty. Leeds are already without defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadu until January and Gruev’s premature exit left Farke with a pair of natural 8s in the middle of the park. Ao Tanaka was joined by Joe Rothwell in midfield and the Japan international shone in possession, but Leeds did look dangerously open when Norwich countered. Farke’s men hit back in the second half when Man of the Match Willy Gnonto teed up Largie Ramazani for his second goal in Leeds colours. Gnonto held a threat throughout the game and Leeds were on top with 20 minutes to go but when the Italian

Leeds and Norwich battled it out for a hard-fought point as an entertaining Championship clash ended in a 1-1 draw. The Canaries, who were looking for three straight wins, grabbed an early lead on a miserable evening at Carrow Road through Josh Sargent’s penalty. But Leeds ensured it wasn’t a losing return to Norfolk for head coach Daniel Farke, equalising on 60 minutes through a well-taken effort from Belgian youngster Largie Ramazani. Both sides had chances to win it but a draw was a fair result and kept them nicely placed in and around the play-off positions. Norwich made their first incisive attack of the game count on 15 minutes as they took the lead from the penalty spot. It was an easy decision for referee Stephen Martin, with Sargent having his legs taken from beneath him by Joe Rodon as he cut back on the edge of the six-yard box after being picked out by Ante Crnac. There was a long delay as Ilia Gruev received treatment in the area – he was substituted a few minu

Nemo propheta in patria Written by: Chris McMenamy Willy Gnonto drifted infield, played a pass and occupied space in the middle of the Leeds United attack. A few seconds later, he smashed the ball through Coventry ‘keeper Ben Wilson’s hands to put Leeds in front. Nerves were settled, somewhat, as a long period of pressure to begin Saturday’s match ended with a Leeds goal. If anyone is going to drive Leeds United to promotion this year, it’s Willy Gnonto. Sometime in April, Gnonto might cut in from the wing and whack one into the corner of the goal, and that’ll be it, the completion of the ultimate redemption arc almost two years on from refusing to play so he could leave for some joke of a club like Everton. When you look at Gnonto’s time at the club as a whole, as well as historical Leeds United promotions, it’s all been building up to this. In 1990, it was Gordon Strachan, then thirty years later it was Pablo Hernandez. The man who decides Leeds’ fate, sometimes through almos

By Graham Smyth Leeds United have been hit with a hammer blow with the knews that skipper Ethan Ampadu will not play again until January. Ampadu flew into a heavy challenge to win the ball high up the pitch during Saturday's 3-0 win over Coventry City and came off worse, staying down and requiring attention from the medical team. Though the club captain returned to the pitch he was unable to run off the knee problem and was replaced by Ao Tanaka. Daniel Farke has confirmed that the Welshman has damaged his lateral ligament and though he does not need surgery he will not return to training until December. "A few things we have to speak about today," said Farke. "I have to confirm it's a serious knee injury, he has damanged his lateral ligament. The doctors have recommended conservative treatment so he doesn't need surgery. It's realistic to speak about 10 weeks before he returns to team training. You would expect him to be back at some point during

The View From The Afternoon Written by: Rob Conlon Anticipation has the habit to set you up for disappointment, or so sang Alex Turner. Given he supports Sheffield Wednesday, I’m not sure what he was expecting anyway — Ian Poveda to fire them to the Premier League? Regardless, the point stands. Everyone at Leeds United is anticipating promotion this season, and until the title is secured that only leaves room for disappointment. With the suits at Elland Road promising supporters we weren’t going to repeat the same mistakes of last year, particularly the standing start to the campaign that left Leeds playing catch up, the current season has been turned into a race resembling a time trial in Mario Kart. As long as the ghost of last season is in the rear view mirror, it can’t haunt us. After beating Coventry 3-0 at Elland Road, Leeds are now four points ahead of where they were after seven games last season. Not only that, they’re six ahead of Daniel Farke’s Norwich team of 2018/1

By Joe Donnohue Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is set to face the media this afternoon ahead of his side's trip to Carrow Road on Tuesday night. Midweek Championship games are back on the menu with Leeds travelling to Norwich for their second fixture in the space of six days. United saw off a lacklustre Coventry City at Elland Road last weekend, scoring three without reply from Willy Gnonto, Jayden Bogle and Joel Piroe, but face a bigger test at Carrow Road tomorrow evening. That challenge has been made all the more difficult by the possibility of skipper Ethan Ampadu missing out through injury after the 24-year-old was substituted during the first half against the Sky Blues on Saturday. Farke provided a preliminary update on the Wales international's condition after the match but the midfielder is expected to have undergone a more formal assessment in the meantime. Pascal Struijk, meanwhile, saw out 90 minutes despite some previously-reported adductor problems and

By Stuart Rayner A return to organised chaos could be the way forward for Leeds United after Georginio Rutter. It is hard to imagine any Leeds manager emulating the beauty of Marcelo Bielsa's haphazard football, where players popped up from everywhere in a way you might think random if you did not know better. Jesse Marsch tried his own chaos theory but it was neither as good to watch, nor as successful. Daniel Farke's football has fitted German stereotypes – organised, efficient, nowhere near as thrilling. Last season it came to be based around Rutter playing between the lines but the effervescent creator has left and despite Farke's requests, no specialist replacement came. Brenden Aaronson is back from a loan but very Marschian – more hustle and bustle than flair. So a new plan of attack was needed and the 50 minutes before Coventry City were put out of their misery demonstrated how it can work. Farke loves a 4-2-3-1 formation but Saturday’s "three-qua

By Graham Smyth The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s victory against Coventry City. Leeds United's dominant defeat of the Sky Blues further darkened the clouds for Mark Robins on a sunny day at Elland Road. The Whites were good value for their win and it could have been by an even greater margin than the 3-0 scoreline. Here's the YEP take. Good day Jayden Bogle Capped what was perhaps his best performance in Leeds colours with a goal. There are no question marks whatsoever about his ability to contribute to the Whites' offence and his runs in behind had already troubled Coventry prior to his shot that beat Wilson to make it 2-0. But what he did going the other way was good too. The man he replaced, Archie Gray, might have a far higher career ceiling and more overall ability but Bogle can definitely give Leeds more end product from that position. Daniel Farke When his football works like this it underlines Leeds' decision to identify hi