Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Graham Smyth Cameron Archer was the story in the build-up to Leeds United's game against Cardiff City until Daniel James and co bumped him off the back page. Southampton said no to a Whites loan approach earlier in the week but hope lives on that a domino-effect at Premier League level could soften the Saints' sentiment when it came to the striker. Only in the transfer-obsessed modern era could a report of a once-in-half-a-century Leeds United performance begin with a mention of a player not even in Elland Road employment. So just as James, Manor Solomon, Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and a host of others served a reminder of how good they are without further additions, this will be the last mention of Archer. This was their day and not his. He played no part and there's a fair chance he will play no part in the rest of the 2024/25 story. Even if he does join, he will not walk into this side. Few would. Let the Leeds recruitment chiefs worry about what needs to happen ...

By Lee Sobot Dan James scored one and set up three others as Leeds battered Cardiff 7-0. Whites star Dan James revealed the impact of a Leeds United change with special mention for a teammate after helping his Leeds United side batter Cardiff City 7-0. Rapid winger James provided the assists for the goals that gave his side a 2-0 lead at the interval of Saturday’s Championship hosting of Cardiff, laying on crosses for Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon to convert from the middle of the box. James, though, revealed that unlike in previous games, his men were determined to then kick on after the break, something achieved in no uncertain terms as Daniel Farke’s men bagged five more goals without reply. James himself made it 3-0 when bagging the goal that he had been threatening in the 50th minute from a Junior Firpo cross. The Whites winger was then felled for a 65th-minute penalty that Joel Piroe converted, after which James was taken off. But his side were still not done, Wi...

Whites hit seven at Elland Road against the Bluebirds. Leeds United faced Cardiff City at Elland Road in the Sky Bet Championship, kicking off February in style with a thumping win on home turf to seal three points against the Bluebirds. Elland Road was loud and ready for kick-off, welcoming out their team. Daniel Farke had made two changes from our last outing against Burnley, with Joe Rothwell and Junior Firpo back in the starting XI. The Whites set the tone early and raced into a quick lead to the delight of the home crowd. Joel Piroe played a left-footed curling pass in behind the Cardiff defence, releasing Dan James who used his pace to latch onto it. The winger rounded Jak Alnwick in the visiting net who rushed out, but was put off his stride, and with covering defenders coming back to stop him he kept his composure, went past Alnwick again and laid it off for Brenden Aaronson who fired home at close range! It wouldn’t be long before it was then two for home side, yet a...

By Leon Wobschall DANIEL Farke urged his Leeds United side to enjoy the moment after the Whites recorded their biggest home win since March 1972 with a 7-0 evisceration of sorry Cardiff City. Six different scorers found the net for irresistible Leeds, who are now five points clear of third-placed Burnley after the Clarets drew at Portsmouth. Farke said: “I said ‘enjoy this today as we have created a little bit of history’ and days like this don’t come along very often. "Enjoy it and be proud and enjoy what you have done, but not in a way where you go out on a stroll and go for many drinks and celebrate. Stay concentrated because we have important games coming up. "To win with such an impressive scoreline is even more enjoyable. If you want to become relentless in this league, you have to be relentless yourself and this is more or less what we have shown today. "What I liked about this performance was that in the last 20 minutes when we were four or five nil u...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke said Leeds United fell short of perfection in their 7-0 win over Cardiff City but he has told his players to enjoy a 'moment to be proud of.' The Whites were 2-0 up and comfortable at half-time of the Elland Road fixture having taken the lead through Brenden Aaronson and doubled it with Manor Solomon's back-post finish. The second half was a one-sided beating, however, as Leeds' relentless attacking desire gave them the biggest win since 1972's 7-0 rout of Southampton. Dan James got a goal to go with his two earlier assists and won a penalty that Joel Piroe converted with real composure. Piroe added his second deep in stoppage time after a long-range strike from Willy Gnonto and Mateo Joseph's first goal since October. "After a win always relieved but when you have a day like this and such an impressive scoreline it's even more enjoyable," said Farke. "This league is relentless and you have to be relentless...

By Leon Wobschall YOU would have never have known that Cardiff City had been a bit of a bogey side for Leeds United at home in the past. They made a savage mockery of that with a scintillating performance which yielded seven goals in their most handsome win of the season so far and biggest here since that feted win over Southampton in March 1972. Leeds were brilliant and extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions - they are also now 14 without defeat at Fortress Elland Road. Ahead of kick-off, Cardiff’s record at LS11 stacked up pretty well. They had lost just once in 13 previous visits here and were also in handy recent form. After this, they won’t be in a hurry to visit this part of Yorkshire any time soon. Goals from six sources in Brenden Aaronson, Manor Solomon, Dan James, Joel Piroe and subs Wilfried Gnonto and Mateo Joseph saw the outstanding hosts wreak havoc and send a major statement to their promotion rivals. Two goals arrived in the first quar...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United produced a Bluebirds battering as Saturday afternoon's Championship visitors Cardiff City were absolutely blitzed en route to a 7-0 hammering at Elland Road. Leeds immediately began brightly and Daniel Farke's side went ahead with just 13 minutes on the clock as a lovely move was finished off by Brenden Aaronson. Junior Firpo played the ball to Joel Piroe who produced a fantastic through ball for Dan James down the left channel. Through sheer pace, James beat onrushing keeper Jak Alnwick but looked to have taken the ball too wide. James, though, showed a cool head to turn back inside and lay on a perfect square ball for the onrushing Aaronson who also showed great composure to slam home a low finish between defenders on the line. Leeds quickly pressed for a second goal and Cardiff were already hanging on with barely ten minutes on the clock. But a second Whites goal looked imminent and it arrived in the 13th minute as Piroe and James this time ...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United will continue to persist with their interest in Cameron Archer in hope of a domino effect making a deadline-beating January transfer deal possible. The striker has been left out of Southampton's side to face Ipswich Town today amid so-far unconfirmed reports of a groin problem. Leeds have held interest in the 23-year-old in previous transfer windows but what Daniel Farke has called the 'on-going' injury problems for Patrick Bamford have made the centre-forward role a priority in the final days of this market. An approach for Archer made last week was rebuffed by the Saints but it is thought that moves elsewhere in the Premier League could allow Southampton to strengthen their own attacking options before the deadline and therefore soften their stance on Archer. Leeds believe there could still be a chance to bring him in prior to Monday evening’s deadlne. The striker has not found favour with new boss Ivan Juric, who this week suggested a...

By Lee Sobot A young forward has sealed a permanent departure from the Whites. A fourth piece of Leeds United January transfer activity has been completed through a young forward’s permanent departure to an EFL side. Twenty-year-old England youth international striker Sonny Perkins joined League One side Leyton Orient in June on a season-long loan deal and the move has now been made permanent. The 20-year-old made his Leeds first team debut in the 2022/23 season and scored his first goal for the club in an Emirates FA Cup clash away at Cardiff City. With first team opportunities limited, Perkins sealed the summer loan switch to Orient and the striker has now completed a permanent move. The YEP understands that Leeds will receive a small fee for the forward whose three-year contract at Leeds was set to expire in the summer. The YEP also understands that Leeds have been able to insert a significant sell-on percentage. The departure of Perkins marks the first permanent Whi...

By Joe Donnohue Southampton head coach Ivan Juric believes Cameron Archer will remain at St Mary's Stadium this month despite interest from Leeds United. The Whites' interest in 23-year-old Archer is genuine but it is widely accepted a deal to bring the ex-Middlesbrough and Preston North End loanee to Elland Road before Monday's deadline will be difficult. A loan approach from Leeds was rejected earlier this week with reports suggesting Southampton are only open to a deal should it include an obligation to purchase Archer in the event of promotion. United are expected to monitor the striker’s situation up until the transfer deadline on Monday, February 3. Southampton boss Juric has opened up on recent reports linking Championship clubs Leeds and Sunderland with the forward, admitting a change in style from previous boss Russell Martin has negatively affected Archer. Although, the Croatian says the young striker is likely to remain a Saints player. “We’ve changed...

By Stuart Rayner Daniel Farke has pointed to some of Europe's biggest clubs as to why Leeds United fans should not fret if they do not a sign a striker before Monday's transfer deadline, although he insists they are looking. But there was some transfer-window reassurance from the Whites manager, who is confident there will be no late departures. After reports on Thursday that a deal for Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett was close, Farke reiterated his stance that he is only looking for players who can play in the hole, at centre-forward and centre-back. He feels he has sufficient cover in the latter two positions if everyone is fit, but is wary of placing too much faith in the bodies of Pascal Struijk and Patrick Bamford, which let them down last season. Central defender Struijk returned to team training from a hamstring injury this week and could put himself in contention to face Cardiff City, but such injuries have a habit of recurring, whereas Bamford has bee...

Luke Phelps Jack Harrison is certainly enduring a tough time of late. He’s underperforming for Everton and there are rumours that he could be back at Leeds United sooner than expected. Jack Harrison joined Everton on loan from Leeds United for a second successive season last summer, having proved to be a useful player for the Toffees last time round. He scored three and assisted three more in 29 Premier League games for the Toffees. But this season has been a different story: Harrison hasn’t recorded a single goal contribution in 18 top flight appearances for Everton. The 28-year-old has endured such a poor 2024/25 that even Joey Barton has labelled Harrison as ‘dreadful’, prompting speculation about where exactly his future lies. And now as Daniel Farke waits for his first signing of 2025, reports have emerged stating that Harrison could return to Leeds United for the second half of this season. Soon after it was claimed that the winger could return to Elland Road, it was ...