Mighty Leeds Weblog

Beaming Willy Gnonto has revealed his Leeds United hope after a Whites dream just two months after joining the club. By Lee Sobot Eighteen-year-old Italian international forward Gnonto sealed a move to Leeds in the final throes of the summer window’s transfer deadline day in signing from FC Zurich for 4.5m euros on a five-year-deal. After five outings for United’s under-21s, the teenager finally made his first team debut in last weekend’s Premier League clash at Liverpool when replacing Jack Harrison as a 72nd-minute substitute on the left wing. The Italian created the winning goal for Crysencio Summerville just 17 minutes later and a thrilled Gnonto hopes his Anfield impact was a sign of things to come ahead of this weekend’s hosting of Bournemouth. Asked if he had enjoyed his first taste of the Whites first team by LUTV, Gnonto beamed: "Of course. I am very happy. This was my debut and we also won. I think this is the most important. I am very happy for me, for the team, for...

We're all about to learn something about Leeds United. By Graham Smyth It's difficult to make your mind up about this team, not least thanks to the Jekyll and Hyde nature of their season to date. Sometimes they're a snarling menace of a side, Whirling Dervishes whose every move makes life difficult for an opponent. Other times they're just another Premier League struggler, nothing special to look at and rendered timid by direct play that takes their front press out of the reckoning. They bared their teeth brilliantly against Chelsea and were toothless at Brighton. They deserved more than draws against Everton and Aston Villa and got the chastening they deserved at Brentford. Against Arsenal they were a problem but both Leicester City and Fulham had no real problem dispatching them. And then came Anfield. For all its shock value, the win against Liverpool wasn't so difficult to comprehend because by now most understand why Leeds can cause such headaches for t...

BEAT HAPPENING Written by: Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman When Howard Wilkinson saw photos of himself on the last day of Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion in 1984, the glorious end of his first season as their manager, he was appalled. He said he looked like he’d escaped from a prison camp, and swore never to let a football season have that effect on him again. Later, Wilkinson founded (and still chairs) the League Managers’ Association, because the players had a welfare union and he thought managers needed one too. Jesse Marsch became an LMA member by taking the job of managing Leeds United, and I’m sure Wilko would be glad to talk him through bringing the league title to Elland Road in 1992 from a supine position of golf in the afternoons and relaxed banter with the press, while his red-faced rival Alex Ferguson looked like his world was falling apart. Ferguson learned from that; Kevin Keegan never learned from him. Marsch, lately, has worn the same haunted look Wilkinson was horri...

THREE POINTS Written by: Rob Conlon ‘Getting it’ is a strange concept at Leeds United, universally understood but difficult to define. Andy Hughes gets it. Gaetano Berardi gets it. And it’s quickly becoming apparent Tyler Adams gets it, even if he’s still learning what ‘it’ is. Hughes and Berardi had qualities as footballers that were difficult to quantify. That’s not the case with Adams. Counting how many tackles he has won, interceptions he has made, and metres he has run will paint a picture of a capable defensive midfielder. But as Leeds know all too well this season, numbers don’t tell the whole story. Instead, if somebody wants to know what Adams is bringing to Leeds United, show them Adams sprinting into Andy Robertson’s face to make sure he didn’t get away with a sly kick at Brenden Aaronson; or show them Adams clattering into a fifty-fifty challenge with Fabinho, refusing to concede an inch no matter how much it was going to hurt; or show them Adams leading the celebra...

MY TURN Written by: Rob Conlon You don’t need to be following Crysencio Summerville on Instagram to know he doesn’t lack confidence. The biggest giveaway was when he signed a new deal at Leeds this summer, and how the boy with 126 minutes of Premier League football to his name felt worthy of taking the number 10 shirt from Champions League-bound Raphinha. But if you had been following Summerville on Insta, that wouldn’t have been a surprise. His feed is a scroll of self-belief. After scoring a hat-trick against Crystal Palace’s Under-23s last season, he posted a series of photos of him posing for pitchside cameras with the caption, ‘This Chapter Of My Life Is Called “My Turn”’. An eleven-minute cameo in the draw against Aston Villa earlier this season was followed by the warning, ‘Wait until you see why god made you wait.’ I can only dream of sharing Summerville’s faith in himself. His summer was peppered with flashy social media posts from his holidays in Dubai and Curacao tha...

Jesse Marsch has provided an injury update on the condition of Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra whom the Leeds United boss hopes to have back on the pitch this week. By Lee Sobot Sinisterra was one of five injury doubts for Saturday night's Premier League clash at Liverpool along with Tyler Adams, Joe Gelhardt, Rodrigo and captain Liam Cooper but the latter quartet all made the matchday squad. Adams, Cooper and Rodrigo all started as Marsch's side ended a run of eight games without a win through a thrilling 2-1 victory in which Gelhardt was an unused substitute. The triumph hauled United out of the drop zone into 15th place and Marsch was optimistic of receiving another boost in the aftermath of the Reds win through the return of Sinisterra following a foot injury. "We hope that he will be in training this week," said Marsch after Saturday night’s win at Anfield. "We hope that it's not too bad. It's a little sprain in his foot. He was still pretty s...

Crysencio Summerville’s late winner gave Leeds their first victory at Anfield for 21 years Richard Jolly Jesse Marsch believes he learnt from the experience of a near-miss with RB Salzburg to deliver the special performance that brought Leeds their first win at Anfield in 21 years. Rodrigo and Crysencio Summerville got the goals to earn Leeds, who had lost their previous four matches, a 2-1 victory over Liverpool that Marsch called “almost inconceivable”. Marsch was delighted with the bravery his side showed after two youngsters, Wilfried Gnonto and Summerville, and two of his substitutes, Gnonto and Patrick Bamford, played parts in the winner. The American was in charge of a Salzburg team including Erling Haaland who mounted a comeback before losing 4-3 at Anfield in 2019 and said: “It’s probably the second time for me. “I was here with Salzburg, we went down 3-0, came back 3-3, and we didn’t find a way to get the result. And I used a little bit of that experience with the...

Jesse Marsch felt Leeds United’s stunning 2-1 win over Liverpool is evidence that his players have belief in what he is trying to achieve at Elland Road. By Ben McKenna With Leeds coming into the match on the back of an eight-game winless run, many had expected that to be extended to nine against a Liverpool side who – despite their struggles away from home – had not lost a game at Anfield in 29 matches. During the Whites’ run without a league victory, just two of those results were draws. Marsch felt that was harsh on his side as Crysencio Summerville’s late goal saw Leeds claim a dramatic win at Liverpool to ease the pressure on their head coach and inflict another damaging defeat on their hosts. "I think they were," said Marsch, when asked how much he felt the players were fighting for him. "But they were fighting for us, they believe in what we are doing. It has been painful for all of us. "They take heat from different people from different sources....

Further celebrations are in store for thriving young Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville, fresh from his "dream" winner in victory at Liverpool. By Lee Sobot Dutch ace Summerville bagged his first goal for Leeds in last weekend's 3-2 loss at home to Fulham but the winger savoured an altogether different high in Saturday evening's Premier League clash at Anfield. An end-to-end game appeared destined to end in a 1-1 draw but the lively Summerville pounced on to a loose ball following substitute Willy Gnonto's cross in the 89th minute before squeezing home a neat finish after a touch from Patrick Bamford. His strike ended United's long wait for a win which had stretched to eight games and Netherlands under-21s international Summerville said the goal was a "big moment" in his young career. Less than 24 hours later, more magic moments now await on Sunday as the young Whites star celebrates his 21st birthday which he is spending with his family i...

After seeing his side score a dramatic late winner away against Liverpool on Saturday night, Jesse Marsch gave his thoughts to the media. The Leeds United head coach oversaw a stunning and memorable victory, which saw Rodrigo score in the first half, before Crysencio Summerville struck a 90th minute winner. The celebrations on the bench matched those in the stands, as the Whites claimed their first three points away from home this season.   “It was a good performance,” Marsch stated, after the full-time whistle. “It was good that we were able to reward ourselves. My feeling is that we shouldn’t be in the situation we are in, but we are. “I’ve tried to stay calm but also to push. The group is strong and they’re committed, so I am thankful to have them. “They stepped up big today and they are the reason we were able to get the win.” Marsch was asked about how his side overcame recent results and were able to secure the victory at Anfield, a place well renowned for how h...

Whites boss Jesse Marsch faced a different question about his job as Leeds United head coach after Saturday’s superb win at Liverpool – but batted it away by insisting that his “people” mattered more. By Lee Sobot Marsch’s side approached Saturday night’s clash at Anfield having failed to win in their last eight games, six of which had ended in defeat. A return of just two points from a last possible 24 had left Leeds in the Premier League’s relegation zone and Marsch facing increasingly frequent questions from the media about his role as Whites head coach. Leeds, though, produced a fine display in Saturday night’s clash at Anfield and ended their awful run in style by recording a 2-1 victory thanks to Crysencio Summerville’s 89th-minute winner. Rodrigo had earlier put Leeds in front in the fourth minute only for Mo Salah to equalise ten minutes later. Asked how much pressure the performance and result had lifted personally, Marsch reasoned: “I don't know. I am just happy for...

Andrea Radrizzani has reacted to Leeds United’s massive win at Liverpool. By Paul Clarke Andrea Radrizzani didn't wait long to share his thoughts after a critical win for Jesse Marsch and Leeds United as they snatched a late success at Liverpool on Saturday evening. The Whites led inside four minutes after Rodrigo found the back of the net before Mohamed Salah equalised just ten minutes later. But Leeds held their own at Anfield and shocked the hosts when Crysencio Summerville scored a dramatic late winner to see the Whites move out of the relegation zone. Leeds' owner Radrizzani took to Twitter virtually immediately and hit back at the criticism of recent performances, which included the Whites' 3-2 loss at home to Fulham last time out. Radrizzani tweeted: "We were not rubbish last week and we are not champions tonight. It s a long journey , working and improving TOGETHER 💛💙 game by game , as always have been in these 6 years since I had the honour to join ...

Leeds United ended a horrible run of eight games without a win by sealing a brilliant 2-1 victory at Saturday evening's Premier League hosts Liverpool as Crysencio Summerville bagged an 89th-minute winner. By Lee Sobot Jesse Marsch’s side went ahead in just the fourth minute after a gift from the Reds left Rodrigo with a tap-in. Defender Joe Gomez looked to play a simple back pass to keeper Alisson from the right flank but Alisson lost his footing trying to collect the wayward effort and Rodrigo could not miss from close range. Liverpool drew level just ten minutes later as Leeds failed to deal with two crosses, the second of which from Andy Robertson looped towards the back post before being prodded home by Mo Salah. Both teams then had chances to bag the game's third goal and Brenden Aaronson’s volley from close range smashed back off the crossbar. Leeds bossed the start of the second half as Patrick Bamford was brought on to replace Rodrigo but Illan Meslier saved th...

Liverpool 1-2 Leeds: Summerville 89th-minute winner lifted the pressure on Jesse Marsch as the Reds lost back-to-back games against teams in the bottom three Richard Jolly There are reasons why Crysencio Summerville has no memories of Leeds’ previous win at Anfield. For starters, he was not born. Some 21 years after Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer delivered a triumph for David O’Leary’s team, the 20-year-old conjured a victory that did not just make history. It made his manager’s position more secure and Liverpool’s stuttering, spluttering start to the season still worse. Both Jesse Marsch and Leeds had said he retained the board’s backing in a troubled time, but it is easier for their powerbrokers to endorse the American after a run of four successive defeats was halted with a stirring, stunning win. The supporters who had barracked Marsch at Leicester backed his side and a hugely committed display came with an unexpected reward: Summerville reacted quickest when the ball bounced o...

Ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Anfield on Saturday evening, Jesse Marsch admitted his side had not been “seizing the moment” in recent games. They certainly wrote that wrong against Liverpool. By Ben McKenna After a string of remarkable saves from Illan Meslier in the second half, and with the scores locked at 1-1, Crysencio Summerville popped up to give Leeds their first Premier League win since August 21 with a goal in the 89th minute. Willy Gnonto, on for his debut, worked the space to find a cross to Patrick Bamford who knocked it to Summerville who was the coolest man in Anfield to find the bottom corner. Incredible scenes of celebration followed from the away supporters while the United bench was on the pitch. This was a release of months of frustration for Leeds. They had not won in eight games prior to their victory in Liverpool. In some of those fixtures that had been unlucky to come away as the losing side. In a frantic first half, both sides had chances to add to ...

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says there is an element of confusion when assessing Leeds United’s recent run and is preparing for a Whites side that can cause “massive problems” at Anfield. By Lee Sobot Jesse Marsch’s team are heading to Merseyside having failed to win in their last eight league games, six of which have ended in defeat for a haul of just two points from a last possible 24. Klopp, though, insists the initial thought that Leeds are in a “bad moment” is wrong and the Reds boss has fired a strong warning about what he expects from United in Saturday’s 7.45pm kick-off. Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp was asked if Leeds being sat third-bottom was an example of a bunched up and competitive Premier League and explained: “For different reasons, I didn’t think about the general situation of the Premier league. "Now for a while I was more busy with thinking about us. I don't know 100 per cent but I saw Leeds now, I saw them anyway playing, bu...

Jesse Marsch has fired a strong warning to his Leeds United players ahead of Saturday night's enormous clash at “lethal” Liverpool, insisting he is determined to find out who can withstand the pressure. By Lee Sobot Marsch knows the heat is on himself and his club in a big way following a run of eight games without a victory and a haul of just two points from a last possible 24. The awful return has left Leeds in the Premier League's relegation zone and United’s American head coach admits his third-bottom team are now travelling to face one of the "best teams in the world" in Saturday night’s hosts Liverpool. The Whites boss has declared that Jurgen Klopp's Reds have no weaknesses but Marsch has outlined United's necessary Anfield game plan and is now looking for the players who can fulfil it. “We know Leeds United is a big club," said Marsch. "I’ve learned that first hand. I knew that before I came but I’ve learned so much more since living he...

Jesse Marsch is sick of Leeds United losing games they should not but says his annoyance is with himself, not his players. By Stuart Rayner The Whites have not won since August, an eight-game run featuring just two draws. Their next game is at Liverpool on Saturday night. The American claims the run is like nothing he has experienced and can with some justification claim Leeds deserved better in a number of those matches if only their finishing or defending had been sharper. He admits he is searching for the right characters to deal with the pressure Leeds have put themselves under by dropping into the Premier League relegation zone. "I'm actually kind of angry right now," he admitted. "I'm tired of playing matches where we're in the match and in many cases better than the opponent and walking away with nothing. "I'm tired of not capitalising on moments when we're the better team and I'm tired of giving away goals too cheaply. And...

Jesse Marsch gave his thoughts to the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Liverpool, at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. The Whites will head to Anfield looking to end a run of matches without picking up points, against Jurgen Klopp’s side who are also aiming to return to winning ways in the Premier League after losing last time out. As always, the head coach began with an update on the fitness of his squad, prior to the weekend. He said: “Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw are still out. “In addition, questionable are Leo Hjelde and then Joffy [Joe Gelhardt], Rodrigo, Luis [Sinisterra] and Tyler Adams are all a bit in question. “We’ll see how the next 48 hours goes for all of those players." Prior to any further matches being played this weekend, the Reds currently sit in eighth place in the table, with four wins from 11 matches played up to now. Despite the unusual form of Saturday’s hosts, everyone in the Leeds United camp knows the challenge o...

Leeds United have seen another fixture pushed back due to television coverage, and the Supporters’ Trust are not happy. By Jamie Kemble Leeds United Supporters’ Trust have hit back at the Premier League after another kick-off time alteration. The Whites saw another fixture altered on Friday, as the clash with Liverpool on October 29 changed to a 7.45pm kick-off due to being selected for Sky Sports coverage. The big problem with that is the final train home to Leeds from Liverpool is at 9.08pm, meaning the rail service is not an option for fans who want to attend the game at Anfield. It comes after the Whites’ clash with Leicester City on October 20 was changed to an 8.15pm kick-off, with the last train back to Leeds from the East Midlands being at 9.37pm. Again, the train will not be an option for Leeds fans wishing to make the trip to the King Power Stadium. After the latest change, for the Liverpool game, the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust tweeted, saying: “Another ridi...