Yorkshire Evening Post writer Lee Sobot with his video verdict from the LNER Community Stadium stands on Leeds United's 2-0 defeat to AS Monaco.
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00:00 Hello there, Lee Sobot here at the Yorkshire Evening Post, here from the LNER Community Stadium in York, the home of York City,
00:08 where Leeds United have fallen to a 2-0 defeat in their latest pre-season friendly against French visitors AS Monaco.
00:15 It's a hard one to assess really, this, because obviously Leeds going down to the Championship this season,
00:20 Monaco, if you remember, finished sixth in the French top flight last season, another missed out on Europe,
00:25 it wasn't exactly a full-strength side, with lots of changes there as well, but it's all about pre-season I suppose,
00:31 this isn't it, and it's not really about the result. What you would say probably with Leeds here today is that it seemed to be crying out for a striker again,
00:38 I thought. They didn't create tons and tons of chances, but the ones they did have, Patrick Bamford had one at the end, which ended up getting deflected wide.
00:45 It wasn't so much about a lack of shot on targets, just felt that there were quite a lot of times in this game where these were getting into good areas,
00:51 and there was just nobody, a sort of poacher in the box if you like, perhaps a couple of crosses that there was nobody there.
00:57 That was a general feeling. Obviously, a goalless first half, two goals conceded in the second half, and ultimately Monaco made the breakthrough from a penalty.
01:07 Willy Nonto, who came on at the break, a very welcome return to see him back, sort of dangled the boot as he looked to control the ball and clear from a Creswell header.
01:16 That was a penalty and that was converted by Benny Ederin, decent style. Melie, who was also making his return, actually got a hand to that and very nearly saved it,
01:24 which would have been a big boost to him. But he was beaten by that, so it was a very good penalty in the far corner.
01:29 Not much you could have done about the second one either, which was a fantastic looping bullet header into the top corner of the net from across from the left.
01:35 That was just when Leeds were looking to get back into it. They did play quite nice football at times.
01:39 As I said, there was just a lack of killer instinct, cutting edge kind of felt really. Obviously, there were changes for Leeds as well.
01:45 This isn't going to be the full-strength Leeds team. Actually, part of this, the most important part really, this wasn't so much the game as what Daniel Farker said afterwards,
01:52 which was that Tyler Adams and Jack Harrison were both still very much on the combat trail from injuries and rehabbing and wouldn't be back until perhaps the first international break.
02:01 And also that Max Verber didn't play because of the transfer or contract situation, I think it was he said.
02:06 So quite well, that remains to be seen because obviously there's three very, very key players.
02:11 We did also see a debut from Ethan Ampadu, who obviously only signed in midweek from Chelsea for £7 million.
02:16 Decent debut, probably just about the best player, I'd say. I don't think anybody sort of stood out miles, but very solid showing from him.
02:22 Looked pretty composed in the middle of the park. Alongside Archie Gray, it's hard to believe he's still only 17.
02:27 Far from perfect, but didn't look out of place whatsoever. Leeds have got a real talent there, there's no doubt about that.
02:34 Also, Sam Byram, who has been training with the Whites, came on in the second half, came in at left back and steady enough.
02:40 Remains to be seen what happens with him. Obviously, he is just training at the moment, but Leeds United return for him today and we'll wait and see what happens with that.
02:47 Obviously, it's all about the start of the season. There's two more finalists to go.
02:50 Forrest on Thursday evening at Burton Albion and then Hart's away at Tyne Castle on Sunday.
02:54 The season is nearly here. Leeds, hopefully, will go into it in good shape. But we could do with a win. Cheers for now.