Leeds United: Luke Ayling departs for Middlesbrough
Leeds United: Luke Ayling departs for Middlesbrough
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Lee, Luke Ehrling has left Leeds after seven years, over seven years at the club, actually.
00:06 He's been a fine servant to Leeds United.
00:09 If we look at his time there, we reflect on his time there before we perhaps look at how he'll do at Middlesbrough.
00:15 You are absolutely fantastic.
00:16 I mean, the thing I would say about him is, you know, what a signing.
00:19 When you think about it now, people almost forget ÂŁ200,000 he cost.
00:23 I mean, look at what Leeds got out of that, 268 games, absolutely amazing.
00:27 81 of those were as captain, as you say, seven and a half years service.
00:31 You know, some fantastic performances, a promotion, a real leader, an ambassador really for the club as well.
00:36 And, you know, always fronting up to the cameras and stuff and, you know, went through good times and bad times.
00:41 And, you know, a lot of work in the community as well.
00:43 And just a smashing bloke, basically.
00:45 And, you know, there's no doubt that it'll be a massive, massive miss.
00:48 You know, not just in terms of like, obviously, the player he is, but the person he is at Leeds as well.
00:52 I mean, I think it's Christensen's year.
00:53 Somerville did an interview before the Cardiff game.
00:55 You could tell why he looks quite upset about it, really, the fact that he'd gone and stuff.
00:59 But these things happen.
01:00 And, you know, I think that, you know, this was the natural thing to happen, really.
01:02 I mean, the point is, is that Luke Ayling wasn't getting in the team.
01:05 He quite often wasn't even getting in the squad.
01:07 I mean, obviously, he's had injuries and stuff as well.
01:09 But at the end of the day, he's back fit now and stuff.
01:11 And obviously, yes, Leeds had already lost Jed Spence.
01:15 But even so, you know, he still wasn't really getting much of a look in.
01:18 And all the millie he needs to be playing games.
01:20 He's still only 32.
01:21 So he's still got, you know, plenty of... He's obviously in good shape.
01:23 He's still got plenty of time left.
01:24 And then, yeah, plenty more appearances to give, I think.
01:27 And, you know, basically the point was he went to Daniel Farke, I think, and just said,
01:30 'Look, you know, basically I need to be playing games.'
01:31 And obviously there's this move up to Middlesbrough, we're interested in it.
01:34 Basically, it made sense from all angles, really.
01:37 Obviously, with the location, he didn't have too far to go either and stuff.
01:40 But yeah, it goes without saying, he goes with everybody's very, very best wishes.
01:44 He just, I hope he doesn't come back to haunt Leeds, obviously, at Borough,
01:46 because let's face it, the way it's going, I mean,
01:49 obviously we all hope Leeds can get automatic promotion,
01:51 but I think everybody's very alive to the fact that it might well end up being
01:53 the play-offs and Borough are a team who might well get in there themselves.
01:56 So we'll have to wait and see what happens with that.
01:57 But obviously he goes there and joins Sam Greenwood, who's doing fantastic there as well.
02:02 I think, you know, it'll suit in there.
02:03 But yeah, obviously, you know, absolutely fantastic.
02:06 As you say, servant for the club. Really, really brilliant.
02:08 One of the best signings Leeds have ever made.
02:10 It's got to be at that price.
02:10 And look what they got for the money.
02:12 And all the best to him.
02:13 But obviously in terms of Leeds now, obviously, yeah,
02:15 it's like what do you do in terms of the replacement?
02:17 I mean, I don't think you can replace someone like that purely because of his leadership,
02:20 really. And Leeds are a little bit light on Leeds' leaders, you would say.
02:24 And especially when Liam Cooper's injured, obviously Bamford stepping up to the plate.
02:27 He's very experienced.
02:28 But yeah, both in terms of covering that position and leadership, he will leave a big hole.
02:33 But, you know, Leeds owed it to him really to let him go on and get football.
02:37 And I just think it made sense from all angles, really.
02:39 So all the very best to him.
02:40 And it's been a pleasure covering him and speaking to him all these years.