Marching On Together Leeds United Podcast: Questions on the wing, a Welsh brick wall & why Leeds might just have a crack at the title
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00:00 Lee, once again, we're talking about Leeds United. Things are looking pretty rosy at
00:06 Ellen Park at the moment, not just because of Leeds' good form, I mean, they sit top
00:11 of the Championship form table, but also Leicester, top of the league, having a bit of a wobble
00:16 of late. Obviously, they won against Sunderland in midweek, but apart from that, the results
00:20 haven't been too good in the last few weeks. And so, as things stand, Leeds are only three
00:25 points behind them. So, if we look first at the win against Sheffield Wednesday, again,
00:32 it's just another important win for Leeds away from home.
00:35 Yes, job done basically. A lot of these games are at the moment, that's what they do. You
00:40 talk about form tables, 34 points out of 36 is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, put simply,
00:46 if they do that, if they did that from the start of the season, they'd be miles clear,
00:50 even allowing for record points totals elsewhere and stuff. Yes, they had a wobbly start, but
00:54 they're always going to and stuff. I mean, it's been said a few times, it was pretty
00:57 much chaos over the summer, which it was of all the departures. And Daniel Farker does
01:01 deserve absolutely enormous credit for what he's done, because this is now just a really,
01:05 really solid side. I mean, there's always surprises in the Championship, aren't there?
01:09 But you sort of almost expect them to win every week at the moment, unless they come
01:12 up against a really hard game and they're all hard in the Championship. But you know
01:16 what I mean? They're just so reliable at the moment, as that points tally tells you. And
01:22 it's right on, you know, it's right on in terms of finishing in the automatics, but
01:25 it's right on in terms of Leeds winning the league. I really do firmly believe that. I'm
01:28 not saying they're going to go up, I can't even say they're definitely going to go up
01:31 or even finish in the automatics. I'm certainly not going to say they're going to finish as
01:34 champions, but there's every chance, there must be. They got the job done at Sheffield
01:38 Wednesday. I mean, I was at Hillsborough and it wasn't looking too good, to be perfectly
01:44 honest, in the first half. They just didn't really get going. It reminded me a lot of
01:47 the away games they'd lost, like the Birmingham one earlier on in the season and stuff like
01:50 that. They just didn't really click and Sheffield Wednesday were causing them problems again
01:54 in the faces, as you could imagine. It just felt like one of those nights where it could
01:57 go wrong. But they kept them out and obviously went ahead and right at the end of the first
02:01 half with Bamford Strike and yeah, Sheffield Wednesday weren't happy at all about the timing
02:05 of the goal because it was four minutes added on and it was in the fifth minute of added
02:08 time and whatnot. But it's minimum four minutes, isn't it? And that's the way it goes. And
02:12 that goal was massive and it just changed the whole game basically because Leeds then
02:15 go into half-time 1-0 up and obviously Sheffield Wednesday have to come out. Leeds did improve
02:20 anyway after the break and obviously Nantes got the second. They should and could have
02:24 scored more. Equally, there were a couple of chances at the other end, goal and clearance
02:30 from Ampadu and whatnot. But they got the job done. That was all that mattered. Then
02:33 put them back in second and I, for one, fully expected Ipswich to then go and win the next
02:38 day and Leicester despite the fixtures. And then look what you got. I mean, it was absolutely
02:41 incredible how many times I rewrote that Ipswich story because obviously they went 1-0 up and
02:46 yet again you think, here they go, they're going to get a late winner. But then obviously
02:49 to go 1-1 in the 95th minute, I mean, even that would have been massive. It was a draw.
02:53 But then to concede in the 100th minute and lose 2-1, I mean, it's just absolutely staggering
02:57 turnaround for Ipswich who had been on an amazing run themselves. And then obviously
03:00 Leicester get the 2-2 draw as well. And we were talking before, weren't we, about just
03:03 before we came on air about the form table and I think it's over the last five games,
03:07 Leeds would be top. I think you said Ipswich would be second and Leicester would be, I
03:11 think, about 19th because they've only got four points out of 15. So, I mean, look, basically
03:15 if you look at the maths, if the current sort of trend continues in terms of the points
03:19 that are being picked up at this current rate, then Leeds will end up overtaking Leicester.
03:24 That's just a fact because you just look at the way the points are going on recent progress.
03:29 It doesn't mean that's definitely going to happen. There's still nine games left. There's
03:32 probably going to be an awful lot of twists and turns. But I mean, Leeds are very much
03:36 the form team and it's no surprise to me their odds have absolutely tumbled. I mean, they're
03:40 as short as 2-1 now to win the division. They're as short as 1-5 to go up, which obviously
03:45 includes the playoffs. Nobody wants them. And, you know, all that matters ultimately
03:50 is finishing in the top two. And that is now in their own hands because they're obviously
03:54 a point ahead of Ipswich and with a better goal difference. So, I mean, it's theirs to
03:59 lose now, quite frankly. I mean, you know, I mean, there's nine games left. If they win
04:02 nine games, they're up. I don't think they'd have to win all nine, you know, but like obviously
04:07 I'm sure Ipswich will recover and get a very good points total. I'm sure Leicester will
04:12 sort it out as well. And obviously, can't forget Southampton. The thing with them is
04:15 they've got games in hand and a busy schedule, but they're not far behind, obviously, either.
04:20 So, but yeah, it is looking very, very good with Leeds. And put simply, if they just continue
04:25 what they're doing, then they'll get the job done. It's been very, very impressive to see.
04:29 It's been an amazing turnaround how quickly they've changed that gap, which was obviously
04:32 looking at, you know, 15, 18 points at one point. And the fact is now, Daniel, if they
04:36 win this weekend and win two, nil by two goals, they'll be top. Obviously, Leicester will
04:40 have a game in hand. But yeah, I mean, all you can do is say what you see. And at the
04:44 moment, it's looking very, very good. I'm not surprised the second favourites for the
04:48 division. I'm not surprised they're so short. And to be honest, I can only see that trend
04:51 continuing because like there's nothing to suggest really that they can't keep it going.
04:55 They got through three games in a week, you know, without much problem. So very, very
04:59 impressive and fingers crossed. But you'd say a massive, massive but. This is the Championship
05:04 and it can very, very quickly change. So let's not get too carried away. But at the moment
05:08 on what you see, you would have to say it's looking pretty, pretty damn good.
05:13 Well, we'll certainly get on to what comes next for Leeds towards the end of this. But
05:18 for now, you did mention Ethan Amtu making a goal line clearance against Sheffield Wednesday
05:22 there. Yeah, we're going to look at him now and his centre back partner, Joe Rodon. They're
05:27 at the minute just a bit of a brick wall, aren't they? As we mentioned, their clearance
05:31 is off the line. But just their solidity, as well as Leeds going forward and scoring
05:37 all the goals they do, it's their partnership at the back that's also keeping Leeds clear
05:42 of clean sheets or not too many goals, which is really key at this stage of the season.
05:48 Definitely is, yeah, because you look through it and it's not like Leeds are winning 5-0,
05:51 4-0 and stuff like that. A lot of these games are by one or two goals and stuff. So the
05:54 clean sheets and there's obviously been a stack of them recently. The clean sheets are
05:59 absolutely essential. And one of the first things that Daniel Farker said when he came
06:02 in, because obviously, you know, it's not quite the Elster's that like, but I mean,
06:06 he is well known for his sort of like attacking football and pressing and, you know, getting
06:10 forward. But he did say very early on, you know, clean sheets are the foundation of success.
06:14 And it's definitely proven that way. And it's funny how it's worked out because you're getting
06:17 like, I mean, you know, pretty solid anyway, but obviously you've got this run of clean
06:20 sheets or, you know, run of really strong defensive performances arriving at a time
06:24 now when, you know, sort of like one of the centre-back linchpins really in Pascal Stroik
06:28 is out injured. And obviously that could have been a big problem. Obviously, Liam Cooper's
06:32 there to step into the fray. But rather than, I suppose it's a bit of a surprise that rather
06:35 than Cooper coming into the position, you had Ethan Ampadu dropping back from centre
06:39 midfield into centre-back and you sort of wondered how that would work out. But I mean,
06:43 him and Rodon together, it's just been, and Brickwall is totally right, they've just been
06:46 immense. And yet again, they were absolutely key at Sheffield Wednesday in keeping out
06:50 the opposition. I mean, Rodon, I mean, flipping heck, I mean, talk about being in the wars.
06:53 I mean, he had like, he got banged to the head, then he had a cut and it was just, you
06:57 know, one of those nights, but just every single time he just got on with it, he's just
07:00 a real warrior. And I said before, he reminds me a lot of Jonathan Woodgate and he really
07:04 does, you know, like that sort of same sort of style player. Ampadu's a bit different
07:08 because he's like, obviously a midfielder dropping back. So he's a bit more, I don't
07:11 know about culture, but you know what I mean? He's more about the ballplay and one out of
07:14 the two, but that's not to say Rodon isn't either. And the two of them together just
07:18 work brilliantly. And it's not really a surprise, I suppose, because obviously the Wells international
07:22 team-mates that know each other really well. So yeah, I mean, really the question, but
07:27 obviously their first choice pairing at the moment, the question really will be what happens
07:30 when Pascal gets back. But I mean, he's been out a while, it's since Boxing Day and Daniel
07:35 said himself, Daniel Farker said himself that when he does come back, because he's nearing
07:38 a return to training, it's not like he's just going to come back and be 100% fit. You know,
07:42 it'll take time to get back into the swing of things. So it'll be almost towards the
07:46 end of the season, I think, by the time Pascal's like, you know, cherry ripe and 100%. So this
07:50 whole conversation about what happens when he comes back probably, you know, will be
07:54 one to, I mean, it might be a case towards the end of the season, but at the moment,
07:58 why change it really? Because them two are just, I mean, just absolute rock. And you
08:01 should say Mellier as well behind them. He's obviously had his, you know, knockers over
08:05 the years and stuff. He's still a young keeper. And yet again, he's made some important stops
08:09 in these last couple of games and stuff as part of this run. So yeah, I mean, they're
08:13 really good going forward, obviously. We'll come to that in a minute because there's options
08:16 where you're going to have one of Nonto or James on the bench. But defensively, it's
08:20 just as, if not more important really. And they're so reliable at the back at the moment.
08:26 So yeah. And the other thing with it is as well, I suppose, obviously, when you've got
08:30 Roman Ampadu there, if Pascal comes back, then obviously you're not going to not have
08:33 a team with Ampadu in it. So Ampadu would have to go into midfield, which would then
08:37 mean he'd have to get rid of one of Gruev and Kamara, and they've been very good in
08:40 their own right. And then you've got Dan James, sorry, then you've got Archie Gray playing
08:43 at right back. So he was obviously a midfielder. So there's so many different selection headaches
08:47 for Daniel Farker, but that's what it's all about. That's what you want. You know, if
08:51 you're going for promotion, you're going for a title. You don't just want 11 players, pick
08:55 one to 11 job done. And then, you know, no sort of like selection issues on the bench.
08:59 You need players on the bench that should and could start. That's what they've got.
09:03 And to me, it looks like a promotion winning side, definitely.
09:06 Well, yes, challenging places is key. Obviously, you have to be able to rotate as well. And
09:11 that's what we're going to get onto now in an attacking sense, because of course, you've
09:15 got Willy Nanto, you've got Dan James, both of them could play out wide and both of them
09:19 could do a really good job for Leeds. So from now until the end of the season, is it just
09:25 a case for Daniel Farker rotation and picking whoever suits that particular game best?
09:30 Yes, probably. I think that probably summarises it pretty well. It was a bit of a surprise
09:34 at Sheffield Wednesday. Me and Graham Smith were sat there waiting for the teams and then
09:37 it came out and we expected a couple of changes. We obviously changed both full-back positions,
09:41 but Nanto came back in and got the nod over James, who had done really well in midweek.
09:45 So it was a bit of a surprise. And you've got to be honest, Nanto wasn't particularly
09:50 good in the first half either, really. And he sort of thought, and I remember saying
09:53 there, at Hillsborough, get Dan James on, he'll cause problems, you know, and this,
09:57 that and the other. And then Nanto obviously turns it around in the second half and gets
10:00 the second goal and stuff. And he's got a great recent run, obviously, since he's come
10:05 back into the side. And I think because of that performance at Hillsborough and the way
10:10 he did in the second half, I think he probably just about gets the nod at the moment. But
10:13 then you look at it and Dan James has obviously always been criticised for his lack of end
10:17 product - 11 goals and seven assists, I think it is, this season in the Championship, which
10:21 is a pretty damn good return for a winger, really. So very, very hard to choose. And
10:27 obviously you could say, well, why don't you just play them both? Well, obviously you're
10:30 not going to not play Crystian Senecio-Somerville, who hasn't been quite at his brilliant best
10:34 as yet, but is still one of, if not Leeds' star players. So he has to start on one wing
10:39 for definite. And I think it's just a case of, you know, almost 50/50 between the other
10:44 two at the moment. What will be the case against Millwall? I don't know. We'll wait and see
10:48 what the team news is, but I suspect Nonto has done enough there, I would think, to keep
10:52 his place in the team, which will probably annoy Dan James. Although he'll know that
10:55 it's competitive business and stuff. And all that means is when he comes on, which I'm
11:01 sure he will do, he'll have to just impress even more, which is what the name of the game
11:04 is, isn't it? So another fantastic problem to have. And, you know, obviously Nonto, I
11:09 mean, it's crazy how it's turned around. I mean, he looked gone in the summer, didn't
11:13 he, obviously, transfer request and whatever, refusing to play. I mean, it was leaving a
11:17 very bitter taste. And, you know, then obviously the only scores at Hillsborough to make it
11:21 2-0 and the away end is absolutely bouncing seeing his name. So it can soon change. But
11:26 I think two things, fair play for Daniel Farker for giving him a chance. He certainly rewarded
11:30 that and ultimately fair play for Nonto for getting his head down and getting on with
11:34 it really, which is what it's about. Never been any doubt about how good he is. I mean,
11:37 in Tallinn International when he was so young, obviously, he's still very young now. And,
11:41 you know, you can talk about Leeds' stars all day long, you know, your sort of Archie
11:45 Gray's and your Somervilles and Nonto's and Somervilles and whatever. But don't forget
11:50 Willie Nonto because he's a very, very talented player. And at the moment, I think he probably
11:53 has to start. Yeah, but it's a good problem to have.
11:56 Certainly is. And as we said earlier, we will get on to what is next for Leeds, which is
12:01 a game against Millwall. They're back at home, back at Elland Road. That's on Sunday. And
12:06 as you said earlier, Lee, they can go top with a win of two goals.
12:11 Yeah, amazing.
12:13 It's quite the incentive, isn't it? I mean, obviously, nothing's decided yet, but psychologically
12:19 to see themselves at the top of the league with not too many games left really shows
12:24 just how far they've come this season in terms of bridging that gap. But it also shows that
12:28 they can fight that stir in Southampton and Ipswich right to the end and hopefully stay
12:33 in those automatic places and even go on and lift the trophy.
12:36 Yeah, but just like the Championship, though, for Leeds to have this run, wouldn't it? And
12:39 then Millwall to come to Elland Road, like their old rivals, foes from London, Millwall
12:43 to come there and nick a 1-0 win. That would be so Leeds and it would be so Championship,
12:47 wouldn't it? That would, just when everybody's sort of expecting and hoping that they'll
12:51 go top. But realistically, on paper, they should get the job done against Millwall.
12:55 But what I would say about this is you obviously look at the table and you think Millwall are
12:59 towards the bottom. They've moved a bit away from the drop zone now, but they're in good
13:02 form then. Obviously, Neil Harris coming back, I think it's 10 points out of the last 12.
13:06 Decent little return that for a side down the wrong end of the division. Zion Fleming's
13:10 in good form. Seven goals, four assists. Tanganga's doing well as well. So, they've got threats,
13:16 they've got good players and look, Neil Harris will know what he's doing. They'll come to
13:19 Elland Road and they'll be very hard to beat and they'll make it horrible, they'll make
13:23 it hard. An early goal in that game would be absolutely key because if Leeds score early,
13:28 i.e. the first 10 or 20 minutes, then obviously Millwall's plan goes out the window a little
13:31 bit, doesn't it? But the longer it goes on, it could well end up becoming quite a tense
13:35 afternoon. So, you certainly won't count any chickens about this one. But realistically,
13:42 Leeds' quality should come to the fore. The other big thing with it is as well, is they've
13:46 obviously put this amazing run together despite games coming thick and fast, including three
13:51 in a week most recently. They've had eight, nine days off between these two games, between
13:55 the Owls-Chef Wednesday game and this, which will definitely help and they should realistically
14:00 get the job done. What you would say is that the only thing that matters really is finishing
14:05 in the top two. Daniel Farke was asked about it actually, because obviously if he did win
14:10 the league with Leeds, it'd be a third. Obviously, he hasn't done it twice at Norwich and he
14:12 said himself, look, to be quite honest, the main thing is getting top two, whatever, in
14:16 this stat and the other. But trophies are nice. But I'm telling you now, if he's won
14:20 it twice before at Norwich, he'll want to win it again, make no mistake about that.
14:23 So, there is also that incentive, as you say, to go back into top spot. Leicester don't
14:27 play because they've got in the FA Cup at Chelsea. So, it's a huge chance for Leeds.
14:32 Ipswich play first on Saturday afternoon. They're at home to Sheffield Wednesday and
14:37 I mean, you never know in the Championship when we saw what happened with Ipswich at
14:40 the weekend, but at home, you'd expect them to win there realistically. So, it's a funny
14:44 weekend because Leeds could well end up changing positions twice in terms of they could drop
14:49 down from second to third if Ipswich win, but then ultimately going back above Ipswich
14:52 and above Leicester if they win by two goals against Sunday against Millwall. And it's
14:56 funny, look at the betting for it and a 2-0 win for Leeds, which would be enough, is actually
15:00 favourite. So, maybe that's how it will go. Leeds are odds on, they're about 1-3. I mean,
15:06 again, I'm always wary of the Championship and how upsets can happen and how Leeds can
15:11 throw in something unpredictable just because of Leeds being Leeds. But I suspect they'll
15:15 be too good for Millwall eventually, just a case of how quickly they can break them
15:19 down hopefully. So, yeah, and the other thing is it's a huge game, obviously, because it's
15:23 the last game before the international break and whatever happens in this game this weekend,
15:27 Leeds have put themselves in an amazing position because of the run they've had just now. But
15:31 the fact is, if they didn't get all three points and Ipswich were to win, they would
15:35 go into the international break with it suddenly, the automatic promotion destiny out of their
15:40 own hands, you know, and no one wants that after just getting it back. So, it's another
15:43 huge game. There's nine left, they're all huge. It's like nine Cup finals, got to go
15:47 out and win the first of them. And although it's the Championship, I suspect they probably
15:51 will.
15:53 Very much so, Lee. Yes, it's going to be an interesting few weeks for Leeds, but I'm sure
15:57 you'll be all over it and that is all for now.