Leeds United: Why Dan James can have his head held high
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00:00 Now if we look at the game itself on the pitch, obviously there's not a lot of
00:04 Leeds United highlights we can go through to be honest. Not a lot of standout players but
00:09 one person who did make something of an impact I think was Dan James when he came on off the bench
00:16 replacing Wilfred Nonto. Nonto as we mentioned already didn't really have a good game, struggled
00:23 to get involved to be honest. James though, he looked, it's threatening the word given obviously
00:28 didn't really score or obviously provide any assists come the end of the game but he certainly
00:33 looked the one who was most likely to do something for Leeds when he came on. Of course he did strike
00:38 the bar with an effort that let's be honest it could have gone anywhere, could have gone nestled
00:43 in the top corner, could have gone sailing over but it hit the bar so desperately unlucky in that
00:47 sense. Of course he had that clash of heads as well where he ended up having to get strapped right up
00:50 around his forehead but overall I think he's the one who from that game at least on an individual
00:58 perspective can leave with his head held up high and of course as well.
01:04 But yeah if we just have a little chat about Dan James I mean do you think it would have been
01:11 perhaps right to start him? I know he's just come back from injury of course at the end of the
01:14 season but given the way he played in that game and the way Nonto's had no impact essentially,
01:20 would Dan James have been a better choice to start? Well in hindsight he would yeah but obviously
01:25 hindsight's a glorious thing isn't it? It's very easy to say afterwards and I think you know
01:28 generally speaking when the team sheet came out everybody sort of expected Leeds to be unchanged
01:33 because you've got I mean it feels a million miles away now but you know on the basis of what they
01:37 did against Norwich in that second leg so that's why everybody thought it'd be unchanged and it
01:41 was so I think I don't think you can sort of like knock the team selection as such it was just
01:45 obviously just didn't click and it didn't happen and stuff but yeah I mean obviously now you look
01:50 at it and think well it might have been different if Dan James had started and it might well have
01:53 been to be honest because he was the only one that looked like you know was you know making
01:57 something happen and you know as you quite rightly say it was inches within making something happen
02:01 obviously that shot that hit the bar I mean that was like you know obviously apart from the winner
02:05 Armstrong's winner that was the most traumatic moment of the game I mean because it was in front
02:08 of where all the Leeds fans were and you could just saw I mean even though you're miles away
02:11 you could sort of like see everybody sort of on their feet and just gasping as it smashed against
02:14 the bar and very very unlucky but I mean basically speaking he was Leeds' best player and he was only
02:20 on the pitch for like you know 24 minutes you know plus added time and you know that just sums it up
02:25 basically doesn't it when someone coming off the bench is your man of the match for that you know
02:30 few amount of minutes but you know fair play to him he had a real good go and it was a good end
02:36 to this and not a good end to the season because obviously everyone will be devastated by losing
02:39 the playoff final but performance wise in a way that was his in return from injury obviously and
02:44 in a way that was quite a sort of nice fitting end to the season for him which has been a good
02:49 strong season you know I mean we've spoken about Dan James loads of times on these shows obviously
02:55 and his pace has never been in doubt neither of his neither as his commitment you know and his
02:59 desire and the way he gets stuck in and even his tracking back he's got it all really in that sense
03:03 the thing that's always been questioned is his end product obviously and you know he was inches away
03:07 from getting something else there but even though the season as a whole 13 goals and seven assists
03:11 is pretty good for someone who hasn't been a regular you know week in week out starter
03:16 obviously battling with Somerville who's always been one of the first names on the team sheet and
03:21 Nonto towards the second half of the season obviously Jadon Nant in the mix as well so he
03:25 can be pleased with that and you know assuming he stays and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't
03:30 yeah I would think he'd be one of the key players next season really I mean a lot will obviously
03:34 within that will depend on what happens with the wing options I mean it's there's no point beating
03:38 around the bush Somerville's going to be massively in demand so you've got to have you at least some
03:43 sort of doubt over wherever he'd be here I mean you obviously hope he would be you know but I mean
03:46 that just depends ultimately who comes in and to a degree probably the same and Nonto so James feels
03:53 like the one who there wouldn't be that much speculation about you know he feels feels like
03:57 he's fairly you know well settled and might be slightly less in demand than the aforementioned
04:03 players if you like so I think he'll be a key player next season and yeah you know as you say
04:08 he's the one player who can really have their head held high I suppose from that display and
04:13 in hindsight you wish you'd have been on a bit earlier but it'd be fascinating to see what
04:15 happens over the summer it feels like Leeds need a striker a number nine that's the first thing I
04:21 hear most fans say and I can totally agree why fair enough if Bamford's fit and firing
04:26 that's a big if isn't it it's a big if and when and with his injuries as well there's the injuries
04:31 with him it's the injuries and also the fact that he seems quite streaky you know he goes on runs
04:35 Pirro has just been way too in and out and you know the playoff final display was one of those
04:41 ones where he was just completely out he never got going at all and it feels like they need
04:45 something else up front it feels like that's the first port of call really and to me as well as
04:48 getting Joe Roden done but to be honest now they're not in the Premier League the first
04:54 port of call really is to try and keep hold of your prized assets as well so difficult summer ahead
04:59 but you know fair play to Dan James also not just his performance and making things happen
05:04 trying to make things happen as you alluded to you know the head injury when he went down him
05:09 and Walker-Peters were down for quite a while and he thought we'll both be coming off you know and
05:12 obviously played on when he saw after those pictures afterwards of like the cut which looked
05:16 pretty nasty to say the least so yeah a real heroic warrior display from him but not enough
05:22 really and you need more than Dan James coming on in the 66th minute to win a playoff final so
05:29 yeah but personally a decent end to the season for a good return anyway from him so we shall see
05:35 what next season brings for him and for Leeds. Yeah it's going to be a tricky summer I think as
05:39 you say there Lee obviously from what I read Leeds you know might have to sell in some cases because
05:46 of various PSR limitations you know the football world comes down to money at the minute or seems
05:52 to every week seems to be a new money story involved in football so we'll see how that goes
05:58 as you say there though Dan James can certainly be proud of the way he played in that game and
06:02 the way he finished the season too and his return for the whole season because this is a player who
06:06 of course has been questioned for his end product or lack of in the past and yet this season he's
06:12 certainly he's turned that around with it with a good return on goals and assists.