It was an unusual last season for Leeds United. More unusual than most.
We managed to keep hold of a head coach for the whole campaign. Optimism returned to the stands once again as the team produced quality performances, achieving our highest tally of home wins in the 2nd tier for 27 years. There was much to admire about the club’s attempts to re-engage with the fans. Despite just missing out on the play-offs it was regarded a success overall. What could possibly go wrong in the summer? Just a tweak here or there and surely next season would be even better? Well, Garry Monk decided he had done what he could and it was time for him to move on. A big surprise to most observers. Off he went to Middlesbrough and our new owner and chairman Andrea Radrizzani brought in a relative unknown, Thomas Christiansen, who has worked mainly in Cyprus. Along with an entirely new backroom team. So here we go again, starting from scratch.
Radrizzani’s assessment of Monk’s season was simple. “Something went wrong,” he said. When you consider our start, just 4 points from the first 6 games and the end, just 10 points from the last 8, that may be the correct assessment in hindsight. Perhaps he was happy for Monk to leave?
With an entirely new ‘continental’ recruitment scheme and nine first-team signings with some more planned, the first test of the new regime comes at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday. Let’s have a look at the squad and new recruits;
Felix Wiedwald has more than enough Bundesliga experience but it will be hard luck on Rob Green if he loses the No 1 jersey as he could hardly have been in better form last season. Will be interesting to see who gets the nod from Christiansen. Someone won’t be happy.
United could not stop Kyle Bartley’s return to Swansea City after his season-long loan finished in May. A popular figure on and off the pitch. Leeds reacted by recruiting Matthew Pennington on a season-long loan from Everton, beating off Hull City in the process, and the 22-year-old is a shrewd capture but he has never completed a full season above League One level. Charlie Taylor – one of the best left-backs in the Championship – switched to Burnley in the Premier League and the club’s options at No 3 are now also limited. Right footer Gaetano Berardi and youngster Tyler Denton the only other options. Vurnon Anita is versatile enough to cover at left-back as well but was used more often on the right by Newcastle United. With the absence of the colossus that is Pontus Jansson (who signed full-time in July) through suspension this weekend it leaves Leeds light in defence. Another centre-back and left-back still needed. (It seems that Leeds may be close to signing Man Utd left-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson to accommodate one of these.)
Mateusz Klich could finally resolve the constant rotation by Monk, who also wanted him at Boro, in the centre of midfield last season – an irratant to Leeds fans – and Samuel Saiz’s arrival from SD Huesca eases the pressure on Pablo Hernandez to perform at No 10 all the time. Hernandez’s quality is abundant but the 46-game Championship season caught up on him in the 2nd half of the campaign. Eunan O’Kane has been outstanding pre-season and must start on Sunday. In a line of three behind Chris Wood United can choose from Gianni Alioski, Hadi Sacko, Kemar Roofe and Stuart Dallas – who has also impressed pre-season. Set against the loss of less impressive former loanees Mo Barrow and Alfonso Pedraza in May, Leeds should still have some width and with Alioski might even have more pace.
Wood was the only source of goals in 2016-17, the New Zealander has scored 43 goals in 85 outings for the Whites since his move in July 2015 (30 goals from 48 appearances last season) so maintaining United’s existing strength up front was simple. Wood must stay! There is time left in the transfer window for clubs to come in but it will take an offer more than £20m for United to blink. Signing Caleb Ekuban was a speculative one after a good year on loan in Albania but he is quick and relatively strong and offers fresh options to Souleymane Doukara and Marcus Antonsson, neither of whom featured much in pre-season. Another striker still needed.
Off the field, especially with the purchase of Elland Road and the new open, stable ownership of Radrizzani things are looking up again. On the field, if the new player’s gel straight away it could be another exciting season. My head says a Top 10 finish is the best we can hope for. Once again, the heart rules and the play-offs are achievable! Marching On Together!