The signs around Elland Road and Thorp Arch this summer won’t read any differently from last summer.
The messages from Marcelo Bielsa and his staff will be a continuation from this time last year, with the demand that we execute his plan in a more clinical fashion and avoid playoff agony by mathematically securing promotion as quickly as we can.
Is that possible from a team that finished 3rd in his first season? Taking a look at our attacking options, I would say yes.
Surely the two most prominent attackers at the club, Patrick Bamford and Kemar Roofe, will not be so unlucky with injuries again. And given the volume of chances created, we will convert more this season.
Those chances should still be plentiful. Jack Clarke is still onboard, albeit only on loan now after he finally completed his transfer to Champion’s League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur.
Another Jack who’ll be in the box is Jack Harrison, once again choosing Leeds for a season-long loan. He’s joined by Helder Costa, who tasted promotion with his parent-club Wolves alongside Barry Douglas. Leeds will hope reuniting them earns them another promotion.
With Ezgjan Alioski, Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez all along for the ride again, Leeds’ creative threat should be significant.
There could well be depth to the squad, too. On the fringes, you can see the players who helped win the U23 title last year, and could make the leap to more regular first team action this coming season. Ryan Edmondson, Mateusz Bogusz, Jamie Shackleton, Jordan Stevens and Kun Temenuzhkov all featured for the U23s last season and will be using pre-season to impress Bielsa.
New boys Liam McCarron and Rafa Mújica will also doubtless be hoping that they make a breakthrough into the first team, sooner rather than later.
A firm call on who starts in goal may have given fans of the Club ample chitter chatter. Does Bielsa feel the same? Only time will tell. Come August in Bristol, my wager would be on Kiko retaining the position. Mistakes happen in games, are discussed in the dressing room and cleaned up on the training pitch. But as I type, the defensive position is unclear, with players leaving the Club and others rumoured to be joining us.
Last season’s disappointment was perhaps more caused by failing to convert our own chances than conceding too many goals, but the manner of some of the goals we gifted our opponents was alarming. More on the defensive aspect of the team next time from me.
Feature photograph by Mark Wheelwright.
All the best, and keep marching on together!
Ben
