Last-16 and rare cup interest
Sheffield Wednesday, Fleetwood Town, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Burnley, Bristol City, Luton Town, Grimsby Town, Sunderland, Stoke City, Stevenage, Wrexham, Sheffield United and Derby County. That’s 16 teams outside the top flight who, at the time of writing, could be in the hat for Leeds United to play in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
For only the third time in 19 years, the Whites have progressed from the fourth round and Monday night’s draw could be fascinating in paving a way for United to contemplate the quarter-finals. Premier League business remains the priority, but it is impossible to avoid excitement when you look at who’s been knocked out and how special Wembley could be if the Whites get that far.
Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brentford, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bournemouth and Everton have already been dumped out. Fulham, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion or Liverpool could all be out by the time the fifth round starts too.
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Harrison shows up right on time
With three days to go until the end of the transfer window, Jack Harrison chose the ideal day to remind everyone of his qualities on a football field. While speculation about Leicester City’s interest in him was ramping up off the field, the winger was having his way with Accrington Stanley and pushing Leeds into the next round of the FA Cup.
While the 26-year-old remains among the core group of players used most frequently by Jesse Marsch, there is a sense this season is yet to catch light for Harrison. He’s never been outside the American’s starting line-up for longer than two consecutive matches this term, but the early burst of three assists and a goal from the first three matches feels a long time ago.
The record signing of Georginio Rutter not only called Joe Gelhardt’s playing time into question, but it shone a light on where Harrison’s at in this squad now too. After four-and-a-half years of solid service under Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch as a regular starter, all of a sudden Harrison’s game time is under threat if this roster stays healthy.
Brenden Aaronson, Rodrigo, Wilfried Gnonto, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, Patrick Bamford and Rutter are all competing for the three frontline slots in Marsch’s 4-3-3. Even if you add in that attacking central midfielder role Harrison played yesterday, Aaronson, Summerville, Sam Greenwood and, potentially, Weston McKennie would be gunning for his shirt.
Marsch could not have praised Harrison more at the Crown Ground yesterday. There is no doubt the American wants him to stay and will use him, but Harrison and his representatives are sure to be doing their sums on the squad size, his remaining contract length and his earning potential at interested clubs.
Saturday’s performance can only give the Whites boardroom pause for thought, just as Mateusz Klich did in August when he was on the way out of Elland Road. Can they risk losing this robust, dependable figure with Premier League survival far from guaranteed, and to a bottom-half rival no less?
A long-awaited triple threat
At long last, the Leeds faithful got to see what their record signing looks like in their beloved white kit. Not only Rutter, but there were first starts for Bamford and Sinisterra since October 20 and October 23 respectively too.
While Rodrigo and Gnonto have been lighting up the last few weeks for Leeds, Marsch has been assembling a triple-threat combination on the bench screaming out for starts. They were given their chances to build valuable match fitness in Lancashire and will have been delighted to come through between 69 and 77 minutes across the three of them.
They all brought something to the match too. Rutter, understandably, needed some time to bed into the team and his surroundings, but by the second half, as the match opened up, his quality was plain for all to see.
Bamford, without wishing to go overboard after facing League One opposition, was excellent as the side’s striker. There was no goal for the number nine, but the poise and technique in his two assists were supreme.
Across the entire match, Bamford created three big chances as the fulcrum of the attack. This is what Marsch and the support needed to see from the England international, who also showed he can play in the same frontline as man-of-the-moment Rodrigo.
Firpo in a good moment
For all of the flak Junior Firpo has taken since arriving at Leeds United, following a tough time with form and fitness, it's only fair he’s given some praise for a nascent renaissance we may be seeing from him now. Yes, we may only be talking about three FA Cup matches against lower-league opposition, but the left-back is thriving with the freedom to attack.
His debut goal for the side was the perfect example of what we thought United were buying when they took Firpo in from Barcelona. A cutting drive inside from the left flank, blessed by a wonderful assist, and then the composed finish, on the run, inside the box.
As Pascal Struijk goes through his toughest spell of the season, Firpo may just be asking the question of Marsch. It remains a leap to see him thrust into league games with major defensive responsibilities, but at last, there are the foundations for something from Firpo.
The case for a revival continues
Yes, Leeds remain stuck on two league wins in 16, but the most optimistic angle on the last seven matches does show just one defeat. And that was the match they should have won at Villa Park.
The jury is not even considering a verdict on this tentative revival until they see what happens against Forest, Everton and Southampton, but there are at least grounds for belief in February. The cup run continues to build, the January window has been very good even without McKennie’s possible arrival, Marsch’s attacking options are booming and they are proving hard to beat in 2023.
Everything seems set in the best way it realistically could be before a series of matches which could define whether United are set for a horrendously nervous spring, or a moderately comfortable one with big points snatched from direct rivals.
Marsch has been backed in every perceivable way this season and the time for any more caveats and excuses is about to run out. Everyone is ready for some long-overdue league wins.
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