A rising star
The latest prototype off the Gray family production line has been no secret on the pitches at Thorp Arch. Archie’s name has been on the lips of the academy coaches for many years, but the wider world is only just beginning to understand what Leeds United have on their hands.
The schoolboy flirted with Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team squad last season, but never made the leap into professional action. Those inclusions were an hors d'oeuvre for what came in the under-23 ranks, where fans really sat up to take notice of this boy’s talent.
While Thursday did not provide a competitive debut, this was Gray’s first appearance in Leeds United’s first team and he did not disappoint. The cat is well and truly out of the bag.
READ MORE: Leeds United player ratings as Archie Gray and Sam Greenwood shine in Blackpool win
This 16-year-old looked effortless in this company. An especially poor Championship side is no real benchmark, but playing against experienced men, twice Gray’s age, cannot be sniffed at.
After the match, Jesse Marsch was not looking to pour cold water on any of the hype. The head coach was honest in admitting he finds it hard not to get excited whenever he talks about the youngster.
Gray will be in and around the first team next season. Marsch would not commit to how many minutes the teen would play, but he was absolutely clear on how closely he will work with the senior group.
Marsch’s fresh start
Thursday provided a first opportunity for the domestic media to hear from Marsch since the win at Brentford. The American has always cut an upbeat, optimistic figure, even through the darkest of moments for the Whites down the home stretch last term.
However, this was a refreshed Marsch who faced the media after the Blackpool win. More than once, he said he had never been more excited to begin a pre-season than this one in 2022.
There is a clear sense of the reset button being pressed, with a great many new faces in the building, and a chance to really put his stamp on the club. No questions were shirked, even those on contentious issues like Kalvin Phillips or Raphinha.
The pressure will be applied to his demeanour when the real stuff starts, but for now, it was encouraging to at least see how energised the American is going into his first full season in the job.
Davis keeps delivering food for thought
One of the open-ended question marks about this summer’s prompt transfer business is at left-back. Junior Firpo is the only fit, senior, natural option in that department going into the new season.
Leif Davis, discarded 12 months ago, returned from his Bournemouth loan spell and has done enough in training to at least keep the door open for himself. There is outside interest in the 22-year-old, who has less than one year on his contract to run, but Leeds may yet have need for him.
Davis came on at the break for Firpo and showed enough to suggest why he has a chance of being the Spaniard’s back-up next season. He was quick, attacking and aggressive. Marsch likes him and a solid stint in Australia may do wonders for him.
Strength in depth
On countless occasions last season, one glance at United’s teamsheet told the story of their campaign. Beyond one or two moderately experienced options, Bielsa and Marsch were too often left with six or seven under-23s to pick from.
Thursday was a similar story, as Marsch’s bench retained its youthful edge while his unselected talent recovered from just a fourth day of their delayed pre-seasons. However, a sign of the strength in depth the club is recruiting was plain to see in the stands.
One look at the row of seats behind the Leeds dugout would have been enough to raise some eyebrows with the quality Marsch is set to have in reserve next term. Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Leo Hjelde, Mateusz Klich, Helder Costa, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams, Darko Gyabi and Luis Sinisterra were all watching on.
Add in Diego Llorente, Patrick Bamford, Daniel James, Crysencio Summerville and Ian Poveda, who were not seen, and you get a sense of this squad thickening out, even if you do take a few of those names out for expected loans away.
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