Leeds United have made a positive start to banish those ominous pre-season predictions. Scraping survival on the final day of 2021-22 before losing key players Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha in the transfer window provided little optimism from sections of the media.
However, the Whites have responded with a solid start to the campaign. Despite having a game in hand, Leeds sit 11th in the table with two wins, two draws and two defeats.
While it is still early days, Jesse Marsch’s side have impressed in glimpses this season. The new arrivals have bedded in nicely to postpone negativity from the naysayers - for now.
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A welcome return to football comes this weekend when Leeds - playing for the first time in almost a month - take on Aston Villa. Ahead of the clash, LeedsLive analysed several pre-season predictions to highlight who could look foolish by May…
Radio Times - 14th
Reporter Michael Potts thought Leeds would finish 14th just one day before the season started. There was praise for Jesse Marsch but he tipped the Whites’ progress in 2022-23 to be “slow”.
The Radio Times reporter wrote: “The hipsters' choice in 2022/23, Leeds will have a fresh start under Jesse Marsch this term. He picked up a broken, leaky team with survival his only priority. Now the US coach can stamp his vision on the team.
“Five £10m+ signings have come through the doors including highly rated winger Luis Sinisterra and defensive midfielder Tyler Adams to replace Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips respectively. Three of Marsch's signings are from Red Bull-associated clubs, players he knows well. This is his team, and he should have a better crack this time around, but it will be slow progress.”
BBC - 16th
Chief sports writer Phil McNulty stressed the importance of Elland Road to Leeds’ hopes. After losing two influential players, keeping Patrick Bamford fit - a task that has so far not yet been fulfilled - was also cited as a must.
“Leeds scraped to survival on the final day of last season and have subsequently lost two of their most influential players in Raphinha and home-grown hero Kalvin Phillips,” McNulty wrote. “This makes life tough for Jesse Marsch as he tries to rebuild on what he inherited from the iconic figure of Marcelo Bielsa.
“I think Leeds, rather like Everton, will survive based on the fanatical and unswerving support they receive at home. Elland Road must be their fortress - otherwise, they could be in trouble.
“Marsch has gone with what he knows bringing in winger Brenden Aaronson from Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig midfielder Tyler Adams, two Americans who have worked under him before. The same applies to defender Rasmus Kristensen, also signed from Salzburg.
“Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra has arrived from Feyenoord for £21m to add threat and Leeds will hope a pre-season hamstring injury does not prove too problematic. This is a big show of faith in Marsch, who wants to put his own stamp on the side. Leeds are another team needing a good start or times could be very tough. Leeds must keep Patrick Bamford fit. And keep Jack Harrison.”
90min - relegation candidates
Four out of 90min’s nine journalists backed Leeds for the drop. The rest all expected Marsch’s side to finish in the bottom five.
No Leeds supporter wants a repeat of last season’s knife-edge finale in West London. However, the fact all but one predicted rock-bottom Leicester City to place in the top 10 does offer hope for Whites fans.
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