Victor Orta is long enough in the tooth to know directors of football are never more than five months away from signing the kind of dud which derails reputations in fanbases. As can be the case with most things in life, one negative can be the focus amid a flurry of 10 positives.
The Leeds United transfer supremo will not be getting carried away in late September with 32 matches to play, but as the first pause in the season comes to an end there are reasons for quiet optimism. The jury will remain out on the nine summer additions at Elland Road for several more months yet, but as opening phases go, Orta cannot have hoped for much more.
The Spaniard had to take his share of the flak going through the lowest moments of last term. He sat alongside Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear in the front row of the directors’ box as the shelling came in from the terraces around them.
READ MORE: Sonny Perkins' goal streak continues as Leeds United new boy impresses again with England U19s
Orta, like the board, coaching staff and players, had to take his share of the blame in a campaign which limped to 17th place, but as responses go there must be some relief in how many of the new faces have settled. With Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha sold, the last thing Orta needed was their replacements flopping.
Sonny Perkins and Wilfried Gnonto’s international feats are just the latest pages in a book of exploits from the new boys which keeps the shine glowing on their honeymoon periods. The former has 11 goals in eight matches for club and country since arriving this summer.
West Ham United, who memorably made a disgruntled statement in the summer about this teenager’s exit, have only seen more and more salt poured into their wound by Perkins. The 18-year-old looks like an outstanding piece of business on a free transfer pending any compensation.
Meanwhile, Gnonto, yet to kick a senior ball in anger for Leeds, started for Italy last night. Based on the low fee and that blue shirt alone, it seems like another transfer with immense upside for the Whites.
There are the more traditional names who have already drawn widespread praise too. Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca and Luis Sinisterra are yet to put any feet wrong for Leeds.
Aaronson and Sinisterra are already having a demonstrable impact on matches in the final third, as Adams and Roca dovetail in a midfield pivot which has more than made up for the loss of Phillips. Darko Gyabi, currently shut out of the first team by said duo, even popped up with a goal for England under-19s on Tuesday as the captain in the same match as Perkins.
Like Perkins, supporters will need to see more from Gyabi in the first team before getting too carried away, but the former Manchester City man is consistently drawing praise from Michael Skubala. Gyabi is running games in Premier League 2 and, again, making all the right moves in the opening months of his Leeds contract.
Third-choice goalkeeper Joel Robles is never going to be the kind of signature Orta is judged on, though Rasmus Kristensen does stand out as the only one in the nine with some early difficulties. The Denmark international has been honest in admitting he needs some more time to make that transition, but just as the success stories can’t be too highly praised after six matches, Kristensen cannot be too highly criticised.
At the current rate, Orta must be sleeping pretty soundly given what he has seen so far from the crop of new recruits. Now it’s time for them to prove themselves all over again with a long overdue win on Sunday.
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