Amazon Prime will be providing Leeds United fans with another glimpse into the inner workings at Thorp Arch. The six-part docuseries will be released on the streaming platform next month, but instead of focusing on the fortunes of the first-team, cameras have been following the club’s academy stars.
The series will give fans an insight into the club’s youth system and the talent within it, working their way through the ranks with the hope of one day playing for the Whites’ first-team. Last season saw Leeds break the Premier League record for the highest number of teenage debutants in a single season and the fly on the wall series will feature segments on the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood.
Here’s a look at what fans can expect to see in a little more detail.
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First-team debuts
Supporters grew accustomed to the sight of teenagers in the side last season as Leeds handed Premier League debuts to a number of their brightest young talents. The likes of Charlie Cresswell, Gelhardt, Greenwood and Summerville all emerged as some of the club’s most promising players and the quartet were used on a regular basis by Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
Stuart McKinstry, Lewis Bate, Cody Drameh, Kristoffer Klaesson, Leo Hjelde and Liam McCarron also managed to make their Premier League bows last time around. The series is likely to have a focus on the above names as they bid to establish themselves at a first-team level.
It may also feature some of those that could break through this season, tipping supporters off about the names plugging away in the club’s youth ranks at present.
Recruitment
Like many Premier League clubs, Leeds have shown a willingness to invest at academy level by making under-21s recruits. Some of the best young talent in the country can be found in Leeds’ youth ranks and that’s a result of an extensive scouting network that works to identify promising players in the UK and overseas.
The documentary may give some insight into how Leeds spot such promising talent at all ages within the academy system. However, the signings of Amari Miller, Sean McGurk, Bate, Hjelde, Klaesson and Mateo Joseph may also be covered in some detail.
Joseph has really caught the eye this season so far, scoring five goals in just two Premier League 2 games for the under-21s and therefore fans may be keen to learn more about him as he attempts to force his way into the first-team picture.
Personnel changes
Leeds started last season with Mark Jackson in charge of their under-23s side, but he was drafted up to the first-team following the arrival of Marsch. Jackson has since taken a coaching role in the senior ranks up full-time, meaning Leeds spent the summer looking for a new man to lead the club’s youth side.
Andrew Taylor was the man to take up the gig for the remainder of the season before Michael Skubala was announced last month. The impact of the change at the top, from Bielsa to Marsch, will certainly make interesting viewing, too, from the difference in the desired style of play to the amount of interest taken by both head coaches.
On field struggles
Last season was a successful one for the academy as so many youngsters managed to supplement the senior team. Ultimately, that’s the one thing the youth structure works towards, producing talent capable of helping out and fitting into the first-team.
Of course, the first-team’s lengthy list of injuries helped when it came to providing opportunities, but many took their chance and have since graduated from the academy altogether to work under Marsch. However, the sheer number of players required in the Premier League often meant the under-23 side was left short of options.
As a result, it was a difficult Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign for the Whites and, after winning just seven of their 26 games, they were relegated from the top tier of youth football. Of course, it’s hard to how what will be featured in just six episodes, but the performances of the U23s should feature.
It’s worth noting that Leeds broke a Premier League 2 attendance record last season, too, as 21,000 fans watched their 3-1 defeat to Man City at Elland Road in April.
The ‘Academy Dreams: Leeds United’ docuseries will be released on September 23 on Amazon Prime.
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