Leeds United really did save the best until last when it came to their summer exits in 2024.
Crysencio Summerville, a long-expected departure, and Georginio Rutter, an off-guard punch to the gut, hung around until August, but when they did eventually go, there was understandable concern. They were taking 50 goal contributions with them.
How would Leeds United fill that void in the team? Largie Ramazani and Manor Solomon arrived before the window closed, but neither were coming in with the pedigree to match the £65million ($80.9m) pair who had left. Tuesday night’s trip to Watford brought more answers.
When Daniel Farke last brought his Leeds side to Vicarage Road, they arrived on a 13-match unbeaten streak, just as they did this week. However, the preceding international break saw the cracks of their eventual collapse starting to show.
Wilfried Gnonto, Ilia Gruev and Connor Roberts all returned to Leeds with injuries after playing for their countries. Junior Firpo was too fatigued to start after playing in South America two days earlier. Georginio Rutter hurried back from hernia surgery to start. And a rusty Liam Cooper came in from the cold to compensate for Gruev’s injury.
(Cameron Howard/Getty Images)
In short, Leeds were well off it and needed some individual brilliance from Summerville to even secure a draw in Hertfordshire. In what became a trademark goal for the Dutch winger last season, he cut in off the left flank and curled the ball into the far corner from 25 yards out. Last season was filled with moments like that, whether they were from Summerville or Rutter. Their class often masking over wider problems in the team.
This week’s visit could not have been more different. This (now 14-match) unbeaten run feels like it is still on an upward trajectory, whereas last season’s Leeds came away from Watford stuttering and spluttering.
This is a balanced team with every member pulling their weight and playing their part. They do not need a talisman to bail them out.
Daniel James, not for the first time this season, threatened to stick his hand up for that tag, but along came Solomon and Joel Piroe with their latest contributions. Firpo assisted again, Ao Tanaka and Gruev controlled midfield, Joe Rodon and Ampadu had the backline locked down. No one player is having to carry this team on their back.
Across the glut of 18 goals Leeds have scored in their last six games, there have been nine different scorers and six different creators. Everyone is chipping in. Solomon, James and Piroe may be featuring most frequently, but Ramazani, Tanaka, Brenden Aaronson, Gnonto, Mateo Joseph and Jayden Bogle have all bagged during this prolific spell.
By the end of last season, Leeds had five players on double figures for goal contributions: Summerville (28), Rutter (22), James (20), Piroe (16) and Gnonto (10). This season, with 14 games still to go, they already have another five: Piroe (20), James (16), Solomon (14), Gnonto (10) and Aaronson (10). Another four players are within touching distance of double figures too.
“We want to be flexible,” Farke said post-match. “We want to have many threats. We can score more goals from set-pieces. We can chip in more with goals from midfielders. Ao Tanaka has scored, but we have other midfielders who can chip in with goals.
“I’m pretty pleased how we’ve developed as a team, but there are still a few areas we can strengthen and we won’t rest before we achieve it.”
Sensibly, Farke is not going to allow any sense of complacency to creep into his press conferences. Leeds are five points clear of Sheffield United, eight ahead of Burnley and 10 in front of Sunderland, having played one more game than all of them. Upcoming clashes with the South Yorkshire and Wearside outfits are opportunities to create clear air in the title race.
(Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Farke could not wish to be going into those games with better form or greater confidence. They go into those matches with resolute belief in their all-round team play, knowing that this season they don’t need one or two stars to dig them out of a hole.
Tuesday’s first goal came as a result of team-wide pressing of Watford’s players, forcing an errant pass from Edo Kayembe. The second goal was a masterful counter-attack running through Ampadu, Aaronson and an outrageous Piroe pass before James’s unerring finish. The fourth strike was similar in showcasing the quality of Tanaka, Solomon and Piroe in the same move.
Farke has repeatedly talked about Leeds raising more money in the summer transfer window than any other club in western Europe, after the sales of Summerville, Rutter, Archie Gray and Glen Kamara, among others. On this latest evidence, Leeds have secured a net profit on and off the field — this year’s squad is proving greater than the sum of its parts.
(Header photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
