Leeds United 2018/19 squad numbers and positional depth chart
The lads get their numbers, as some switch around a bit and a few empty slots hint towards possible/likely transfers.
Last week, Leeds United released their squad numbers for the 2018/19 season. A few missing names on the list led to internet hysterics for some, and a few missing numbers led to widespread excitement and expectation, expectation fulfilled over the weekend with a few incoming transfers.
We’ll see what the final week of preseason brings on the transfer front. Bamford incoming? (updated: yes!) Another partner for Jansson? (updated: not yet!). But as of the week before the opener against Stoke City, this is how Leeds United will look in 2018/19. Discussion and depth chart to follow.
Leeds United squad numbers for 2018/19
1 Bailey Peacock-Farrell
2 Luke Ayling
3 Barry Douglas
4 Adam Forshaw
6 Liam Cooper
7 Kemar Roofe
9 Patrick Bamford
10 Ezgjan Alioski
11 Tyler Roberts
12 Laurens De Bock
14 Samuel Saiz
15 Stuart Dallas
18 Pontus Jansson
19 Pablo Hernandez
20 Tom Pearce
22 Jack Harrison
23 Kalvin Phillips
27 Jamal Blackman
28 Gaetano Berardi
34 Lewis Baker
35 Conor Shaughnessy
39 Ryan Edmondson
41 Sam Dalby
42 Callum Nicell
43 Mateusz Klich
44 Hugo Diaz
46 Jamie Shackleton
47 Jack Clarke
48 Jordan Stevens
49 Oriol Rey
50 Pascal Struijk
The first thought goes to which players were left off this list. Eunan O’Kane, Caleb Ekuban, Hadi Sacko, and Vurnon Anita were all mainstays in the LUFC lineup in 2017/18, and none of them received numbers, likely indicating their place for the coming season. Luke Murphy likewise did not receive a number, and last year’s heralded Japanese signing, Yosuke Ideguchi, similarly sees himself without.
Their snubs are backed up on the official “First Team” webpage, where each is listed without a number attached.
When the list was first announced, number 3 was left off, but over the weekend Barry Douglas was signed to fill that gap. (Great signing that.)
That leaves 5, 13, 16, and 17 as numbers often filled and fueling hopes of a few more incoming transfers on the way. A deal for Boro forward Patrick Bamford is rumored to be almost complete (updated: it is! he’s wearing number 9), and midfielder Jack Harrison was brought in early Monday on loan (he took number 22 on Thursday). We’ll see if any of the newcomers claim those numbers, and we’ll update our list accordingly.
A few updates on those that went the other way: Ronaldo Vieira has joined Sampdoria on a five year deal. That frees up his number 8, now taken off the list above. I, for one, am sad to see him go, but I understand it.
Hadi Sacko has joined Las Palmas on season-long loan, prompting him to make a self-deprecating joke about the criticism he received last season. Love that.
Luke Murphy has also now officially left the club. I’m still, and will always be, up all night for Luke Murphy.
As for a positional breakdown, Leeds United’s website has the team looking like this going into the final week:
The still-unnumbered names are at the bottom of each section, with the rest sorted by squad number. Jay-Roy Grot, Pawel Cibicki, Lewie Coyle, Tyler Denton, Hadi Sacko, and Paudie O’Connor are all out on loan, and Madger Gomes, Felix Wiedwald, Ronaldo Vieira, Luke Murphy, and Andy Lonergan have moved on.
Of the named remaining, who makes your first 11? A quick guess:
Bailey Peacock-Farrell seems to have secured the top spot at goalkeeper, also earning the #1 kit in the process. He’ll likely start in goal.
On the back line, Luke Ayling and Barry Douglas will be first choice on the outside, with Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper the likely two in the middle, should Bielsa stick with four in the back. Jansson will also get some time off to start the season, just joining the club after the World Cup, but he’s first choice as soon as possible.
The midfield, like last year, is a bit more complicated. With 11 names on the current list, formations still under experimentation, and several still possible to go out this week, it’s up in the air who’ll start. Of those above though, I’d list our likely five at Pablo Hernandez, Samuel Saiz, Kalvin Phillips, Adam Forshaw, and Ezgjan Alioski. And Forshaw starts the season injured, so we’ll see Stuart Dallas or Mateusz Klich likely rise up to take his spot. But few stand out amongst that herd. Stay tuned.
And up top, just dealing with the five names listed by the team, Kemar Roofe should be the lone striker on Sunday. Patrick Bamford will likely change things up top very soon, but for the season opener, I bet Roofe gets the start.
Who do you have in the Leeds United starting XI for Sunday’s game against Stoke? Where do you think the club still needs to improve? Let us know. MOT.
