Leeds United October Review: A difficult month for Christiansen’s Whites
It’s currently testing times at Elland Road for the players and management after a very difficult October.
I thought that the lessons learnt in September would improve the side in what was a busy October. However, that was not the case as the team struggled even further, and they currently look a team lost.
Expect for one decent display against Bristol, October was a month to forget as Leeds United fell out of the playoffs and further down the league.
October Results: One win, Five losses
Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Leeds United
Prior to the Wednesday game, I was optimistic of a good result. We had a tricky period in the past weeks, but after defeats to Sheffield United and Birmingham, I felt that Wednesday were there for the taking.
Unfortunately, my optimism was short lived as Wednesday completely ran us ragged. Poor defending allowed Gary Hooper to open the scoring and gave them the confidence and determination to win the game. We struggled to cope with their creative and free flowing ideas.
It was the first game in what would be a horrible month.
Leeds United 0–1 Reading FC
Our first home game in October was against Reading. We welcomed the Royals to Elland Road with both teams struggling to find form. My hope for a win was slim, but we had done pretty well at home, and with Reading struggling it was the perfect opportunity for us to get back on track.
However, the game and the result did not turn out as we had hoped. Reading were able to adapt their play and were resolute in their performance.
They were more hungry for the win than we were, and we were always a yard behind the play.
Bristol City 0–3 Leeds United
At this stage in the month, we had all come to realise that everything was not sunshine and rainbows at Elland Road. Bristol were on top form, and the chances of picking up anything at Ashton Gate was pretty slim.
Interestingly, however, Leeds played really well and were able to execute the TC game plan to good effect, something we were wondering would ever happen again.
We deserved the victory, and it felt like the results might turn around, but as the rest of month showed, this was the only high point in October.
Leicester City 3–1 Leeds United
In some ways, the Leicester game was a shot for nothing. Progression in the League Cup would have been nice, but really the defeat did not really bother me too much.
To be fair, I was impressed with the performance, especially in the first half. Leicester put out a decent side and it was not until they introduced Vardy and Mahrez that they started to pull away. Nothing to worry about, and with the Bristol game to build on, it seemed just a necessary blip on the radar.
Leeds United 1–2 Sheffield United
After the classy display at Ashton Gate, I felt that we would get a result against the in-form Sheffield United. However, I thought wrong as the same mistakes that we had seen in the games prior to Bristol were on show again.
We were never in the game and were fortunate to get back level late in the 1st half.
These Derby games should give the players a lift to have a real go in the game. However, it felt more like the players were happy to be dominated by Sheffield United and played like a weaker away side.
The home form had become the main feature in our improvement over the last 12 months, but the losses in October at Elland Road showed that the struggle to get a grip in games was not a function of where the team played.
Leeds United 1–2 Derby County
The Derby County game was a little different to the rest of the defeats this season, not only because we let the lead slip, but more because for the vast majority of the game we were the side in the ascendancy and looked completely comfortable.
That was until Derby equalised and we totally collapsed. The third straight home defeat was the most concerning because I felt like you could see the fear and the pressure getting to everyone involved. The last time this happened, we completely bombed out of the playoffs and never recovered. We have a long way to go but we also have a long way to fall.
Contracts
Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Things did not go to well on the pitch in October, but the club did tie down three important players. The first was Peacock- Farrell; the young goalkeeper looks one for the future. The goal-keeping situation is a hot topic and he may find himself given an opportunity earlier than expected after he returned from his loan at York City.
Luke Ayling
Another player is one who we all were hoping would extend his stay at Elland Road. Ayling has struggled in recent weeks but, since his arrival at the beginning of last season, he has become an integral part of this Leeds side.
His commitment and overall drive to see the club succeed is wonderful to watch and deserves the recognition and comparisons made about those great Leeds right backs of the past.
Pontus Jansson
The last is another player we all wanted to extend his stay — Pontus Jansson. The best player we have at the club, a brilliant defender who is already a Leeds legend and will be the centre of any success Leeds have in the coming years. Now he needs to re-find his form as well.
October was a horrible month and we have reached rock bottom in terms of performance and confidence… but we do have quality in the side and, with important games to come in the rest of November, let’s all hope the quality can rise to the top and drag us back up the league. MOT.
