In an article written over a month ago on T4O, I claimed that Leeds United may struggle to get promoted this season. The overarching argument was that in the previous season Leeds United had relied heavily on Chris Wood to get them results. Wood had scored 27 league goals for Leeds in the 2016/17 season. And was a large part of why they managed to finish 7th. Their highest league finish for some time. The backlash both on twitter and on the comment section was tremendous as I was called every name under the sun for daring to question the new messiah at Elland Road. The fact that I was a Boro fan did not make matters easier.
Obviously, Wood has since left Leeds for Premier League side Burnley. This begged the question have Leeds replaced him properly? And if not, will it affect where they finish in the league.
At the time of writing the previous article Leeds United were top of the Championship. They had 17 points and after winning five and drawing two. They were also the only team left unbeaten in the Championship this season. Since then though, Leeds United’s form has dipped and the question of whether Leeds have failed to replace Wood and if they will get promoted seems even more prominent than it did back over a month ago.
As of right now Leeds are 6th in the Championship, five places lower than they were when the previous article was written. Leeds have also lost six times since then and won just twice. So, given the very poor form that has ensued Leeds in recent weeks, maybe it is time to revisit if Leeds have replaced Wood?
Currently, Leeds have four players who are primarily strikers. The first, Caleb Ekuban, has played just once in the Championship this season for Leeds and did not score. The second, Pawel Cibicki, has yet to make an appearance for Leeds United in the league. The third, Jay-Roy Grot, has made seven Championship appearances for Leeds. He too has failed to register a goal in the league for Leeds.
Granted he did play two of his games out on the right. But he still made five appearances as a striker, in which he didn’t score. Leeds final striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga is, in fact, the only out and out striker to have scored for Leeds in the league. He has played nine league games for Leeds and has scored five goals making him their joint top scorer.
However, while five in nine seems decent, Lassogga has not been that great since his debut game. It was mentioned in the previous article that Lassogga had scored two in his debut for Leeds against a poor Burton Albion side. And the question was also raised as to whether he could continue this form or if it was just a one-game fluke. As of right now, it looks like the Burton game was more of a one-off for Lassogga.
Because since that Burton game, he has played eight Championship games and scored three. That is by no means a terrible record. But it is certainly not a good enough record for a striker that is trying to lead his team to promotion. It is also not good enough to match Chris Wood’s tally in the previous season. Given that Lassogga was brought in to replace Wood’s goals, you could argue he is failing to do so. And that it has already cost Leeds United as they have now lost six of their last eight league games.
Another big problem Leeds are now facing is their defensive record is getting worse game by game. During the time of writing the previous article, Leeds United had played seven league games and had let in just two goals. An incredibly impressive record that was perhaps hiding the fact that they were somewhat missing Chris Wood’s goals up front.
In the proceeding eight Championship games though, Leeds United’s defence has fallen apart. In these eight games, Leeds United have let in 14 goals. This is an abysmal record compared to their previous seven games where they let in just two.
Their poor defence has no doubt been a big part of why Leeds have slipped down the table. It’s also why Leeds now find themselves nine points off the top of the table. If Leeds had continued with a defensive record similar to the one they had after seven games, then there’s no doubt they would be smashing the league. But given that both their defence is falling apart and they have not replaced Wood well enough, it is hard to see Leeds finishing in the top two anymore.
They do have some top quality players, there is no doubting that. But if Leeds continue on the form they are currently on, it is hard to see them making the playoffs.
Hopefully, the Leeds United fans will smell the coffee this time around and me being a Boro fan will not matter.
