So, Leeds – are they any good? If you are like me, you may have been a bit baffled by Leeds’ results, strolling to a 3-0 victory over Chelsea then getting hammered by Brentford a few weeks later.
They are a few points above us in the table, and this feels like a game Palace need to get something from. So ahead of Sunday’s kick off, I had a chat with lifelong Leeds fan, Ben Bryant to get the inside story.
Q – So Ben, how are you feeling about your start to the season? An electric start but levelled off maybe?
We probably are where we should be. Silly to drop points at Southampton and the Brighton and Brentford results were a bit disappointing – but probably par. Overall, we look better equipped to dig in, but maybe missing something in our attack.
TEB – Is that Bamford?
Bamford is the one player who feels irreplaceable. We have been missing Rodrigo since his injury. But Bamford brings a lot, not just goals but movement and hold up play, when he has played the attack as a whole has looked so much better. The big hope he is able to play some part in this game.
TEB – Have to say I’ve been hugely impressed by Bamford since Leeds came up, I don’t think we saw any of that while he was at Palace, but he definitely creates so much space, in particular for the wide attackers to come into, he’s someone who right now might be perfect for…
Ben- It’s not happening.
Q – Okay, okay, for the season as a whole then, what is the target? Avoid relegation or also something about style?
The big aim would be to have a less stressful season! We never managed to put distance between ourselves and relegation last year. So, a marginally less stressful season where we end somewhere in mid table would be good. The board have mentioned 10th – 14th as the target, and that’s realistically where we should be at.
On style, it’s not been completely convincing. No one expects it to be as aesthetically perfect as peak Bielsa, fans recognise that was a moment in time, but we do need to be a bit less one dimensional.
The first 3-4 games bought Marsch a big amount of goodwill, but since then it hasn’t quite all come together. Hopefully that will come as the newer signings gel and our first-choice attackers come back in together.
Q – Leeds had quite an overhaul in the Summer, which signings have you been most impressed with?
All of them have looked good. Sinisterra has looked special at times, so his suspension feels a shame for the game on Sunday. It hasn’t felt like we’ve had a Raphinha or a Philips sized hole in the squad, so that does say a lot.
Q- On the subject of signings – if I gave you a magic lamp who would you like to sign in January?
(After some negotiation we agreed on 2 signings for the price of one, if not at the elite level).
A striker – we’ve been after Gakpo from PSV for a while, but we maybe missed the boat on that one – so a striker that could replace Bamford and a back-up left back.
Q – Prediction for the game? Where’s it going to be won and lost?
In some ways Palace seem quite well suited to play against us. Attacking in wide areas is an issue for our full backs. Ayling had a big ding dong with Zaha last season and that feels like the type of battle that will decide the result – although unlikely that Ayling will start this time.
Thanks Ben!
