Leeds United will qualify for Europe this season, is what I would say if I hadn’t supported them long enough to know that when things are going well – chaos is never usually far around the corner.
‘Second season syndrome’ in the Premier League is a popular theory that proposes newly-promoted clubs suffer a sharp decline in their second year, often leading to relegation.
So, should Daniel Farke’s players be looking over their shoulder? No, I don’t think so. In fact, other teams should maybe be looking over their own shoulder at Leeds.
Not only have they impressed in pre-season, but the transfer window too, signing Harry Wilson on a free – with 17 goal contributions in the Premier League last season) – and Tarik Muharemovic for £34.1m – a 6ft 4in centre-half whose ball-playing composure was on show at Juventus. If that wasn’t enough, Leeds acquired England’s next number one in James Trafford in a deal worth up to £45m. He’s the Championship record holder for most consecutive clean sheets (12) and won a double at Manchester City last season.
Along with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin – this astute business has in my opinion made the Whites strong enough to be looking up, rather than down.
Leeds United will again survive in the Premier League this season, that I will confidently say. Europe? Well, we can dream. I’ve got us as strong outsiders.
