The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Wednesday 25th February) Will avoiding the drop match Bielsa's top half finish
Will avoiding the drop match Bielsa's top half finish
There are some uncanny resemblances between Leeds United present predicament, and that of their 2021‑22 campaign, where Marcelo Bielsa’s babes shocked the league by finishing ninth with 59 points. Back then, after 27 matches the Whites had amassed 35 points from an eye‑catching 11 wins, only two draws and 14 defeats, scoring 43 and leaking 46. Fast‑forward four seasons, and Daniel Farke’s men sit just four points shy of that tally, 31 points from the same number of games, yet the complexion of those numbers tells a different story.
Leeds have lost four games fewer than Bielsa’s side, and the defensive record is identical: 46 goals conceded. They have, however, found the net six times less often (37 goals). The real divergence lies in the draws. Bielsa’s squad drew merely twice, whereas under Farke the Whites have drawn ten times, only Bournemouth have drawn more. Those extra stalemates hide a string of cruel fine margins: eight points have slipped away in stoppage‑time alone, with late goals against Fulham, Bournemouth, Manchester City and two heart-breaking strikes at Newcastle. Had those points been secured, Leeds would have vaulted into eighth place.
Beyond the statistics, the spirit on the pitch remains unmistakably Leeds. The camaraderie and fighting resolve that defined the Bielsa era are alive and well under Farke; every player throws himself into every contest, giving 110 % in a battle that feels all too familiar. If Leeds avoid the drop, how will the achievement be compared to that of the top half finish four seasons ago?
Leeds set‑piece surge: Only Newcastle and Arsenal have scored more
When the season began, Leeds United were heavily criticised by for being one of only three top flight outfits not to have a specialist set‑piece coach. Instead, assistant manager Edmund Riemer was handed the reins, supported by two former development‑team coaches. Critics scoffed, but the gamble is now paying off in spades.
The club’s summer transfer window was a clear statement of intent: bring in aerial muscle. Dominic Calvert‑Lewin, Jaka Bijol, Anton Stach and Sebastiaan Bornauw bolstered a line-up that carry significant presence every time to go up for a corner of free kick. The results speak for themselves. Leeds have struck 13 times from set‑pieces this campaign, only Newcastle United and Arsenal have better tallies. Even more impressive, ten of those goals have come at Elland Road, topping the home stats.
Out of Leeds’ 37 total goals, 19 have come from open play (ranking 11th in the league), while the team has managed just one counter‑attack goal (16th). They average 12.3 shots per game (11th) and sit with an expected‑goals (xG) of 43.26 (10th), roughly 1.6 goals per match. So while the pundits may still grumble about the lack of a “set‑piece guru”, the Whites are rewriting the narrative: a blend of physical recruiting, clever coaching tweaks, and relentless rehearsal has turned Leeds into a set‑piece powerhouse – and the rest of the league is taking notice.