Well, what a season that was! I’ve got to admit; when we got into November, I was frustrated but I hadn’t given up.
The fact is that, I think we had been really unlucky. We were playing good football, creating chances and even scoring goals.
But, it was the same old story really; Similarly to our previous Premier League campaigns – we struggled at times to contain top flight opposition.
What l always thought was obvious is that Daniel Farke appeared to be trying to solve this problem.
There were many occasions when I thought that he was pensive; either in post-match interviews or while on the touchline.
I’ve got to admit, that after the first 20 minutes of the Manchester City match, I was a bit deflated, despite predicting that we would get something during that particular week. It was a seven day period that saw us host Chelsea and Liverpool, thereafter.
Though, wow. That second half. Obviously, this was something Farke had in his locker and to the lads’ credit we executed our tactical switch to perfection.
Essentially, it was the turning point in our season and one that, very nearly saw us pick up a point at the Etihad Stadium after coming from 2-0 down at half time. Until Phil Foden’s strike in the closing seconds, we even had a chance to win it.
All it took to transform our season was a tactical tweak from a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 to a 3-5-2/3-4-2-1. Either way, playing with three centre-backs and wing-backs clearly made the difference.
A sensational night at Elland Road saw us then beat Chelsea 3-1, followed by another evening at home to Liverpool, with Ao Tanaka scoring a sensational last minute equaliser to make it 3-3 and four points (nearly five) against three of the division’s best teams (on paper).
How Tactical Pragmatism Saved Our Season
Essentially, our season started with Farke’s masterstroke, strategic system switch.
The contrast in such a short space of time was quite incredible. We looked impenetrable; the addition of new signing, Jaka Bijol, who I was personally delighted to see us sign, at the heart of defence gave us that added security and physical presence.
It also freed up the energetic duo of Gabriel Gudmundssson (for me, a contender for our Player of the Season) and Jayden Bogle on the right to offer more of an attacking threat. With Ethan Ampadu also shielding our back three, it appeared that, suddenly, we had found the balance we needed all season.
The increased natural width which provided more permanence, combined with a hardworking attacking trio that included a fit again and rejuvenated Dominic Calvert-Lewin acting as a focal point, I thought made us one of the trickiest teams to play against in the country.
When a tough Crystal Palace side came a-calling in mid-December, by this point, we had reached three games unbeaten, following a commendable 1-1 draw away at Brentford and, I thought it would be a good test of how far we had come.
It Christmas had come early 17 days earlier against Chelsea, then this game rolled two into one. A 4-1 demolition, I thought was a major statement of intent.
An in-form Calvert-Lewin bagged a brace, Ampadu grabbed one and an increasingly important Anton Stach hit one on 101 minutes to round off the scoring.
Stach, I think, suits this system brilliantly. His role is essentially, the all-action, box-to-box number eight and he’s a force to be reckoned with. Having arrived for £17 million last summer, I think the German’s value has probably doubled at least and we have someone who can rifle a shot from distance. And, a free-kick specialist to boot.
Our unbeaten run lasted just over a month and to be honest, I along with probably every other fan still doesn’t know how we lost at Newcastle. At 3-2 up with minutes to go, in what was a superb performance, I honestly thought it was in the bag. Two lapses in concentration right at the end, but, what an effort!
The Resurgence Of Calvert-Lewin And How Pivotal His Role Became
After we brought in the striker last summer, I got the general feeling among fans that this was somewhat of an underwhelming signing.
On a free transfer, following an injury-ravaged and frustrating couple of campaigns for Everton, it is obvious that Farke saw something.
Admittedly, he did struggle to settle in at first, though Calvert-Lewin, was arguably the chief beneficiary of our system change.
He made an immediate impact in that game against City, with Lukas Nmecha (another free signing) for company in attack.
Until this game, he had scored just once in his first 10 appearances for us and I think many fans were starting to lose patience.
What came next elevated his status as he propelled himself into one of the most in-form strikers in Europe.
Going on a run of scoring in six consecutive games; the first Leeds United player to do so since John McCole in the 1959/60 season, he became one of our most important players, almost overnight. It wasn’t a coincidence that this also occurred during our seven game unbeaten run.
The more I watched him, the more impressed I was and, barring a dry spell, that coincided with our slight wobble, he soon rediscovered his form during our last few games.
What I think impressed me, was not only his clinical finishing, but also the obvious aerial threat is high enhanced his hold-up play.
How contributions transformed the efficiency of our supply line and allowed Noah Okafor (another brilliant signing), to flourish in the space that was created on the transition. As a result, the Switzerland international hit eight goals while providing a reliable target for Brenden Aaronson’s secondary pressing runs.
The fact that he scored 14 goals in the league (15 in total), I think underlines just how important he was for us and the fact that he cost is nothing was even more impressive.
Our Wembley Detour And Lessons Of April
Do I think our FA Cup run was a distraction? No, definitely not. What a bonus that was in our first season back!
It’s not like Farke didn’t rotate and, I don’t personally think it was to blame for our slight league slump either.
To get to an FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1987 was undoubtedly a momentous occasion for fans of a certain age and for me it was great to see.
Granted, on the day we didn’t turn up and were perhaps too cautious but I’m not disappointed in the grand scheme of things.
Afterall, we had taken four points off Chelsea in the league and they had just sacked manager Liam Rosenior merely days earlier, so this likely had an effect.
What I think we learned about the squad during April though, was that we have remarkable resilience.
Going into the game at Old Trafford, I think I was probably the only fan who thought we could get three points and, to be honest, we should have been four or five ahead by half-time.
Okafor came to life, really showcasing his potential on one of the most iconic stages in football. His two first-half goals really demonstrated the kind of footballing intelligence we need.
It of course did wonders for his confidence and he then went on a run which tallied five goals in five appearances.
Our game away at Bournemouth really typified our season I thought. Against a great side, we matched them and Sean Longstaff’s dramatic, last-ditch strike rescued a point in a game where we simply refused to be beaten.
I was happy when we signed Longstaff because I knew he would offer valuable experience and I think that goal alone justified his £10 million fee, with our Premier League status still not confirmed.
A high pressure match at home against relegation rivals Burnley under the lights could have gone either way. Although they beat us at their place in November (for me, our worst performance of the season), I don’t think there was any reason to be worried.
Full of confidence by this point, it was Stach who settled nerves early with a trademark long-range strike. Calvert-Lewin’s genius back-heel to Bogle was, I think part of one of the best counter-attacking goals of the season, with his inch-perfect cross then met brilliantly by Okafor, before Calvert-Lewin rounded off our scoring. A late consolation mattered little. We were safe and could focus on our summer.
