Gary Neville sends Leeds United big relegation warning
Gary Neville has sent Leeds United a major relegation warning, claiming they face being ‘dragged in’ to the bottom three after recent results.
The Whites were handed their third defeat in four games by Manchester United on Sunday, taking them to within five points of the bottom three.
After Burnley picked up a big win over Brighton at the weekend and Watford earned a win against Aston Villa, Neville told his Sky Sports podcast that the resilience of their managers could find the Elland Road club ‘in danger’ come May.
“If they’re [Burnley] to get out of this, then it would mean that a Newcastle, a Brentford, a Leeds will go down. And Everton. I don’t think Everton will but you’re right to include them.
“Irrespective of when you watch Leeds and you think ‘this is a bit of a mess’ at times, you still want to watch them play. I still want to watch Brentford play.
“But Leeds and Brentford are, I think, in danger of getting dragged in by a resilient Roy Hodgson, Sean Dyche. They’ve been round the block, they know how to do it.”
Experience
Neville has got a point. This team have never been involved in a relegation battle in the Premier League and Marcelo Bielsa is hardly the most pragmatic manager in the world.
He plays his way and rarely deviates from that, which could be a big problem if their poor form continues.
They are leaking goals at a shocking rate currently and with fixtures against Liverpool and Man City up next, they could find themselves in the bottom three depending on results.
With several key injuries across their squad and poor form, relegation is a real threat for Leeds. Brentford aren’t in a great spot either, but if Leeds can’t win games then they’ll continue to slide down the table.
There is a very real danger of their Premier League run falling victim to second-season syndrome and coming to an end early, so Bielsa must adapt and ensure that doesn’t happen.
In other Leeds news, ‘Should be thanking me’ – Rio Ferdinand drops crazy Leeds transfer view on YouTube