Graham Smyth sends brutal jibe to Leeds United board after ‘toothless’ loss v Chelsea
Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth has taken aim at the Leeds United board for their inadequate recruitment since the club’s stellar first season in the top flight.
Smyth branded Leeds United as “toothless” following the club’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 4 March, a loss which saw the Whites slip further into a relegation battle.
The journalist confessed that every event that has taken place since Leeds disrupted the English top flight with a 10th-placed finish has shed a dim light on decision-making at the club.
“Taking chances and seizing the moment when it arrives is not just an on-field issue for Leeds. It’s plain now that the club did not capitalise on such a stellar first season in the top flight with adequate recruitment,” said Smyth as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post. (5 March)
“Everything that has followed since they disrupted the natural order with a top 10 finish has shed a dim light on decision making, whether that’s squad building, the timing of managerial change, the identifying of Jesse Marsch as Marcelo Bielsa’s natural successor or the level of time and investment devoted to the American and his style of football.
“Running a football club is easy in hindsight, of course, but when results are the proving ground for all your decisions then this is the music you have no choice but to face. The tune that played out in the second half at Stamford Bridge was a familiar one, an opponent requiring just one goal to beat Leeds for the sixth time this season. Where others have been clinical, Leeds have been toothless.”
Sketchy stuff.
It’s a sketchy old road ahead for Leeds United right now with teams in and around the Whites pulling out wins in their bids for Premier League survival.
The relegation battle has never been tighter and it looks like it could be another anxious second half to the season for Javi Gracia’s men.
A Chelsea side low on confidence was a golden opportunity for Leeds to get some points on the board, however, the West Yorkshire faithful were left disappointed yet again.
Winning at Stamford Bridge is always a tough ask but Gracia needs to find ways to gather some points for this Leeds team and it must happen fast.
Games against Brighton, Wolves, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are up next for Leeds with the harsh and cruel Premier League calendar handing Gracia zero favours.
Gracia has definitely brought some calmness to the madness surrounding Elland Road, fans will be praying that he can deliver some results in the coming weeks.
In other Leeds United news, Andrea Radrizzani and Angus Kinnear have both proven they live in fantasy land at this club with what they’ve done now.
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