Daniel Feliciano

Tue 14 March 2023 15:10, UK

Simon Jordan believes Leeds United are “not recovering” under Javi Gracia and feels they could get relegated this season, he told talkSPORT.

The Whites fought back from a goal down twice to draw with high-flying Brighton on Saturday (11 March), but slipped down to 19th place in the Premier League as results went against them.

But speaking on talkSPORT (14 March, 12:13) Jordan gave his verdict of the relegation race this season and admitted that while he likes Gracia as a manager the team haven’t responded to him yet and they’re now one of four teams he feels could go down.

“It feels like the bottom three are beginning to become the bottom three,” he said.

“But there’s such a juxtapose week on week.

“I think Southampton are gone. And it’s looking more like, and I made a case for Leeds United but they’re not recovering.

“I like Javi Gracia, I think he’s a decent manager. I think he can consider himself slightly unlucky at Watford but then there are a list of managers who can consider themselves unlucky at Watford.

“I look at that and I say I don’t think Crystal Palace will get sucked back into it. I think Wolves with Lopetegui, he’s just too good a manager. I think Dyche has always been maintained by most of us that he’ll get Everton out of trouble. Moyes I still maintain has enough about him, although I don’t like David’s constant looking back at what they’ve done previously.

“So then you’re left with Brendan (Rodgers) at Leicester, with the bottom three.

“The challenge is that nobody is adrift. Nobody is out of consideration and what you’ve got is a race to the bottom, literally.”

Clock ticking

Leeds have been a team that simply haven’t been able to get results this season, but their performances have deserved more.

Of all 20 teams in the Premier League this season, no team has won fewer games than Leeds so it’s no surprise that there is little belief that we will be able to get out of trouble.

But there is plenty of quality in our squad, in all positions, and there is lots of depth too in case of injuries, suspensions or poor form.

However right now the team isn’t performing to it’s rightful quality and that needs to change, which means Gracia needs to do something different as opposed to just sticking with what hasn’t worked so far.

Leeds can definitely get out of it, but the clock is ticking and time is running out to do so. We have a tough run of fixtures remaining, and something special needs to happen fast to get us out of danger.

In other Leeds news, first-team signing set to be finalised this month with contract negotiations on with La Liga player.