The Leeds United recruitment team, led by sporting director Adam Underwood, came under some fire following a summer where many fans felt that the spending was not adequate to survive in the Premier League. However, their decision-making process has been vindicated by a steady start to life back in the top flight.
Leeds have gambled on the fitness of some of their new signings, but more importantly, the club focused on players who are going to take Leeds to the next level and help them survive in the Premier League.
Survival is the priority, and that reflected on the club’s recruitment, where they were keen to raise the physical floor of the squad by adding strong players who were not going to get bullied in the Premier League, which has been a problem for promoted teams in recent years.
Sean Longstaff is the personification of the kind of players Leeds signed – strong, physical players who are going to be a real presence in the team, and he came with the bonus of Premier League experience.
Leeds United have hit gold with the Sean Longstaff signing
Longstaff was initially on the bench at the start of the season. However, Ao Tanaka’s injury just before the September international break meant that the midfielder made his debut against his former side Newcastle in a 0-0 draw at Elland Road.
He produced a bruising midfield performance to help the Whites earn a point, immediately after a 5-0 trouncing against Arsenal at the Emirates.
The performance against Newcastle convinced many that Leeds could be one of the toughest teams to face this season, and Longstaff has not looked back since then.
The 27-year-old midfielder is now one of the first names on Daniel Farke’s team sheet, and he has been hailed as a leader both on and off the pitch at Leeds.
Longstaff’s tough tackling and physical nature have become one of the focal points of how Leeds want to play against some of the better teams in the league.
He has already scored his first goal for Leeds, and his set-piece deliveries have been top-notch as well. However, it is his physicality in the middle that Leeds signed him for.
Longstaff dominates the middle of the park
One of the features of the Leeds midfielder is his ability to win individual battles in the middle of the park, which has allowed the team to remain solid and compact.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola admitted after his side’s 2-2 draw at Elland Road that his side could not cope with the physicality Leeds brought to the table.
Longstaff has made Leeds horrible to play against as he is winning his duels and is not allowing teams to have any peace when they are in possession.
He is coming out on top in most one-on-one battles and has been constantly winning back possession for his team in midfield, which has been crucial.
Longstaff is making the Leeds midfield tick alongside Anton Stach and club captain Ethan Ampadu, and has formed a strong connection with his teammates.
Even if Farke wants to make a change to his midfield, it is unlikely that Longstaff will go out of the team anytime soon.
Can you name these 10 former Leeds United midfielders?
