Last season, Leeds United had one of the best attacks in the Championship on their way to Premier League promotion. Daniel Farke was able to bring the best out of the group of players despite losing some stars in the summer.
Hitting 100 points in the Championship is a rare feat, but Leeds were able to do that last season. A key part of Farke’s tactics was wingplay; a lot of the attack revolved around the wingers and fullbacks that season. Manor Solomon and Dan James were clinical in front of goal, with Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo on the overlap.
This past summer saw Firpo leave the club at the end of his contract, leaving the Whites without a first choice left back. Gabriel Gudmundsson arrived for £10 million in the summer from Lille in Ligue 1.
Leeds United legend praises Gabriel Gudmundsson
The Swedish international has been one of the better signings the club made this summer; he has fit into the first team effortlessly. Many around the club were surprised about how they got a player with such quality for a low fee. Tony Dorigo has been speaking about the impact of Gudmundsson in the team this season, referencing people comparing the 26-year old to Dorigo in his prime at the club.
“He’s tenacious defensively, which I was, and I’d love to get forward and deliver those crosses and that’s what Gabi does as well,” he said to Leeds Live.
“I just think left-back has been a problem position throughout the years, it hasn’t been one that we’ve had plentiful players that you could reel off – which is why with someone like Gabi popping up it’s like ‘oh great, at last’.”
“Junior Firpo certainly was fantastic in the Championship, getting forward and what he did there was tremendous. But in the Premier League we needed something different.
“We also needed someone that can really defend against the best wingers in the Premier League but also gives us that impetus going forward and Gabi can do both. I think he’s doing great.”
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49ers recruitment has been impressive
Leeds spent much less than most of the clubs in the Premier League this season, yet find themselves ahead of these big spenders. The Whites are currently in 15th place above West Ham, Spurs and Forest, who splashed the cash in the summer and winter transfer windows. The 49ers were able to get key signings through the door who could contribute to the club immediately – and the results show. Without the likes of Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the team would be worse off. Fans were disappointed about the lack of big names, but now, the signings have proved their worth.
