Leeds United produced another masterclass away performance on Tuesday night to hammer Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road. The result put Leeds five points clear at the top of the Championship standings and a step closer to securing automatic promotion to the Premier League. Daniel James, Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon got on the scoresheet as another clinical attacking display was on show from the Whites. However, from the commentary gantry, the Leeds fans were called out for some of the harsh criticism they have meted out on a player who has been a pivotal cog in Daniel Farke’s well-oiled machine.
The Yorkshire giants seem to be on a rapid march towards ensuring they are back in the Premier League by the time the new season in England starts in August.
Leeds United have built a considerable buffer over teams outside the top two and given how the season has shaped up, the Whites now have a bigger margin for error than one would have thought even a few weeks back.
The Whites have had several players who have stepped up to the plate this season to ensure that they didn’t miss the trio of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Geoerginio Rutter who left the club last summer.
Leeds have one of the most knowledgable fanbases and while patience may sometimes run thin on the stands, they know how to support their players on the pitch.
However, former Scotland star Chris Iwelumo picked out the Whites fans for some criticism for the way they have been at the back of one of the most important players in the team – Brenden Aaronson.
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Aaronson divides opinions at Leeds but he seems to have the ironclad trust of Daniel Farke who has started him in 30 straight Championship games this season.
He has scored eight goals this season for the Whites and appears to be one of the players who is more or less undroppable when he is fit and ready to play.
His importance has grown over the course of the season and he has been a big part of the reason why Leeds appear to be on their way to earning promotion to the Premier League.
However, he is yet to completely win over the Leeds fans and Iwelumo conceded that he doesn’t understand why as he has been a brilliant player for the Whites this season.
The former Scotland star believes Leeds fans need to give Aaronson his flowers for the way he has performed at a certain level consistently this term.
“I look at Aaronson this season, I think he has been fantastic”, Iwelumo said on commentary.
“There is a minority of Leeds fans who still aren’t having him, but I just don’t see it. I see a phenomenal little player who provides a lot for this team.
“He has a lot of quality on the ball and he has contributed with goals and assists all season. He is great in the role he plays and deserves more credit.”
Leeds fans have reasons to be harsher towards Aaronson
The United States international was a marquee signing for Leeds in 2023 but was one of the worst players in the team that got relegated from the Premier League.
He struggled physically in the top flight and while being the number 10 in the team, he struggled to score or create goals and played a role in Leeds sliding down to the Championship.
Following relegation, he was one of the players who opted for the escape route of a loan move to Union Berlin. A poor season in Germany meant he was back at Leeds last summer.
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The midfielder agreed to stay on at Leeds and try and help them earn promotion but for some fans, he was the player who was poor in the Premier League and then ran away from Elland Road.
Aaronson’s struggles against more physically robust teams are well-documented and there are question marks on whether he will again flatter to deceive in the Premier League if Leeds go up.
Yes, he has been a key player for Leeds this season but the supporters have enough reasons to remain sceptical about the player.
