Leeds United have made a steady start to life back in the Premier League. They have eight points from the opening seven games and sit 15th in the early-season league table.
The Whites have looked more resilient and competitive than most other promoted teams from recent years, and should be higher in the Premier League standings if their results matched their underlying metrics.
Leeds are performing like a top-five side at this stage of the season, and they are being backed to buck the trend of promoted teams going straight back down in their first season back in the Premier League.
Their early-season performances, coupled with Sunderland’s start to the season, have shaken up the rest of the Premier League as more established teams deal with the threat of getting relegated from the top flight.
Leeds United are causing panic at Premier League boardrooms – Roy Keane
Nottingham Forest are considering sacking Ange Postecoglou, weeks after bringing him in to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, and Roy Keane conceded that it is the impact Leeds and other promoted teams are having on other clubs.
He feels the pressure on Premier League managers has doubled this season due to the performances of the promoted teams, who seem to have a good chance of surviving, unlike others in recent years.
The former midfielder believes Leeds and the promoted teams have caused more panic than usual at other established Premier League teams such as Forest and Brentford.
“The pressure of the Premier League is extreme on a manager, whether that be the top or the bottom”, Keane said on Stick To Football.
“We have to watch in the next few months as the promoted teams look like they have a chance.
“In the last few years, everyone was thinking they would go back down.
“Definitely more panic at clubs such as Forest or Brentford.”
No complacency in the Premier League this season
Leeds, Sunderland, and to some extent, Burnley, have made sure that the established Premier League sides have no room for complacency this season.
The poor quality of the promoted teams in recent years has allowed some average Premier League teams and managers room to be poor without consequences.
However, as Brentford, West Ham and Nottingham Forest are finding out this season that if they do not step up, Leeds and Sunderland will make them pay.
The threat of relegation this season is real because of the quality of the promoted teams, and this is what is leading to panic in some Premier League boardrooms.
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