Leeds United season verdicts, who excelled and who struggled | OneFootball

Leeds United finished 14th, eight points clear and safe with three to spare. Operations and recruitment held up, and Daniel Farke’s turnaround drew credit. Here are the squad verdicts.

Leeds Live notes 24 players featured. Illan Meslier and Alex Cairns did not play, while season-long loanees and bench-only youngsters are excluded. Jack Harrison is included after minutes before his January move to Fiorentina.

Lucas Perri’s early errors, notably against Manchester United and Newcastle United, prompted Karl Darlow’s promotion. Perri did not feature again in the league but starred in FA Cup shoot-outs, while Darlow steadied the role.

A back three suited Pascal Struijk, who started 33 league games, and Jaka Bijol, strongest in the middle. Joe Rodon was dependable and scored two, while Gabriel Gudmundsson impressed and James Justin’s intelligence, versatility and three goals stood out.

Ethan Ampadu, the players’ and club player of the year, set the tempo with leadership and long throws. Anton Stach’s set-pieces and carrying impressed, and Ilia Gruev excelled across 11 straight starts before a knee meniscus injury, while Sean Longstaff’s minutes waned.

Harrison’s reintegration faltered, Ao Tanaka finished strongly after a lean spell, and Brenden Aaronson’s winter burst, three goals and an assist in 10 days, ebbed. Noah Okafor struck an Old Trafford brace and six in his final seven league games, Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit 15, and Joel Piroe’s bit-part year proved his last in a Leeds shirt.

Source: Leeds Live