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Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Leeds' strategy for staying in the Premier League? Sign massive men
The Premier League is in danger of becoming a closed shop. In the past two seasons, each team that has been promoted from the Championship has gone straight back down. So, despite Leeds United storming England's second-tier with 100 points, they have ripped up their tactics and formation in a radical effort to stay up. The Yorkshire club have brought in seven signings so far and there is a recurring theme: all of them are, quite simply, massive men. Land of the giants With an average height of 6ft 2in and a similar age profile – five are 26, two are 27 – Leeds 's recruitment so far has clearly been focused on strengthening the central defence and midfield as they seek to meet the physical demands of the Premier League. 'The top level is more physical,' Daniel Farke explained. 'It's never easy and the game is quicker and there's more intensity and there are always question marks for all the players who have never played there, it's always up to them to prove their worth on this level.' The spine of their new-look team includes Anton Stach, a 6ft 4in defensive midfielder acquired from Hoffenheim for £17.4m, Jaka Bijol, a centre-back bought from Udinese for £15m who is relatively diminutive at 6ft 3in, and, towering over them all, Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Perri, a 6ft 5in behemoth in between the sticks brought in to replace the gaffe-prone Illan Meslier, who was dropped for the run-in at the end of last season. Correcting past mistakes Leeds were last promoted five years ago in what was their first season back after a 16-year wait for Premier League football. It was a spectacularly chaotic ride to ninth under the enigmatic Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa but, as injuries hit and signings faltered, Bielsa's strategy of all-out attack sent them into a spiral. A succession of managers tried and failed to right the ship, with American coach Jesse Marsch, former Wolves manager Javi Gracia and, in a last throw of the dice, Sam Allardyce, all failing to keep them in the top flight. Leeds conceded 157 goals in their final two Premier League seasons, including breaking their own record for most goals conceded in a calendar month (23 in April 2023). Determined to be more solid this time around, Farke has tweaked Leeds's formation from last year's Championship-winning 4-2-3-1, to a more defensively solid 4-3-3. The plan seems to be to fill the centre of the pitch with players adept at making tackles and interceptions which will force opposition teams to play in the wide areas. Then they plan to stop the inevitable crosses by packing the penalty area with their cadre of giants. Set-pieces Goals from dead-ball situations have become vital for survival in the Premier League, especially for teams who have less possession than their rivals. The bottom five clubs for possession in England's top tier last season were Ipswich (40.6 per cent), Everton (40.9 per cent), Nottingham Forest (41.2 per cent), Crystal Palace (42.8 per cent) and Leicester (45.4 per cent). The only clubs to survive from that group placed in the top five in the league for set-piece goals: Palace (top with 15 goals), Everton (third with 13) and Forest (fifth with 12). Goals from corners and free-kicks were so important to Crystal Palace that they comprised 36.6 per cent of Palace's goals, while 38.2 per cent of Everton's goals came from set-pieces. While last year's relegated teams were noticeably poor at conceding from crosses (top three), headed goals (three of the top five); and from corners and set-pieces (two of the top three). Both attacking and defensive set-pieces have been weaknesses of Leeds under Farke. Despite scoring a whopping 95 goals last term, only 13 per cent of them were from corners or free-kicks (12) while 33 per cent of their conceded goals came from dead-ball situations (10). Farke's first season was actually worse for set-piece goals and corners in particular, with Leeds taking 222 goalless corners between 23 December 2023 and 18 October 2024. Leeds's best set-piece taker, Joe Rothwell, left the club over the summer and will undoubtedly leave a void in that area. But with plenty of targets to hit in the box, Leeds are hoping to make this a strength this season. New-look midfield The Yorkshire club's engine room in the centre of midfield comprises club-captain Ethan Ampadu and new signings Sean Longstaff and Stach. Switching from a creative No 10 in USA international Brenden Aaronson to a roaming No 8 in Longstaff is, in part, a practical acknowledgement that Leeds will enjoy less possession than they did in the Championship. But Longstaff also brings something the club did not have much of the last time they came up: Premier League experience. It is expected that Longstaff and Stach will be Leeds's attack dogs in the centre of the park, driving the opposition out wide by cutting off the passing lanes in the middle while Ampadu acts as the anchor and backstop behind them. Aerial duels If Leeds's strategy pays off, opposition teams will be forced to put crosses into the box and their recruitment team have not just brought in tall players, they have brought in players who have a track record of winning aerial duels such as new signings Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Stach. Across Europe's top five leagues, they all score in the 88th percentile or higher for their position in the metric 'aerial duels won' – which basically means they love a header. Bornauw, another 6ft 3in defender, has gone under the radar compared to other Leeds signings but he is one of the most attacking centre-backs in Europe and the hope is he will be a major goal threat from set-pieces late in games. Last piece of the puzzle If the defensive foundation of the team has been built, in attack, Farke feels Leeds are still not quite ready for the Premier League. 'We have lost one of our main threats with Manor Solomon and didn't have any additions so far up front,' Farke conceded last weekend. If Leeds can secure the final piece of the puzzle in one, or perhaps two, signings for the forward line and with their abundantly clear strategy in place for defence and midfield, they could well be the best-placed of any of the promoted teams to stay in the top flight.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Premier League: The best £4m players in FPL
Balancing your budget is a crucial part of success in Fantasy Premier League. FPL managers will need the right mix of bargain budgets and expensive assets for a successful season and there are some interesting picks in the former category. The lowest-priced players are £4m and we've picked out some to consider for your squad. Fantasy Premier League: The best £4m options in FPL Maxime Esteve – Burnley There are not many £4m options that are certain starters, but Maxime Esteve fits that brief. After.a tricky introduction to the Premier League at Burnley, the 23-year-old has benefitted from a season in the second tier. Esteve was named in the Championship Team of the Season as Burnley were promoted with a Football League record of just 16 goals conceded. He also ranked ninth in the Championship for blocks and is expected to be far busier this season. The new bonus points for defensive actions could help his points total. In 2025/26, any defender who reaches a combined total of 10 clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles (CBIT) in a match will score two FPL points. Jaka Bijol – Leeds Leeds have spent around €21m to sign Jaka Bijol from Udinese, with the defender arriving to shore up Daniel Farke's defence. A no-nonsense centre-back, Bijol ranked among Serie A's top players for clearances (4th) having racked up a monstrous 182 last season. He was also fifth for aerial duels won (109). FPL managers should be aware that Bijol is suspended for gameweek one, due to his Serie A high of 13 yellow cards last season. Aaron Hickey – Brentford Aaron Hickey's price tag has plummeted after two injury-ravaged seasons. The Brentford full-back featured for just 123 minutes due to two hamstring surgeries. In 2022/23, the Scot had impressed as a flying full-back option and will be keen to make up for lost time this season. Such was his impact that season, former Brentford boss Thomas Frank was forced to shutdown transfer links to Manchester City. Martin Dubravka – Newcastle Martin Dubravka should be added to the watch list for FPL bosses. Currently third-choice goalkeeper at Newcastle, the Slovakian shot-stopper is in talks over a £2m move to Burnley. Dubravka is being targeted as an experienced option to replace James Trafford and could become the only £4m goalkeeper with a first-choice role. Read – See more – Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: | | | |
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds United new boy Jaka Bijol on the Premier League, a busy summer, and the Tour de France
Finding common interests with new colleagues is a crucial step in your integration with a new workplace. Jaka Bijol may have found that with Illan Meslier as he huddled around his phone on the team bus in the past few days. The Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious event, is currently unfolding around Meslier's home country. And not one, but two of cycling's greatest competitors are both from Slovenia, Bijol's home country. Advertisement Slovenia has a population of 2.1 million people, which is equivalent to Paris, but despite that tiny base, the country has caught lightning in a bottle twice, in the same era. Primoz Roglic, 35, has never won the Tour de France, but does have five titles across the sport's other two biggest events. Tadej Pogacar, meanwhile, may be 26, but he is already en route to his fourth Tour crown this month. The Slovenian is considered by many to already be the greatest cyclist in history. Is it any wonder Bijol, his compatriot, devours every stage of the great race when he can? 'I started watching with Primoz's successes,' he says. 'I would say it's maybe six or seven years. It grew from there. When Tadej was coming up it was hard for some Slovenians, who love Primoz, to accept. 'With Tadej, everything seems so easy — I would say he's the greatest in history. You see he loves what he does and everyone else respects him a lot.' Bijol is speaking to The Athletic after a morning of training in Germany, where Daniel Farke has taken Leeds United for a pre-season training camp. Unlike a nine-month football season, the Tour is only on for three weeks every year, so fans have to be committed to watching every day. Around Saturday's friendly with Manchester United, Bijol watched what he could. He doesn't think many of his team-mates understand the tactics of the sport, but Meslier took an interest when he saw the defender watching a stage on the team bus. 'When we played Man United, it was a big stage (in the Tour) as well,' he said. 'I watched it a little bit before and then I watched it at the end, after the game. I try to watch it for sure. 'You have to focus before the game, but for sure, I watch it every day when I can. For some, it's weird because they don't understand all the tactics and everything, but really, it's not more than (the tactics) in football.' Advertisement Bijol's been grafting with the rest of the team in Germany, having made his club debut on Saturday, but in the knowledge he won't make his competitive debut in next season's opener. When Everton visit on August 18, the centre-back will be suspended. In his final appearance for Udinese, Bijol received two yellow cards and was sent off. It may have happened in Serie A, but he and the club discovered last week he will still serve the suspension in the Premier League. 'Honestly, it's really disappointing for me because I really thought it wouldn't (carry over) — and it also wasn't even a red card, I would say,' he says. 'It's kind of crazy. I asked if we can do something about it, but it looks like I just have to accept it. 'There's still a lot of games left in the season. I'm sad to miss the first one, but there's going to be a lot of them left.' Bijol was the second of the club's new signings this summer. His transfer was announced on June 23. His Instagram account would show you he married his wife, Neza, on June 14. It's fair to say it's been a life-changing summer break for the 26-year-old. A career-defining transfer worth millions of pounds and a move to the UK cannot have been the easiest preparation ahead of the most important day of his and his wife's lives. 'It worked actually quite OK together,' he said. 'It's still a lot of stress in those few days. For sure, my wife was not so happy. 'It took a little bit of focus out of the wedding, but everything worked out really good. We managed to do that first and then focus on the transfer as well. It all turned out good, so I'm happy about it.' Bijol forms one quarter of what, on paper, looks like a formidable collection of Leeds centre backs. Vice-captain Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon and fellow new arrival Sebastiaan Bornauw will all back themselves to be worthy of Premier League starts next term. Bijol came to West Yorkshire looking for a challenge like this. He sees the potential in Leeds and, though he admits he did not intimately know the club's history, he sees everything a footballer could want from this corner of the world. 'I didn't know a lot about Leeds, but I knew the basic stuff,' he said. 'It's a really big team, a successful team in the past that had some really good years, now recent years as well, of course, a relegation, but we know it's the hardest league in the world. Advertisement 'They're growing, they have a good vision now with the owners, with everyone inside the team. I see it as the club really has a lot of potential to grow still. 'The fanbase and everything around is the club is everything a footballer can wish for. It's a big challenge.' Top photo:
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Leeds United hit with shock suspension news for Everton Premier League opener
Leeds United will be without their biggest signing of the summer so far when they host Everton on the opening weekend of the season. The Blues begin their campaign with a trip to Elland Road on Monday, August 18 in what should be an intriguing encounter with the newly-promoted Whites. The Championship winners will be unable to name new centre back Jaka Bijol as they bid to consolidate their Premier League status, however, after the club were informed he must serve a suspension handed to him with his former club, Udinese. A £15m recruit from Serie A, Bijol joined Leeds in June and is expected to be central to the plans of manager Daniel Farke. READ MORE: Charlie Adam names 'biggest challenge' as he reflects on Everton set-piece struggles READ MORE: Everton launch new 2025-26 away kit inspired by Hill Dickinson Stadium heritage According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Farke will have to start the season without his new man, though, after the Slovenia international was told the suspension he should have incurred for a red card on the final game of last season in Italy must be carried over to the Premier League. Bijol was shown two yellow cards in the first half of Udinese's 3-2 home defeat to Fiorentina - the late winner being scored by former Everton striker Moise Kean. The 26-year-old appeared unaware that sending off would have implications at his new club. Upon joining Leeds, he told the club's LUTV channel that he was "excited" about the prospect of getting his first minutes against the Blues. The confusion has shades of the last time Everton visited Elland Road, back in August 2022 under Frank Lampard. New signing Neal Maupay was forced to miss that game because of a quirk in the Premier League rules - but the Blues only discovered he was ineligible late in their preparations for the game. League rules state a new player must be registered by midday on the last working day before a fixture. With Maupay signed on the previous Friday afternoon that left him unable to make his debut at Brentford the following day. The club had anticipated he would, therefore, be able to start his ill-feted Blues career at Leeds the following Tuesday - only to find out he could not because the Monday was a bank holiday and not considered a working day by the league.
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds' new signing Jaka Bijol suspended for Premier League opener
Leeds United will be without their £15million ($20.1m) centre-back Jaka Bijol for the first game of the upcoming Premier League season. The former Udinese defender will serve a one-match suspension for the red card he received in his final Serie A fixture last season. Bijol started the match against Fiorentina as captain on May 25, but he would not last beyond the 39th minute. The 26-year-old was booked in the ninth minute, but that did not deter him from a full-blooded challenge in the 39th minute. Advertisement Udinese were leading 1-0 through Lorenzo Lucca when Bijol found himself venturing upfield. The Slovenian went to ground and cleanly got a boot to the ball in the final third. Unfortunately for him, referee Matteo Marcenaro was not happy. As Bijol stretched for the ball, his momentum carried him through opponent Pablo Mari, who was upended after the ball had been pushed away. He received his second yellow card and was off before half-time. Leeds were aware of the red card when they made the move for Bijol, but it was unclear whether the suspension would carry over from Serie A into the Premier League. That was clarified for the club this week and he will now have to wait for his debut until Arsenal, on August 23, at the earliest. It leaves Daniel Farke, as it stands, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Sebastiaan Bornauw as his recognised centre-back options for the Everton game on August 18. (Jure Makovec/AFP via Getty Images)
