Speaking after the defeat at Arsenal, he said: "Those promoted teams will be looking at West Ham and thinking, we can finish above them. On that showing tonight, those teams will believe that they will finish above them. The three sides that have come up are going to do much better than last season. Leeds just found out today that you don’t have the time on the ball you get in the Championship. You don’t get as much time in the Premier League. But they won’t be too worried, these games don’t define their season.”placeholder image
Speaking after the defeat at Arsenal, he said: "Those promoted teams will be looking at West Ham and thinking, we can finish above them. On that showing tonight, those teams will believe that they will finish above them. The three sides that have come up are going to do much better than last season. Leeds just found out today that you don’t have the time on the ball you get in the Championship. You don’t get as much time in the Premier League. But they won’t be too worried, these games don’t define their season.” | Getty Images

What pundits and opposition managers are saying about Leeds United this season

Mark Carruthers
By Mark Carruthers

Football writer

Published 16th Sep 2025, 19:30 GMT

Everyone has had their say on how Leeds United are performing on and off the pitch this season.

It has been a month of contrasting fortunes for Leeds United after they struggled to find consistency in the opening weeks of the new Premier League season.

With the distraction of what became a hectic summer transfer window rumbling on in the background, the Whites endured mixed fortunes during the opening weeks of the campaign with a heartening home win against Everton followed by a heavy defeat at title contenders Arsenal and a stalemate with Newcastle United.

The summer transfer window came to a close just 48 hours after that draw with the Magpies and there were plenty of talking points before and after the deadline. Daniel Farke’s men returned to action with an agonising late defeat at Fulham on Saturday as a last minute own goal from Gabriel Gudmundsson condemned the Whites to a loss at Craven Cottage.

With all eyes now on this weekend’s trip to fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers, we take a look back at what has been said about Leeds during the opening month of the season.

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"A tight game, very difficult in some moments to break them down. We felt right away that the changes Daniel (Farke) made to be much more conservative, they had good organisation. First half, we were too slow. We didn’t take many risks in our decision. We didn’t create enough. The game was very balanced. I think second half, we were much better. much more dynamic. Fatigue in these moments for both teams can make it more open."

7. Marco Silva (after Fulham's last-gasp win against Leeds)

"A tight game, very difficult in some moments to break them down. We felt right away that the changes Daniel (Farke) made to be much more conservative, they had good organisation. First half, we were too slow. We didn’t take many risks in our decision. We didn’t create enough. The game was very balanced. I think second half, we were much better. much more dynamic. Fatigue in these moments for both teams can make it more open." | Getty Images

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Speaking to TeamTalk, he said: “I guess Leeds will let Patrick go for nothing – just to get him off the wage bill. Is he going to play this season? Probably not is the answer. Leeds will be thinking ‘if he sits on his contract and stays then we’re paying him anyhow, but if we can find a taker for him then he’s off the wage bill’. For the sake of his career, he needs to play because Leeds have shown their intentions this season by signing two new strikers and with Daniel Farke having come out and said Bamford is not in his plans.”

8. Danny Mills (on Patrick Bamford's Leeds United exit)

Speaking to TeamTalk, he said: “I guess Leeds will let Patrick go for nothing – just to get him off the wage bill. Is he going to play this season? Probably not is the answer. Leeds will be thinking ‘if he sits on his contract and stays then we’re paying him anyhow, but if we can find a taker for him then he’s off the wage bill’. For the sake of his career, he needs to play because Leeds have shown their intentions this season by signing two new strikers and with Daniel Farke having come out and said Bamford is not in his plans.” | George Wood/Getty Images

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Writing in his SportKeeda column, he said: “I have been impressed with Leeds. Like Sunderland, Leeds should look to make their home ground a fortress. Elland Road can be an intimidating place to go to when things are going right for Leeds. But I have a feeling they will struggle on the road. We saw that at the Emirates, where Leeds looked alright for the first 20-odd minutes. As soon as they conceded the opening goal, they started to crumble."

9. Paul Merson (speaking ahead of Fulham 0-1 Leeds United)

Writing in his SportKeeda column, he said: “I have been impressed with Leeds. Like Sunderland, Leeds should look to make their home ground a fortress. Elland Road can be an intimidating place to go to when things are going right for Leeds. But I have a feeling they will struggle on the road. We saw that at the Emirates, where Leeds looked alright for the first 20-odd minutes. As soon as they conceded the opening goal, they started to crumble." | Manchester United via Getty Imag

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Speaking on Match of the Day after Fulham 1-0 Leeds United, he said: “There is big pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to deliver, to stay fit and stay on the pitch - but also, they have to supply him. I think he had maybe one chance today and maybe he should have done better. They’ve all got to chip in and they’ve all got to create more. They were unlucky with that today but they were still only getting a point and they didn’t look like getting three because they are not creating enough chances.”

10. Ashley Williams (on Dominic Calvert-Lewin)

Speaking on Match of the Day after Fulham 1-0 Leeds United, he said: “There is big pressure on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to deliver, to stay fit and stay on the pitch - but also, they have to supply him. I think he had maybe one chance today and maybe he should have done better. They’ve all got to chip in and they’ve all got to create more. They were unlucky with that today but they were still only getting a point and they didn’t look like getting three because they are not creating enough chances.” Photo: Clive Rose

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Speaking on talkSPORT after the win at Molineux, the former Spurs man said: “Leeds fully deserved the win, and they are a way better side (than 12th place). Daniel Farke has started the season well. There were question marks over him, and he was definitely one of the favourites to get sacked early doors. You’re not going to sack him, you’re not going to sack him. There was this whole hoo-hah in the off-season, about Daniel Farke getting sacked, and they made the decision not to. They’re not going to sack him four games in.”

11. Jamie O'Hara on the win at Wolves and Daniel Farke

Speaking on talkSPORT after the win at Molineux, the former Spurs man said: “Leeds fully deserved the win, and they are a way better side (than 12th place). Daniel Farke has started the season well. There were question marks over him, and he was definitely one of the favourites to get sacked early doors. You’re not going to sack him, you’re not going to sack him. There was this whole hoo-hah in the off-season, about Daniel Farke getting sacked, and they made the decision not to. They’re not going to sack him four games in.” | talkSPORT

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The former Whites managerial target said: “You can see it's (Leeds) a team that has soul, it has been difficult for us. At the end we had to risk, we put all the offensive players we had on the bench. We were not arriving clearly. The game for me has been very, very physical. We struggled in the first aerial duels, when they were playing direct with Calvert-Lewin. They have a first physical midfield, they're good at winning second balls and it was becoming quite physical. Normally we're good and the more open the better but Leeds have been very good at duels, fighting for the ball. You can see it's a team that has soul, it has been difficult for us."

12. Andoni Iraola on Leeds after Bournemouth's 2-2 draw at Elland Road.

The former Whites managerial target said: “You can see it's (Leeds) a team that has soul, it has been difficult for us. At the end we had to risk, we put all the offensive players we had on the bench. We were not arriving clearly. The game for me has been very, very physical. We struggled in the first aerial duels, when they were playing direct with Calvert-Lewin. They have a first physical midfield, they're good at winning second balls and it was becoming quite physical. Normally we're good and the more open the better but Leeds have been very good at duels, fighting for the ball. You can see it's a team that has soul, it has been difficult for us." | Getty Images

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