Good Morning. It's Wednesday 26th March, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Leeds are two points worse off than last season
Leeds United fans might be experiencing a sense of déjà vu as the promotion race intensifies. While the Whites currently sit atop the Championship table with 80 points and eight games to play, a closer look reveals a potentially concerning trend. Believe it or not, at this exact stage last season, Leeds were actually two points better off.
Last year, a late-season collapse saw their promotion dream shatter. A mere ten points from the final eight games sent them tumbling from automatic promotion contention to third place, ultimately missing out to Ipswich and Leicester City.
Interestingly, while Leeds are slightly behind their own pace from last season, their rivals are significantly worse off. Sheffield United are currently trailing Leicester's points tally from last season by five points, and Burnley are lagging behind Ipswich's mark by three points. This suggests a potentially tighter promotion race overall.
The crucial question for Leeds is whether they can learn from past mistakes and avoid another end-of-season slump. With the pressure mounting and the ghosts of last season lingering, the next eight games will be the ultimate test of their promotion credentials.
Cresswell's class shining through in Ligue 1
Since trading Elland Road for the pink and purple of Toulouse last summer, Charlie Cresswell hasn't just found a new club – he's found a stage to truly shine. The young English defender has been nothing short of transformative for the Ligue 1 outfit, who are currently enjoying a season that has fans dreaming of a top-half finish, something they haven't tasted since the 2013/14 campaign. Suddenly, Toulouse are mixing it with the big boys like PSG, Monaco, and Marseille, and Cresswell is a key ingredient in their success.
The stats don't lie. When it comes to defensive solidity in Ligue 1 this season, only the Parisian giants of PSG and Bruno Génésio's Lille can boast a better record than Toulouse. Conceding just 29 goals so far, Les Violets newfound resilience is a significant departure from previous seasons, and the towering figure of Cresswell is undeniably at the heart of it.
Cresswell's journey to Ligue 1 began in the familiar surroundings of Leeds United's Thorp Arch academy. Following in his father Richard's footsteps, a former Leeds player himself, Charlie joined the club aged just 11. He quickly ascended through the youth ranks, his leadership qualities as evident then as they are now in France.
Breaking into the senior squad in 2020, his Leeds career, however, never truly took flight. Just ten appearances across four years felt like a frustratingly slow burn for a player brimming with potential. Then came the move to Toulouse in July 2024, and everything changed.
Toulouse, it seems, have struck gold. Cresswell has slotted seamlessly into their defensive line, bringing a combination of youthful energy, physical presence, and a surprising maturity for his age. His performances are consistently drawing plaudits, and his 'Whoscored' ranking within the Toulouse squad places him third overall, a testament to his crucial role in their impressive season.
He’s become an integral piece of the puzzle, and his commanding presence at the back has instilled a confidence throughout the team. Looking back at Leeds' decision to let such a promising talent depart for a reported £3.8m fee, it feels increasingly like a missed opportunity. Four years of sporadic appearances interspersed with bench warming, punctuated by a successful loan spell at Millwall where he further showcased his abilities, seemingly wasn't enough to convince Leeds of his long-term value.
To see him now, thriving and instrumental in Toulouse's push up the Ligue 1 table, begs the question: did Leeds let a gem slip through their fingers for a pittance? For Toulouse's fans, and for Cresswell himself, the answer is a resounding ‘non’, but for Leeds, it’s another talent that has slipped the net!
Prutton urges Leeds to sign Rothwell
Former Leeds midfielder, now pundit David Prutton has urged Leeds to sign Joe Rothwell this Summer if they go up! The 30yo, on loan from Bournemouth has made 23 starts (and 12 from the bench) for the Whites this season, contributing four assists.
As far as Leeds fans are concerned, his speciality lies within dead ball situations; an aspect where Leeds constantly struggle to make an impact. Whilst not excelling, the former Manchester Utd rookie has been steady, picking up a respectable 6.79 'Whoscored' rating, placing him 13th in their roster. The step-up to the top flight may be stride too far, even if he becomes a free agent in the Summer.
As Prutton points out, Leeds need to cut their cloth accordingly and shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Rothwell's deliveries from set pieces, composure in possession, and leadership qualities can't go ignored!
Joe Rothwell has been superb this season for Leeds. The experience that he shows, that smattering of Premier League experience, could bode well if they were to sign him permanently if they go up. Given the options in the middle of the field, with the likes of [Ilia] Gruev and Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka, his delivery from a set piece, his composure in possession, he’s got real leadership qualities.
A real humble player, a player that is very well liked by his teammates and the fans that he’s committed himself to this season. And, as well, you’ve got to look at the number of games that he’s got under his belt, which is why a player does leave to go on loan, to try and get the game time that he’s missing at his parent club, which he’s got in spades. The question being sometimes playing away from home, which I don’t really know why it’s become a thing because he’s a very seasoned professional.
But he knows how to do it on the road, and in front of his own fans, and I absolutely do think Leeds should be signing a player such as that. “Because of what potentially he’s put towards potentially getting them into the Premier League, but because of his personality and nous when it comes to operating in midfield. Yes, it’s a different proposition against Premier League teams, but cutting the cloth accordingly from a financial point of view Joe could fit pretty well into that for Leeds.
