It is now five-game unbeaten start to the season as Leeds United turned over Norwich City via a 3-0 win at Carrow Road. It was a win that took the Whites back to the top of the table on goal difference above Middlesbrough.
Some of the football that the Whites have played has been sufficiently sparkling to really enthuse the fans on the terraces. Remember, these were fans that were fed on a stodge of mid-table mediocrity last season after a bright start faded away.
Under Marcelo Bielsa a similar bright start is underway, four victories and one very good draw convincing the Leeds United faithful that happy times are back in store. Yesterday it was the turn of Norwich City to feel the wrath of Leeds United.
In fairness, the Canaries were more than in with a shout in the first 20 minutes, decimating the left-hand side of Leeds’ formation and causing all manner of defensive problems for the Whites. Then this happened from Mateusz Klich:
A world-class clipped pass delivered with world-class vision from Pablo Hernandez was met by the onrushing Gjanni Alioski. His diving header was palmed out by Tim Krul, but fell to the hovering Klich. Resisting the temptation to smash it, the impressive Pole instead placed it in the bottom corner.
That was 1-0, a single goal lead that was soon doubled thanks to the energetic Alioski.
15 passes in the full build up but it was the final two that mattered. A precise ball in from the left by Barry Douglas was neatly turned around the corner and behind the Norwich defence by Kemar Roofe. The ball found the arriving Alioski who simply smashed it beyond Krul, beating the frustrated Norwich stopper at his near post.
Leeds were rampant by now, and the hard-pressed Norwich did well to keep them at bay. The score was 2-0 at half-time and the Whites emerged from the pink away changing rooms for the second-half in a determined manner.
Straight away they were up in Norwich’s faces as the intense demands of the Bielsa philosophy began to tell on the home side who were, a lot of the time, clinging on. 2-0 became 3-0 on 65 minutes
The impressive Douglas, who is quickly becoming a bargain buy at a reported £3million, took a throw-in to Hernandez. The impressive Spaniard played a quick triangle of passes with Douglas and Alioski. Receiving the ball back, Hernandez moved inside and curled a shot past Krul that the keeper wouldn’t have stopped even if he’d booked a taxi to reach it.
That’s as bad as it got for the Canaries who had definitely saw themselves plucked off by a very good Leeds United side. It was a result that Leeds United fans were enthused about. Here’s what some of these Whites fans are saying today as they face a Tuesday Carabao Cup game against Preston North End at Elland Road:
First a bit of a dig from Leeds United’s Twitter account.
…Didn’t work though 😉 https://t.co/M43dE3s015
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 25, 2018
And now over to the fans.
What Marcelo Biesla is doing at Leeds already is the perfect example for my life long argument that you don’t need to get players who suit your game to be successful, your job as a manager is to get the players to play your game#LUFC
— Dhwanil Shah (@GarethicoRM) August 26, 2018
Wow – I’m astounded at the confidence across the twitteratti after 5 games in the sunshine of August . Been stood and sat at ER far too long to be brave enough to make similar statements. This is #LUFC . This is The Championship . I hope you’re right obviously ……
— MikeBoardman (@Mike_lufc65) August 26, 2018
I love how Bielsa tells the whole world how we’re gonna play. Then we go beat them exactly that way. #lufc
— WotzThatSound (@WotzThatSound) August 26, 2018
Anyone noticed Berrardi in the air? Seriously watch last two games his timing and leaps are towering over forward that have 10 or so inches over him! #lufc
— Mark Ramm (@LufcRammy) August 26, 2018
It feel weird that Leeds are being praised by all & sundry. I don’t like it, it’s better being hated. We have to keep winning then everybody can hate Leeds again & we can all be happy #lufc
— Andy from Leeds (@leedswhiterose) August 26, 2018
Bielsa has transformed #lufc this season into a proper team but I don’t think you can underestimate the influence that a fit again @lukeayling_8 has had and the form of @Cli5hy makes you wonder why an international player was not used better last season! On and on! #MOT
— Mike Dibble (@mike_dibble) August 26, 2018
Watched a bit of premier league football over the last few weeks, and there genuinely is no team playing better football than Leeds United. Better quality players yes, better football? No. #lufc
— Jack Forster (@JackForster92) August 26, 2018
In a way the Preston North End Carabao Cup game is a way for the Whites to again test themselves against a league rival, but the bigger test is Friday. Come that day it is 1st vs 2nd and a chance for the Whites to lay down a huge marker against Boro.
