Since Pontus Jansson has joined Leeds United on loan from Torino, there has been two things developing: the Whites have a more solid defence and the 6ft 5in Swede is already an Elland Road crowd favourite.
He’s played four Sky Bet Championship games for Leeds, five in total with his EFL Cup appearance vs Luton Town, and is at the start of his fledgling career at Elland Road. I say ‘at the start’ but the big Swede only needs to play 15 more times for the Whites to earn a permanent deal at the club.
There’s always the chance that when you bring in a loan player from overseas, even a competition like Serie A, that you are going to bring over a bit of a duffer. There was always the chance that Jansson would join a line of loan signings such as Roque Junior, Edgar Çani, Grandi N’Goye and Zan Benedicic – who coincidentally has just signed a short-term deal with Sky Bet League One Leyton Orient.
Thankfully, that isn’t the case with the 6ft 5in Swedish international, on loan at Elland Road from Serie A side Torino. Absolutely no chance is Pontus Jansson a duffer at all; his displays since starting his Leeds career at home to Huddersfield have shown that.
That was four games ago. Just four games ago.
In the space of four games, Jansson has really begun to create a mass feeling of bromance between himself and what are rapidly becoming adoring fans rallying to his side. His defensive strength, linked to him being given an ‘attack the ball’ free role when defending, is only one part of his appeal to fans, there’s also the rather frank and NSFW Twitter posts of jubilation after recent wins and good performances.
One further thing that endeared him to the Leeds United support yesterday against Ipswich was a hard and fair challenge and his reaction afterwards (below).
https://twitter.com/WALMOT33/status/780009183584419840
It wasn’t the challenge itself, as much as the reaction after it. Leeds fans are saying across Twitter and Facebook that this is the defensive grit that we have been missing over recent seasons. Such has been the reaction of Jansson and the love it has caused that it has coined a new catchphrase – you’ve been ‘Jansonned’.
Leeds fans react on Twitter – ‘Jansonned’ hits the lexicon
Jim pretty much makes it clear what happens if you tangle with the Swede.
You do THIS…
You get THIS…Janssoned pic.twitter.com/SdmpuPMELO
— Jim O (@jimo431) September 25, 2016
Joe sums it up perfectly.
Absolutely Janssoned him 💛💙💛 https://t.co/hEnqKCsqUY
— Joe Logan (@joeloganlufc) September 24, 2016
You've been Janssoned. #Lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) September 24, 2016
Reporter and commentator Popey and Leeds fan Beth state things very simply.
https://twitter.com/BF_lufc/status/779731493195309057
Leeds fan J-Mo sees Jansson’s defensive style as akin to an end move in Mortal Kombat.
@dave_easby pic.twitter.com/MlZXLNeZdY
— J-MO (@J_MO80) September 24, 2016
