As line ups go, it wasn’t one that inspired the greatest of confidence amongst Leeds United fans when the team news against Sutton United was released.
Yes it might have been strong enough to get the Whites over the line, just, but as the history books will show it wasn’t as Sutton United ran out 1-0 winners. Their progression to the fifth round draw means that for the first time in history there are two non-league clubs at that stage.
The side that Leeds did put out, with Garry Monk resting key players ahead on the continuation of their Sky Bet Championship campaign against Blackburn on Wednesday, simply wasn’t good enough on the day, nor any other day to be fair.
That did not come as a surprise to former United boss Neil Redfearn, who said as much after the game.
https://twitter.com/TvYorkshire/status/825773009181016064
Speaking of Monk’s decision to choose Jack McKay and Billy Whitehouse for their Leeds United debuts, former boss Redfearn expressed his surprise and expressed it quite vociferously. On their inclusion Redfearn said: “For me [on McKay and Whitehouse] they are not the best Under-23s at Leeds United. There are better players than them.”
He then continued with his criticism of their inclusion saying: “So why they got included I don’t know. Obviously that’s down to the club. But, you know it’s backfired.”
Redfearn’s comments bear a definite degree of gravitas as there are fewer, if any, people more qualified to comment on the strength in-depth at Elland Road’s Thorp Arch Academy, an institution that he oversaw before being thrust into the managerial hotseat at Elland Road.
