One thing that has likely come as a very welcome change this season is that Leeds United have pretty much a solid defence.
Even over the previous two seasons of Cellino’s ownership, the corners of the Leeds United defensive unit, the full-backs, have been a strength. Firstly Stephen Warnock and Sam Byram, later Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram, there was a certain sense of strength.
Of course, there’s was a dilution of this strength when the Scott Wootton experiment was in full flow, but the weaknesses were elsewhere. Centrally United were a mess, a lack of cohesion showing itself with a series of weak performances. Whites fans were exasperated by the ease at which their central defensive partnership could be pierced, torn and then thrown aside.
This season has seen a change, a massive change not only in Leeds’ fortunes but also in personnel. It is this appointment of new personnel that has helped provide that steel to a side, with two appointments to the backline being key in bringing this sense of solidity and strength to a side sorely needing it: Kyle Bartley and Pontus Jansson.
When Bartley first signed on loan for Leeds United from Swansea, it is safe to say that a fair few Whites fans were sceptical on his appointment. He’d hardly featured and warning klaxons were sounding in the heads of fans. It’s safe to say that after Pontus Jansson was announced the news wasn’t met with universal acclaim with more than a few Leeds fans moaning about ‘another player from the Italian leagues.’
Those criticisms of Bartley and Jansson are now defunct and baseless as both stand proud at the centre of a Leeds United defence that has allowed the fifth-least number of goals in the Sky Bet Championship – only 33 in 32 games. Put another way, since the two teamed up at the heart of the Leeds defence, the Whites have conceded just 24 times in 27 games.
It is this defensive strength that has seen many claim that Pontus Jansson is the best centre-back in the Championship, and that he forms one of the strongest pairings alongside his partner Kyle Bartley. The twosome stand towering at the heart of the Leeds defence, their reputation preceding them – as can be seen by journalist Adam Pope’s tweet (below).
Green paid tribute to Jansson & Bartley: "The big centre forward (Djuric) came on & stood on Luke Ayling because he didn't fancy the battle"
— Adam Pope (@apopey) February 14, 2017
What is comforting for Leeds United fans is that for the first time in a long time, the Whites have a seemingly rock-solid pairing at the heart of the defence and this is paying dividends. However, whilst Jansson signed a permanent deal effective from the opening of the summer transfer window, Bartley is still only a loanee.
That’s something that definitely needs to change.
What do you think, do Leeds need to snap Batley up?
