In today’s Leeds United roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Whites. Ben White has won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month, Victor Orta speaks about recruitment, and Darren Bent goes in on Mateusz Klich after his penalty miss against Derby County.
White wins PFA award
Report: Ben White has claimed the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for August in a vote run by Snack Media. The Leeds defender beat Swansea City’s Borja Baston to the award by winning 44% of the votes, as Baston claimed just 16%. Patrick Bamford was also nominated for the prize but received only 9% of votes.
White said at the presentation: “It’s really nice to get an award like this and I’m thankful to the people who voted for me.”
Verdict: The centre-back has become an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa squad in the early stages of the season, playing in every minute of Championship football so far and averaging an incredible performance rating of 7.41.
White, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, has been a rock at the back for Leeds, conceding just four goals in eight games and playing a huge role in placing his side at the top of the Championship table. In the Leeds defence that boasts the best record so far, conceding just four goals in eight games, the 21-year-old has averaged 2.3 tackles per game and 3.8 interceptions per match [WhoScored].
The Englishman has proved to be a very worthwhile signing, and if Leeds are to continue to edge closer to Premier League stardom, Bielsa must keep this man on the pitch throughout the season.
Orta on recruitment
Report: Leeds Director of Football, Orta, spoke at the World Football Summit (as quoted by La Vanguardia) about the clubs recruitment and scouting. He told the listeners: “I have grown up in Seville with a teacher like Monchi, who changed the club.
“The big difference in modern football is information, everyone has it, and the important thing is to transform it into useful knowledge for the club.”
Orta then said, “there should not be a ceiling in the scouting department” and if they are scouting a 16-year-old “it’s perhaps too late.
“One of the keys is that bigger clubs decide quickly, smaller ones don’t. Sometimes it’s better to go to small clubs to get players and train them,” he added.
Verdict: Orta has been the Director of Football for Leeds ever since Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover in 2017 when the Italian appointed him into the role. Since then, Orta has received a good reception from Leeds fans for transfers such as Patrick Bamford, whom he nabbed from Middlesbrough after the Englishman impressed him during his time as Boro’s head of European recruitment.
Most recently, Orta has managed to bring in the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Helder Costa and Ben White, all of which have had positive seasons so far for the Whites.
Indeed we have seen in recent times the impact in a Director of Football, with Txiki Begiristain of Manchester City proving to be of great worth to the champions of England, whilst on the opposite end of the stick, clubs such as Manchester United have struggled in the recruitment stages by refusing to appoint someone within that role.
As for Leeds, Orta is already doing a magnificent job in recruiting talent for the club and if they are to finally return to the Premier League next season, the Spaniard must take some credit in helping them to do so.
Bent blasts Klich
Report: Former England striker Darren Bent has criticised Klich for his penalty miss in the 1-1 draw against Derby County. Bent old Football Insider:
“I like it but the only thing I’d say about it is don’t miss the target. I wouldn’t even have minded if the goalkeeper dove the right way and saved or caught it.
“I’d go: ‘Okay, it’s a poor penalty,’ but there’s no excuse not to hit the target, especially when you’re calm with your run as well. To roll them in, if you’re going to do that technique, you need to hit the target.
“I don’t care if the keeper saves it, just hit the target.”
Verdict: Earlier in the season, Klich also stepped up to the spot against Barnsley, although that time he converted the penalty and gave the Whites a 2-0 lead over their Yorkshire rivals.
The Polish international also had an impressive record from 12 yards during his time at FC Twente when he slotted home all six efforts from the spot. The only other miss so far in his career came when he was at PEC Zwolle, so having scored in seven out of eight throughout his career, it is fair to say Klich has a good record from penalties.
However, Bent does have a right to criticise the 29-year-old here. After the Sky Sports commentator labeled Klich ‘a competitor for the coolest penalty taker in the Championship’, the no.43 effortlessly walks up to the spot like he was making a five-yard pass and blazes it wide. Truthfully, it was a shocker and Bent rightfully so sheds some light on what is a very questionable technique.
