Leeds United must focus on Premier League survival rather than European qualification, according to one of the club's own supporters. Fan Lewis Deighton has labelled talk of a swift return to the Champions League as "delusion" and called for a more realistic outlook.
Deighton stressed the need for perspective at Elland Road. "Supporters need to remember where Leeds United are," he said. The fan argued that the primary goal should be establishing the club in the top flight for three or four seasons, with a league finish anywhere between ninth and 17th representing success.
He pointed to clubs like Brighton and Bournemouth as examples of sides who have built slowly after promotion. Bournemouth reinforced that point just last weekend, beating Leeds 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. That result left Daniel Farke's side 12th in the Premier League with 11 points from nine matches. Their recent form shows no wins in four games, a sequence that includes draws with Sunderland and Manchester United and defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth.
"On paper this squad is a lot better than the results we're churning out," Deighton added, questioning whether manager Daniel Farke has maximised the team's potential. "I try to stay level-headed, but has Daniel Farke taken us as far as he can?"
The data supports the call for pragmatism. Leeds are 13 points behind league leaders Arsenal and have scored just nine goals this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin leads the scoring charts with three. The immediate challenge is a home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur this Saturday. Spurs currently sit ninth, three points and three places above Leeds in the standings.
Deighton's view is that Leeds, while a huge institution in English football, should not expect to emulate past glories instantly. The focus now is on securing their status, with the next test coming against Tottenham at Elland Road on 7 November.
More detail at bbc.com
