The kids are alright, right?
Since the days of my youth, I’ve heard the widely spoken concept that seeds hope at the heart of a fan. “Play the kids”. Young talent is always more exciting, it’s something you’ve never seen before and is a great opportunity to get an eye on players that are brand new to you (unless you watch the U23s of course). But importantly, is playing the kids always a route to better football. I rewatched the Leeds defeat at home to Arsenal back to establish how our youth players did, and if they live up to the legend of getting the kids in.
Cody Drameh
Starting at the back of the pack, Cody Drameh had a bad 90 minutes trying to deal with Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal’s attacks primarily came on the counter and transitioned to the wings, pressuring the youngster repeatedly as Martinelli powered two shots beyond Illan Meslier and into the back of the net. The first came as Drameh stood off by a yard or so, giving the Brazilian enough space to get a shot off. In the case of the second, Martinelli simply had an extra yard of pace. Statistics weren’t too kind to the young wing-back either, as Drameh won only half of his six tackles and just a third of his twenty-four pressures were successful.
As a slight mitigating factor to Drameh’s less than ideal day, the defence around him was… squishy, to say the very least. Right footed Luke Ayling played at left centre-back, natural winger/midfielder/right-back Stuart Dallas returned to his left-back berth and Robin Koch’s first minutes back from a long-term pubis injury were against a team vying for Champions League qualification. The situation wasn’t ideal, to say the least, so Drameh’s disappointing debut is understandable.
Community Rating — 4.45
Crysencio Summerville
The story of Crysencio Summerville was a confusing one to say the least. With the manner in which his minutes were managed by Marcelo Bielsa, coming off after precisely 50 minutes of competitive football, I’m personally convinced that he’s working off an injury himself. Regardless, he was responsible for filling in for the also-injured Jack Harrison.
In alignment with the rest of the attacking players, Summerville was relatively absent throughout the match, tracking back more often than he would have liked to and appearing to be relatively anonymous down the left. His best moment came as a key cog of interplay with Mateusz Klich and Joe Gelhardt, which lined the young striker up to win a penalty. A horizontal attempt at a flying volley was another highlight, although it’d be considered a far better effort in a rugby match. Plenty of effort, not enough opportunity or possession for output.
Community Rating — 5.78
Joe Gelhardt
If there is a positive spark in the Arsenal match, Joe Gelhardt’s constant running and effort is a relatively bright light in a darker period of form. Winning yet another penalty, Gelhardt has three goal involvements in just 274 minutes of Premier League football. His close control of the ball is excellent and his drive to get into the right areas is clear to see (as was the case when dribbling through four City players in the 7–0 hammering at the Etihad).
Whilst discussing Gelhardt’s current form it is impossible to think this is his potential. After all, he’s starting in front of a ramshackle midfield and a defence of players almost entirely unfit or out of position. In a fit and firing Leeds side, the Chelsea match proved he has the capacity to finish opportunities and the drive to create stunning opportunities for those around him (after all he’s created two goals for Raphinha already this season). In a good run of club form, Gelhardt has as-yet-unseen potential to thrive.
Community Rating — 6.25
The Verdict
Whilst there is space for discussions of Liam McCarron and Sam Greenwood, the combined 21 minutes for the young duo is far too little to properly assess the way they played. However, of those on the pitch for the majority of the match, there is significant potential. As the injury crisis seems to deepen by sucking Jack Harrison into its maw at the weekend, reliance on youth is key. Joe Gelhardt is clearly the shining star of the Under 23 cohort, with seven goals and an assist from nine matches, but Crysencio Summerville and Cody Drameh were by far no worse than the rest of the team against Arsenal.
U23 average — 5.49
Team average — 4.92
Youth recruitment at Elland Road has been constant in the Radrizzani era, and amongst our young prospects on Saturday there were no clear misfires. Whilst many recognise the need for further recruitment in January, for the time being, we’ll follow the age-old edict, “play the kids” and back them to do all that they can for the club.
Joe Blackburn
Images used with permission. ©WaccoePhotography. IG — @heshphotos
