Prior to our key match away to Leeds United, we spoke to both All Day LUFC and the Yorkshire Post's Stuart Rayner to learn what the opposing camp are thinking.
Currently 2nd in the league, a point behind Sheff Utd with tonight's game in hand. What's been the story of Leeds' season?
ADLUFC: Another slow start to the season which turned around in December after important away wins. Performances haven’t really been there though until the 7-0 drubbing of Cardiff, which has seen us become a different side. Not settling at 1-0 like we had previously but maintaining relentless attacking pressure has seen a brilliant run. Keeper mistakes have taken a lot of the headlines and often covered up for poor performances. I’d be willing to bet that ‘weren’t at our best today’ was said in 75% of games before January. The next four games are pivotal though, they will determine the outcome of the season and tonight is huge to give us a push.
SR: After the post-relegation disruption of last season, Leeds were hoping to get off to a flying start to this one, only for West Ham United and Brighton and Hove Albion to trigger the release clauses in Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter's contracts late in the day to whisk them away.
Leeds found their feet towards the end of August only to lose their two first-choice holding midfielders, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, to serious injuries within days of each other in September/October.
To lose both at the same time for multiple months could have really set them back, but this is a seriously strong squad. It opened the door to a new partnership of summer signings Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell who were exciting at home but perhaps not quite the right balance away, so form there was decent rather than brilliant.
But now all four are fit and Leeds are firing on all cylinders, looking every inch the squad they should be for all the money invested in it over the years.
Joel Piroe is your top scorer, and the division's second-top, with 14 goals. What kind of striker is he?
ADLUFC: People who follow me will know I haven’t been a fan of his this season due to offering very little to games outside of his goals, often to the detriment of the team. However, recently he’s turned a corner and has been vital to the current run of form. He doesn’t act like your typical nine. He won’t be running the channel or looking for a poacher’s tap in. He's started to link up deeper, often playing pin point balls through to Dan James on the counter attack. His footwork against Watford sums up what he’s capable of when he’s on it.
SR: He's a predator, a player who sometimes is completely anonymous, but who over the course of the season weighs in with plenty of goals - rarely flashy ones, but often invaluable. When he first came to Leeds, Daniel Farke was convinced he was best playing off a striker, which in his 4-2-3-1 formation, meant playing in the hole. Nowadays he is the undisputed number nine but not really a target man, more one who preys on the shoulder of the last defender.
Other than Piroe, who are some of Leeds' best players?
ADLUFC: Difficult to narrow it down as the team is full of top Championship quality players.
Tanaka makes us tick, James and Solomon have built a superb relationship which is keeping Gnonto and Ramazani on the bench. Firpo and Bogle together offer threat from both sides, which a lot of teams have struggled to deal with.
SR: How a Championship club managed to sign Tanaka is a mystery - the elegant midfielder is Premier League quality. Amapadu is so solid and reliable, whether in front of centre-backs Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, or alongside one of them. But the real dangers are out wide, with right-back Jayden Bogle having an outstanding season and whatever combination of wingers they go for a real threat.
Illan Meslier's howler at the SoL stands out in our memory, how has he been since that notable mistake?
ADLUFC: Overall, not good. The peak of the drama was against Hull, where he palmed an easy ball directly to the Hull attacker while in a comfortable position. This saw Joe Rodon visibly angry at him too. Very recently though, he’s been better. Consider that cautiously though. A wonder save vs Coventry combined with another important one kept his clean sheet in tact and saved our attackers’ blushes after a bundle of missed chances.
SR: It stands out in the memory of Leeds fans too, I can assure you! Meslier had another shocker as Leeds drew 3-3 at Hull City in January. Although he can make good saves, on his bad days he is a weak point of the team, and his kicking game seems to have regressed. The problem from an opposition point of view is getting at him, because for all the goals they score, Leeds rarely leave themselves open, which is why Meslier is only three clean sheets behind Burnley's James Trafford.
Which Sunderland player worries you the most?
ADLUFC: Has to be Isidor and Le Fee. Isidor has shown himself to be more than capable in this league and the threat of him pulling off a terrific finish out of nowhere hasn't been an unfamiliar story at Elland Road in the past. Le Fee has that quality to cause any teams an issue. Covered well on the wing but if Le Bris risks Mundle from the start, Le Fee from the middle is my main concern.
SR: Any striker who has scored six goals in his last 10 matches is a concern, so Wilson Isidor will probably have taken up a bit of time in Leeds' pre-match meetings.
Did Leeds' January business aid their promotion campaign?
ADLUFC: In short, no, because we didn’t add anyone to the squad. However, it’s been a hot topic for fans since deadline day passed and realistically, we can’t judge either way until 46 games have been played.
SR: Many fans will say no, I think it might have but time will tell. They did not sign anyone at all. A number 10 to challenge Brenden Aaronson - emblematic of this team because he is more about energy than flair - would have been nice, and another option at centre-forward would have been handy, but Leeds have easily the best squad in the league and there was always a danger of signing players who would upset the chemistry. The risk was that Leeds did a Faustino Asprilla (for Sunderland fans old enough to have enjoyed Newcastle United's 1996 collapse), and Daniel Farke is rarely one for risks.
What's your score prediction? Goalscorers?
ADLUFC: I can see Le Bris opting to start Samed which may show your intentions early on at least. Going to go 1-1 though, but an early goal for us and that changes to a 2/3-1. Piroe and Le Fee for the scorers.
SR: 2-0 Leeds. Dan James and Joe Piroe.
Finally, where do you reckon both sides will finish this campaign? Will this be a Premier League fixture next season?
ADLUFC: Our next four games determine our season. We've already avoided two potential banana skins in trips to Coventry and Watford. If we come out at the end of February in the top two, I’m confident we’ll go up. Out of three teams we’re competing with, Sunderland are statistically the better one. You’ve conceded too many goals at important times which has hampered your points. Comparing that to Sheffield United who have been lucky on many occasions that they aren’t behind in games before nicking a goal. Then Burnley, who are the most boring team in England. I’d like this to be a fixture next season though, ideally in the Premier League.
SR: Barring injuries I think Leeds will win the thing, and for it to be a Premier League fixture next season, I think Sunderland will have to win the play-offs, which I would not put past them.
