Leeds United 18/19 Season Review: What a journey

By @Joe_Potter4

After crashing out of the Championship play-off semi finals to Frank Lampard's Derby County I was absolutely heartbroken, as were the other 35,000 Leeds United fans in Elland Road and the thousands watching on TV. At gutting times like this, sometimes all you need as a football fan is a little bit of perspective. Last season, if someone would have said to me Leeds would finish 3rd and arguably play some of the most attractive football in the league, I would've laughed in their face. But there we have it, we absolutely did.

Since I started watching Leeds on a consistent basis in 2007, this season has by far been the most entertaining, exciting and at times, out-right insane season I have ever witnessed. From battering Derby 4-1 in our first away game of the season, to equalizing at Middlesbrough in the 101st minute, to being fined £200,000 for standing on a public pathway, this season had absolutely everything.

Marcelo Bielsa has had us playing fast-paced, interchanging, high-pressing and basically any other intense superlative you could use to describe our dynamic style of play. It has been a breath of fresh air and seems leagues away from the mistake-heavy, ill-disciplined team we had to endure last season.

We basically dominated the first half of the season, and although a drop-in form was always inevitable, even when we slipping up in a few games, it always felt we were in them. We never truly got outplayed in my opinion, we always created a hat-full of chances that often went begging (check our chance conversion rates compared to Norwich and Sheffield United).

At times maybe we did lack cutting edge and bit of ruthlessness, and we did sometimes rely on stay players like Pablo Hernandez to pull off wins for us. And I think this goes without saying, it felt like we had the thinnest squad of all time, blighted with injuries throughout the season, we never really had all our players fit at one time. However, these are all things we can learn from. Bielsa has proved to be one of the most intelligent managers in this league, if he stays, he will use his experiences of this season and learn from them and adapt how he approaches next season.

I'm at peace with the Derby result now, and already I am excited for next season. I have seen a lot of transfer rumors flying around, but personally I would keep it quite simple, I would build the team around these players: Phillips, Shackleton, Clarke, Roofe and Hernandez. Sprinkle a few intelligent signings in there, bring in some of the under 23's and use the loan market in an effective way and I believe once again we will be up there next year.

Overall, this season has set a fire inside the belly of so many Leeds United fans once again. As always, but even more so this year, I am proud to support this remarkable club. It didn't quite finish how we wanted, oh well, bring on next season!

MOT!