For Leeds United fans, much of the positivity of the 2020-21 season evaporated on opening night of the 21-22 season. After a thumping at the hands of Manchester United, things have rarely improved for the Whites. A flurry of deals that look poor in retrospect were carried out, giving the squad a lack of balance and a lack of confidence in many key areas. This has led to many fans who were dreaming of seeing a young and invigorating Leeds side developed begin to worry about exits in the summer.

If you were to look back on the last four years of Leeds United activity, you would notice a spree of successful signings. Given the club spent what felt like two decades making a meal of just about every signing, that is a rare thing indeed for Whites fans. However, one name that definitely goes down in the bust category is that of Jean-Kevin Augustin. The young France striker arrived at Leeds in a bid to turn his career around after a failure of a time at RB Leipzig.

It is safe to say that the 2021-22 season has not played out the way any Leeds United fan would have expected. The Whites have seen a top-half finish last season turn into an injury-plagued relegation scrap this year. The success enjoyed last year under Marcelo Bielsa was replaced by a painful march to resignation. After many months of questioning, Bielsa finally left after the 4-0 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur. His replacement, Jesse Marsch, arrives at Elland Road having to win a lot of people over.

In what has been one of the most trying periods of time for Leeds United in the last two or three years, more drama looks set to be building. The club recently announced the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa, the legendary Argentine who brought the club back to the Premier League. In his place came Jesse Marsch, the smooth-talking American who was recently sacked by RB Leipzig for overseeing a disastrous half-season. 

Though it would be hard to say that Leeds United fans like Steven Gerrard, there is a grudging respect for his talent as a player and a coach. The Liverpool legend might not have had too many games at Elland Road to be treated to the useful atmosphere, but he knows all about it. Growing up watching the Reds, Gerrard would have seen some truly great Leeds teams – including those housing his current number two in Gary McAllister.