2023-24

I don’t mean to underrate Ampadu’s tackle to stop a Rovers attack, or Rutter’s part in the one-two setup, or Summerville’s patient selection of the proper finish, but just look at Archie Gray’s feet.

As we saw in those swash-buckling days of just a few years ago, a team that is “over-emotioned” will find more ways out of the problems they get into than a team that is “like sleeping pills”.

Maybe – and this is where I do a thing of skewering my own stupid arguments – maybe it’s not about the other teams, and what they do.

There’s a slightly dull undercurrent to Leeds manager Daniel Farke’s favoured football, which I guess is the price we have to pay if we don’t want every game to be a 7-7 shoot-out (don’t we? and why don’t we?).

Daniel Farke does want his players to be good lads, polite and generous. He doesn’t want them tapping the ball to each other in the attacking penalty area as if they’re trying to share the goals around.

Why are Leeds beating Ipswich and Leicester? Because they’re a brilliant team. They’re only 3rd in the table? That’s just propaganda. Now we can wait and see.

The point where team sport meets entertainment is always an awkward meeting spot between fans who only want a win, and fans who want a good time. The pleasure of this game, in the end, was that it gave us both, with lots to savour, and lots to complain about.

It must feel like a nightmare for Pat, as if he won an England cap, fell asleep, and now he’s locked in this dream forever where his feet always hurt and he keeps fucking things up and people are always screaming at him and he can’t wake up. Please, someone, anyone who can help, please kiss him.

Gut feelings, off the cuff tactics, lies, ballers, warm hearts and danger. Is all this only possible in the Championship?