Last week in Glasgow, people paid for a Willy Wonka experience that was so bad they called the police over their £35 tickets and it became worldwide news. Meanwhile, in Huddersfield, football fans who handed over £20 to watch a Champo midfielder tying his shoelaces applauded gratefully.
It was impossible to imagine this goal meaning all it meant without fans, without Leeds fans, without Uncle Eddie in the John Charles Stand, without a pile-on of players and fans in the north-west corner, a goal and a scene as Elland Road as it gets.
These weeks prioritising nutrition, sleep, recovery and good habits have made Farke’s Leeds better than ever. As could be seen at Home Park, in a performance that was easily their worst in the league in 2024.
A word from Piroe – “No speaking? Come on, we win 4-0, bro!” – and Georgi span right round, trying not to let a smile ruin his put-on as he stared down the camera, before breaking character back into character. “No party, no Piroe! Let’s go!”
The latest in the Gray line has that effect on Leeds fans, a seventeen-year-old legend you can’t help being excited to meet, the embodiment of all that’s great about your favourite club.
Here Leeds were in Plymouth, in the cup, passing sentimental batons and striving so hard to win for no other reason than – Than it’s the chuffing point, isn’t it? Daniel Farke’s counter intuitive argument, whenever he is asked about resting players, has been that players love to play.
It feels like faint praise but, compared to the teams we’re facing, Farke is doing a good job simply by ensuring Leeds can play his way without fucking it up every two minutes.
Amid the grumbling and sourness about all the stuff that isn’t kicking a ball into a net and being happy, there was one player taking the chance the FA Cup offers to share something magical with the crowd.
People often wonder what a player has to do to earn a song at Leeds United, and at the moment it seems like the answer is: leave.
Alan Browne seemed to be strangling Ethan Ampadu on the floor. That probably shouldn’t have been happening, but I was delighted while nobody was stopping it.