Former Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn believes the club’s return to the Premier League must be built on winning battles against bottom-half rivals, making set-pieces a priority, and helping new goalkeeper Lucas Perri develop a strong relationship with his defenders.
Focus on Bottom-Half Teams & Set-Piece Strength
Martyn says Leeds need to be realistic about where their points will come from in the top flight, recognising that results against the league’s top sides will be harder to secure. He believes the club’s survival hopes will hinge on consistently beating teams in the lower half of the table, where direct rivals for safety are likely to be found.
“You start every season with optimism. There are games that you probably can write off as not winnable, if you don’t get a win, you understand, and you’re not too worried about that. It’s just how you compete in those games.
It’s going to be the games against the teams in and around where you’re likely to finish. So, probably the bottom two-thirds of the league. Those are the games that Leeds really have to focus on more than perhaps ones against the top six or seven. You know, any points you get against those teams are bonuses really.”
The former England international likes the physical profile of Leeds’ summer recruits, noting that their increased size and strength should better equip them for the demands of the Premier League. He feels that this added physicality will help the team compete more effectively in aerial duels, set-piece situations, and the high-intensity battles often seen in top-flight matches.
“I like the fact that Daniel Farke seems to be getting some bigger and stronger players in… Although we had good players last time, I don’t think physically they could cope with the Premier League. I think there have been some good acquisitions.
I’d like to see a striker and somebody who’s going to get somewhere between 12 and 18 goals in a season come in. We need to be strong defensively and add a big threat at set-pieces… those are the bonus goals, which can mean you stay up or go down.”
Piroe, Tanaka & Wide Men Could Be Key
Martyn says Joël Piroe, Ao Tanaka and Leeds’ wide players will have big roles to play, stressing that their contributions in both creativity and finishing could determine the team’s attacking success. He believes Piroe’s goalscoring, Tanaka’s control in midfield, and the pace and directness of the wingers will be vital in breaking down stronger Premier League defences.
“If it’s Joël Piroe and he steps up and scores those goals, that would be great. It doesn’t have to be somebody new.
I really liked watching Ao Tanaka play last season. He was the heartbeat of that team really… The wide men have got to be as much of a threat as they were in the Championship… that’s when the likes of Daniel James, Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani really come into their own. They’re going to be important.”
Martyn stressed the importance of a strong start, with Everton up first.
“It’s important that you start the season well… You’ve got to see that as an opportunity to get off to a good start.”
Perri’s Understanding With His Defence Will Be Crucial
Martyn says building cohesion between Lucas Perri and the backline should be a priority, as a strong understanding can improve defensive organisation and confidence across the team. He believes that clear communication, familiarity with each other’s tendencies, and consistent game time together will help minimise errors and make Leeds more resilient against Premier League attacks.
“With more time spent playing with the same back four, you get a real understanding of your teammates and what type of style the goalkeeper is going to have… The communication between defenders and their goalkeeper is vital… The more games you play with the same sort of defence, the better they will become at understanding where they need to be for each other.
What you want from your goalkeeper is good, clear communication and confidence… The defenders in front of him can then relax if they know the guy behind them is good and he knows what he’s doing.
It will be something that everybody will be watching and hopefully they get it right quickly. I know Lucas Perri looks massive, so, hopefully, that sort of makes it more difficult for strikers.”
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