Daniel Wales and Charles Hague-Jones discuss Leeds United’s Player of the Season.
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00:00Now, Leeds United obviously had a pretty much almost flawless championship campaign and throughout the season there were some fantastic marked performances, fantastic results, you know, high scoring affairs as well where Leeds came out on top of as well.
00:17In terms of individual performers, individual players throughout this season, it was obviously a huge season in terms of what they needed to do in getting up and they have got that, they are now back in the Premier League with Daniel Farker.
00:31We're going to look at some individual players, so Dan, our Leeds correspondent. Dan, just look at, you know, the player of the season debate who can maybe take that award, but then also as a whole, who's improved the most under Daniel Farker?
00:44This was obviously a massive season for himself, you know, going into it and making sure he got the goal across to really send back Leeds to the Premier League with some momentum and now got that.
00:55Obviously, their home form was pretty much flawless as well. Who's been a standout for you? Who's been a standout in terms of improvement under Daniel Farker?
01:04And then who do you think will get the player of the season award? Obviously, Junior Firpo, Manon Solomon, you know, Jadon Bogle, even Ampadu.
01:13The list goes on for consistent performers in this Leeds side and that's what you need to become champions of any league, any season.
01:22So, yeah, who do you think will sort of fly straight in to the Premier League campaign well after having a fantastic standout season at Ellen Road?
01:32Well, Charles, there's a host of names you could mention in terms of Leeds United's player of the season.
01:37Obviously, Leeds winning the championship does help that, but certainly a lot of names that you could pick.
01:44I think the official player of the season went to Dan James and, you know, it's not undeserved at all.
01:48Certainly, his contribution with goals and assists this season has been vital for Leeds winning the championship title.
01:54Personally, if you were to ask me, I think despite some of his injuries, I'd go Manon Solomon and I know that's obviously someone who doesn't actually play for Leeds permanently.
02:03He was only on loan from Tottenham, but, I mean, just look at the last day of the season, of course, the winning goal against Plymouth.
02:09But not only that as well, so many good moments from him, so many important goals and just his ability throughout the season, despite some of the injuries he had at times, to come back and then shine for Leeds as well.
02:20Of course, some unsung heroes, perhaps the likes of Jadon Bogle, Ayo Tanaka, fantastic throughout the campaign.
02:27Leeds just had a lot of quality throughout the squad for this level of English football that helped them get to 100 points in the championship.
02:34Not far off the championship record set by Reading a good few years back, but just a lot of good players in that squad.
02:42I mean, obviously, certain players perhaps were good in patches and then maybe not so good in others.
02:47I mean, you could look at Elan Mellier, for example, who at times produced some fantastic and wonderful saves to keep Leeds in games or to win them points.
02:56But then, of course, you had the moments against Sunderland and Hull, for example, which saw him be dropped eventually for Karl Darla towards the end of the season.
03:03But, as I say, I'd go for Manor Solomon just because of his ability, his technical ability on the ball with some of the goals and the assists he provided as well.
03:12But, as I say, Dan James, certainly a worthy pick for some of the similar things that he did as well.
03:18As I say, though, unsung heroes like Tanaka, I think him in the midfield, he just didn't stop running, did he?
03:24I think he's certainly a shout, you could say, as well.
03:28And, of course, you have to mention Joel Perrault, top scorer in the championship, should definitely not go amiss as well for all the goals that he scored in firing Leeds to the top of the table come the last day of the season.
03:40You know, he hadn't had the best of years the year before.
03:42People were wondering, you know, is he still up to it following his time at Swansea City?
03:47And still questions actually remain over his ability to do it in the Premier League because, of course, he's not done that before.
03:52But certainly this season, for all the goals he scored for Leeds in the championship, you have to give Joel Perrault credit as well.
03:58So, certainly he could be up there as one of Leeds' players of the season as well.
04:02And then you have to look at the captain, Ethan Ampadu.
04:06Certainly a player who Leeds have been able to rely on for much of the season.
04:10Yes, he's had his injury woes as well.
04:13But certainly someone who Leeds, you know, just knew they could always rely on in difficult situations to pull them through.
04:20And at times, if he was playing in centre-half, him alongside Pascal Stroik was a formidable partnership as well.
04:27But, yes, my choice would be Mano Solomon.
04:29As I say, goals, assists, ability to beat a man, his pace, trickery.
04:34And, of course, as I say, just as well, you can't look past that winning goal on the final day of the season.
04:38So, my Leeds United player of the season would have to be Mano Solomon.
04:42But certainly a lot of shouts for other players.
04:44So, my Leeds United player of the season would be Mano Solomon.