Leeds United’s phenomenal start to the new campaign continued to turn heads on Tuesday night as Daniel Farke’s men marched back into the City Ground and calmly dispatched Nottingham Forest 2-0. Second-half strikes from Dan James and James Justin sealed a comfortable passage into the third round of the EFL Cup, completing a miserable 72-hour double over their Midlands rivals following Saturday’s gritty 1-0 Premier League opening-day victory at the exact same venue.
While the back-to-back victories have sent the Elland Road faithful into raptures, perhaps the most surprising reaction has come from outside West Yorkshire. Outspoken pundit and former Watford captain Troy Deeney—historically known for his harsh verdicts and skeptical takes on the Whites—has completely flipped the script with an uncharacteristically glowing assessment of Leeds’ trajectory.
Troy Deeney’s Massive Praise for Leeds United
Deeney, who famously predicted Leeds would suffer relegation under Daniel Farke last season and previously took aim at goalkeeper James Trafford by labeling him “lightweight,” has undergone a total change of heart. Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney confessed that the club’s aggressive ambition in the transfer market has proved him entirely wrong, pointing directly to the club-record £40 million acquisition of England shot-stopper James Trafford as a watershed moment.
Rather than predicting another grueling survival dogfight, Deeney boldly asserted that Leeds are positioned to become a sustained force in the top flight.
“They looked like favourites for relegation last year but stayed up very comfortably,” Deeney acknowledged on CBS Sports. “Made some very notable acquisitions last year and again this year. James Trafford for £40m – the most expensive British goalkeeper ever. That’s a big statement of them saying we are going to stay up and we are going to kick on.”
Highlighting how valuable deep cup runs will be for keeping squad players sharp and rotated, Deeney delivered the ultimate endorsement for a fanbase that has endured years of turbulence:
“Leeds look like they are going to be a Premier League force for a little while. They don’t feel like they are going to be in any relegation trouble, at least this season.”
Can Farke’s Men Dream of European Football?
Naturally, avoiding a relegation scrap remains the primary baseline objective for any club consolidating its status in the Premier League. However, with the 49ers ownership group backing Farke with serious financial muscle—and ongoing efforts to secure even more reinforcements before the September 1st transfer deadline—the conversation at Elland Road is naturally beginning to evolve.
While securing a stable top-half finish would represent a massive achievement in an intensely competitive league, the sheer resilience and character displayed by this squad suggests they could punch above their weight. If established giants stumble and an opportunity opens up further up the table, a push toward European qualification might not be entirely out of the question.
For now, Farke and his players are keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground as they prepare to host Brentford at Elland Road on Sunday. But with former critics like Troy Deeney finally standing up and taking notice, the rest of the Premier League has been officially put on notice: Leeds United are here to stay!
