Don Goodman: Leeds look too good to go down

Don Goodman insists Leeds's Sunday trip to Carrow Road is a must-win fixture but he remains confident that Marcelo Bielsa's men can avoid the second season syndrome which claimed Sheffield United last term.

The former West Brom, Sunderland and Wolves striker, who scored 162 goals in almost 600 Football League appearances, believes Leeds are too good to go down and a couple of January additions will soon see them steer clear of relegation danger.

The Sky Sports pundit told FreeSuperTips.com: "I think sometimes the second season thing can be more psychological if you're the club people are talking about.

"In Sheffield United's case, it's about how you get through the tough periods and there wasn't any point last season that they got through the tough periods.

"I don't categorise Leeds in the same bracket, I really don't.

"I've been covering the Championship for Sky Sports for about 15 years now and Leeds and Wolves are two of the best teams to get promoted out of the Championship.

"I don't really hold the same fears for Leeds as I did for Sheffield United, but they need wins, and they need them soon."

Bielsa's boys finished ninth in the Premier League last season but have struggled to replicate their 2020-21 form, winning only one of their opening nine league assignments.

However, Leeds head to Premier League basement boys Norwich on Sunday, in a game where Goodman thinks they can claim maximum points.

"Leeds have got Norwich next and although it's away and Norwich haven't been as bad as they've been made out to be so far, it's a must win.

"There aren't any easy games, but they're not one of the worst three teams in the division."

Injuries have had a serious impact on Leeds's results this season and Goodman hopes Bielsa reacts to that by adding some fresh faces in the January transfer window.

"They've always been able to manage the injury list, but I think the difference this time is that it's injuries to key players.

"There's been two injuries to the two most crucial players that really make a difference when Leeds don't have them and that's Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips.

"If you take those two out of that Leeds United side and what they try and do with their brand of football, it can become very difficult.

"They haven't got another Patrick Bamford at the football club, and they certainly don't have another Kalvin Phillips.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but they have brought in Dan James and Junior Firpo, but there wasn't many.

"The sooner the lads are back and fully up to speed the better and January is only around the corner, so hopefully that'll bring two or three more in.

"I think once they add two or three signings in January then they'll be ok and I don't have any relegation fears for them."

Norwich have been bouncing between the Premier League and the Championship and with just two points collected from their first nine games, a return to the second tier looks on the cards.

Goodman feels their struggles this season are because Daniel Farke has recruited wrongly, buying for the future rather than the present.

"Norwich City can't buy young players for the future, on mass, who haven't played in the Premier League and expect to compete.

"I think that's a mistake they've made, I'm full of praise for them as a club and how they've gone about it.

"I was critical of them for not spending enough the last time they were promoted, but this time I have to be critical of them in terms of the recruitment.

"I don't think they've got the balance right, some of these players may turn out to be fantastic players in the future, but to throw them in the deep end in the Premier League was a mistake.

"I do worry for them because I'm struggling to see how they survive, and I don't think they've spent their money wisely."

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