I have to say a massive congratulations to Leeds United for restoring my faith in the integrity of the Premier League.
I’m not somebody who instantly jumps to conspiracy theories. Quite the opposite, in fact.
I generally prefer to take responsibility, and for most of this season I’ve believed West Ham are where we are because, quite frankly, we’ve been crap.
But I have to admit, the last couple of weeks have seriously shaken my confidence in just how honest the Premier League has become.
Aston Villa Started The Doubts
It really began with Aston Villa’s capitulation against Tottenham.
I completely understood Unai Emery prioritising the Europa League semi-final. That made perfect sense.
What I couldn’t understand was why the players brought in — effectively understudies playing for a starting role in Europe — looked like they didn’t even try.
Even stranger was Emery himself.
For a manager normally bouncing around with endless energy on the touchline, he stood there almost motionless while Spurs walked through his team.
Common sense told me Villa wanted to win.
But what I watched with my own eyes suggested something very different.
And I wasn’t alone. The following day, TalkSport’s Simon Jordan described Villa’s display as the worst performance he’d ever seen from a Premier League side — including teams relegated with record-low points totals.
VAR Made Everything Worse
Then came Brentford.
Their opening goal against West Ham followed what looked a blatant stomp on Konstantinos Mavropanos.
After that, Dinos’ own goal against the Bees was ruled out using a digital offside graphic which somehow twisted Thiago’s leg into a position that didn’t remotely resemble reality.
And then, of course, came the Callum Wilson equaliser against Arsenal.
Ruled out by VAR because of Pablo’s supposed infringement on David Raya.
Wilson’s equaliser against Arsenal was cruelly ruled out
With the eyes of the football world watching, almost everyone outside of Arsenal supporters seemed horrified by the decision.
And honestly, it felt like that moment may well have cost West Ham our Premier League status.
Leeds Restored Some Belief
Put all of those moments together and it became genuinely difficult not to question whether something seriously wrong was happening in the Premier League.
So with all that in mind, I was absolutely delighted by what Leeds United produced against Tottenham.
They played with honesty, intensity and total commitment.
Yes, West Ham still have to face Leeds on the final day and we may yet suffer because of that same desire and professionalism.
But at a point in the season where they arguably didn’t need to empty the tank, they still gave everything.
Effort That Meant Something
Even with the fourth official somehow finding 13 minutes of injury time from thin air, Leeds not only held on — they came from behind to do it.
And honestly, it meant something.
At the exact moment where I’d become completely disillusioned with football, with VAR, and with what increasingly looked like either staggering incompetence or outright corruption, Daniel Farke’s side restored a bit of belief.
For that, I genuinely thank them.
You have to be blind to not see Raya WAS fouled by Pablo.
And im a Leeds fan that wants Spurs relegated.
As a Leeds fan, I am with you 100%. I hope you stay up, Spurs go down and we can get the game back on track
we’re still hoping, cheers 👍
I have to be honest and say up untill last night’s game If I could have chosen who went down between spurs and West ham I wanted it to be west ham. But now I hope you stay up and spurs go down. I. Watched bowens interview after the gooners game and I agreed with everything he said he wasn’t moaning because you lost he was pointing out the inconsistent decisions made in favour of the so called big teams. So if we can manage a win against Bournemouth then I would not be upset at losing to west ham if it sends spurs down
I think Leeds are that type of team. I’m sure Leeds fans will say it is part of their club’s ethos. They will not meekly lie down for anyone really.
Personally, watching Leeds vs Sunderland game, both teams seemed to have brought Championship attitudes up with them in their approach to games, going at it hammer and tongs for 90+ minutes, less professional fouling, less rolling 5m along the ground, less whining & more football. Don’t want to exaggerate, it is not as if they are nuns, but there was a difference and game was quite something to watch.
I thought I would watch the game to see what our nearest rivals in the table would be like – got that wrong.
The pro fouls and rolling about like you have been shot is what I hate about the premier league but if we manage to stay up a few years then I’m sure will will have to do the same to get a fare share of decisions. Good luck for the rest of the season Leeds n proud
you’re probably right, this so-called professionalism spreads – a bit to do with managers too, I think. Spoils the fun of the game – anyhow, long story.
thanks! Everyone on this site has said how Leeds deserved their success – well done.
Now back to hoping WHU beat Leeds on the 24th!
The first match between Sunderland and Leeds was like that but by he second game between them, Sunderland had picked up on the dark arts employed by many Premier Teams these days and ruined the game. They had no intention of playing football that night. The ball was in play for around 45 minutes total out of 100 plus minutes. Ridiculous.