Luffman predicts a few surprises
Leeds academy coach Mark Luffman is predicting the club to do much better than many people expect this season.
Luffman is in charge of the young players at the club and he says that some real quality players are ready to make an impression on the first team and this can only mean good things for the club.
Leeds have been very quiet during the pre-season campaign and this suggests that they are happy with the playing staff they have at the club. It suggests that a few youth players may be given a chance to shine over the course of the season.
Luffman seems to be a believer that the only way for younger players to get better is by throwing them in to the Premiership at the deep end. The balance of the side seems to be very good but there is always the chance that younger players are going to be targeted. Additionally it may take some time for Luffman's squad to mature up to his level of expectations.
Balance of the side
All of the successful teams over the last three to four years have had very balanced sides that combine experience from the older players with the energy and pace from the younger players.
This allows the younger and fitter individuals in a side to run around like mad men and showcase their talent while the experienced players fill in the gaps and keep the defence solid.
Luffman says that he has seen a very hungry team developing up at Leeds, which cannot wait for the Premier League season to start. It will be a very proud moment for him if he sees anyone he has coached doing well in the first team.
He said: "A few years down the line I can certainly see a lot of these boys involved in the first team squad. I was very impressed with the boys and how they learned and improved as the tournament went on [pre-season event]. I'm very proud of how they played and they put in a magnificent effort. We only had four hours training preparation for this, so for them to play like they did was impressive and showed their character."
The same old tricks
The same old tricks that teams use to deal with vibrant young players are going to surface at some point this year. Opposition sides will look for weaknesses in the Leeds team and they will pick out any young and under strength players.
Bigger and more powerful players in the opposition side will then proceed to bully the younger players off of the ball and this will create gaps that can be exploited for tries and points.
Luffman added: "This experience will massively benefit their development and make them more hungry to become a first team player. I believe these guys can go all the way and become first team players in the top flight. All the boys have the ability to play at the highest level."
Betting advice
Leeds are unlikely to push for top of the table places during the new Premiership season but they will not find themselves towards the bottom of the league. They have the right balance in their team and all of the talent needed to do very well over the course of the season.
The safest way to approach the team is to wait until the season has started. This will let you see how they are playing and whether any young players are having a real impact. Always remember that the younger players will be more intent on getting points on the board during a game because they will want to get noticed.
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