Leeds United are moving closer to sealing Premier League safety this spring and Brenden Aaronson is playing his part along the way.
Aaronson assisted once on Saturday in the Lilywhites’ 3-0 home victory over Wolves, moving Leeds United nine points clear from the relegation zone. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder now has assists in back-to-back matches and five for the season.
James Justin opened the scoring for Leeds United after 18 minutes, using an acrobatic finish in the box to make it 1-0.
Aaronson teed up Noah Okafor for Leeds’ second goal only two minutes later, giving the hosts a comfortable advantage. Aaronson raced down the right wing before crossing into the box for Okafor to slot into the bottom-right corner.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin iced the result in second-half stoppage time by scoring from the penalty spot. The veteran forward christened his 300th league appearance in style by capping off Leeds’ latest result.
Aaronson played 78 minutes in the match, delivering his 24th goal contribution for the club.
Up next for Leeds United is a midweek trip to AFC Bournemouth before an FA Cup semifinal date with Chelsea on April 26.
Beachbum
BA is what he is and deserves all the credit in the world. And if you need what he does best there are few better. But he’s not a difference maker. He’s in a role where the USMNT needs more creativity and as earnest as he is he’s not THAT guy. We need a #10 who does assists like this on a regular basis not as a career highlight.
I didn’t say anything about what is needed or whatever, only that, even after a play like this, nothing but shade, which is nothing but truth, and then your response here is to confirm that. I mean, come on man
And I’m not championing BA as this or that or anything, only as exactly who he is, a guy who plays every game, in the PL, and continues to improve with his opportunities, and who made that play (and he’s made many others just this year for them, my guess is you haven’t watched his season, which I have)
and if he makes Poch’s team or not, idk! or who will play a #10 role if anyone, but your reset after something good from BA to say, eh, he’s only blah blah blah, to try to nerf him back to some rating, especially after a play like that…I guess your wet towel take on it surprised me, that you felt the need to post that, because when I saw the play happen, I mean, it was beautiful
cheers Vac
Haters are gonna hate. Some players will never do enough to please some fans.
beachbum,
“I guess your wet towel take on it surprised me, that you felt the need to post that, because when I saw the play happen, I mean, it was beautiful”
My post was a reaction to quozzel’s odd attempted “compliment ” which was an interesting, back-handed one.
I’ve followed/watched since BA he went on loan to Germany BA.
He now fits very well into what Farke wants or needs. and is a vital part of that team. He’s improved himself and that is admirable. You know how everyone used to bitch about his need to get stronger because he was so easily knocked off the ball?
Well, he was so easily knocked of the ball because he really wasn’t that good on/with the ball in the first place. He’s gotten better at that and Leeds now have a better player than the guy they used to abuse.
As quozzel says, just think how much better he’ll be when he is in his 30’s, about five, six years from now. That’s a career for some players.
But Leeds is one thing and the USMNT is another.
I only pay attention to BA because of his USMNT relevance.
I expect to see him on the 26 but only because the USMNT can’t come up with a better player and that is too bad.
Vacqui –
The reason I think Aaronson will play his best soccer on the other side of 30 is the style of player he is. He isn’t a speed guy and if I had to fault him for two things it’s his collision radar and the fact that he sometimes seems to make odd decisions because he’s almost trying too hard at times.
But those are between-the-ears issues and players tend to acclimate and see it better as they progress. We keep seeing flashes of real talent from Aaronson and the more hard games at the level he’s playing at he gets, the more it’s going to slow down for him. He’s a different guy when he’s playing with confidence, and he’s been steadily improving, and my feeling is he’s kind of on the Christian Roldan trajectory, just at a higher level.
quozzel,
Your analysis of BA is, I think, right on the button.
My slant on your take is what you are really saying is that BA’s managers have been willing to put up with the fact that, as a soccer player his talent, his tangible ball skills, are modest.
Yet for Farke and Jesse before him, BA becomes almost undroppable.
Whyzat?
Because his intangibles are so high. Every team needs a warhorse. Farke and Jesse could point to BA and say ” See? BA always shows up and works his ass off why can’t you, you sorry ass Diva shitbag!.”
1) Runs forever
2) An Iron man, he has missed 10 games due to injury over the course of his entire career. Context? Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic ( BA’s contemporaries) over their entire pro careers have missed over 200 combined games total.
3) Jesse said BA is the most coachable player ever; a first class pressing monster. excellent defender ( in the NHL they call guys like him a forechecker forward like Zach Hyman or Brandon Hagel).
4) High character, very intelligent guy; everyone including the fans seem to love him and in terms of the media, is a great story because he proves (seemingly) that great old All American narrative that as long as you work hard enough in your basement with your dad and your little brother , anything is possible.
Given all that, he makes himself indispensible to his clubs and gets to play a lot of games:
“We keep seeing flashes of real talent from Aaronson and the more hard games at the level he’s playing at he gets, the more it’s going to slow down for him. He’s a different guy when he’s playing with confidence, and he’s been steadily improving, and my feeling is he’s kind of on the Christian Roldan trajectory, just at a higher level. ”
And being the sharp guy he is, his intangibles will get him the ability to hang around long enough to evolve.
Yet since Pochettino took over BA has played at most, 300 minutes for the USMNT..
Maybe Pochettino is not that impressed. After all he has mad men like Big Balls Luna and Daed Ball Seba to run through walls but offer a bit more of an offensive threat.
OR
he knows exactly what BA has to offer and once the rosters are set BA will become BA90.
I don’t know what Pochettino is going to do but I think our best move is to get off to a fast start, balls to the wall and try to blow the doors off of everyone as soon as possible. Speed and Aggression
I see BA as more of a club guy. If the USMNT were a club team and the WC was a league competition with a lot more games and a bigger roster,
I’d start BA and keep guys like Malik, Diego, Gio, McGlynn and Alex, around as offensive options.
Unfortunately that’s not how it works.
Zendejas woth an assist in a Club America win over Toluca and Diego Luna with a goal and an assist. Looks like our attacking midfielders are heating up. Unfortunately another sub par performance from Pulisic today. Malik an 82nd sub for Leverkusen and we will see if Reyna gets off the bench later today. Aaronson, Luna, and Zendejas all in form.
That was a really, really good assist. And he was the one who collected that wayward pass that started the counter to begin with.
Aaronson’s got some skills, he really does, and I maintain he’s probably going to be the sort of player that is going to be a lot better as he gets to the other side of 30. The fact that he’s somehow back starting for Leeds after the abuse he’s taken from the fans there definitely shows his mentality.
Poch has got some hard choices upcoming for this WC roster. And Aaronson has absolutely kept himself in the conversation.
quozzel
“I maintain he’s probably going to be the sort of player that is going to be a lot better as he gets to the other side of 30.”
That’s five years from now. The USMNT needs “a lot better” in WC 2026 not WC 2030.
” The fact that he’s somehow back starting for Leeds after the abuse he’s taken from the fans there definitely shows his mentality.”
Yes and the fact that Leeds can’t afford anyone better.
Oh Vac, so even after Aaronson does something impressive, like this assist, just shade? noted dude