Leeds Loan Watch: Amid Success, Some Scrutiny

Keeping up with everything that's going on at one club is difficult. We get it. Keeping up with your favorite club AND keeping tabs on the guys they loaned out? Even difficult-er. But no worries, we gotcha covered! Leeds have loaned out six players thus far, and they’ll all be reported on weekly here on out, with maybe a slight hiccup in January. We’ll see. Obviously, each club has played their fair share of matches thus far, so I tried my best to sum up what has happened thus far for each player, something you shouldn’t be seeing moving forward. This list isn’t in any specific order, and all the statistics you the reader will see are courtesy of sofascore.com. MOT

Tyler Denton

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Loaned to: Port Vale, EFL League Two

Last game: 2-0 L vs Luton Town

Next game: Home vs Forest Green 9/16/17

Port Vale have had a rough start to life this season, and it’s hurt Tyler Denton’s playing time. Tyler was in the Valiants’ starting XI in the clubs first three games of the season (vs Wycombe Wanderers, @ Chesterfield, vs Crewe Alexandra, all L’s) but has not seen the pitch since. In those three games, Denton earned a 6.0, 6.5, and 6.5 player rating respectively. Michael Brown’s men have not won a League Two game since defeating Crawley Town in their first game of the season and currently sit bottom of League Two with just 3 points. They’ll have a great shot at gaining points when they take on Forest Green at home, who currently sit just one spot above Port Vale in 23rd.

Lewie Coyle

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Loaned to: Fleetwood Town, EFL League One

Last game: 3-2 W vs Bury

Next game: @ Portsmouth 9/16/17

While Tyler Denton’s time out on loan has not been the most enjoyable thing in the world, Lewie Coyle’s time away from Elland Road has been a total 180. In five games played for the Fishermen, Coyle has started all of them. He’s received marks of 6.6 (b2b W’s vs Northampton Town and AFC Wimbledon), 6.1 (3-1 L vs Bristol Rovers) 6.5 (2-2 D vs Oldham Athletic), and 7.2 (3-2 W vs Bury). He’s proven to be versatile for head coach Uwe Rösler (remember him?), as he's featured at right and left wing-back when the Fishermen play 3-4-3 as well as playing right back in the 5-3-2 formation. Coyle bagged his first assist for Fleetwood last game and will be looking to continue the form when his team travels to Fratton Park for a mid-table clash against Portsmouth. Fleetwood current sits 11th on the table with 11 points.

Mallik Wilks

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Loaned to: Accrington Stanley, EFL League Two

Last game: 2-1 L vs Grimsby Town

Next game: @ Chesterfield 9/16/17

Wilkes ;) has made a great first impression when he made his debut for Accrington Stanley, scoring a 90+5 last gasp goal to steal a point against Notts County. He’s been used as a super-sub since joining Stanley, as 4 appearances have all come off the bench. His player grades: 7.5 (the Notts game), 6.7 (2-1 W vs Morecambe), 6.8 (3-0 W vs Carlisle), and 6.6 (2-1 L vs Grimsby Town). Accrington currently sits 3rd on the table behind Exeter City and Notts County, but they’d still have an automatic playoff spot if the season ends today. I’d like to see Mallik start a game one of these days, but I think head coach John Coleman is doing the right thing by bringing him off the bench for now. I didn't expect Wilks to get loaned out this year, but this is such a good move for his career moving forward.

Ouasim Bouy

Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Loaned to: Cultural Leonesa, Spanish Segunda División

Last game: 4-4 D vs Real Valladolid

Next game: Home vs Huesca 9.17.17

The good news: Ouasim Bouy made his debut for Leonesa at center back, where he got a 6.6 rating. The bad news: It was in a cup match, La Cultu had already played three matches before that game, aaaaand he was even subbed off during said cup game. Not the most promising signs. He’s at least making the bench for league games but has yet to make his debut. Take this all with a grain of salt, however, since I know absolutely zero about the Spanish Segunda División and how it operates. Leonesa currently sit 9th in the league after just four games, so you’d think there will come a time where Bouy gets minutes. Up next for the club is Samu Sáiz’s old stomping grounds, Huesca.

Luke Murphy

Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Loaned to: Burton Albion, EFL Championship

Last game: 0-0 D vs Norwich City

Next game: Home vs Fulham 9/16/17

I think Luke Murphy has a future at Burton Albion. I couldn’t see him playing much/at all this season had he stayed, and now the many additions Leeds brought it + how things are going at Burton should all but seal the door on an exit from Elland Road. Luke’s played well for the Brewers. He had a great partnership with Jackson Irvine, but with the Aussie leaving for Hull, there’s more of a spotlight on Murphy. He couldn't play against us, but I doubt the result would have changed much if he was on the pitch. 6.8 vs Hull (L), 6.5 vs Middlesbrough (L), 6.9 vs Birmingham City (W), 7.5 vs Sheffield Wednesday (D), and a 6.7 against Norwich (D) is respectable with what he’s working with. Burton looks to be relegation candidates as per usual this year, as they currently sit right above the drop zone in 21st. The Brewers will host Fulham at Pirelli Stadium next and will be looking to walk out of that one with an upset.

Marcus Antonsson

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Loaned to: Blackburn Rovers, League One

Last game: 1-0 W vs Scunthorpe United

Next game: Home vs AFC Wimbledon 9/16/17

Of the guys we have out on loan, Marcus Antonsson’s is the most significant. Up until the point that he got loaned, I was convinced that the only way forward between Leeds and Marcus was to sell him/release him. But ever since the rumors started swirling around and then it officially happened that the club sealed a loan, I’m so happy that they did. It’s a make it or break it year for the Swede, simply put. There’s a lot of young but unproven talent currently at Leeds. I hate being that guy so early on in the season, but there’s no guarantee Prime Minister Lasogga is a Leeds player after this season. There’s no guarantee that the likes of Jay-Roy Grot, Paweł Cibicki, and Caleb Ekuban develop into anything but guys with a bright future. If Marcus can prove it, there’s a place for him on this team. Luckily, things seem to be going well for both parties. Blackburn have won four in a row, and have won back-to-back games thanks to the leg of Marcus Antonsson. He’s played in 4, started 3, and scored twice for the Rovers earning a 6.5 rating in wins against Bradford City (1-0) and MK Dons (4-1), 7.4 against Rochdale (3-0 W), and a 7.1 against Scunthorpe (1-0 W). Blackburn currently sits in 9th in League One, but they should be rising up if the form continues. The confidence Marcus didn’t have at Leeds is finally showing up at Blackburn