Leeds United News

Former Leeds United star Archie Gray was in Europa League action for Tottenham Hotspur away at Galatasaray.

Being a boyhood Leeds fan, Gray will understand the rivalry between his old club and Spurs’ opponents, making it an even bigger night than it already was for him.

Gray was making just his sixth start for Spurs since joining from Leeds in the summer, four of which have come in the Europa League, with the other two in the Carabao Cup.

Spurs had travelled to Turkey with a 100 per cent record in Europe this season but a much changed XI fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat, despite goals from Will Lankshear and Dominic Solanke.

Gray has been linked with a loan move to Sevilla in January but with so many games to come in the Europa League, it is difficult to see Spurs sanctioning an exit, considering how important he has become in this competition.

Spurs media react to Gray display vs Galatasaray

Gray has impressed in the Europa League this season and despite falling to their first loss, seemingly enjoyed another good night on a personal level.

The 18-year-old was heavily involved in Spurs’ equalising goal in the first half as his perfect cross-field pass over the top of Galatasaray’s defence found Brennan Johnson inside the area, who squared for Lankshear to tap home.

Despite Gray being keen to play midfield, he was in yet another new position for Spurs in Turkey, this time starting on the left of a makeshift back four.

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There were some understandable struggles that came as a result of playing out of position, though Football.London wanted to focus on his ‘fantastic’ ball for Johnson in their post-match player ratings.

They wrote: “Archie Gray – Played a fantastic ball into the path of Johnson for Lankshear’s leveller. Worked hard down the left but struggled to get up the pitch as he would have wanted. 6.”

National English press give Gray ‘credit’

With a total of 28 shots to five, Galatasaray were deserved winners on the night, but Spurs fought hard with both Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven out injured, and other key players on the bench.

The Daily Express also wrote a post-match player ratings piece on Spurs’ side, with Gray again named as one of the stand-outs.

It is said Gray was one of the only members of the Spurs side to finish the game with ‘credit’, despite playing in an unnatural position.

Since leaving Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur, Archie Gray has seemingly turned into Ange Postecoglou’s very own version of Stuart Dallas.

Gray was handed his third start for Tottenham on Thursday night as they picked up a second consecutive win in the Europa League, defeating Ferencvaros 2-1 away from home.

With Spurs down to 10 men, Gray was praised for his performance in the 3-0 victory over Qarabag last week, but it appears as though he went up another level in Hungary.

Gray is now effectively seen as cover all across Spurs’ back four after former Leeds loanee Djed Spence was actually left out of the Europa League squad completely.

Spence came on at left-back at half-time of Spurs’ 3-0 win over Manchester United last weekend, and with both Radu Dragusin and Destiny Udogie ruled out, it was up to Gray to cover.

Spurs media make huge prediction about Gray

For the first time ever, Gray actually played at centre-back in pre-season for Spurs due to Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Dragusin all being away on international duty.

It had looked as though that would be just a brief experiment by Postecoglou, but Gray was actually tasked with playing there in a competitive match last night.

Gray started the match at centre-back before then being shifted over to the left in the second half due to Ben Davies’ struggles.

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Considering those are two positions he rarely, if ever played at all at Leeds, Football.London were left hugely impressed by Gray’s display, so much so they have predicted him to achieve huge things while at Spurs.

They wrote: “Archie Gray – Spent the first half as central defender and the second as a left-back. The 18-year-old is going to be a fantastic player for the club.

“Playing completely out of position but he showed so many great touches, including one backheel that sent Spurs away on a big counter attack. Worked so hard throughout. 8.”

National media question Gray defensively

Gray wasn’t always the most assured defensively when playing right-back for Leeds, but certainly grew into the position as the season went on.

And playing here there and everywhere apart from midfield for Spurs, it is looking like he will have to continue learning on the job.

Archie Gray finally seems to be showing his worth to Tottenham Hotspur following his move from Leeds United.

Gray joined the north London side for £40 million in the summer but has been forced to bide his time for proper minutes, which look set to arrive on a regular basis now the cup competitions have started.

His full debut came in last week’s 2-1 victory over Leeds‘ opponents today Coventry City, a game in which former Whites loanee Djed Spence outshone him with a goal.

However, Gray received heaps of praise from Spurs’ local media for his performance in their 3-0 win over Qarabag in the Europa League.

Spurs were down to 10 men for almost the entirety of that match but Gray was hailed as one of their side’s star performers, meaning more starts are likely to be around the corner.

Gray hails what Stuart Dallas did at Leeds

Gray is undoubtedly the golden boy to come out of Leeds’ academy in recent years, possibly even since James Milner all the way back in 2002.

As a result of his rapid progression up the footballing world, those who have worked closely with him throughout his career have spoken very highly of him recently.

Former Leeds U21s coach Mark Jackson says he knew Gray would be special from an early age, while Stuart Dallas recalled how hard he used to work when they were both injured.

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And now in an interview with Sky Sports, Gray wanted to return the favour to all those who praised him in the media recently, but none more so than former Leeds teammate Dallas.

“I respect all of them and I’m really grateful for all of them, all three of them. What they have done for me is amazing and I am really lucky to have come across them all along my way.

“They are all amazing guys, and Stu especially, he helped me a lot, especially coming in as a player, as a senior player. He took me under his wing over the last few years and he really helped me along the way.”

What Dallas said about Gray after time together at Leeds

As mentioned, Dallas recently spoke very highly of Gray in an interview with Sky Sports, having actually spent a lot of time together in the treatment room.

Dallas, of course, spent two years on the sidelines prior to his retirement and for much of the first year, Gray was with him as a 16-year-old.

Dallas could not believe how hard Gray used to work to get himself back fit and says his desire to go the extra mile is what singled him out to other youngsters.

He said: “For me to have him in the gym as well, he got injured for quite a while but never once complained. I always tell the story about him that he’d have been given his programme in the morning, and it would have been pretty long for him.

“He was still doing his education at the times, so he’d have done one part of his gym programme and then do his education. By the time his education was done, I’d have finished and I was gone.

“Every other player was gone, but I’d return in the evening with my kids in the pre-academy, and when I’d comeback, Archie would still be in the gym. I’d say, ‘what are you still doing here?’

“He’d say he’s finishing off his programme and that to me showed this kid wants it and is going to get it, because anyone else would’ve been gone, ‘there’s no coaches here or staff, I’ll go.’ But no he was still finishing is core, or whatever he had to do and that to me showed he’s different and special.”

Archie Gray’s decision to leave Leeds United for Tottenham was vindicated on Thursday night after making his full European debut.

Gray joined Spurs for £40 million in the summer and has had a slow start to life in north London, but is expected to see plenty of game time in the Europa League.

Despite Eddie Gray’s insistence midfield is Gray’s best position, the 18-year-old was again playing at right back as a 10-man Spurs defeated Qarabag 3-0 at home.

With former Leeds loanee Djed Spence having been left out of the Europa League squad completely, Gray is likely to continue at right-back throughout Spurs’ campaign in Europe.

Incidentally, Spence actually outshone Gray on his full debut at Coventry City, but this appears as though it was a good night for the former Leeds star.

Local Spurs media react to Gray’s European debut

Despite on paper it looking like a routine victory, Spurs played with a man light for over 80 minutes of the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Gray’s right centre-back Radu Dragusin was given a red card for an early last-man foul, but clearly adapted well with Spurs keeping a clean sheet.

Spurs were understandably forced to withstand some pressure throughout the match, but Gray was able to hold firm defensively.

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He completed 28 of his 39 attempted passes, made two tackles, two clearances and blocked one shot, showing just how involved he was.

Football.London delivered their verdict on Gray’s performance post-match and says it is clear he is continuing to get ‘sharper’, despite playing out of position.

They wrote: “Archie Gray – Put in a real shift at right-back and tried to get Spurs up the pitch as well even with 10 men. It’s not his ideal position but he’s getting plenty of minutes there and he’s getting sharper. Looked like he picked up a late painful knock but was running it off in the final minutes. 7.”

National media also delivers Gray verdict after Spurs win

It seems the national media were also impressed by Gray’s display, who will only get better the more he plays regular minutes.

Despite Qarabag’s man advantage, 90min.com actually focused on Gray’s attacking threat down the right alongside Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski.

That outlet believe ‘meaningful minutes’ in the Premier League are not too far around the corner for Gray.

Archie Gray has finally made his first start for Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night after leaving Leeds United and Ethan Ampadu has heaped praise on the teenage midfielder.

The 18-year-old played 90 minutes for Ange Postecoglou’s side in the third round of the Carabao Cup last night as Spurs came from behind late to win 2-1 against last term’s FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry City.

Goals from former Leeds loanee Djed Spence and then Brennan Johnson secured a 2-1 win for Gray and Spurs. While he was solid, Gray was outshone by Spence after the latter came on for Spurs at half-time.

Gray’s move to Spurs in the summer comes after a wonderful first season in the senior team at Leeds in which the England U21 star played 52 times in all competitions, both in midfield and at right-back.

Ampadu says Gray is “fearless” following move to Tottenham

It is a big hole that Gray has left behind. Arguably the best right-back in last season’s Championship and one of the best midfielders, too. Leeds have since replaced him with Jayden Bogle and two midfielders.

Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell have come in, but the chances of them being anything like Gray is limited. Ampadu highlighted his attributes in a recent interview with Sky Sports following his move to Spurs.

“He’s top. Not just as a player but as a person, and his family. When you play with him you forget he’s a young lad, he’s fearless. I don’t think football fazes him, everyone gets nervous but nothing fazes him.

“He plays the game how it is and that’s one of his best attributes that no matter what the game requires, no matter what situation he’s in in the game, he just does it,” Ampadu said in an interview about Gray.

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What Stuart Dallas told Gray following the play-off final

Had Leeds beaten Southampton in the play-off final, it is much more likely that Gray would have stayed at Leeds. The same for new West Ham and Brighton stars Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

But Southampton won 1-0 and are back in the Premier League while Leeds have been left to fight it out in England’s second tier for a second year. Dallas told Gray after the final it would make him a better player.

“I said to him after the game that these games will make you a better player, it’ll help you as a player and help you grow. I mean, you can see that now,” Dallas said when sharing what he told Gray after the final.

Archie Gray’s first start for Tottenham proved to be an enthralling Carabao Cup clash that saw Spurs manage to overcome Coventry City in the end, but he showed he’s still Leeds after the match.

The 18-year-old swapped Leeds for Tottenham at the start of July, costing Spurs a whopping £40m. But a quarter of that fee was immediately returned to Spurs, for the permanent purchase of player Joe Rodon.

But Gray has been made to wait for minutes at Tottenham. He came on in Spurs’ opening two Premier League fixtures against Leicester and Everton, but was unused against Newcastle United and Arsenal.

On Wednesday night though, Ange Postecoglou handed Gray the chance to start and he played the 90 minutes as Spurs came from behind to beat Championship side and FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry.

Gray describes as Elland Road as “our ground” in interview

A brilliant goal from Djed Spence and then an injury-time winner from Brennan Johnson cancelled out Brandon Thomas-Asante’s opener just after the hour mark. Spence’s equaliser came in the 88th minute.

Speaking after the match, Gray explained how he knew facing Coventry would be a tough clash having played against Mark Robins’ side for Leeds. Inadvertently, he described Elland Road as “our ground”.

“Difficult place to come here. Played here last year, even at our ground last year, they always bring a tough game and lots of transitions. They did well and the fans got behind them,” Gray told Sky Sports.

Gray solid but he was outshone by Spence in first Spurs start

Two tackles, passing accuracy above 90% and an interception according to WhoScored is proof that Gray has a solid, steady first start for Spurs in what was a banana skin for Ange Postecoglou’s side last night.

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But Gray was outshone by Spence. The Leeds flop, who is back at Spurs after a loan spell at Genoa, came on at half-time on the other side of Tottenham’s defence and was the architect of his side’s late equaliser.

Not only that, but he had a better passing accuracy than Gray, as many tackles and as many clearances in the 45 minutes he played. It might be back to the bench on the weekend when Spurs take on Brentford.

Over two-and-a-half-months on from his move from Leeds United, Archie Gray finally made his full competitive Tottenham debut.

Gray was handed a start at right-back in Spurs’ late 2-1 win at Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, with the 18-year-old playing the full 90 minutes in place of Pedro Porro.

Spurs have actually signed Gray to play in midfield over the long-term but their current options are so stacked that he has again had to drop into the back four, like he did for much of his time at Elland Road.

It is likely that will be where he makes the majority of his appearances given former Leeds loanee and the scorer of Spurs’ equaliser Djed Spence was left out of their Europa League squad.

Gray has frequently said he is happy to play anywhere but there is no doubt those around him, including great uncle Eddie, view his best position as midfield.

What Spurs’ local media made of former Leeds star Gray’s full debut

Gray is going to have to make the most of these sort of appearances this season as it is quite clear league minutes will be few and far between.

In both of Spurs’ last two matches, Gray has been an unused substitute and it is hard to see that changing with Yves Bissouma due back from injury soon.

And unfortunately for Gray, it does not sound like he particularly covered himself in glory on his full debut, even if Spurs did manage to comeback and take the win.

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Following back-to-back defeats in the league, including in Sunday’s North London derby against Arsenal, the pressure was on Ange Postecoglou to guide his side back to winning ways.

Postecoglou will be extremely relieved his side were able to save his blushes late on, though Football.London reported it was a tough night for Gray.

They wrote: “A busy game at right-back and Coventry gave him plenty of problems down that flank with their pace including finding that space behind him for the goal. 5.”

Jamie O’Hara blasted Spurs for £40m Gray signing

Former Spurs midfielder and now supporter Jamie O’Hara went into complete meltdown mode over his side’s transfer business in the wake of the defeat to Arsenal.

He completely lamented Spurs for spending so much money on the likes of Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert and Gray, all of whom came from so called lesser clubs.

And even though Spurs were able to eventually come out on top last night, perhaps he wasn’t far wrong if that performance is the benchmark for the rest of the season.

He said: “Have we brought in top players? [Dominic] Solanke, one good season at Bournemouth. Hasn’t scored yet. He’s had one good season at Bournemouth and we signed him for £60million.

“Brennan Johnson [is a] good player, a young player, Nottingham Forest, done the business of Forest. We signed him for £50 million. He looks miles off it, miles off it. And then I look at him and go, Archie Gray, good player. He’s from Leeds. It’s a Championship player. And we signed [Wilson] Odobert from Burnley.”

Archie Gray was finally handed his first Tottenham Hotspur start since leaving Leeds United more than two months ago, but he was outshone by a player that flopped under Daniel Farke.

Following his £40m move to Spurs, 18-year-old Gray has been made to wait for his first start as Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville already have picked up starts at Brighton and West Ham since going.

But on Wednesday night, that changed. Despite remaining an unused sub in Tottenham’s last two games in the Premier League against Newcastle and Arsenal, he was thrown in to the starting XI at Coventry.

A difficult game for Spurs, who actually went behind to Brandon Thomas Asante’s goal just after the hour mark for Mark Robins’ side. But two late Tottenham goals saw Spurs progress past Coventry to win 2-1.

Gray solid at right-back but Djed Spence steals the limelight

While Gray played a whopping 52 times for Leeds last season, Djed Spence managed just seven Leeds outings. Injured immediately after his debut and out for three months, Spence only played six more times.

His attitude was questioned with Spence said to have been unimpressed with playing on the left of the defence. Spence even turned up late to the meeting with Farke, when told his loan would be cancelled.

But coming on at half-time on the left of Tottenham’s defence, Spence starred for Ange Postecoglou’s men while Gray failed to prove why he cost £40m in the summer, a huge amount of cash sent to Leeds.

WhoScored stats show Spence miles better than Gray last night

Gray got a rating of 6.61, failing to offer anything in an attacking sense. The 18-year-old was solid in defence, making a couple of tackles but he was miles out of position for Thomas-Asante’s opener.

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Meanwhile, Spence showed a whole lot more in his 45 minutes. A rating of 7.48, Spence started the move that led to his goal. He also made two tackles and boasted a better passing rate, 92.9% over Gray’s 90.7%.

Tottenham Hotspur take on Coventry City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and Ange Postecoglou has made a decision regarding Archie Gray, two months after leaving Leeds United.

It is more than two months since the news broke that 18-year-old Gray would be leaving his boyhood club to join London side Tottenham. A £40m deal, though a quarter of that was used to sign Joe Rodon.

A transfer that helped Leeds balance the books and avoid a possible Profit & Sustainability Rules penalty. Of course, he was not the only big departure with Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville leaving.

Fast forward from Tottenham’s signing of Gray until now, and the England U21 star is yet to make a first start for Ange Postecoglou’s men since his arrival while both Rutter and Summerville have made starts.

Gray set to win first start for Tottenham on Wednesday night

With the Europa League not beginning until next week, Spurs are in action on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup. Postecoglou’s men take on Coventry City, who of course reached the FA Cup semi-finals.

Gray is yet to make a start for Spurs, coming on as a sub in their first two games but remaining an unused sub in their last two against Newcastle and Arsenal. However, Give Me Sport details some good news.

Indeed, they say Gray is about to win his first start for Postecoglou’s men on Wednesday night and get a start against Mark Robins’ cup specialists. A chance to shine for the £40m teen in a Tottenham shirt.

What Angus Kinnear said to Gray just before joining Tottenham

Kinnear recently gave an interview to The Square Ball, which has become an annual event after the summer window. He said he travelled with “phenomenal” Gray to London to sort out a move to Spurs.

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Indeed, Kinnear shares what he said to Gray while completing his move to Spurs that if it didn’t feel right, to give Leeds another year. But the teen sensation chose to join Spurs under manager Postecoglou.

“We spoke to him on the final day, Paraag and I, said, ‘Archie, if this doesn’t feel right, just come back and train, give us another year’. But I don’t begrudge him of the decision at all, it’s just the reality of the gap.”

Angus Kinnear has opened up on some of the behind-the-scenes details that saw Archie Gray leave Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Following Leeds‘ failure to win promotion, Gray was the first of three major sales across the window at Elland Road, with his seen as the key to complying with P&S at the time.

His move was completed just after the end of the financial year on June 30, and with him coming through the academy, will represent pure profit on Leeds’ accounts.

It was suggested in Leeds’ official statement announcing Gray’s departure that it would then help to keep some of their other key players, which according to Kinnear, it did to an extent.

Leeds are said to have knocked back big bids for Wilfried Gnonto, but it is hard to see it that way given Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter both also left.

Kinnear on what he told Gray just before Leeds exit

Kinnear was making his yearly appearance on the Square Ball Podcast in which he revealed he was with Gray and his Dad in north London on the day the deal was wrapped up.

Given his family legacy at the club, and the fact he only spent one year in the first team after progressing through the academy, Leeds fans were absolutely livid when news of Gray’s exit first broke.

There were some murmurs across social media that Leeds’ handling of the situation had damaged his family’s relationship with the club and could’ve therefore led to his brother Harry leaving, though those rumours were shut down.

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And now Kinnear has explained in more detail exactly how Gray’s final days at Leeds played out, even sharing how both he and Paraag Marathe both made a late plea to the 18-year-old to return to Thorp Arch if he had any doubts.

He said: “Leeds United did not approach any other club to sell Archie Gray across the whole window. Normally when you are trying to sell a player, you offer them around, speaking to the agent telling them we want that player to leave.

“We could have kept Archie Gray, but when you see – and I spent a day at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground with Daniel Levy, Archie and his dad, putting the deal together. The deal is absolutely life changing, and let me be clear, Archie and his dad handled the situation impeccably.

“They will always be great friends of the club, they could not have done anything more in terms of the way they handled it. But the opportunity to play in the Premier League and in Europe, for one of the six biggest clubs in the country, on a multiple of the money he was ever going to earn at Leeds, you can’t begrudge the player that.

“We spoke to him on the final day, Paraag and I, said, ‘Archie, if this doesn’t feel right, just come back and train, give us another year’. But I don’t begrudge him of the decision at all, it’s just the reality of the gap to the Premier League and Championship.”

Tottenham plotting move for Archie’s brother Harry Gray

Though Archie may be the best talent out of the academy since James Milner, there are suggestions his younger brother Harry is even better.

In fact, that has come from Archie himself. At just 15, Harry was heavily involved in pre-season with Leeds’ senior side, though injury has set him back in his development.

Unfortunately, though, Leeds may now face a fight on their hands to keep Gray, with Tottenham Hotspur and several top Premier League clubs keen.