Leeds United have been lauded as the most improved side in the Premier League this season by Gary Neville and Roy Keane.

When Leeds were faltering in mid-November, Daniel Farke looked to be up against in regarding his chances of keeping his job.

However, a half-time switch away to Manchester City was the start of something special this season. Since then, we’ve performed like a side sure to stay in the division.

Gary Neville and Ian Wright label Leeds United as ‘most improved’ Premier League side

You can distinctly pinpoint a before and after for Leeds’ season – before that half-time and after it. So much so, Leeds were a bottom three team between matchday one and matchday 13 (Man City away).

In the 22 games since our defeat to the Citizens, Leeds are performing as the seventh-best team in the division. Farke has dragged us away from relegation trouble with some remarkable performances.

That turnaround in fortunes as a newly-promoted side has been lauded by the Stick To Football podcast. Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ian Wright agreed on United as one of the most improved in the division.

“I think Sunderland could come into it from being in the Championship and being where they are now,” Neville said. “And then Leeds could probably come into it.

“I wouldn’t be too far away from going Sunderland and Leeds. I think to play in the Championship and stay in the Premier League has become a massive jump. Shall we go for both of them together?”

“You’ve got to give credit to the two teams who have stayed up,” Roy Keane added. “We’ve all seen the stats from promoted teams over the last few years, and we all asked at the start whether two of them could stay up.”

After some deliberation, the group agreed to give the accolade to Leeds over the Black Cats, in spite of their loftier league position.

“I’d say Leeds. You know what? Farke has done well again, you have to give him some credit,” Wright added. “They went down, came back and now they’re here and they look like [a Premier League team]. I think he’s done well, Farke.”

Leeds United and Sunderland proving that the gap isn’t too big between Championship and Premier League

When we were promoted alongside Burnley and Sunderland, every man and their dog was expecting us to be relegated straight away.

The gap is too big, we were told. You can’t compete with Premier League riches, we were told.

Except, the gap is quality of coaching and recruitment, and it always has been. That’s exactly why Southampton, Ipswich, Leicester, Sheffield United, Burnley, and Luton Town all went straight back down. They recruited poorly and their coaches weren’t playing in a way to survive the drop.

Whereas, Farke and Regis Le Bris have built teams perfectly suited to fight for survival and succeed in the process.

Sunderland’s turnaround has been remarkable after scraping promotion. But, you’ve got to give props to Farke for achieving what he has with a side that’s not been completely overhauled.

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