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Noel Whelan backs Leeds for strong season if they find consistency
Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has backed his former side to compete at the right end of the table this season, but only if they find consistency with their performances.
A dominant Leeds performance saw the Whites wrap up a 3-1 victory over Stoke on opening day with Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez finding their way onto the scoresheet in the first-half.
Benik Afobe had halved the deficit early into the second-half with a penalty, but Liam Cooper's header shortly after ensured that Leeds would leave with all three points on offer.
Speaking on the Sporting Life Sky Bet Championship preview podcast, Whelan discussed a lacklustre Stoke performance by saying: "Leeds United shocked them with intensity, their aggression and their hunger for the game that Stoke were not expecting"
New boss Marcelo Bielsa seemed to have galvanised a squad who finished mid-table last season, with their defensive pressure giving Stoke little time on the ball.
On the positives for Leeds, Whelan added: "I think the first thing that impressed me was their fitness levels. They were intense - what they did off-the-ball was better for me than what they did on-the-ball.
"On-the-ball, we know they've got some very, very talented players. I think off-the-ball, they have got the attitude to work hard, to really close down a team and stop them from playing.
"It was relentless. It wasn't just one player going to close down, they were doubling up. (Pablo) Hernandez worked tirelessly up and down that right-hand side.
"You've got (Samuel) Saiz, who they (Stoke) could never to grips with. He was finding himself with little pockets of space and turning and that's when the team came alive.
"I think Leeds United, with their main striker that they paid £7m for, Patrick Bamford, sitting on the bench and their main centre-half in Pontus Jansson returning from the World Cup, performed very well."
Despite a positive performance on opening day, Whelan stated that Leeds need to match that level every week. "It is consistency," he said, "it's maintaining those standards and the bar that they set (against Stoke) - and that is the minimum.
"That's whats required to go out and win football matches, not just against the division favourites Stoke, but teams like Millwall as well.
"It's whether they can combat those physical attributes. For Leeds and Bielsa, he's got to be more than happy with what he saw but it is about whether they can maintain that standard and that quality."
Success for Forest
Despite praise for Leeds, Whelan believes that Nottingham Forest have what it takes to wrap up the Championship title this season.
Forest have been held to two 1-1 draws to start off their season - the latest coming against West Brom as Matt Phillips struck late for the Baggies.
Speaking exclusively on the Sporting Life Championship podcast, Whelan said: "I think this year they've (Forest) actually got the right balance throughout the whole team.
"Speaking to fans in Nottingham where I'm living these days, they're excited - they've seen a more capable team that's not just attacking, that's not just defensive, they've got the whole balance right.
"Most of the players they've signed this year are attacking players so it looks like Karanka is trying to go for that exciting style of football and going out to score goals.
"This is a really, really exciting time for Nottingham Forest this season."
🤔 So, Forest may not have secured the three points tonight (but they should have!)
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) August 7, 2018
🏆 @NoelDavidWhelan has #NFFC as his Sky Bet Championship winners this season... pic.twitter.com/Lw3TiFnA1H
Forest have recruited well this summer as they look to return to the Premier League, with João Carvalho's £15m addition from Benfica the highlight.
Lewis Grabban, who finished as the league's second highest scorer at the end of the last campaign after loan spells at Sunderland and Aston Villa, has made the switch from Bournemouth for what could be a bargain £6m price.
Gil Dias, El Arbi Hillel Soudani and Tobias Figeuiredo are a trio of other signings that rate as particularly shrewd business and should help to propel Forest further up the table.
When asked if Forest have had the best window out of any team in the division, Whelan replied: "They've just smashed it out of the ball park. The signings of João Carvalho, Lewis Grabban - they've brought in the experience of Michael Dawson who knows the club already.
"Diaz on-loan from Monaco, Figueiredo from Sporting - if you're looking at any other club, nobody has been busier than Nottingham Forest.
"There's a buzz in Nottingham about this season. It seems like they're really taking a risk and going probably down the same route as Wolves last season.
"Everyone is really excited. I can't remember the last year that Nottingham Forest have gone out and spent that amount of money on players and really taken that transfer market to new heights.
"It seems like they're really going to give it a go in the Championship this season."