"The consistency has been quite remarkable," says Simon Grayson, when asked about Leeds United having closed a gap of 17 points to Leicester City in the Championship since January 1.
"Ipswich have done the same and Southampton are just behind which just shows you the quality and consistency there is in the Championship at the moment. But 12 wins on the trot for Leeds, lots of clean sheets, really entertaining football and having a winning mentality to grind it out as well. It's been a remarkable turn of events and Daniel Farke takes a lot of credit for that," Grayson praises the current boss at Elland Road where he himself was in charge between 2008 and 2012.
As a big LUFC fan himself he'd obviously like to see them back in the Premier League again and perhaps with a bit more consistency that in their last period, which Grayson describes as "a mixed bag".
"Marcelo Bielsa was trying to win football matches, playing to his philosophies, scoring and conceding lots of goals at the same time. I covered a lot of the games in the media at that time and the games were incredible.
"At one stage they were everybody's second team because of the entertaining value and Leeds United being a loved club was not something that everybody was used to," Grayson concedes with a little chuckle, but still in doubt whether it was the right decision to sack Bielsa.
"In hindsight maybe not, but at the time it was really uncertain whether they were going to stay up given the style of play. He was incredible for the football club in the first place for how he turned things around," Grayson lauds one of his successors in the Elland Road dugout.
Fans never happy
The current manager of Leicester City, Enzo Maresca has received surprisingly little praise from part of the Foxes support, even when the club was miles ahead in the Championship.
"The thing about modern day football is that fans are never completely happy. Leicester were 17 points clear and they were bemoaning the style of football. Obviously, now people will say it was justifiable.
"I get that everybody wants to be entertained with silky play, but it's very hard as a coach. Do you want to see your team winning and get promotions in a pragmatic way or do you want to go out all guns blazing and maybe miss out and then get criticised for not getting promoted," the former Leeds manager ponders over the challenges a lot of his peers face.
One manager currently receiving a lot of plaudits is Kieran McKenna, who Grayson also sees as a standout candidate for manager of the season, along with the aforementioned Farke.
"Given how he's taken Ipswich from League One last year with a remarkable run and then to continue it and play that style of football with a few players that were really sort of nomads in the lower leagues. McKenna has adapted and changed them into very good players."
Magic of the Cup
A former team-mate of Grayson back in the Leicester City days, Mark Robins, once again seems to be waving a magic wand as manager for Coventry.
"I think the biggest compliment you can give him is that he went from losing the playoff-final last year to having a poor start this season but he re-galvanized the group and got them to where they are now.
"If he manages to get them through the playoffs it will be an incredible story and if he gets them to the FA Cup final as well, he'll be pushing the other managers very close to the Championship manager of the year," says Grayson, who thinks Coventry should approach the semifinal against Manchester United just as they have done their other games so far.
"Enjoy it, have no regrets. But play with a smile on your face and you've got nothing to lose. The only people that will think Coventry can win, apart from Robbo and his staff and players, are their supporters. There is nothing to lose and that's why the FA Cup is so magical at times."
Should I stay or should I go
On a final note, and going back to Leeds United, what does the future hold for Archie Gray, from Simon Grayson's perspective?
"He's got huge potential. He just turned 18 and looks such a mature player for his age. He's got fantastic ability, he's got such composure, the understanding of the game and his versatility. His dream will be to get promoted and play in the Premier League with Leeds United and then see where it goes from there," Grayson offers on the talented teen, while looking towards a recent midfielder who left Elland Road for big money without much luck.
"Kalvin Phillips left for Manchester City, but he's struggled ever since leaving Leeds, and Archie might look at that. But if they don't go up, it will be a little more difficult to keep hold of him, I'm sure"
Simon Grayson was talking to Tribalfootball.com on behalf of Sevenjackpots.com
