In the latest Football Daily 72+, Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by the new Barnsley boss Darrell Clarke as they try and agree on their EFL team of the season.
But, with plenty of choice, who will make the team's starting XI? And who will be managing them?
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United chairman Paraag Marathe says there are going to have to be "trade-offs" this summer in the transfer window.
The Whites narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat by Southampton in the Championship play-off final on Sunday.
But attention at the top of the club will now turn to the transfer window as they look to push again next season.
"I can't talk on specific players right now," Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds when asked about the future of Archie Gray.
"But if I can paint the big picture for you, there are certain things that we need to do and we will make sure we are fully compliant with profit and sustainability, as we always have been, and there are certain trade-offs that we have to make.
"We'll have to think about if the chemistry of the squad is right - which players fit us, what we're trying to be and what we want to look like - versus which players don't fit.
"We have to sit down as a leadership team with Daniel [Farke] to figure out which ones and how we manage all that. So that will be taken into account as well as some of the profit and sustainability complications we have.
"I'm really excited with what we could do. I'm excited about the fact we have a full off-season - an extra five weeks to start planning our player squad strategy."
Listen to the full 21-minute interview on BBC Sounds
Adonis Storr
Fan writer
Season Rating: 8/10
Despite the season ending on a low, 90 points and club records broken – in the context of the chaos of last summer – has to be considered an outstanding effort.
Manager Assessment
In the aftermath of the play-off final loss, there has been disgruntlement among some Leeds fans over Daniel Farke. But the German has surely done more than enough to deserve another go. He steadied the ship, galvanised the squad, broke records and missed out by fine margins. And with another busy summer ahead, Farke staying will also provide some necessary stability.
Unsung hero
While most of the talk, focus and admiration of fans and media has been on Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray, Dan James went largely unsung. The Welshman had 20 goal involvements from 28 starts this season. And he left Wembley in massive credit with fans – a huge gash across his forehead, inches away from a spectacular goal – and chasing every lost cause in defence and attack.
Player you'd most like to sign
Joe Rodon should be top of the shopping list. Liam Cooper looks to have played his last game at Elland Road and Leeds benefited from Ethan Ampadu in midfield. Rodon paired well with Pascal Struijk and Ampadu, and was brilliant all season – the best loan since Benjamin White. We need a centre-back and he has proven his worth.
Best Away Fans
Plymouth Argyle fans impressed with their vocal away support. Having played Argyle four times this season, Leeds fans know the journey is long, but they turned up each time, vocal and in numbers.
Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external
Does manager Daniel Farke have enough of a "plan B" in fixtures?
BBC Radio Leeds' Jonny Buchan pondered the question on the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet, which landed in the charts 24 hours after the Whites missed out on promotion at Wembley.
Considering the point, Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix said: "With Bielsa there were clear patterns of play that you could spot, things that Bielsa worked on saying 'if you do this 10 times one time you'll score'. It was training players that maybe weren't the best on how to make decisions that will get us goals.
"This year has been more about trying not to concede any goals and one of those players trying to do something magic."
Leeds United reporter Adam Pope said: "I would imagine Farke would argue against that. If you are going to criticise, there has been a late introduction of substitutes. I think we expected something nearer half time. I still think he has done a remarkable job. I probably felt it would be two years to judge him on. Come September I thought Leeds would be second and then I thought they'd win the play-off final. I think he can be reasonably happy with what he has achieved."
Listen to Don't Go To Bed Just Yet here
New York Times football correspondent Rory Smith has been discussing the competitiveness of the Championship next season after Leeds missed out on Promotion on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club:
"Leeds will expect to lose [Crysencio] Summerville, [Wilfried] Gnonto. They'll do all they can to hold on to Archie Grey, but that might be quite tricky. Even Georginio Rutter possibly might go.
"The saving grace is that the three teams that are coming down don't look like they'll necessarily be perfectly placed to go straight back up.
"It feels like it might be a little bit more of a traditional Championship next season and that would would play into the hands of Leeds.
"But it feels like an opportunity missed because they had the individual talent on the pitch that you felt might be decisive."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Leeds United are feeling some pain. If the play-offs are 'the best way to get promoted' for many, defeat in the final is perhaps 'the worst way' to end your season.
Through the pain, is there more manager Daniel Farke could have done in the club's promotion push?
The team on Don't Go To Bed Just Yet are upbeat on the manager, stating he has done "very well" and is "not a bluffer".
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Wycombe Wanderers and QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth says Leeds boss Daniel Farke "has got to pick his team and the fans up" ready to challenge again in August.
Reflecting on the Whites' play-off final defeat to Southampton, Ainsworth told BBC Radio 5 Live's 72+ podcast: "It is about 330 days of work that has all gone in a heartbeat.
"Farke has now got to pick his team up. They have had a fantastic season but the worry is whether they will be able to keep hold of some of their superstars.
"He has got to get his troops together and most importantly his fans and the city of Leeds together to go again.
"It is a tough way to lose at Wembley on the final day. It is horrible."
We asked for your views on Leeds failing to secure promotion after defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
Here are some of your answers:
Joseph: A frustrating way to lose the final. We’re always trying to walk the ball into the net to score, nobody wanted to shoot. Southampton know how to beat us. We didn’t show up and we as the fans suffer. Farke is still the right man for me, but another overhaul of the squad this summer is incoming, and with FFP rules, we’ll have to sell players to buy.
Noah: Gutted. A wonderful season which unravelled at the end and we ultimately weren’t able to get over the line. Dan James seemed like the only one fighting at the end with a few not having enough desire within their performances. Will be interesting to see who is still committed to next season and another promotion push or who will jump ship.
Paul: Why on earth did we think we stood a chance? I’ve followed Leeds for well over 50 years and seen both league games live against Southampton this season . We were poor in both. We need a keeper, a central defender that can control the game, two strikers and a management team who can find the best in what we have.
Andrew: Truly gutted! What an awful way to end what was a highly entertaining and a (mostly) very successful season. To be fair, I think we lost it on the final run in to the end of the regular season when we had the string of poor results. Today we weren’t hungry enough, and appeared to be more scared of losing than going for the win.
Gavin: A pathetic performance by players who have had their eye on where they will be playing since March. No fight, no ideas and the easiest game Southampton will have had this season. Most of the players will be leaving now and for me, Farke can go to. Poor game management and when things aren’t going right he doesn’t know how to change it.
Pete: Didn't deserve any more. One decent team performance in the last 12 was as good as we were. Definitely not a Premier League team with the required tactics so think it's best we stay away from there for the time being.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds manager Daniel Farke says it will be "difficult to come back stronger" after his side lost 1-0 to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
Defeat consigns his side to a second season in the second tier and means the Whites have now lost their past three finals at Wembley without scoring and been unsuccessful in all six of their play-off campaigns.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds post-match, Farke said: "As you can imagine, it couldn't be worse. We are suffering a lot in this moment.
"When you come so close after 90 points and a great play-off semi-final, it hurts a lot.
"It's too early to come in with upbeat messages. You have to allow the players to be down but when you look at the bigger picture, there's no need to dwell on this.
"It's more important to take it as extra motivation.
"The supporters deserve a day to celebrate and we feel that pain today. We're disappointed we could not send our fans back with something to cheer about and we're not in the promised land.
"It'll be difficult to come back stronger because we had 90 points this season."
Leeds pushed hard for a second-half equaliser with substitute Daniel James denied by the crossbar and an excellent save from Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy.
"We started on the front foot but I think our decision-making wasn't top class," Farke added. "It felt like we weren't 100% committed to the final pass or shot.
"Our forwards are very young and [Adam] Armstrong, who won it for them, was clinical when his chance came. I won't criticise our offensive lads too much because Joe Rodon could have given Joel Piroe an open goal with a pass and Dan James' shot would normally go in.
"Southampton defended really, really well and were clinical with their chance.
"The only statistic that matters in a final is the score."
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds manager Daniel Farke speaking to Sky Sports:
"Congratulations to Southampton. They were able to be effective today. Defended really, really well during the whole game.
"That's football. We had more possession, more shots, more expected goals. Dominated the game in many spells but their defending was a little bit more effective than us.
"It's always important to be good in both boxes. We started the game totally on the front foot and had many good situations but in the final third, we were not that committed to the attack.
"On this level, when you play in a final, you have to be spot on.
"It's a bit written in the stars, sometimes it's not meant to be.
"It's a difficult day for us. A day of suffering but that's football. You have to get on with it."
Image source, Getty ImagesJon Newsome, former Leeds defender on BBC Radio Leeds:
"The frustrating for me is that you analyse that game we've just watched there and I think Leeds United are the better team. But sometimes it's what under your shirt, under your chest.
"There's one or two of those players who will look in the mirror tonight. They will ask themselves if they could have done a bit more and there's one or two who could've done.
"It really hurts at this time. I just feel sorry for those guys."
Image source, Getty ImagesNeil Johnston, BBC Sport at Wembley:
A truly gut-wrenching day for Leeds. Daniel Farke enjoyed two promotions with Norwich but he's going to have to wait for a third. Leeds are going to have to plan for another season in the Championship.
BBC Sport's Ian Woodcock at Wembley:
Amazing how quickly these places can empty.
Leeds' players stayed out on the pitch in the main for the trophy lift and a few fans remained in their seats but there's maybe about five of them left now.
The journey back to West Yorkshire (and beyond for many) will feel a lot longer than the one down did.
As for Southampton? Their fans aren't in much of a hurry to go anywhere just now, as Queen's "We are the Champions" blasts out.
Play-off final defeat to Southampton consigned Leeds to another season in the Championship.
Adam Armstrong scored the decisive goal, with a clinical finish past Islan Meslier after being put clear by Will Smallbone.
How are you feeling, Leeds fans?
Team news for the Championship play-off final between Leeds United and Southampton is out, with less than an hour to go before kick-off at Wembley.
Image source, Getty ImagesLeeds United striker Georginio Rutter says his team are doing "everything to be ready" for the Sunday's Championship play-off final against Southampton.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, the Frenchman said: "I feel excited for the team because it could be a game you might never play again in your life.
"It is going to be crazy for the team and for the club.
"Wembley is one of the best stages so you have to enjoy it. It is very exciting for every player to play there. Everybody knows Wembley.
"We have tried to train good and tactically find a way to play better. It is important to be fresh because it is our last game.
"We have to do everything to be ready. That comes down to nutrition and sleep too.
"It could be the best game for my family and for them to watch me is special. They do not come [to watch] often so it will be nice."
Leeds United and Southampton meet at Wembley on Sunday in the Championship play-off final, hoping to bounce straight back to the Premier League.
Former Leeds midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why his old side will be favourites and why he feels they would be better placed to succeed in the top flight next season.
Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Championship play-off final is just two days away, but will it be Southampton or Leeds that return to the Premier League?
Former Great Britain athlete Roger Black and Ryan Wilson from The Pigeon Detectives have been previewing the Wembley final on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We are all nervous," said Saints fan Black. "It is a real 50-50 game.
"Sport is not about stats, as much as people love to go on about them, it is about what happens when it really matters.
"This game on Sunday matters and the stakes are high. It is about which team and players turn up on the day and deliver.
"There is not a second chance, so that makes it scary for Saints fans'."
The idea of stats from the 2023-24 campaign no longer being relevant is shared by Whites fan Wilson.
"I am probably more nervous than excited," he said.
"It is a clean slate going into this game and it is two very good teams with a lot of talent.
"It will be down to who shows up on the day, physically and mentally and anything could happen. It is like a toss of a coin.
"Southampton did the double over us [in the league] but I do not think any of that should be taken into account too much.
"It is such a big occasion with two very good teams going at each other."
Join the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet team as they welcome guests to an Elland Road pub and discuss the small matter of a Wembley showdown.
