Daniel Farke has a few selection headaches to sort out as Leeds United prepare for a run of five games in the next two weeks. Leeds sit second in the Championship table and are one of the strong contenders for automatic promotion. However, the Leeds boss has a few issues to sort out to make the team more effective and a midfield rejig could be on the cards in the coming weeks.
Leeds are going well at the moment and are on course to match last season’s 90 points haul, which should be good enough to book their ticket to the Premier League this season.
They have been excellent at home, winning nine of their eleven games at Elland Road but their away form has been a worry where they have won just three of their ten Championship games.
Leeds are not scoring enough goals and their tactics have often looked predictable with Brenden Aaronson struggling to create from midfield. He has also been failing to stand up to the more physicality he is facing on the road.
There are calls for Farke to consider replacing the United States international in the starting eleven but that could lead to a rejig in the middle of the park as well.
One could argue Leeds do need a change in their midfield shape to ensure that they are creating more goals, especially away from home in the coming weeks.
One goes out and one moves up the pitch for Leeds United
Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka have provided stability and control in midfield and have not allowed Leeds to feel the pinch of Ilian Gruev’s absence due to an injury.
Breaking their midfield partnership seems to be fraught with danger but Leeds need a change in their midfield make-up to ensure they are not as predictable.
Ethan Ampadu’s return from injury has come at the right time for Leeds. He has been their best centre-back since the latter half of last season but the Welshman is a defensive midfielder by trade.
With Pascal Struijk playing well at the heart of their defence, Farke has no reason to drop him but he can get Ampadu into the starting eleven in the middle of the park.
The Welshman’s return will break up the Rothwell-Tanaka partnership but neither has to be dropped from the starting eleven.
Leeds could solve one more issue in the team by moving Tanaka into the number 10 role and dropping Aaronson down to the bench. The Japanese is a much more combative midfielder and Leeds won’t lose anything in terms of creativity as well.
A midfield rejig will not only bring Ampadu’s calmness back into the Leeds midfield but it could also solve their creativity issues at number 10 by Tanaka moving up the pitch.
Brenden Aaronson needs a spell on the bench
Five goals in 21 appearances is a decent return for an attacking midfielder but he is supposed to be creating chances and just one assist doesn’t look good.
Aaronson works hard for the team off the ball and is a decent passer when in possession, which allows Leeds United to control most games but the team need more from him in that number 10 role.
The American’s lack of physicality is also a problem, which came to the fore at Preston, and he gets dispossessed too easily when involved in a more physical game.
Tanaka moving up the pitch to the number 10 role won’t take anything away from the team as he is a a great passer of the ball as well and can provide the same amount of control.
However, he will be more of a physical presence than Aaronson and that can add a different dimension to the team and Ampadu’s return to the midfield means Leeds can continue to dominate and control games.
It seems to be a no-brainer – Farke can not only get the Leeds club captain back into the team without affecting his centre-back partnership but give something different to think about for opposition defences with Tanaka playing as the number 10.
